Why is my dog eating my furniture?
When a dog starts chewing or gnawing on furniture, his behavior may be the expression of learning, a need or an emotion - often negative - that he is trying to appease. Before you want to stop this behavior, you must first identify the cause. This is essential to know what solutions to put in place next to stop this annoying behavior.
So when a dog "eats" your furniture, it could be:
Because your dog is young
Before their 3 months, puppies explore their environment olfactorily and orally.They sniff out new objects, lick them, take them in their mouths and then chew them with their sharp little teeth to discover them. In doing so, they also strengthen their jaw muscles.
This need to chew on everything within reach can also be exacerbated when baby teeth give way to adult teeth. As in the human baby, the fact of chewing on an object soothes the pain associated with the breakthrough of new teeth. If table legs or chair legs are the only objects within his reach, then they are the ones who will pay the price!
Because your dog is anxious
Chewing or gnawing on an object is also called a substitute activity for an anxious or stressed dog. This kind of activity allows you to calm, soothe your dog a bit like a stressed person biting their nails.
Often, the dog carries out this type of activity in the absence of his "masters" , when his anxiety is linked to the separation with his being of attachment.Generally, the deterioration of your furniture is not the only sign of the dog's difficulties in being left alone. It can be accompanied by vocalizations, howls, filthiness or the “pot-de-glue” dog syndrome in the presence of its master, among other symptoms!
But, these behaviors can also appear in the presence of the master when the dog's anxiety finds its cause in a developmental disorder such as Hs / Ha syndrome, in unsuitable living conditions of the dog or when the dog suffers a disease (involutional depression, hypothyroidism).
Because your dog is bored and/or wants attention
If your dog destroys your furniture in your absence, don't jump to the conclusion that he suffers from hyperattachment and separation anxiety if he indulges in destruction, it's maybe just because he's bored! Ask yourself about the number of hours during which the dog stays alone at home and about the activities you offer him each day.Does your dog get a daily walk (outside the yard) of at least 30 minutes each day? Is he left alone for less than 6 hours in a row? Does he have the opportunity to run, to smell odors and to meet congeners during his walk? Do you offer him daily play sessions? Are there any occupation toys available? If you answered no to any of these questions, chances are your dog is bored and that boredom is the cause of his annoying behavior. By chewing on your furniture, your dog is only meeting one of his basic needs: to occupy himself!
If your dog starts chewing the legs of your furniture in your presence, it may also be because he has understood that his behavior is attracting your attention. How do you react when your dog attacks one of your pieces of furniture? You talk to it, argue it, and take action to stop it.Sometimes you even negotiate with him so that he stops his destruction business with a treat? Bingo! In doing so, your dog got what he wanted most: your attention (and even a little treat along the way)! And even if the interaction consists of a sanction from the dog, it's still better than being ignored
In dogs that suffer from a deficit of self-control or a developmental disorder called Hs-Ha syndrome, there is even a need to take everything in your mouth and chew on objects . These dogs are constantly overexcited and find it difficult to sit down and relax. Their behavior reflects significant stress that drives them to constantly seek attention or activity.
Your dog doesn't manage his frustration well
Destructions can also be linked to your dog's poor management of frustration. When upset, he may express his anger by nibbling on furniture and growl when stopped.This can happen when the dog is upset about being left alone at home or when someone upsets him in one of his actions.
How do I prevent my dog from eating the furniture?
If you're reading this article, it's probably because you've tried spraying your furniture with repellent without much success. And for good reason: this "solution" (which is not a solution!) is only interested in the annoying behavior but not in what is causing it in your dog.
As a general rule, any solution that aims to prevent unwanted behavior without addressing its root causes in your pet will end in bitter failure. Take it for granted! To have a chance of preventing your dog from eating your furniture, you will first need to identify the cause(s) of this behavior to put in place real solutions, those that will work while bringing more well-being to your dog. at the same time.Because if seeing your damaged furniture stresses you out, tell yourself that a dog who adopts this type of behavior is just as stressful as you, if not more so!
The cage, a good or a bad idea?
