Nuisance Behaviors – Humans call them that, but these behaviors, to animals, are part of their every day life. These behaviors are part of their genetics. These behaviors are bred into them.
- Scratching
- Biting
- Kicking
- Bucking
- Rearing
- Jumping
- Shredding
Animals use these behaviors for emotional balance, physical strengthening, cognitive exercising, and communication. Taking away the ability to participate in these core behaviors is mentally and physically damaging to our animals.
Although we must maintain safe relationships between animals and humans, we can do that while allowing them to communicate and while allowing them to be what they are, animals.
Providing safe and acceptable ways for animals to partake in these behaviors is necessary for health and wellness, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Each behavior listed above is purposeful to animals. It is necessary. When we punish them for doing things they NEED, we are setting them up to fail. Instead, think of ways we can allow these behaviors in a way that is safe and acceptable.
We can provide them with space to run and play, or simply just to be alone.
We can provide them with appropriate places to scratch and appropriate items to chew on and shred.
We can provide them with the ability to say “no”, and listen as humans so behaviors do not escalate.
We can offer them privacy and peace while they are eating or chewing a bone.
We can offer them socialization with other animals where they can bite, tug, react, kick, etc… all in playful form without anyone getting hurt.
There is never an excuse to NOT allow these behaviors. There is always a reason to creatively allow these behaviors. And when you do, nuisance behaviors become non existent. We can teach them WHERE and how to use these behaviors, but we must never punish them for using behaviors that are genetically part of who they are.
