Often, but not always. Boredom and pent-up energy are the most common reasons dogs chew, dig and shred, especially young, active dogs. Anxiety, teething, fear and health problems can look the same. Notice when and what your dog destroys, review their exercise and stimulation, and see your vet or a behaviourist if it's extreme.
How can I tell if it's boredom?
Look at the pattern. Boredom damage tends to happen when your dog is under-occupied: left alone in the yard for hours, shut inside while you work, or ignored on a quiet afternoon. The targets are usually things that are fun to destroy rather than things that smell strongly of you: cushions, shoes, the garden hose, the irrigation, the lawn. It's also common in the hour or two after you leave, and it often fades on days when your dog has had a big walk or a good play.
A useful test is to compare a busy day with a quiet one. If the chewing and digging drops sharply after proper exercise and company, you're most likely looking at an energy problem rather than an emotional one.
What else could be behind it?
A few other causes are worth ruling out before you decide it's boredom. Separation anxiety shows up as distress when you leave: pacing, drooling, constant barking, and damage at doors, windows and gates. Puppies chew while their teeth are coming through, and adolescent dogs, roughly six to eighteen months, often have more energy than their owners expect. Storms, fireworks and other loud noises can set off panicked destruction in a dog who is otherwise calm.
Sudden changes in an adult dog's behaviour can have a medical cause too. If the destruction is new, out of character or comes with other changes in appetite, toilet habits or mood, start with your vet.
Is a daily walk enough?
For many dogs it isn't. A 30 minute lead walk meets the minimum for some dogs and falls far short for others, particularly working, herding and terrier breeds that were bred to be busy all day. The sniffing, running and problem solving matter as much as the distance. We cover the signs of an under-exercised dog in is my dog getting enough exercise.
Perth makes it harder. From December to February, hot afternoons and scorching pavement shrink the safe walking window to early morning and late evening, and a bored dog in a sandy or limestone backyard has plenty of material to dig. If summer walks are getting shorter, your dog's energy hasn't dropped with them.
What helps at home?
Build the tiredness in before you leave. A longer, sniffier walk in the cool of the morning does more than a fast lap of the block. Give your dog something legitimate to do while you're out: a food puzzle, a safe chew, or a scatter feed in the garden, rotated so it stays interesting. Tidy away shoes and anything chewable, and dog-proof the yard where you can.
Avoid telling your dog off when you get home. Dogs don't connect a scolding to something they did hours ago, and it can make anxiety worse. Calm management and more outlets work far better than punishment.
How can daycare help?
For a dog whose problem is energy and boredom, a day at daycare is a big dose of what's missing: hours of supervised play with other dogs, mental stimulation, and a tired, settled dog at pick-up. Our playrooms at Jandakot are fully indoor and air-conditioned, so the Perth summer doesn't cut the day short. Even a day or two a week can change the rhythm of the whole week at home.
It isn't a cure-all. Daycare won't fix separation anxiety by itself, and a few dogs find a busy playroom too much. Tell us what's happening at home. Every new dog starts with a free evaluation day, so we can see how your dog copes, and the requirements are a current C5 vaccination and desexing if your dog is over six months. Not sure yet? Here's how to tell if your dog is ready. Daycare runs at our Jandakot site only.
When should I call a vet or behaviourist?
Call your vet straight away if your dog has swallowed something they shouldn't have, hurt themselves while destroying things, or the behaviour started suddenly. Talk to your vet or a qualified behaviourist if there are signs of real distress when you leave, if the damage is extreme, or if nothing you try is making a difference.
Frequently asked questions
Will daycare stop my dog destroying things?
It can help a lot when boredom and excess energy are the cause, because a dog who has played hard all day is far more settled at home. It won't fix separation anxiety or a medical problem on its own, so tell us what you're seeing and talk to your vet if you're worried.
Is my dog destroying things to get back at me?
No. Dogs don't act out of spite. Chewing and digging are normal ways for a dog to burn energy, relieve stress or entertain themselves, so the useful question is what your dog is missing, not what they're trying to say.
Should I tell my dog off when I find the damage?
No. Your dog can't link a scolding to something they did hours earlier, and it often increases stress. Calmly clean up, then work on exercise, stimulation and what your dog can chew instead.
How do I know if it's separation anxiety instead?
Separation anxiety usually shows up only when you're gone, with distress signs like pacing, drooling, constant barking and damage near doors and windows. If that sounds like your dog, talk to your vet or a qualified behaviourist.
Give them somewhere to burn it off
Book your dog's free evaluation day at Jandakot.
More advice: Is my dog getting enough exercise? · Is your dog ready for daycare? · What happens on an evaluation day