In the series of solutions that are not, there is the cage! It can be tempting to put your dog in a crate while you're away to prevent him from destroying your furniture. Attention ! If this means makes it possible to stop the undesirable behavior of your animal, the cage does not solve the basic problem from which your animal suffers. And, in many cases, this “solution” can only make the problem worse or increase your pet’s anxiety which will cause other unwanted behaviors. This is particularly the case if the animal remains confined there for too long and/or if it has not been accustomed very gradually and positively to going there.
Please note that in all the following measures, there is no miracle solution that will allow you to solve your dog's problem immediately. If they are effective, they all require a little time before observing the results.
Without further ado, here are some suggestions for measures to put in place if:
Your puppy is “teeth”
If your puppy tends to teethe on your furniture, offer him alternatives! Provide him with a large bone he won't ingest pieces of, a fairly heavy and hard chew toy, or even a heavy, hard piece of wood that you'll make sure doesn't splinter. If you catch your pup chewing on a piece of furniture, don't reprimand him, but instead try to distract him with one of these chew toys.
Don't forget to spend your dog properly with many short walks and play sessions with him. If your puppy has spent himself correctly, he will also have much less energy to chew on your furniture!
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety
" Of course, you shouldn&39;t argue with your dog or punish him on your return for the mistakes he made in your absence. Your dog wouldn&39;t understand and that would only add to his stress."
If the destruction of furniture occurs in a context of separation and is accompanied by other manifestations of anxiety, it will be necessary to undertake behavioral detachment therapy which will consist of both:
- to eliminate all departure and return rituals that only increase your pet's anxiety,
- by offering him an occupation toy before leaving to give him pleasure when he is left alone,
- to always take the initiative of contacts and to ask your dog to go in his basket when he becomes too "sticky" ,
- to avoid maintaining too close a closeness with the loved one by prohibiting access to a room in the house for your dog.
It is possible to support this detachment therapy with Bach flowers or pheromonotherapy, two natural solutions with no adverse effects.
Do not hesitate to get help from a behavioral educator or a behavioral veterinarian in the implementation of this therapy.
If your dog is anxious in general
If the nibbling of furniture reveals a dog's anxiety that is not only related to the context of the separation, offer a reassuring living environment to your dog, respectful of his nature by:
- offering him a comfortable sleeping place in a quiet place - but not too far from the life of the home - where he can rest without being disturbed,
- offering him enough physical, mental, masticatory and social activities,
- establishing clear and consistent rules for life at home.
Here again, natural soothing products can be of great help in addition to these measures.
If these tips aren't enough to ease your pet's anxiety, consult a behavioral veterinarian. The practitioner will then be able to determine the origin of his discomfort and will offer you behavioral and possibly medicinal solutions to reduce the suffering of your companion as well as his annoying behavior.
If your dog is bored and/or wants attention
If your dog gnaws on your furniture legs for lack of anything better to do, offer him more activities. Walks, play sessions, occupation toys, meetings with fellow dogs the more your dog will spend and the less energy he will have to "do silly things" , especially on your furniture.
And if gnawing on the furniture gets him your attention, be proactive and strengthen your relationship by offering him more play sessions.If possible, avoid interacting with your dog when he starts nibbling on furniture. Go to another room and make noise to lure him close to you so that he gives up his piece of furniture.
If your dog seems to be hyperactive, you must consult a behavioral veterinarian. This disorder cannot be resolved without appropriate medication and behavioral therapy.
If your dog doesn't manage his frustration well
If your dog tends to destroy your furniture when he is frustrated, it is again necessary to undertake behavioral therapy by working on the management of food / space resources and contacts. Learn how to do this in our article on frustration in dogs.
Consult a professional
Always keep in mind that each dog is different and that the above advice does not take into account the individuality of your dog, the potential complexity of the problem and/or the particular context related to this problem (among other factors).For all these reasons, do not hesitate to get help from a canine behavior professional. Only he can accurately identify the origin of your dog's behavior and guide you in setting up appropriate behavioral therapy.