My German Shepherd is destructive and biting her nails. Is it anxiety?

This behavior is normal. she does not like being separated from her 'pack'. Luna is too young to have separation anxiety but if you indulge this type of behavior, you could cause her to develop separation anxiety as an adult. It is important to have dogs that are comfortable and adjusted to being away from you. Your best option is to work with a trainer and to read many books about dog training and behavior. There is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who has written several books that will be beneficial. German Shepherds are a breed that can be prone to behavioral issues so you want to be certain that Luna is well exercised and trained. I recommend to stick with positive training techniques and to read a lot about the breed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, this looks like his nail has some injury to it but I can't be certain. It appears it may have been pulled or torn and is causing him some pain. Dogs who are in pain often don't act they way they do normally. I would take her to a vet to see if the nail needs to come off or if there is an infection you can treat with antibiotics. You can try soaking it with warm water and a betadine solution to see if that provides any relief. Good luck, i hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behavioral issues can be corrected but it does require time and patience. I highly recommend that you find a qualified dog trainer that can help her as this will usually take a professional to help. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes when the nails get very long they can get caught on material and pulled out causing swelling, pain, and an infection. However, this could also be a nail bed infection caused by a bacteria or perhaps fungus or could be related to an underlying allergy to something in her environment (like a seasonal allergy). I would recommend Sasha see her veterinarian for a closer inspection. Sasha may need to have the nails cut and may need to go home with antibiotics if her veterinarian thinks the nail bed is infected. I hope this helps!

Destructive behavior like this when you're not home is usually caused by separation anxiety - some dogs will chew things when they're bored, but if there is significant destruction and it only happens when you're gone, anxiety is much more likely. If you want to know for sure, I would suggest videotaping her the next time you go out - it's usually very easy to see on the video if this is anxiety vs. boredom. There are a few things you can do to try and help her. You can try crating her, but be aware that many dogs with this problem are more anxious when they are confined - she won't be able to do as much damage to your home, but she may injure herself if she panics trying to escape. I would strongly recommend leaving her with a special long-lasting treat of some kind every time you leave the house, like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter or something similar. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Composure or Zylkene to help decrease her anxiety. If you don't see improvement within the next 1-2 weeks, you should talk with your vet about the problem as she may need prescription medication to treat her anxiety, at least for a while. You could also request referral to a veterinary behaviorist for additional help if the problem is severe.

This could be separation anxiety as digging/heavy panting are both signs of extreme stress. Looking into techniques to address separation anxiety such as using pheromone diffusers, crate training, playing a soothing talk radio show or music station, providing puzzle toys that can be chewed on while away, etc, may help reduce her stressful behavior. If the problem continues or worsens, talking with a veterinary behaviorist or your vet about a program of medication in addition to a training plan may help her relax enough to feel better.

It looks like she is just biting off the outer shell of the nail, which can shed in some cases. Because she is nibbling them she is likely causing a little more shedding than normal. I wouldn't worry too much as long as she is not damaging the nail bed or quick of the nails themselves.