Dogs are full of love and affection for their owners. Some even love other people dearly when they just meet them or make friends with any new pet they see. But as many dog owners know, dogs can be rambunctious fellas. One day they are docile and snuggly, and the next day ferocious couch terrors. Whether it's pillows, tissues, or couches, energized dogs are ready to chow down.
So, what can you do as an owner to stop your dog from becoming a whirlwind of destruction?
Exercise
Before evaluating your dog's training regimen, look at how much you exercise it. Many doggy problems are easily solved with exercise or a little extra exercise. Many doggy destruction issues are based on their energy. So, your best bet is to find an outlet for that energy before it turns into a spontaneous burst of destruction.
And exercise doesn't need to be a complicated multi-part training program. Walks work wonders for doggy behavior problems. Doing a simple 30-minute walk in the morning or two separate 15-minute walks can significantly impact your pup's mood.
Dogs don't desire to destroy things when they get their energy out. But a particularly destructive dog might need some extra exercise. Shiba Inus are rather famous for their curiosity and subsequent nibbling on objects around the house. Instead of spending your spare time or money on training, lots and lots of exercises may do the trick. Take them on a run or play fetch and make them run around. Anything that makes them run a lot or use their muscles and chew. If a dog is busy using its chompers on other things, it won't be as enthused about taking bites out of your furniture
.
Stress
Anxiety produces terrible habits in dogs. Anxiety can make dogs clingy, refuse to listen to their owners, hide, scratch themselves, or even chew. So, clearing out stressors may help your dog stop chewing on the furniture.
Check around the house for anxiety triggers. Did something new recently enter your home, which could help you understand why your buddy is afraid? Something as simple as a Halloween mask can keep dogs from pursuing their daily habits.
It might even be a new piece of furniture! Maybe there is a smell on it that your dog doesn't like. Dogs can do pretty silly things when they're stressed, so removing their stressors can stop chewing in their tracks.
Training
Training is something all dog owners need to be doing anyway, but it's a broad term. You train your dog to use the bathroom outside. You train your dog to come to you when you call it or tell it to sit. But training out bad habits is either time-consuming or expensive. The good news is training doesn't have to be difficult.
Dogs learn quickly under positive reinforcement. Using rawhides or other chew toys to help dogs get their chewing instincts going should work. The goal is to cement spending that chewing energy on healthy outputs instead of your property. And to achieve that goal, we use positive reinforcement! Tasty treats help immensely with helping your dog understand the right thing to do. Eventually, your dog will associate chewing on toys with fun instead of your favorite chair.
Socialization
Another option to help stop chewing is to bring in more friends! Chewing is not just a feel-good lousy habit; it can also signify anxiety. So one of the best ways to help your dog is to help it socialize. A socialized dog is more likely to stay calm and not use your house as a chew toy. So if your dog is starting to show some signs of stress, bringing your furry friend to a dog park might not be such a bad idea.
Or just take it somewhere new. Your fuzzy friend getting out of the house and seeing other people and dogs help its mental health and stops it from getting destructive. Socializing is also a great way to stop your dog from aggressive and territorial behavior.
A Happy and Healthy Doggy Is a Good Doggy
Your dog is a complicated creature. So don't worry too much if you don't understand why your dog is acting out immediately. If you exercise your dog, check for stress, and train it, you should see gradual improvement from your little guy. So keep at those walks and your treat pantry stocked. Eventually, you can go back to telling people how your dog is full of love and affection instead of a weapon of mass destruction.