Sudden Behavior Change in Pit Bull Mix

My pit bull/Belgium Shepard male is 8 yrs old and is suddenly trying to get out of my home through an old cat door. He's actually damaged the sheet rock and wood. Also, when I get home he has my rugs in disarray. Why is he doing this now?

Gale's Reply:

When a dog's behavior suddenly changes and the change can't be linked to a change in the environment (like moving to a new house) or an external trigger (like thunderstorms), it's important to rule out possible physical causes with your vet.

With your rugs in disarray and the damaged cat door, it sounds like he's zooming around the house looking for a way out. If this only occurs while you're gone, I would suspect some form of separation anxiety.

But, part of your question is--why now? Considering his age, there's a possibility that he's experiencing some changes that are part of the aging process that are causing him to feel less secure. An underlying ailment that needs treatment could also be responsible.

My recommendation is that you work with your vet to rule out medical issues first before pursuing strictly behavioral remedies.

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For help with behavioral problems, check out our Dog Behavior Training page.