Why Is My Dog Trying To Climb Walls?

You may have spotted that your dog is climbing the walls and you want to know why they are doing this. There are multiple reasons for this and as no two dogs are the same, it can be quite difficult to figure out the answer.

Why Is My Dog Trying To Climb Walls?

 

There are multiple reasons why your dog is trying to climb walls. They might be bored. They might want to play. They just might have too much energy and are looking for ways to get rid of this energy. Whatever the reason, ensure to protect your walls so they can’t damage them.

 

 

Why Is My Dog Trying To Climb Walls?

Just Loves Climbing

Part of the reason why dogs have sharp claws is for climbing. So, as it is part of their natural instinct to climb things, one reason why they are climbing the walls is due to this.

Just Playing

Dogs love to play and they will often try and find anything they can to play with. If there is nothing or no one around to play with, they will see the wall as something to play with. This is why you should always ensure they have plenty of things to play with to keep them occupied.

Trying To See What Is There Outside

Dogs love to be outside. Regardless of the size of your house, being outside allows your dog to feel more free. So if they’re stuck inside, they’re going to want to look to see what’s outside, particularly if they can hear others out there.

Interesting Creatures On The Wall (Frogs, Bats, Spiders…)

Dogs are inquisitive animals, so if they see a creature on the wall that they are intrigued by and perhaps haven’t seen before, they are going to want to be climbing up the wall so they can get a closer look.

Boredom

It’s very easy for dogs to feel bored. Dogs need plenty of playtime, walks and mental stimulation and if your dog isn’t getting this, it can lead them climbing at the walls because they want to do something.

Restlessness

If your dog isn’t getting enough exercise or playtime, this is going to cause them to feel restless as they need to get rid of this energy in order to feel able to sleep well. This causes them to climb the walls as a way of getting rid of this restlessness.

Natural Extra Energy

Some dogs naturally have a lot of energy. After you’ve had your dog for even a matter of days, you will begin to learn how much energy they have and therefore, will know how much exercise/playtime you need to give them to stop them from climbing the walls.

Fear

Many things can cause fear in dogs, such as thunderstorms and fireworks. They may want to try and get out of the room they’re in because they’re scared, so will be climbing the walls to try and find a way out.

Looking For A Mate

There is a chance your dog is climbing the wall because they are looking for a mate. This may be to reproduce, or it may just be to find a dog to play with. Again, this may be due to boredom, or it could just be because they want to find another dog.

Hunting Instinct

If your dog sees any animal that they have a natural instinct to hunt, such as a cat or a bird, they are going to try and do so. If this animal happens to be on a wall, they are going to start jumping up at the wall to try and catch it.

Nocturnal Instinct Dogs can scratch at night for a variety of reasons. These include anxiety, trying to nest, or they are hearing noises in the walls. You can check for which reason within these by keeping an eye on your dog and looking for any other tell-tale signs of these reasons.

 

Senility

The older a dog gets, the more their brain can deteriorate. This causes behavioural changes and is associated with canine cognitive dysfunction, which is essentially a version of Alzheimer’s in dogs. This may be the reason behind your dog trying to climb the walls.

Medical Conditions

One medical condition your dog could be suffering from is a condition called Pica. This is where your dog is craving something that isn’t a food, so in this case, they might be trying to eat the wall. Keep an eye on them in case they eat something toxic.

Is My Dog Ok?

There isn’t too much to worry about if your dog is scratching the walls. The only time you should worry is if this is a new habit they’ve started or if they’re showing other signs, such as signs of anxiety or distress.

Is It Trying To Escape?

There is a chance if your dog is climbing the walls that they are trying to escape. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re trying to get away from you. It may just mean that they’re wanting to get outside and want to escape from the room they’re in.

Is This Abnormal?

This isn’t necessarily abnormal. It’s only abnormal if your dog went from not scratching at the walls to suddenly scratching at them. Having said this, you probably don’t want your dog to be doing this so it’s best not to encourage them.

Is It Scared? Sick?

There is a possibility that your dog could be scared or sick if they are climbing the wall. You will be able to tell the difference as if they are sick they will be showing other signs, such as refusing to eat their food. In this case, you may want to take them to the vet.

Dangers For The Dog/Others?

A danger for your dog scratching the wall is if it’s due to having Pica, they are likely to try/succeed with eating substances that aren’t good for them. This could make your dog very ill, so you need to keep an eye on them to check for any signs of illness.

Why Is My (1, 2, 3, …6) Months Old Puppy Trying To Climb Walls?

If it’s your puppy trying to climb the walls, this is likely to be caused by anxiety. Puppies aren’t used to being left on their own and if you ever need to go out and leave your puppy alone, anxiety will leave them wanting to climb the walls.

Why Is My (6, 7, 8….15) Years Old Dog Trying To Climb Walls?

The older a dog gets, the more likely it is for their cognitive abilities to deteriorate. This is likely to cause behavioural changes. One of these behavioural changes might be climbing the walls. This may also caused disorientation or sleep deprivation/over sleeping.

How Long It Takes For A Dog To Stop Trying To Climb Walls?

In some cases, it may just be that your dog is climbing the walls because they are a puppy and this is something they will grow out of. However, it could be something else.

