Destructive Behavior
Most dog owners see destructive behaviors as a sign of a poorly trained dog. While this may be true with young puppies, adult dogs are often destructive to show their unhappiness. They are simply asking for help in the only way that they know how.
Destructive behavior could be a sign of an unhappy dog. Is he being left home alone a lot? Are you spending enough time with him when you are at home? Does he have enough toys and chews to entertain him and provide adequate mental stimulation?
Bored dogs, dogs that are stressed and dogs that are lonely/depressed may show their feelings through destructive behavior. The worst thing you can do for these dogs is to punish them. Address the reason for the destructive behavior and be patient with your pet.
Your dog pulls on your hand or sleeve
Some dogs will come over and gently pull on your hand or sleeve to get you to go somewhere with them. This is your dog saying, ‘Come and take a look!’ or ‘Follow me so I can show you!’
Another version of the Come-and-take-a-look move involves nudging you with their nose and then running away a few steps before stopping to look at you.
If you get up and follow them, they may stop along the way to look back and make sure you’re still behind them and give a few tail wags. You’ll soon find out what interesting thing they want to show you or what they want to ask for.
How do you know when your dog is asking for help?
Signs Your Dog Needs to Go to the Veterinarian
16 Ways Your Dog May Be Asking For Help
Generally, there are three primary ways that you can tell when a dog needs your help: physiological changes, behavioral changes, and signs of pain or discomfort. We rounded up some common SOS signals that your dog may be sending your way—and what you should do about them.