Your dog starts barking every time someone walks past the window. Your cat disappears under the bed when guests arrive. Your pet begins chewing shoes, furniture, or items they never used to touch. 

In the moment, these behaviours can feel confusing or disruptive. But pets are not trying to make it difficult. Behaviour is a form of communication — it can be one of the clearest ways a pet tells us that something feels exciting, stressful, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable.  

Looking at the behaviour with curiosity instead of frustration can help you better understand what your pet needs. 

 Look Beyond the Behaviour

 When a pet’s behaviour changes, the first step is understanding what they may be communicating. Pay attention to when it happens, what is happening around them, and what they do afterward.  

 Often, behaviour is connected to changes in a pet’s world. A shift in your schedule, a new visitor, a move, loud noises, construction, a new pet, or reduced activity can all affect how safe or settled a pet feels. 

What Behaviour May Be Telling You

The same behaviour can mean different things depending on the situation. What matters is the context: when it happens, what is happening around your pet, and whether the behaviour is new, frequent, or becoming more intense.  

Barking can communicate: Alertness to movement or sound, excitement or frustration, discomfort, or feeling overwhelmed. If barking happens at the window, try closing curtains, moving furniture away, or setting up a resting spot in a quieter area to help reduce frequent barking.  

Hiding can communicate: A need for safety, stress recovery, sensitivity to noise, or discomfort, illness, or pain, especially if hiding is frequent or prolonged. Avoid forcing interaction. Instead, provide a quiet, secure retreat where your pet can rest undisturbed. This can be a covered bed, crate, carrier, perch, or another quiet area that supports comfort. 

Chewing can communicate: A need for stimulation or activity, stress relief, teething, exploration, boredom, under-exercise, and stress when left alone. Keep shoes, cords, and small objects out of reach, then offer appropriate alternatives like chew toys, food puzzles, or enrichment suited to your pet.  Watch whether the new toy or puzzle holds their interest. If the chewing doesn’t ease up after a week or two, it may point to something beyond boredom. 

Know When to Get Support

If these concerns continue, it’s worth reaching out for help sooner rather than later. Behaviour changes can sometimes be connected to pain, illness, or discomfort. Toronto Humane Society’s vet services offer wellness and preventative care that helps pet parents support their animal’s health.  

Choose one change to try today, observe how your pet responds, and adjust from there.  

For more support, explore Toronto Humane Society’s Training and Behaviour Services. Whether you’re trying to understand a new behaviour or looking for practical next steps, our team is here to help you feel more confident supporting your pet.