If you’re a dog owner, you know that nothing is more frustrating than returning home after a long day at work and discovering destroyed furniture. Your pet has decided to end the boredom and have some fun at your expense!

Whether it’s repairs or buying new chairs, it’s an additional expense that many homeowners can’t afford, especially if it happens regularly. This not only creates financial losses and inconveniences, but can also have unpleasant consequences for the animals themselves. Breaking furniture can lead to injuries such as broken teeth or cuts. In addition, if the dog swallows parts of the furniture, it can cause suffocation or serious problems with the stomach and intestines.

Why do dogs have destructive behavior?

The reasons for this behavior of dogs can be different:

The feeling of isolation and boredom

Like humans, dogs can also get bored. In the absence of sufficient stimulation through games or interaction with people, they seek a different form of entertainment.

Separation from their owner can cause anxiety. This is the reason when the dog is left alone to demonstrate destructive behavior – a way to express his dissatisfaction. You must have come home, found huge damage, and your pet looked guilty.

Lack of physical activity

Physical activity is critical for dogs, as it helps them expend stored energy and reduce stress. When dogs are active and tired, they are less likely to exhibit destructive behaviors such as chewing on furniture. Regular exercise also improves their overall health, keeps their muscles strong, and supports their mental well-being. This makes them happier and more balanced, which is important for maintaining a harmonious coexistence at home.

Adolescent puppies

In dogs up to 1 year of age, it is completely normal to have a constant urge to chew something. This behavior is part of their normal physiological and psychological development. During the first few months of life, dogs go through a process of changing teeth, which can cause discomfort and itching in their mouths. Chewing them helps relieve this discomfort and speed up the release of new teeth. Adolescents often exhibit destructive behavior because they have a lot of unspent energy that needs to be channeled

What is the solution?

The good news is that with a little effort and with the right methods, you can improve your dog’s behavior. Providing proper training, providing the right toys, constant physical activity and mental stimulation can prevent furniture destruction and eliminate stress from your pet’s daily life.

Diet

Let’s start with food…

Feeding our BARF menus will improve not only the physical health of the dog, but also its behavior. Also, the fresh and natural ingredients included in them will cope with problems with digestive function and reduce stress.

The lack of natural vitamins and minerals in most dry foods are causes of depression, aggression, hyperactivity and learning ability. Poor quality food that contains high levels of sugars and excess carbohydrates can have a negative effect on dogs’ behavior and overall health for several reasons:

• Excessive energy: Sugar and carbohydrates are converted into energy. If the dog consumes foods high in these components, he may develop excessive energy levels that he must expend. If he does not find a suitable way to do this, the energy can manifest itself in the form of destructive behavior.
• Mood swings: As with humans, sudden fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to mood swings, irritability, and hyperactivity in dogs.
• Unhealthy diet: Foods rich in empty calories can lead to poor health and behavior. Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can affect brain function and behavior.
• Digestive problems: Low-quality foods can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive disorders, which can create discomfort and cause irritation leading to destructive behavior.
• Impaired concentration: Improper nutrition can make it difficult for a dog to concentrate and train, which in turn leads to behavioral problems.
• Allergies and intolerances: Some dogs may develop allergies or intolerances to certain ingredients, such as fillers in low-quality foods, which can cause discomfort and trigger behavioral problems again. .

Therefore, it is important to feed dogs a balanced, complete and quality diet that is suitable for their species, age, activity level and health status.

Replace your dog’s bowl with an interactive silicone feeding mat. It promotes calm behavior, reduces stress and anxiety, and licking calms the nervous system, thanks to the hormones that are released.

Take a look at our starter packages, which include a 5 kg full BARF menu, a soothing herbal blend and an interactive silicone pad for slow feeding:

Treats

The use of treats as a method of positive stimulation is a key element in modern dog training strategies. Recent studies confirm that positive stimulation accelerates the learning process, but also plays a significant role in building a healthy and trust-based bond between the dog and its owner.

Treats have numerous benefits:

• Accelerate learning: Rewards are a powerful motivator for dogs, helping to quickly associate desired behavior with reward. This makes training more effective and fun for the dog.
• Create positive associations: Regular rewarding with Divus treats helps your dog connect their owner’s presence and guidance with something enjoyable, which greatly facilitates the training process.
• Reduce stress: Natural treats make your dog feel more relaxed and secure, especially in new or stressful situations.

Relieves Teeth and Gums: Chewing appropriate, dehydrated treats removes dental plaque, prevents tartar buildup and maintains good oral hygiene. It relieves gum discomfort and helps to make it easier to replace milk teeth and properly grow permanent teeth. . Chewing is extremely important and is a natural behavior for dogs. It helps release hormones that reduce pain, anxiety and stress. Chewing stimulates the production of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin in the brain, which have a calming effect and promote a sense of well-being.

Try the “Chew box” – a box with a variety of flavors and textures that will satisfy your dog’s natural desire to chew and provide him with a fun and exciting experience.

Suitable toys

A study “Enriching the Environment for Kennel-Housed Dogs” by John S. Bradshaw, Helen K. Roberts, and Rachel A. Casey looked at various methods to improve the welfare of dogs that are in temporary shelters or dog boarding schools.

The study focuses on the benefits of introducing mental and physical stimulation through entertaining toys and interactive exercises. The main observations show that dogs with access to entertaining toys show fewer signs of stress, as well as higher activity and mental engagement.

This proves how important interactive entertainment is for dogs, especially in situations where they spend long periods without human company and activity.

The use of mental toys such as the “Snuffle Ball”, which will provide mental stimulation, promotes healthy eating habits, reduces stress and improves concentration. It is made of soft materials in several layers that create small pockets or folds where the treats are placed and make it difficult for the dog to find them. Having fun with our toy can help your dog relax and engage for a long time, which is especially useful in cases of stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness.