After years of owning only cats, we recently decided to add a dog to our family. We went to the local shelter and found an adorable mutt with two different colored eyes. He wasn’t too big, he seemed very friendly and calm, and was fairly mellow.
That all changed as soon as we introduced toys into the equation.
He turned into Destructo Dog.
Rope toys were destroyed within a day or two. A rubber soccer ball was punctured the same day.
We did a little research and bought him a toy that was made of fire hose, thinking that the strong canvas would hold up. Well, the canvas did, but not the fuzzy ears or tail. In spite of repeated vacuuming, we are still finding fuzz around the house 3 weeks later.
We got him another fire hose toy, this time made completely of the fire hose material. The two little ears? Chewed off and gone in 60 seconds. The seam for the tail? Barely hanging on. He actually sucks/chews on a corner like it is a pacifier. So what the heck is going on? He loves the toys but really can’t seem to help himself when it comes to chewing them into oblivion.
I decided to do a little research. So, if any of this sounds familiar to you, read on, and find out what I learned.
I’m Just Doing What You Said, Mom
Puppies are so cute when they are trying to act like big dogs, aren’t they? Unfortunately, cooing over them and giving them attention for mimicking “adult dog” behaviors trains them to think those behaviors are acceptable for life.
So the next time your puppy attacks the pillow that’s twice his size, don’t make him think it’s the best thing he has ever done. Distract him with an appropriate toy and praise him for playing with it correctly.
What the Heck Am I Supposed to Do With This?
Speaking of appropriate toys, it seems kind of obvious that giving a small toy to a large dog can only end in destruction. Likewise, giving a smaller dog a toy meant for larger dogs gives the dog no choice but to chew on the parts he can actually get his mouth on.
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I Was Born This Way
No matter how much humans think we have dogs figured out and domesticated, the fact remains that their DNA makes them herd animals who hunt for prey. Hunting dogs get to take care of that instinct naturally. But most pets aren’t hunting dogs.
There are a few ways to head off your dog’s instinct to hunt and kill his toys. Don’t buy toys with squeakers. While your dog may be fascinated at first, he will do whatever he can to “kill” that squeaker.
You may also want to avoid toys that are shaped like actual animals, especially if you have other pets in your house. That cute rabbit toy that squeaks could look and sound an awful lot like a cat. And that is definitely not something you want to deal with.
Wait, You’re Leaving Again?
If you notice that your dog only seems to destroy his toys while you’re gone, he may have separation anxiety. The destruction will accompany other signs such as restlessness, pacing, whining, and barking. If he exhibits any of these when you leave, check with your vet. If none of them are apparent, he is just being a jerk who destroys his toys.
Chill Out, I’m Just Having Fun!
Dogs like to feel useful, and they like to be entertained. If you’re not doing enough to keep them occupied, they’ll find something themselves…and you end up with toy pieces all over the house. Tearing apart a toy gives them purpose: find the weakness in the prey (“hey, look, this piece is small and loose!”), exploit the weakness to destroy the toy (“I’ll get that squeaker yet!”), and finally survey his kill (“That squeaker never stood a chance against a big dog like me!”)
A common recommendation is to get bones that your dog can chew on, or the puzzle chew toys that the dog has to figure out in order to get the treat that is inside of it. This will give him the sense of accomplishment he craves without the destruction he wreaks.
Back to our Destructo Dog. In the time that I wrote this, our dog now has the tug handle of the fire hose toy hanging by one end and the rest is getting more frayed by the minute. We did get him a couple of bones that he loves, but he destroyed the end of one of them, not 30 minutes after we gave it to him. He is still trying to figure out the puzzle toy, but it doesn’t hold his attention for long.
We will just keep trying and continue to be thankful that at least it’s not the furniture!
Sources: I Heart Dogs
