How to keep your dog from digging holes in your backyard

September 14th, 2011 admin

Has your dog turned your lawn into a moonscape, with craters everywhere? If so, your dog isn’t doing this out of spite or a desire to destroy your landscaping. More likely he’s seeking entertainment, attention, comfort, escape, prey, or protection.

To address this problem, you first need to learn why your dog digs—and then figure out how to stop it.

Seeking entertainment

Dogs may dig to entertain themselves when they learn that roots and soil “play back.” Your dog may be digging for entertainment if:

  • He’s left alone in the yard for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with his human family.
  • His environment is relatively barren—with no playmates or toys.
  • He’s a puppy or adolescent (under 3 years old) and doesn’t have other outlets for his energy.
  • He’s a terrier or other breed that was bred to dig.
  • He’s a particularly active type who needs a job to be happy (such as a herding or sporting breed).
  • He’s recently seen you “playing” in the dirt (gardening or working in the yard).

Recommendations

Expand your dog’s world and increase his people time in the following ways:

  • Walk your dog at least twice daily. Insufficient exercise is a leading cause of problem behaviors.
  • Redirect your dog’s energy by teaching him to fetch a ball or flying disk and playing with him as often as possible. (A tired dog is a good dog.)
  • Teach your dog a few commands or tricks. Practice these every day for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Take a training class with your dog and practice daily what you’ve learned.
  • Keep interesting toys in the yard to keep your dog busy when you’re not around. Kong®-type toys filled with treats or busy-box dog toys work especially well. Rotate the toys to keep things interesting.

For dedicated diggers, provide an acceptable area for their excavation activity:

  • Choose an area of the yard where it’s okay for your dog to dig, and cover the area with loose soil or sand. Or use a child-size sandbox.
  • If you catch your dog digging in an unacceptable area, interrupt the behavior with a loud noise and say, “No dig.” Then immediately take him to the designated digging area. When he digs in the approved spot, reward him with praise.
  • Make the unacceptable digging spots unattractive (at least temporarily) by placing rocks or chicken wire into the dirt.
  • Make the acceptable area attractive by burying safe items (such as toys) for him to discover.


Seeking prey

Dogs often dig in an effort to catch burrowing animals or insects that live in your yard. This may be the case if:

  • The digging is in a specific area instead of at the boundaries of the yard.
  • The digging is at the roots of trees or shrubs.
  • The digging is in a “path” layout.

Recommendations

Solve the prey problem by:

  • Searching for signs of burrowing animals, then use safe, humane methods to make your yard unattractive to them.
  • Don’t resort to methods that could be toxic or dangerous to your pets or other animals.

Seeking comfort or protection

In hot weather, dogs may dig holes to lie in the cool dirt. They may also dig to provide themselves with shelter from cold, wind, or rain or to find water. Your dog may be digging for comfort or protection if:

  • The holes are near foundations of buildings, large shade trees, or a water source.
  • Your dog doesn’t have a shelter or his shelter is exposed to the hot sun or cold winds.
  • Your dog is lying in the holes he digs.

Recommendations

Provide your dog with the comfort or protection he seeks:

  • Follow our tips for providing your dog with a comfortable doghouse that affords protection from wind and sun.
  • Your dog may still prefer a hole in the ground, in which case you can try providing an “approved digging area” as described above. Make sure the allowed digging area is in a spot that’s protected from the elements.
  • Provide plenty of fresh water in a bowl that can’t be tipped over.

Seeking attention

Any behavior can become attention-getting behavior if the dog learns that he receives attention for engaging in it. Remember, even punishment is attention. Your dog may be looking for attention if:

  • He digs in your presence.
  • He has limited opportunities for interaction with you.

Recommendations

Provide your dog with the attention he deserves.

  • Ignore the attention-seeking behavior and give your pooch lots of praise for “good dog” behavior.
  • Make sure your dog has sufficient time with you on a daily basis. Walks, games of fetch, and basic training are all good ways to interact with your dog.

Seeking escape

Dogs may try to escape to get to something, to get somewhere, or to get away from something. Your dog may be digging to escape if:

  • He digs along the fence line.
  • He digs under the fence.

