Everyone has seen one of those funny videos posted by dog owners in which the owner catches the dog making a mess, and then the dog pretends he has no idea who did it.
Sometimes the videos become a reality, and we become the dog owner who enters the living room with mysteriously ripped furniture.
If you’ve had an encounter like this, you’re probably wondering what causes your pet to chew on the furniture. The dog may chew on the furniture due to a lack of exercise or behavioral issues.
First, I’ll go over the top five reasons your dog might be doing it. Then we’ll look into a possible solution for this. Continue reading.
Contents
5 Reasons Why Your Dog Chews on Furniture While You’re Gone
1: Separation Anxiety
Before you can solve your dog’s problem, you should first determine why your dog is chewing on the furniture. Separation anxiety is a common cause of this destructive behavior.
When you leave for work in the morning, you will notice that your dog gives you sad puppy eyes. When you return home, however, you find him happy and excited.
They gradually recover from their sadness and return to their play activities. Some dogs, however, may develop separation anxiety.
A dog suffering from separation anxiety will struggle to relax and engage in any play activity until he is reunited with his owner.
These dogs may become destructive, ripping and chewing on furniture.
Excessive barking and refusal to eat or drink anything in the absence of the dog owner are also telltale signs. Separation anxiety has a negative impact on your dog.
2: Weaned Too Early
Puppy chewing on objects is normal and acceptable behavior as they explore the world through their senses of touch and taste.
But what if you find your grown dog doing the same thing? Some experts believe that this behavior is present in dogs who were weaned too young.
Weaned refers to the puppy’s transition from mother’s milk to an adult dog diet before the age of seven to eight weeks.
If this is the circumstance with your dog, you will most likely notice him fabric sucking all over the place. Aggression, biting, and destructive behavior are examples of other behavioral issues.
However, if your dog’s fabric sucking behavior persists for an extended period, it will become a habit. Seek professional assistance and specialized training for your dog.
3: Your Canine is Hungry
One simple explanation for your concern is that your dog is hungry. We’re all aware of how most dogs are huge foodies. They enjoy eating and trying new things.
Every new texture and color, in particular, entices them. If your dog is starving and hasn’t eaten in a few hours, he may begin chewing on the furniture.
You may have put your dog’s favorite food in the bowl, but he simply isn’t in the mood to eat.
The dog is looking for a new flavor. In addition, a dog on a calorie-restricted diet chews on furniture to get extra nutrition.
Consequently, if you have new furniture in your home that smells like food, it will attract your dog’s attention.
Any furniture that resembles food in color or shape can be bitten by your dog just for a taste.
4: Lack of Exercise
Your dog will become dull and bored if he doesn’t get enough mental and physical exercise. How can you expect a lazy dog to pass the time if he is bored and has nothing to do?
He’ll look for other ways to entertain himself, and chewing is one of them.
Some dogs don’t receive enough physical and mental stimulation, so they engage in strange activities, one of which is biting and tearing your furniture.
When we don’t have anything productive to do, we try to entertain ourselves and do stupid things. As a result, keep your dog physically and mentally active.
You can take him for walks and outings daily. You can also involve him in dog sports such as flyball. This will give your dog something to do and will positively drain all of his energy.
5: Rule Out Medical Problems
The last but most important reason for your dog’s destructive behavior could be a medical condition. As a result, it’s critical to ensure that your dog doesn’t have any medical dilemmas.
A poor diet or calorie-deficit food causes nutritional deficiencies, causing the dog to chew on furniture to satisfy his hunger.
Furthermore, intestinal parasitism causes a condition known as pica. Animals suffering from pica try to eat sand and other inedible objects.
Similarly, gastrointestinal issues can cause nausea, and as a coping mechanism, your dog may chew on the furniture. That’s why you should never ignore changes in your dog’s behavior.
They may indicate something as simple as his behavioral problems, or they may provide you with a sign of something far more serious.
What You Can Do About It
1: Tucker Him Out
Once you’ve identified the problem with your dog, take the first step toward resolving it. Delaying treatment means your dog will be unable to return to normalcy for a longer period.
The first thing that may help is to keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated. This is an essential set for dealing with these issues.
Your dog will be healthier and more content if he is well exercised. An active dog is unlikely to engage in destructive behavior.
What’s more, after getting enough exercise, your canine will be too tired to attack your furniture.
When the dog realizes that he will be going out once his owner returns home, he may choose to rest rather than engage in useless activities.
2: Offer Edibles
Provide him with another outlet for his energy. For example, give your dog something edible to chew on. Bully sticks, bones, pigskin rolls, and pig ears are examples of food outlets.
This will keep his mouth occupied and reduce his desire to bite your furniture.
Additionally, determine the time of day when your dog becomes destructive and begins chewing on the furniture.
Give him a puzzle/toy to play with the next day, just a few minutes before that time, along with a bowl full of delicious food.
The food and toy will make him happy while also distracting him. Along with providing him with his favorite food, discourage him from chewing on inappropriate items.
You can cover the furniture with a chewing deterrent. Gradually, he will realize that this odor is caused by the furniture, and he will try to avoid it in the future.
3: Take To The Vet/Behavior Therapist
If regular exercise and feeding your dog his favorite food hasn’t worked for you, it’s time to consult a professional. Certain concepts are difficult for us to grasp, but a professional can help.
To begin, take the dog to the veterinarian. He will thoroughly screen the dog for any complications that may be causing this destructive behavior.
If there is a medical problem, he will prescribe a few medications to treat it. If it is a behavioral issue, the vet will advise you on how to deal with it.
You can also get advice from an animal behavioral therapist. They have been trained to deal with such situations.
A good training session will help your dog control his tension and anxiety and stop being destructive.
Takeaway
Who doesn’t enjoy a rambunctious and playful dog? However, our dogs occasionally behave in ways that cause us to become irritated.
Don’t be concerned if you’re one of the dog owners wondering why their dog is chewing on furniture. You are not alone.
This could happen to any dog at any time. I’ve listed five reasons why your dog could be destroying your furniture. Adult dogs, as well as small puppies, have been observed doing this.
The solution is never to panic but to try to calm down and look for an answer. Understanding the cause of the problem and bonding with your dog will allow you to resolve it.
Try to keep the dog physically engaged and provide him with something tasty to eat. Besides, you can always seek the advice of a veterinarian.