 

Either way, don’t just assume your dog will grow out of it and actively do something to prevent them from doing this behaviour because the longer it goes on for, the longer they see it as being acceptable.

How Do I Train (Counter Condition / Desensitize) My Dog Trying To Climb Walls? 

Give Your Dog More Regular Attention And Exercise As previously mentioned, dogs can get bored quite easily and need plenty of attention and exercise. This is one of the first things you are going to want to look into if your dog is climbing the walls and make sure every few hours to take them out for a walk or give them playtime.

 

Fencing This depends on whether your dog is going under or over your fencing. If it’s under, get some gauge hot wire and put it along the bottom of the fence. If it’s over the fence, put some PVC pipe along the top of your fence, as they won’t be able to grip onto this.

 

Perimeter Landscaping

This can be done by putting items such as bamboo or boxwood in front of your fence. These items are quite thick, so put a barrier between your dog and the fence to prevent them from climbing it.

What Not To Do With A Dog Who Is Trying To Climb Walls?

Don’t shout at your dog if they’re climbing the walls. As previously mentioned, one of the reasons for them climbing the walls could be because they’re anxious or scared and shouting at them will only worsen these feelings.

Don’t Ever Punish Them For Climbing

Punishing your dog for climbing the walls isn’t going to do anything. They may be a little confused as to why you’re shouting at them, as there could be any reason why they’re climbing the walls, so won’t know why you’re punishing them.

Why Declawing Is Not The Answer?

Declawing shouldn’t happen as it’s not as simple as when we cut our nails. Your dogs claws come directly from their bones and would mean that your dog would have to learn to carry their weight differently should they be removed.

Is Trying To Climb Walls Dangerous To Dogs?

It potentially can be. If they’re just jumping up at the wall and not getting much further, then it should be okay. However, if they can get quite far up the wall, it could be dangerous as they could fall off it and hurt themselves or get out on the street and be hit by a car.

Why Is My Dog Trying To Climb Walls At Night?

Reasons behind your dog trying to climb the walls at night include feeling anxious, nesting, and hearing noises in the walls. If they are nesting, they will be scratching at their bed and the wall. To tell the difference between anxiety and hearing noises, look for other signs to find the reason.

Why Is My Dog Trying To Climb Walls In The Morning?

This is because they could be trying to get outside. When dogs wake up in the morning, one of the first things they want to do is go to the toilet. If they are scratching at the wall during this time, it may be a sign they need to go outside to do their business.

What Are The Dog Breeds That Like To Climb Walls?

It is known that Border Collies are quite likely to climb the walls. This is because, traditionally, they are working dogs, so are used to being quite active. You need to ensure this breed gets between 2 and 5 hours of exercise per day.

Should I Take My Dog To The Vet? Or A Dog Trainer?

You shouldn’t have to take your dog to the vet for climbing the walls, but you may want to get a dog trainer involved. They will be able to teach you and your dog some methods to use so that when they start climbing the walls, you can immediately get them to stop.

How Much Would The Vet Cost?

This can be quite costly, but it is unknown how much exactly it will cost you to take your dog to the vet to get them treated for this. But it is likely to cost quite a bit of money, so only do so if you are either unsure what to do or you believe your dog to be ill.

How Much Would The Dog Trainer Cost?

Much like with the vet, dog trainers can also cost a lot of money, but it’s unknown exactly how much they will cost. To start off with, you should try training your dog yourself and only as a last resort should you get a dog trainer involved.

What To Spray On Walls To Keep Dogs Off?

You can buy a spray deterrent to spray on your walls to keep your dog off them. They often have a bitter taste to them, but won’t harm your dog in the slightest. This teaches them that if they climb the walls, they are going to get a bitter taste and they don’t want that.

Why Do Some Dogs Have So Much Energy?

In some cases, a lot of energy may just be due to your dog not getting enough stimulation throughout the day. However, it could be an attention deficit issue, whereby your dog lacks the ability to properly regulate themselves, hence why they’ll try to climb the wall.

Can Dogs Climb Brick Walls?

There’s a possibility that your dog could climb a brick wall, but it will likely depend on the dog and how good they are at climbing.

Why Do Dogs Scratch And Lick Walls?

This can be for a number of different reasons, including boredom and anxiety. They might be feeling anxious due to being left on their own, which can also cause boredom as dogs like to be stimulated.

Is There Dog Proof Wall Covering?

Yes there is. This can either be perspex or fiberglass wall guard panels. These can deter your dog from climbing the walls as there won’t be any damage and they are also easy to clean.

Why Is My Dog Trying To Eat The Wall?

This is a sign that your dog has Pica. This is an eating disorder and is where your dog will try to eat anything that’s not a food. You will need to keep an eye on your dog in case they eat anything toxic and also take them to the vet to get them treated.

Why Is My Dog Walking Against The Wall?

Dogs usually walk against walls as a way of scratching an itch or to mark their territory. However, if this is more of a regular occurrence, it could be because they are bored, stressed, anxious, or injured.

Can All Dogs Climb Walls?

It completely depends on the dog. Dogs aren’t actually bred to climb, however, there are going to be some breeds that can climb better than others. This can be due to size and also how much energy they tend to have. It all depends on the dog.

 

References

https://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-scratch-walls

A Foolproof Guide: How to Stop a Dog from Climbing a Fence