u/Prestigious_Item8762

My boy is around 1 year and 3 months-ish, I keep him as exercised as I can and take him for multiple walks a day aswell as take him to a dog park where he can run as much as he wants to. I’ve gotten him a few toys he can chew on and play with but still, when I lock him out of the bedroom(so i can eat, have some space, spend time w my bf, etc.) he seemingly specifically Looks for something that isnt his toys to chew up and destroy :0 I’ve never been very harsh with him as my family was harsh to their dogs, I don’t wanna be like that, I just give him a very light pat kinda on his butt above his tail and tell him no. He understands he’s not supposed to do that but this method isn’t making him stop, so maybe I’m doing something wrong

Any and all advice is appreciated, thank you

Edit! Thank you so much, I’ll stop hitting his butt altogether and get a crate. Once I get enough saved up, I’ll get him signed up for a good training program

I have no diagnosis for CPTSD or regular PTSD, and I promise I’m not trying to diagnose myself, just trying to understand better/see if I should talk to someone!

The only example of “flashbacks” I’ve seen are on tv/movies, and the descriptions I’ve read elsewhere online don’t really help me understand any better. Is it like an emotional flashback? like you feel the emotions and thoughts you had at the time of the trauma? Or is it visual? is it like spacing out kind of? But yknow immensely worse?

I hope I’m not being naive or assuming anything silly or nonsensical, thank yall for any help!

Updatee all of your responses have been insanely helpful!! I feel like I understand it a little more and have a much better grasp of it now :) bad news is I have definitely experienced atleast half of the things yall have described, good news is now I can understand myself better. Thank you!!