Chewing Stress
July 21, 2010
You may not have thought of stress as one of the driving forces behind destructive chewing, however consider the tension that dogs undergo when subjected to the commotion, confusion and strains of today’s hectic households. Picture it; kids shouting, fights erupting, overworked adults, family schedules, and deadlines… and the beat goes on. In the midst of all this commotion the family dog lies waiting for the opportunity, since dogs are opportunists, to chew to relieve his or her stress! Exploration opportunities typically reveal interesting wastebaskets, closets (that smell just like their loved ones), discarded clothing, and sprung cupboards. Conducting "Search and Destroy" missions is great fun, and is often followed by "Dig and Discover," and winds up with the equally electrifying 'Dissection Game" where cushion fillings explode and tumble out. Hmm, satisfied dogs, dissatisfied owners!
The good news is that you can turn this scenario into a win-win solution, by applying the laws of behavior to your chewing problems.
1. Dogs will repeat behaviors that are rewarding to them…and will avoid behaviors that are not rewarding to them. It's really pretty simple. Dogs are pragmatic and will continue to the things that have worked for them in the past. Therefore, if given the opportunity, they will satisfy their chewing needs on whatever good things they can find.
2. Chewing problems are really owner problems. Dogs have no remorse over chewed items…you do! They have no conception of the intrinsic value of "things". Therefore, your anger (usually administered after-the-fact) will not teach them to stop chewing. As a matter of fact, your dogs' problems become you! Or, more aptly put how to deal with you! Dogs, confronted with your anger, are put in the position of learning how to appease you. Therefore, their lesson becomes one of appeasement through posturing or displaying submissive gestures rather than learning to chew appropriate items.
3. Don't worry about the why's behind you dogs’ unruly behaviors, address the what's, where's, and when's of your dog's actions. Analyze your chewing problem and break it down into parts. What types of things do your dogs tend to chew? Do they have any particular preferences? Where are they chewing? Are there certain spots that they seem to seek out? And finally, when do they chew; when you're away or in the next room? Try to understand that the very problem behaviors that dogs exhibit are, in fact, very practical behaviors (from their points of view).
4. Reward your dogs for making the proper choices. Accept that some dogs need and want to chew more than others do. Therefore, provide your adolescent dogs with ample opportunities to chew at times and on items that are acceptable, and reward them for their correct choices.
5. Reward desired behaviors at the exact moments that they occur. Scientific research shows that dogs learn that their behaviors are either right or wrong depending on the rewards (or lack of rewards) that they receive when they are involved in performing behaviors. As a matter of fact, research goes on to conclude that dogs cannot respond to consequences (either negative or positive) that occur after a second or two of their behaviors. Therefore, if minutes or even seconds elapse between dogs' actions and your reactions, you've probably lost them completely.
6. Avoiding "after-the-fact" punishment. All species learn faster, retain information longer, and will repeat behaviors that they associate with positive experiences. In other words, dogs make their decisions (to continue to engage in behaviors or not) based on their assessment of their immediate well being, or their immediate consequences. The ability to understand future consequences is a human trait; therefore, after-the-fact punishment will not cause your dogs to discontinue inappropriate behaviors in the future. In addition, correcting your dogs for behavior after-the-fact may lead to the break down of your relationships with your dogs.
7. Avoid thinking that your dogs "know" right from wrong. Since dogs have no moral codes, their activities are perfectly acceptable to them. They are not trying to “get even” with you. They are not “mad” at you. Dogs chew simply because they feel like it, and probably have too much free reign within the home. In other words, they were allowed to learn to chew your belongings. Owners, also, insist that their dogs 'know' they've done wrong because of the "guilty looks" they display at the scenes of their crimes. Submissive signaling or appeasement gestures are typical canine displays that are offered whenever animals are compromised (irate owners). It's these submissive signals that lead people to assume that their dogs are acting "guilty", so they feel justified in punishing their animals. The truth is, punishment for past behaviors may very well start your dogs worrying about your unpredictable behavior!
8. Prevent access to area of your homes until your dogs learn what they are allowed to chew.
9. Change unwanted behaviors by creating environments that meets your dogs' needs, and provides them with ample opportunities to perform acceptable behaviors. For example, provide them with toys scented with your personal scent, stuff chew items filled with a variety of delectable foods, provide challenging chew toys, etc.
Dog training involves teaching dogs the rules of their new world, and it becomes our responsibility to teach them how to live in a "human" world. If your dogs have not been taught what they can chew on, then anything is fair game! Most of the time your dogs are really just having a good time when they chew, and they don't think of things like future consequences, worrying about cleaning up the mess, or the dollar value of their destruction.
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