The dog is left alone and destroys the house? This is a pretty common problem.
What dog owner never came home after a few hours of absence and, upon arriving, realized that his dog had let out all his energy?
It is common for these actions to be seen as a kind of grudge for leaving him alone.
And usually the most natural reaction is to call the furry friend into a conversation or sometimes even punish him in various ways.
Over time, this type of accident tends to get worse and the punishments usually do too.
Introduction to dog evolution
With the exception of rare cases, most dog breeds saw their birth and evolution with the aim of performing certain jobs.
Until a few decades ago, they carried out their natural activities outdoors and next to the owner.
With whom he spent most of his time.
In line with the evolution of civilization, we are witnessing a change in the role of a co-worker dog to a family member.
Moving from the place where they carried out their ancestral tasks to a new place within our homes.
Until today, when it is increasingly common to see dogs, even large ones, living in apartments that do not have outdoor areas such as gardens or terraces.
We are talking about animals that, although they may have been born in a house surrounded by humans who have taken care of them since their early days.
They retain the ability and will to do their job inherent in their DNA.
And who, despite this, end up living in apartments that, however spacious they are, will always represent a limitation for them.
And where they will have very few things they can do without getting into trouble for causing unintentional harm.
Dog stands alone: The involuntary behavior
I used the term involuntary not to indicate the “reluctance” to perform a certain action.
But because, for them, the result of that specific action does not represent damage, as we understand it.
Therefore, it is not correct to punish your dog after discovering that he has destroyed something.
Regardless of the fact that he is unable to link the punishment with the action that brought it about.
Keeping your dog physically and mentally active can be of great help in making him feel calmer and happier.
Greatly reducing the possibility of him feeling frustrated and venting his discomfort with destructive actions against the house and other animals.
This is not to say that, for example, if you have a Border Collie, you need to take him out to herd flocks of sheep every day to make him feel satisfied.
The quality of free time
People often don’t understand why he behaves this way, since he spends most of the day in the backyard…
Of course, the possibility of using an outdoor area is certainly an advantage, but it is not enough.
Simply because it’s always the same place, with very little variation in olfactory stimuli and no interaction with other animals.
the classic walk
A classic walk, perhaps varying the destination with a certain regularity, carried out with a long leash, in a way that allows the dog to explore the environment, stimulating its own senses.
It is certainly a very effective and complete method to satisfy our dog’s different needs.
Depending on the duration of the walk, we can stimulate your muscles.
Walking in places where other people and animals pass by, you will be stimulating your senses a lot, especially your sense of smell.
Also, if done correctly, it will be an activity that he will have done collaborating with us, which is very rewarding for both of us.
Whenever possible, take your dog somewhere where he can run and explore freely without the use of a leash.
Country roads or a dog park are always good options for this.
smart games
In addition to outdoor activities, it is possible to occupy our dog’s mind through specific games, very similar to types of puzzles.
They require a certain degree of training, as well as a predisposition and willingness to perform them.
You will be responsible for stimulating your dog so that he enjoys this type of activity and has fun, so that next time he wants to play again.
Why do dogs destroy everything when left alone?
Obviously, not everyone reacts this way and not everyone feels bad when they are alone.
But when this happens, or rather in matters where this happens, the main reason is the inability to cope with loneliness.
This difficulty depends on many factors.
Perhaps the dog’s mother suffered from abandonment anxiety and transferred this trait to her children.
He had an early separation from his mother.
Or simply have the wrong approach to the habit of being alone.
So, did you manage to understand what happens when the dog is left alone and why does he not like it?