Recommendations

Figure out why your dog is trying to escape, and remove those incentives. Make sure his environment is a safe, appealing place for a dog.

To keep your dog in your yard:

  • Bury chicken wire at the base of the fence. Be sure to roll the sharp edges away from your yard.
  • Place large rocks, partially buried, along the bottom of the fence line.
  • Bury the bottom of the fence 1 to 2 feet below the surface.
  • Lay chain link fencing on the ground (anchored to the bottom of the fence) to make it uncomfortable for your dog to walk near the fence.
  • Work on modifying his behavior to stop his escape efforts.

What doesn’t work

Regardless of the reason your dog is digging, don’t:

  • Punish your dog after the fact. This won’t address the cause of the behavior, and it will worsen any digging that’s motivated by fear or anxiety.
  • Stake out your dog near a hole he’s dug or fill the hole with water. These techniques address neither the cause of the behavior nor the act of digging.

THREE REASONS WHY LITTLE DOGS NEED TO GO FOR A DAILY WALK

September 13th, 2011 admin

Many people believe that little dogs don’t need to go for a walk, because “they get enough exercise in the yard.” If the poor creatures do get out on the end of a leash, it’s only to relieve themselves.

But the truth is, little dogs really do need to go on walks every day, just like their bigger cousins.

Daily walks have an important psychological effect on dogs. Small dogs need:

1. To get tired each day with a period of strenuous, continuous exercise.

2. To learn new things about the world through all their senses.

3. To know they belong to a healthy, safe social unit and to understand their place in it.

In other words, they need to experience acting like a dog. And dogs love going for a walk.

It’s even more important if your pooch is overweight, as many smaller dogs are. Taking a tiny dog for a walk will give her all the stress-reducing benefits that it gives you. Her serotonin levels will increase and the levels of the stress hormone cortisol will go down, allowing her to naturally calm herself. She’ll be happily tired after doing a proper dog’s job of going on a nice long trek, so she’ll be able to come home from her walk relaxed, happy, and content.

By walking with a trusted, calm owner (that’s you), she can take her proper place in the family, and relax. Someone else (again, that’s you) will decide when and where to walk and when to come home. You will be there to guide and protect her in any unusual situations. She’ll get to act, and be treated, like the adult dog she really is.

So don’t let her size fool you – little dogs need their walk just as much as the giant dogs do. She may not be able to walk as far or as long as you can, but she does need her walks.

As a matter of fact, the tiniest dogs, teacup poodles and toy Yorkshire terriers, for instance, are the perfect pet for someone with debilitating arthritis. Your tiny pooch will love to walk to the end of the block and back, she’ll get you out of the house and talking to your neighbors, and she’ll give you hours of enjoyable, loving companionship.

Plus, these tiny dogs are also far too small to exert a dangerous tug on the leash, as even a well-trained larger dog might do when he hears the chirping of the neighborhood squirrel.

With all these benefits for both the tiny dog and it’s loving human owner, who can resist taking their little dog for a daily walk?

How to train your dog to stop barking at other dogs

August 24th, 2011 admin

In the case where your dog only barks at other dogs, it is probably because your dog is not getting enough social time. Remember, dogs are social animals as evidenced by the pack structure. However, since your dog is barking at other dogs, we need to determine whether it is lack of socialization, or a protective instinct. To do this, your dog must complete Introduction Training.

 

Introduction Training

It is best to find a couple of dogs and owners who you know and trust to be comfortable, safe, and confident around other dogs. Before training, take your dog out to a private area and play with them; this will reduce anxious energy and allow your dog to be more focused.

We like to use the positive reinforcement method when training dogs. For this, you will need some training treats, a correction collar, and a positive attitude.

The Walk Across

First, you need to get your dog into a calm, submissive posture. The best way to do this is to put on the correction collar, and a short leash. Standing in a semi-public area, have your puppy sit down next to you, and keep the leash tight enough so that your dog’s head is held level. Now it is time to have another dog walk across your dog’s field of vision. They should be at least 10 feet away. As soon as your dog starts to act anxious, give a quick and firm tug on the leash, and use a consistent negative command such as “shhhh” or “stop” or “heyy”.   As soon as your dog returns to the calm and submissive state, positively reinforce the behavior by giving it a treat and lavish praise. Repeat this corrective process of negative command, leash tug, and positive reinforcement until the dog can cross your dog ‘s field of vision without barking or becoming anxious.



