Why is my dog destroying my stuff?

hi,

Your dog is very, VERY bored. A lot of people believe that if a dog has a yard to roam they should be content. This just is not the case. Dogs are very Intelligent animals and very purpose driven. They like having tasks, they like having things to do. Just think… if you were left in a yard most of the day,everyday, well yes you could run around and roll in the grass and enjoy the day… but you would very soon become very very bored. First, try to help her burn as much of that extra energy as you can. Play with her… real active play. Spend at least a continuous hour on a walk each day.

http://dogtime.com/chewing-digging-behavior.html

There are some products to distract your dog from chewing your stuff like:

* Chew toys are designed to distract your dog from chewing inappropriate items by giving her a toy of her own that’s safe and satisfying to chew.
* Dental chew toys help clean your dog’s teeth as she chews. Rawhides are popular and can provide chewing satisfaction, but they carry a high risk of creating a choking hazard, and they’re high in fat and calories.

To learn more about stopping your dog from destructive chewing, check out these links:

http://dogtime.com/chewing-and-destructive-beha…

http://dogtime.com/dog-training-behavior-chewin…

Yep sounds like boredom and frustration to me. One, you have a breed that is VERY active and needs a lot of stimulation. Walking her more is hard with your schedule..have you thought about getting a dogwalker to come in and take her midday? Or, make her walks more difficult by having her pull you (in a proper harness) on your bicycle or spend some time in the backyard with a flirt pole to get her some interactive play that is “hard play”.

Some other things to think about:

Are there new dogs in your neighbourhood? Could someone be teasing her or getting her excited in your yard while you are gone? Has she been health checked? (thyroid? Pain?).

Make sure she has some good chew toys like kongs or buster balls that you can fill with food and freeze (peanut butter is fantastic) to give her something to do while she is tied out.

Does she have a kennel or doghouse where she can relax if the outside world is too stimulating?

I would be very careful here, if your dog is that frustrated this can get worse, not better, unless something is done to rid her of the excess energy and frustration. Many of the most aggressive dogs out there are ones that are tied up in a back yard for hours on end. Every dog that goes by, every squirrel that she sees/smells remind her that she is tied up and cannot interact with them. Barrier frustration is a serious thing.

Good luck.

Hi, There,

The advice given to you by the others are very good ones. Time to spend a little time reading up on how you can cure your dilemma. Yep, Huskies are VERY active and have GREAT stamina. Research your breed. Be sure she is in good health. Talk to your vet about her behavior. The advice given by Tailspin is right on about BARRIER FRUSTRATION… and he is right about getting worse not better. No dog should be left alone in a yard fenced or not or worse on a leash where they could become tangled and choke themselves to death while owners are gone. You are lucky your dog is still alive after chewing power cables… you can see the danger in this can’t you? If you need to keep your dog outside while you’re gone, she should be in a kennel with shelter, secure, and locked. Your dog needs exercise as well. The Husky is bred for pulling sleds over long, long distances…. think Iditerod…

Check out your local Breed Club and see if you can sign you and your dog up for something physically & mentally challenging for you and your dog. This will give her something to do and create a partnership between you and your dog. Go Team!

Good Luck!!