Your Pet Isn't Misbehaving

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Last Tuesday, my neighbor Sarah called me in tears. Her eight-month-old Labrador had destroyed the third couch cushion that month. "I don't know what to do anymore," she said. "He knows it's wrong. Why does he keep doing this?"

Here's what I told her: Your dog isn't being spiteful. He's screaming for help in the only language he knows.

The Truth About "Bad" Behaviour

We've been getting it wrong. For decades, we've treated chewing, scratching, and digging like crimes that need punishment. But here's what fifteen years of working with animals has taught me: these behaviours aren't problems to fix. They're messages to decode.

Think about it this way. When you're anxious, you might bite your nails or tap your foot. Your pet? They chew your shoes or dig holes in your garden. Same stress response, different species.

Chewing: The Mouth Speaks Volumes

When Buster chewed through Sarah's couch, he wasn't plotting revenge. He was managing an internal crisis.

What chewing actually means:

Your dog might be dealing with dental pain that's driving them crazy. Puppies between 3-7 months are experiencing the canine equivalent of wisdom teeth coming in. Adult dogs? They could have gum disease you haven't noticed yet.

But here's what most people miss: chewing releases endorphins. It's your dog's stress ball. When you leave for work, when the thunderstorm rolls in, when the new baby cries—chewing soothes them.

The fix that actually works:

Stop hiding your shoes and start providing alternatives. I'm talking about frozen Kong toys stuffed with treats, bully sticks, or even frozen carrots for teething puppies. Make chewing the right things more rewarding than chewing the wrong things.

Sarah gave Buster three chew toys and started a 15-minute training session before leaving for work. Two weeks later? Her couch is still intact.

Scratching: Not Spite, Just Biology

Cat owners, this one's for you. When Mittens shreds your curtains, she's not expressing her opinion about your decorating choices.

Cats scratch because they must. Their claws grow in layers, and scratching removes the dead outer sheaths. It's also how they mark territory—those paw pads contain scent glands. In cat language, scratching says "I live here, and I feel safe enough to prove it."

What stress scratching looks like:

Destructive scratching happens near doors and windows. It's usually more frantic, more frequent. Your cat might be seeing outdoor cats through the window, feeling trapped, or responding to changes in the household.

The solution nobody talks about:

You need multiple scratching posts in different textures—sisal, cardboard, carpet. Place them where your cat actually scratches, not where you think they should go. Sprinkle catnip on them. Make them taller than your cat's full stretch.

And here's the secret: if your cat scratches the furniture, put a scratching post right next to that spot. Not across the room. Right there.

Digging: Ancient Instincts Meet Modern Anxiety

Dogs dig for reasons that go back thousands of years. They're creating cool spots in summer, warm dens in winter, hiding food for later, or hunting the mole they heard underground.

But excessive digging? That's different.

I once worked with a Terrier named Scout who dug 17 holes in three weeks. His owner was ready to rehome him. Turns out, Scout was digging because he was bored out of his mind and his breed was literally created to dig out prey.

When digging signals trouble:

If your dog suddenly starts digging after years of not doing it, look deeper. They might be trying to escape because they're scared of something in the yard. They could be under-exercised and burning energy the only way they know how.

The approach that works:

Create a designated digging zone. Bury toys in a specific area and praise your dog for digging there. Sounds crazy, but it redirects the instinct instead of fighting it.

More importantly, increase mental stimulation. A 30-minute walk isn't enough for most breeds. They need puzzle toys, training sessions, sniff walks where they explore at their own pace.

The Pattern You Need to See

Every "bad" behaviour follows the same formula: unmet need + natural instinct = action we don't like.

Your job isn't to punish the action. It's to meet the need.

When you yell at your dog for chewing, you're treating a symptom. When you provide appropriate outlets and reduce their stress, you're treating the cause.

This Week's Challenge: Pick one behaviour that's driving you crazy. Spend three days observing when it happens, what happens right before, and what your pet gains from it. You'll be shocked by what you discover.

Next week, we're talking about separation anxiety—and why your "clingy" pet might actually be brilliant. Updates > Don’t Miss > Read Online