Dogs are man’s best friend–most of the time. However, we don’t feel too friendly toward them when we find our new running shoes in shreds, upholstered furniture ripped open and stuffing scattered everywhere, rolls of toilet paper torn into tiny bits, the table legs chewed off, the kid’s toys beheaded and other evidence of destructive behavior.

A common cause of destructive behavior in dog is plain old boredom, although some will chew to relieve stress. Dogs are social creatures, and may be left alone too long during the day while the family is at work and school. Destructive dogs are often trying to entertain themselves and burn off excess energy.http://www.atlantahumane.org/education/smarthearts/sh.destructive-dogs.asp

Dogs crave mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. Provide your dog with some constructive activity, whether it’s active play that presents a challenge (such as fetching a ball), participating in dog trials and competitions, interesting toys to play with or learning tricks to entertain the family, to give him an outlet for his excess energy

There are many activities that you can engage in with your dog that will give him the mental stimulation he craves and make him too tired to consider eating your bathrobe. Please use this guide to learn how to curb destructive behavior in dogs.

Teaching your puppy what is and isn’t his to chew on isn’t difficult when you’re patient and persistent and never let him get into the habit of chewing what isn’t his to begin with. Nip it in the bud! Puppies are curious critters who learn about their world by biting and chewing. It’s thought their chewing activities help loosen the baby teeth so adult teeth can grow in. You don’t want to discourage your puppy from chewing, but instead direct his natural behavior toward acceptable objects, like dog toys or doggy chews.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-deal-with-a-chewing-destructive-dog/page1.aspx

Whenever your puppy latches onto something he shouldn’t have, calmly remove the object from his mouth while telling him “drop it”(or whatever phrase you choose, but it must always be the same one) and replace it with one of his toys. Praise him for taking his toy from you, and praise him whenever you catch him playing with his own toys. Keep him crated or confined when you can’t supervise him until you can trust him (reasonably well, at least) to go for his own toys when the urge to chew strikes.

With older dogs, it can be difficult to overcome this bad habit but the method is the same as with puppies. Keep your dog confined or under supervision and quickly remove forbidden objects from his mouth. Replace it with a toy and praise him.

Whatever your dog’s age, try to avoid chasing him to get the contraband back: He’ll think it’s a game, which will only encourage his bad behavior. Your dog should be taught to “drop it” on command. You should be able to remove any object, even food, from your dog’s mouth when you need to–what if he latches onto someone’s arm or grabs something poisonous?

It’s very likely that if your dog isn’t getting enough exercise, you probably aren’t either! A bit of exercise will do you both good and make your dog less likely to exhibit destructive behavior. Exercising with your dog allows you to spend more time with him and reinforce the bond he has with you. A dog looks to his owner for guidance and assurance, and dogs who don’t get firm direction from their “pack leader” are more likely to follow their own instincts and behave in ways that aren’t acceptable to humans.http://www.atlantahumane.org/education/smarthearts/sh.destructive-dogs.asp

Exercising your dog doesn’t have to be a test of your endurance. Five or ten minutes daily of playing fetch or chasing a ball can give a less-active breed the exercise he needs. More active breeds will enjoy jogging or hiking with you, joining the family at the beach, or playing Frisbee. Take your dog for a long daily walk or for an outing at the dog park. Exercise early in the morning, if you have time, to tire your dog enough that he doesn’t have the energy left to be destructive.http://www.superhappypets.com/article_dog_home_alone.html

While having a yard to play in helps, turning your dog outside with nothing to do will invite him to destroy your yard by digging it up and/or damaging your landscape plants. If your dog’s a digger, set aside one corner of your yard and train him to dig only in that spot. Plant some dog-friendly landscape plants and bury a few dog treats in the spot to encourage him to dig there.

Some dogs have jobs as K9 officers or military personnel, search and rescue dogs, hunting companions, therapy dogs, guard dogs, herding dogs or assistants to disabled persons. Your dog doesn’t have to have a career, but giving your dog something interesting to do can help curb his destructive behavior.

Engaging in dog activities, such as flyball competitions, obedience training, agility trials, hunting and tracking trials, or dog shows can provide your dog with the human interaction, exercise, and mental stimulation he needs to keep him content. The activity you choose should depend on your dog’s personality and innate skills, not what appeals most to your own desires.

For instance, if your dog doesn’t let strangers pet him, he won’t do well in dog shows where he must allow judges to handle him. Your mutt won’t be allowed to participate in dog shows or obedience trials for pure breed dogs, but may be able to take part in agility trials that allow cross breed dogs.

Dogs who are well socialized and trustworthy around strangers may make excellent amateur therapy dogs. Many nursing homes and retirement homes recognize the therapeutic value of pets and will allow them on the premises. Your dog will enjoy playing with new friends who are eager to make a fuss over him or roll a ball for him. Call the facility’s staff and ask about the best time to visit.

Having a structured lifestyle gives your dog a sense of security which can prevent many behavior problems. If engaging in dog activities away from home isn’t possible, make your dog’s home life stable and interesting. Set limits for him, give him plenty of attention and regular physical activity and you may find that much of his misbehavior, not only his destructive behavior, can be more easily trained out of him or at least kept under control.