Being home alone, the dog chews furniture and things, sometimes even howls. What to do? What are the reasons?
Your dog may chew on things around the house. This problem occurs very often in puppies, as well as in some adult dogs.
Chewing on anything in the house can be an exciting activity for a dog, but for its owners it can turn into serious financial losses.
In addition, it can be dangerous for the dog itself, for example, if it gnaws on electrical wires, it can be electrocuted.
Preventing a dog from chewing things
- 1st method:
Organize a clean-up at home and remove any valuables that may be within your pet’s reach. You should also ensure that wires, plugs, etc. were inaccessible to the dog. Leave as many toys as you can chew on so your dog has something to do while you’re away.
- 2nd method:
A good way to save your home from dog teeth will be a cage. Many consider this method cruel and humiliating towards the dog, but in fact they simply do not know how to use it correctly.
The first thing to remember is that a crate is not a punishment for a dog, it is just a house where the dog, feeling safe, can rest in the absence of the owner. The cage should be chosen in a suitable size so that the dog does not have to stand and lie down tightly in it. Also, always leave water in the crate for the dog.
You should gradually accustom the dog to the crate. First, teach your dog to enter the crate calmly. To do this, put a few pieces of treats in it, let the dog come in and eat. Once your dog is comfortable entering the crate, teach him to stay there for a while. For this, when the dog enters the cage and stays there for a few seconds, give him a treat, praise him. Gradually increase the time the dog spends in the crate, praise him and give him treats for the time he spends in the crate. Gradually begin to close the door and feed treats through the grate, leaving the dog in the crate for longer and longer periods of time. After some effort, the dog will learn to sit quietly in the crate. When you can keep an eye on the dog, let him run around the apartment, and when you leave, leave the dog in the crate until he learns all the rules of behavior in the house.
Just remember that the crate only physically deprives the dog of the opportunity to mess up anything in the house, but that won’t teach him anything. And teaching the dog how to behave in the house is already the task of the owner.
- 3rd method:
Dogs often gnaw on anything in the house due to lack of physical activity. Therefore, you can increase the duration of morning walks with the dog, then he will be more tired and lie down when he returns from a walk. This will greatly reduce the destruction produced by the dog.
- 4th method:
Dogs often gnaw on various objects out of boredom when their owners leave. The owner has left and she is very afraid that he won’t come back. Try to give the dog as much time as possible and not be away too long so your pet doesn’t feel sad, or at least have someone communicate with the dog while you’re away.
- 5th method:
Dogs can chew on objects due to a lack of mental activity, aka “boredom”. Therefore, when the dog sits at home, he begins to come up with various interesting activities for himself, for example, chewing things.
Games with a dog, aimed at developing intelligence and quick thinking, will help to wean off this bad habit. Therefore, it is better to first remove everything possible, and then gradually accustom the dog to the command.
Also remember a few simple rules that will help keep your dog from chewing on things around the house.
NEVER scold your dog if after returning from work you find a real rout at home. It’s ineffective! If you do this, the dog will no longer meet you happily, and the number of damaged things will increase. At first, hide anything that cannot be chewed from the dog.
ALWAYS leave something for your dog to chew on: toys, special treats, etc. Note that you shouldn’t leave the dog with his old stuff that you no longer need, that you don’t complain about: old slippers, clothes… not yet ready to give it to the wolves. Accustomed to chewing on your old slippers, she will take on a new one in good conscience and will be right in her own way. It is impossible to explain to him what the difference is and why one slipper can be gnawed and the other cannot.
It happens that dogs, left alone at home, start to howl. What are the reasons for screaming?
Let’s observe the behavior of your four-legged friend and understand why the dog is howling. This behavior of a dog can be considered from a psychological point of view, since dogs also have their own psyche. Looking at our little brothers, veterinarian scientist Leon Fredley Whitney proved that dogs are social creatures and cannot stay without communication, they become irritated for various reasons and can rejoice.
The following reasons for howling a dog can be distinguished:
- Sadness – the dog may suck in your absence. For example, a dog howls alone at home until you return from work or a trip.
- Means of communication – dogs, like people, have their own language. Dogs thus give symbolic signs about their location, just like their ancestors – wolves.
- Physiological causes such as dog disease. The dog will whine and howl, in every possible way “hinting” at a visit to the vet.
- Joy. Do not be surprised, because the dog is also very emotionally receptive. She will be happy to see her master on the doorstep and scream at the same time.
How to wean a howling dog at home?
We found all sorts of reasons for howling a dog, and now you are interested in the question: what to do if the dog howls relentlessly and how to wean him from howling at home. In this case, find out the individual reason for your dog’s howling, because as you already understood, there are not so many of them. If your dog doesn’t want to be home alone, you need to teach him how. To do this, you need to leave for a short time, letting the dog know that you will definitely be back. Each time you have to increase the interval between leaving and arriving, the dog will get used to it and won’t howl anymore.
If your friend is sick, just give the medicine and take care of him.
Often a dog wants to get his owner’s attention and starts howling, but you don’t notice his provocation, just ignore him. You should not even scold her, because this is also a manifestation of your attentiveness, the dog will understand that he has won this fight and will howl louder and louder.
A dog is a very sensitive creature, and to make him happy, just communicate with him more often, and you may not have to resort to our advice.