If your dog stands and or pulls on the leash, immediately give a tug, and give them a command to sit (only once). If he doesn’t sit immediately, give another tug on the leash but do not repeat the command. If he still does not sit and return to a calm and submissive state, aggressively and firmly (but not angrily, act as though you expect and will not tolerate the behavior, but remain calm)  place the puppy into the seated position. Do no reward the puppy until it remains seated and in a calm state.

On the off chance that your dog immediately submits to the other dog, possibly turning over on its back, just stand there calmly. Eventually both dogs will assume their natural roles in the relationship, and everything will be fine.

 

 

Up Close Introductions

Now it is time to have your dog directly interact with another dog. Some dogs are (and specific breeds) are more protective of their territory and owner than others. It is important to understand if your dog’s barking is protective, and it will be a bit more difficult to train them not to bark in this situation.

Once again, have your dog seated and in a calm submissive state. Leave the corrective collar and leash on for now. The first test will be to introduce the new dog while it is also restrained by a leash and controlled by its’ owner. Using the same technique as before, use the negative command as well as the corrective collar and leash to distract your dog and return it to a seated, calm, and submissive state, and then positively reinforce the behavior.

If your dog is acting in a protective manner, it is quite possible he or she will stand up and aggressively tug, growl, and bark at the other dog. It is important not to over react, and certainly do not reprimand your dog by smacking it. This will only teach your dog that violence is the proper response to aggressive behavior. If your dog does not respond to the negative command and leash tug, you must establish yourself as the dominant (alpha) member of the pack. Instead of using the leash, grab your dogs collar and forcefully restrain your dog and place it in a laid down position. If he tries to get up, escape, or continues barking, continue holding him in the down position and repeat the negative command. Do not allow the dog to get up and continue the behavior before it reaches a calm submissive state. If your dog is significantly larger than you, it is ok to place the dog in a submission hold by wrapping your arms around the neck and then placing your legs around its waist (in front of the back legs so as not to injure them) and then pulling the dog onto its back on top of you. This is an extreme submissive position for a dog as it will not be able to move; be sure you are not choking your dog, you are only controlling its movement by holding it around the neck. Hold the dog there until it returns to a calm, submissive state, then reward him.

Once your dog no longer shows any kind of anxious or aggressive behavior toward the other dog, it is ok to let them off of the leash and they can begin to socialize normally.

 

Socializing In A More Natural Environment

Now that you know your dog is comfortable and confident around other dogs (or you knew without the introduction training), it is time to socialize them. Remember, the more social time your dog has to socialize, the less likely he is to bark at other dogs. In fact, he’ll probably display little to no inappropriate barking behavior.

The best social time your dog can have is spending time actively working and playing with you. Taking your dog on a run, or to the park, or outside and playing a good 30 – 45 minutes of fetch are great ways for your dog to get its social time, as well as to get proper exercise.

Spending time training your dog is also a great way for your dog to socialize. A key thing to note is that the most important aspect of your dog’s life is to serve you and make you happy. I know this doesn’t make much sense from a human perspective, but it is absolutely the case with your dog (assuming you have established yourself as the pack leader).

Dog Walking is FUN

July 26th, 2011 admin

Dogs are great walking companions, great personal trainers, and great nags. If you begin walking with your dog, you may soon find his tail is wagging your walking program. They are ready to walk when you are (unlike friends and family), will tow you down the trail, and let you know when it is time to lace up your sneakers.

Dog Training
Opt for formal classes, if they are available and affordable. Start while the dog is a puppy, and continue until the dog can be trusted off leash. Your dog can earn the AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate, which indicates a level of obedience and training attained. The end result of good training is a dog that is a pleasure to walk with — one that will sit, down and heel on command, as necessary. You really don’t want to be towed into the sunset at about 60 MPH!

Walking Your Dog on a Leash
If your dog is on a leash, it can’t get away and cause problems. Consider using a pinch collar while walking your dog, if he is a puller, to increase your control and comfort. Some walkers use a harness, and others find retractable leashes to be the best way to give the dog a little more slack, then reel them in as needed.

