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Published February 17, 2017
Sure we love our pets — but it's never fun when Fluffy or Fido decides to scratch, tear up, rip or otherwise destroy one of our belongings.
If your pet is showing signs of destructive behavior, they are mostly like suffering from boredom, says dog trainer Jolanta Benal. "It's usually because they've got pent up energy and they don't know what to do with it."
It's important to realize that a pet's destructive behavior is never "spiteful," says Victoria Wells, senior manager of behavior and training at the ASPCA. Instead, the behavior is "anxiety-based," which can stem from the aforementioned boredom.
Making sure your pet is getting enough exercise is key to helping them avoid a major destructive spree. Benal says a dog who is relaxed from a long, sniffy, fascinating walk, or a good hard game of fetch, will be less likely tear apart your furniture.
"Even ten minutes a day of reward-based training can make a big difference," she adds. "It doesn't matter whether you teach tricks or good manners, as long as the training is fun. Food dispensing toys are also a huge boredom preventer."
Aside from making sure your pet gets enough exercise, there are other things you can do to train and prevent them from tearing down the drapes or claw at throw pillows:
"Until your pet gets into a good, strong habit of focusing on chew toys, put your shoes away!" adds Benal.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/how-to-pet-proof-your-home