Why does my dog chew when home alone? Is it boredom or anxiety?

Question

Lately my dog has been chewing on things like the carpet and the baseboard, I’m assuming from boredom. I walk him 4-5 times a day but me and my other family members work so sometimes it’s challenging to get him to the park or have him off leash to play since we live in an apartment complex. Is there anything we can do to dismiss this behavior? Any chew toy recommendations to keep him occupied during the times we aren’t home? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks! Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 8 months and 18 days old | 80 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. You can certainly try leaving him with some additional things to chew on while you're not home to see if this helps. Some good options would include large rawhide chews, bully sticks, or puzzle toys such as a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter. You could also feed his breakfast and dinner out of a puzzle toys such as a Kibble Nibble or Buster Cube while you're gone, rather than giving it to him in a bowl when you're home. However, I would caution you that destructive behavior while you're not home is a very common sign of separation anxiety. If Oakley has this problem, leaving him with treats and puzzle toys may still help, but he may also need prescription anti-anxiety medication from your vet to treat the issue effectively. To find out if he is anxious or just bored, I would recommend setting up a video camera to record him the next time you leave the house. When you watch the recording, it's usually pretty easy to tell if he's upset vs. just bored.

Why does my dog chew when home alone? Is it boredom or anxiety?

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