50 Hilariously Painful Pics To Show The Price You Sometimes Have To Pay When Getting A Dog

Destructive behavior in dogs is one of the most common problems for owners. Of course, puppies are the most prone to this because they've had no training yet. Sometimes pups start chewing up the furniture even if they have tons of toys lying around.

So where does this problem come from? The American Kennel Club writes that if the dog can reach a thing, to them that means it's on offer. Especially if that thing has the owner's scent to it. The problem is especially common with puppies because they might be teething. Chewing alleviates the gum pain, but that's what puppy toys are for.

If your pup is engaging in destructive behavior, it's very important to understand why. Some people think that they might be doing this out of spite or revenge. But dogs don't operate like humans do. The MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) writes that this is how dogs relieve anxiety and let out excess energy.

They can also start tearing things apart because of boredom. If an adult dog lacks exercise, mental stimulation or training, they might start chewing everything around them. There's also separation anxiety and fear, for which the underlying reasons can be more complicated – genetics, phobias or traumatic experiences.

Separation anxiety can be very common in dogs obtained from shelters or found on the street. Dogs from shelters can exhibit other signs of separation anxiety. That includes following the owner around, always frantically greeting them and being anxious when the owner prepares to leave the house. 

It's crucial to understand that if these are the causes of your dog's destructive behavior, punishment will not help. It will only have a negative effect.

The AKC suggests puppy-proofing your room or home to avoid finding your furniture in shambles. Just like we do with toddlers – either a dog crate or a puppy-gated room would work. If you don't have enough space, put valuable things out of reach. 

I can share a more personal tale here as well. One day after coming home to find my room destroyed – wallpaper ripped from the walls, bed corners chewed up – I decided to dog-proof my room as well. Nothing on the desk, nothing on the windowsills – nothing. And while it made my room quite minimalistic in decor, it actually worked.

What else can you do? First, let's address the lack of physical stimulation. Jason Purgason of Highland Canine Training writes that a tired dog is a happy dog. "If a dog is tired, they will have a reduced urge to destroy things and spend their time at home resting and relaxing instead."