Are Dogs Allowed Where You Plan to Walk?
Check with the organizers of walking events you plan to attend. If walking in a park, call ahead to check to see if there are any restrictions. Note that dogs are sometimes allowed on trails, but not in shuttle buses or visitors’ centers.

Carry a Pooper Scooper
If you don’t have (or want to purchase) the actual tool, try a plastic bag. Many carry the plastic bags that newspapers sometimes come in. When the bag is placed over the hand, you can pick up what you have to, turn the bag inside out, and tie the end closed. Dispose of it properly. Zip-closure storage bags are another secure option.


Staying Hydrated
Carry water for both you and your pet. You can use your hand as a water dish for him. Some walkers suggest using collapsible cups, inflatable water dishes, and zip-closure bags, as well.

Taking Time for Rest
Find a shady spot and take ten. Play with the dog, talk to other walkers, and cool down a bit. Dogs can’t sweat. They keep cool by panting, finding shady spots, walking in water, and drinking lots of water. If you are walking near water in the summer, find a safe place (not public beaches) and let your dog go swimming. If you drove to your walking spot, be sure not to leave your dog in a vehicle unattended if it’s warm out and you’re making stops on your way home.

Identification
Every dog should have a couple of forms of identification. Name tags and collars get lost. Tattoos and embedded micro-chips will back up the name tag. You should carry a clear photo of the dog, which can aid in recovery, should such a situation arise. Also, some areas of the country require you to carry your dog’s rabies certificate with you.

Is Your Dog Ready?
Before taking a dog on a 10K Volksmarch, consider if the dog is healthy enough, has the desire, and is trained enough to walk the distance at your side. You should get an OK from your veterinarian if your pooch has any sort of medical problem, is overweight, etc. Work up to the longer distances with him by doing the shorter distances first.

Trails
Dog walkers I’ve spoken to generally prefer country walks and trails that have sidewalks, or paths that are well off the road.

Are Human Foods OK For Dogs To Eat?

July 15th, 2011 admin

Here are the foods to AVOID giving to your dog (human foods that are poisonous to dogs), as well as those which are OK for pets.

Plus, what you should know if you decide to offer table scraps and other people foods to your dog.

dog-tempted-by-human-food-by-tonystl.jpg

First, An Overview

Yes, there are those who make a habit of feeding their dogs table scraps.

(We don’t)…

But as a rule, most people generally stick to serving dog foods to their pets day in and day out.

Our two dogs eagerly awaiting their bread & peanut butter stuffed Kongs.

Of those pet owners who choose to give their dogs HUMAN foods, most reserve it for “special occasions” OR times when you’re nursing a sick pet back to health. (We do both.)

In fact, some people are dead set against it, citing a number of reasons that feeding human foods to dogs is inappropriate.

Others simply refrain from giving their pets processed foods, and choose to include only “all-natural” human foods in their dog’s diet.

When Dogs Are Rewarded With “Human” Treats

Largely due to the rise in popularity of Kong toys, more and more pet owners are choosing to supplement their dog’s diet with a variety of human foods these days.

Which “begs” (hehe) the question:
Which human foods are safe for dogs to eat?

Furthermore:
What do I need to know if I decide to give my dog foods that were originally intended for people?

Here’s what I’ve learned…

    You should always consult with a veterinarian before introducing your dog to any new food item.

That said, following are the best tips I’ve found with regard to feeding human foods to dogs…

Be Careful What You Feed Your Dog

Not all dogs are alike.

Destin signaling that he’d like another Kong stuffed with ‘good stuff’, please! We store pre-filled Kongs in the freezer. Just because someone else’s dog didn’t have an adverse reaction to a particular human food doesn’t mean that your pet will behave the same way.

Your dog could react differently to the taste of the food, or he could even have an allergy to one or more of its ingredients.

    You don’t want this to happen to your dog!

Therefore, whenever you are introducing your dog to a new food (or combination of foods, such as those in Kong Recipes be sure to test it out while you are home so you can monitor your pet’s reaction.

The odds are very small, but there’s always the chance that your dog could be allergic to a particular food, or it just may not sit well with your dog — causing upset stomach, diarrhea or vomiting. Sometimes, even the smallest change in a dog’s diet can cause and adverse reaction.

