Enrichment – Destruction
This blog is for anyone who’s dog loves to shred and or de-stuff toys, This behaviour is completely natural and in fact necessary for your dogs well being, Previously, dogs/wolves had to hunt and forage for their meals, which also meant killing their prey in order to eat. This could be seen today when your dog stalks, or shakes their toys, as well as holding them with their paws and then pulling them apart.
This can be troublesome when your dog decides your new pair of shoes or the corner of your coffee table looks delicious. Anyone who has had a puppy can relate to the frustration of teething! The trick is to provide appropriate outlets such as snuffle boxes or snuffle toys (Picture below), Kongs, Bones etc. These sorts of activities are going to allow your dog to partake in natural behaviors, such as: sniffing, chewing, and shredding.
Things around the house you can use for these activities:
-Paper towel
-Paper towel rolls
-Toilet paper rolls
-Dish towels
-Empty and washed out juice containers
-Empty egg cartons
-Muffin tray/pan
-Cardboard
-Heads of lettuce
-Blanket
Common Misconceptions With Shredding Enrichment
One of the most common misconceptions with shredding and destuffing enrichment is that these activities will provoke or encourage destruction around the house. Like mentioned above, by providing appropriate outlets, you take away the need for your dog to seek out their own shredding entertainment.
One thing to note is that a dog who shreds, can be engaging in the behaviour for multiple reasons. Some of these reasons can be boredom, anxiety, frustration etc. If you suspect that there may be an underlying problem to your dogs shredding, then I would encourage you to reach out to a trainer.
Some Reasons for Shredding
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Shredding for an Outlet. Something that is provided in a safe, monitored way with proper cues to alleviate a dog’s innate need to shred. Usually given as a puzzle or toy for enjoyment.
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Shredding as a Sign of Boredom. When your dog suddenly tears apart something they’ve come across in your home for “no apparent reason”. Usually this is your dog telling you, “I’m bored!”. A destructive dog is usually one of the first signs of boredom in canines. They will absolutely make their own fun if they feel like you won’t!
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Shredding as a Sign of Anxiety. Have you ever come home to a dog that has shred a blanket or shoes etc, or bites the baseboards? This could be a sign of separation anxiety and is something you should reach out for help with! Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they’re attached to.
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Shredding as a Sign of Frustration. If a puzzle or game is too difficult or your dog doesn’t understand how to play, this can often lead to frustration. As a result, your dog leans towards what it instinctively knows how to do: Shredding and chewing. Example: You give your dog a snuffle mat for the first time . don’t show your dog how to use it. They may chew some pieces off, flip the mat upside down and spray the food all over the place. This can be avoided simply by demonstrating how to use the toy first.
NOTE: With shredders, it’s important that these toys and games are monitored accordingly. With any ripping or shredding, it’s always possible that something can become ingested, which is why it’s so incredibly important that you’re there to monitor and remove games and items when needed.