There is no doubt that even the most affectionate, loyal dogs sometimes get into mischief, and it usually happens when you least expect it.
Presley Vanhorn, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, is used to being greeted by her two well-behaved dogs whenever she comes home.
But on the night she returned from an evening with friends, the usual warm welcome was replaced by a scene that left her completely stunned.
As she opened her apartment door and stepped inside, Presley was met with an image that stopped her in her tracks, forcing her to take a steadying breath.
A Startling Find
Presley was horrified by what her dog, Ivy, had been up to during her night out.
In a clip Presley later shared on TikTok, she appears utterly shocked and gradually comes to terms with the scale of the mess as she sobers up a little on the spot.
At first, Presley noticed two small chewed pieces of trash in the hallway.
She asked Ivy, “What is that?”, while she picked up the scraps on the floor. Ivy crouched behind her, wearing a guilty look, seemingly aware that a far bigger disaster lay ahead.
That tiny mess in the entryway was nothing compared with what she discovered in the kitchen.
When Presley stepped into the kitchen, she was flabbergasted; Ivy had done far more than nibble on a couple of wrappers.
The entire kitchen had been turned into a trash-strewn disaster zone, with bits of rubbish scattered across counters and the floor. Presley uploaded the hilarious footage to TikTok with the caption, “when you come home drunk thinking your dog chewed up only 2 pieces of trash…”
The clip went viral and racked up millions of views. One viewer quipped, “You both partied, I don’t see the problem”, while another said, “You stayed out too late mom this is your punishment 😂😅”.
Presley later replied in the comments that she was so stunned because this was out of character; her dogs are usually very well behaved and rarely cause trouble.
Understanding Problem Behavior
As many commenters pointed out, destruction like this is often a sign of separation anxiety in dogs.
According to the ASPCA, dogs experience separation anxiety and become upset when they are separated from their guardians, the people they’re attached to.
A distressed dog might urinate, defecate, bark, whine, howl, pace, or, as is commonly seen, destroy items inside the home, chewing and shredding things to cope.
Dogs are highly social creatures, and when left alone for extended stretches, they will express their discomfort in ways that can be hard for owners to manage.
If you want guidance on managing separation anxiety in dogs, I highly suggest reading this article, which offers comprehensive, practical insights and helpful tips for owners and caretakers. It is a useful resource for anyone seeking help.