spotted a comment about a link between prey drive and de-stuffing toys in a thread below and decided to ask a question that keeps coming up in my training as a dog trainer. some dogs destroy toys, others dont. some dogs seem to take a lot of pleasure in ripping fabrics and objects made of fabric (there is this young vizsla my friend got recently who is obsessed with fabric toys like tugging ropes and will actually tear them apart if you allow him). it seems a little bit unfair to stop them from ever practicing those behaviours as opposed to allowing them to play with (and destroy) certain objects made of fabric in certain contexts. however, ive been told that dogs wont generalize and that destroying toys and objects is not healthy play so it shouldnt be encouraged or tolerated. what are your thoughts?
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:51:22 +0000