Re: my JRT is always chewing up blankets

In Reply to: my JRT is always chewing up blankets
Category:   Behavior Problems
Posted by:  Tracy N.
Posted on:  January 28, 2003 at 19:50:11

: My JRT is always ripping and shredding apart our blankets. I've now had to replace two down comforters,a duvet cover, and a quilt due to this behavior. It is getting to be costly as well. Do you know why a dog would display such behavior? She is two years old, and this usually happens when we are home but not in the room.

Response:

Dear Tracy,

There are several possible reasons why your terrier displays such behavior -- boredom, to get attention or because she can.

I suggest the first thing you do is close the door to your bedroom; if she doesn't have access to the blankets she can't destroy them. Since you're home when she exhibits this behavior, you need to ask yourself if you're meeting her need for human interaction and her need for both physical and mental exercise. A tired terrier is a happy terrier and a happy terrier is not inclined to destroy it's owner's property to get attention. A negative reaction qualifies as attention...understand? :-)