Sudden Anxiety In Dogs
Sudden Destructive Chewing? Please help!?
I got my dog when she was about four months old, and now she’s a little over a year. She was fairly easy to train, even though she did go through a heavy chewing phase (like most puppies). We used to keep her in a crate at night and anytime she was alone for an extended period of time. After about six months of that, we started leaving her out of the crate sometimes, and she did well so we removed the crate completely a few months ago.
Well over the past couple of weeks, she has started destructive chewing again. She only does it when no one is home or at night when we’re sleeping. She has torn the stuffing out of the pillows in the living room, chewed up a robe, bedspreads, etc. I don’t know why she is doing this suddenly, she gets enough exercise and everything. I’m not sure if it’s separation anxiety or what, since it just started. Any ideas as to why she is doing this and how to get her to stop (besides bringing the crate back)?
Chewing relieves anxiety, so something may have happend which is causing this.
Telling your dog off for the damage can cause more anxiety, so it becomes a vicious cycle for both you and the dog.
Bring the crate back, make it a lovely place for her, clip the door open when you are there, feed her in it, put her water in there, don’t use it or think of it as a punishment, more of a safe and secure den for her.
I have a young collie who is a very keen worker, she gets anxious and crews to relieve it, she’s a clever little girl and just can’t cope just waiting around doing nothing on her own. I crate her and she loves her den.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs Summary of Techniques
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