Human Foods That Are NOT Safe For Dogs

I won’t list them all here, because the links below provide all of the foods and other items that are indeed harmful to pets, and why.

Only Natural Pet StoreAt the very least, you should avoid feeding your dog human foods that are salty, sweet (high in sugar content), or fatty.

Be sure to check these lists, so you know which foods have been proven to be dangerous to dogs:

    Human Foods You CANNOT Feed To A Dog
    Foods Potentially Poisonous To Pets
    Dangerous Foods For Dogs – Your Questions Answered
    ASPCA List Of People Foods To Avoid Feeding Pets
    Grapes And Raisins Are Off-Limits (more here)
    People Foods That Can Kill Your Pet
    Foods That Could Be Deadly For Your Dog
    Avoid Unripe Tomatoes And Tomato Plants
    Foods & Other Substances That You Shouldn’t Give To Dogs
    Artificial Sweeteners Are Harmful To Dogs (like Xylitol, more here and here)
    Foods To Avoid Feeding Dogs

    On the flip side, here are some safe human foods that dog owners frequently give their dogs. (And some healthy human foods t
    hat are safe for dogs too!)

A Word Of Advice About Trying New Foods

Before you introduce a new food to your dog, there’s one other thing that you should take into consideration:

…the “begging” factor.

In our household, we’ve noticed that our dogs tend to beg for people foods any time they smell something they’re familiar with. On the other hand, if they’ve never tasted it before, then they don’t beg for it.

For that reason, we have only introduced 2 human food items to our dogs: peanut butter and bread. (And bread is only for very special occasions!)

Our dogs love bread! To give you an example, any time we crack open a jar of peanut butter (…wait, I mean move the peanut butter jar from the pantry to the counter!) or open a loaf of bread, our dogs start salivating and licking their lips in anticipation of getting some. Yet we could hold a big ‘ol steak in front of them, and they wouldn’t blink an eye!

So just remember, once you introduce a particular food to your dog, there’s no going back. They’ll always want some of yours whenever you’re eating it in the future.

When it comes to filling Kongs, we layer ingredients inside the Kong toy using various combinations of those two human foods and other dog foods, treats, and Kong-friendly products made specifically for dogs.

We’ve also reserved a handful of other human foods for times when our dogs have various ailments (like diarrhea) or need to take pills. Those foods are: rice, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and plain yogurt. And yes, they do tend to beg for them now when we’re eating them ourselves. So be careful about which foods you use to associate your dog with a good experience!

Top 12 Ways to Make Your Dog Happy for Free

March 30th, 2011 admin

Ahrooooooooo all!

This week we have a Buddie Doggy list for you. We give you a Top 12 list, because you deserve more than a Top 10!

Dogs always enjoy new treats and toys.  But, there are easy ways to make your pets happy without breaking your budget.  Here are 12 ways to delight your favorite four-legged friends for free:

Your four legged buddy loves to walk in parks.

1) Go for a walk.

They love sunshine, fresh air, and trees.  Whether your dog walks by your side or drags you down the hill, both of you will bond and get some exercise.

2) Try a different park.

Exploring new territory is an adventure that they dream about all night.  Sometimes it makes them so happy that they yip in their sleep.

3) Visit a friend.

They enjoy visiting their dog buddies.  They meet in a backyard or dog park to play, or they take their humans on long walks.

4) Give ice cubes as treats.

Ice cubes are cool, crunchy, and even cleans their teeth.  The frozen cubes are usually handed to them as a special treat.  During the summer, ice cubes are dropped in their water bowl and they dive in like a human bobbing for apples.

5) Two words: Belly rub!

Again, totally free.

6) Surprise them with their old toys.

Instead of buying new toys, put away some of my old toys for a few weeks.  I promise I will be happy to get those toys again. I remember every smell and will recognize those circulated toys like long lost friends.

7) Play a game.

My favorite games are tug, fetch, and hide-and-seek with a bone.  We play every day.  If my human forgets playtime, I drop a toy at her feet and bump her leg to remind her to throw a toy for me.  In my version of fetch, I get the toy but don’t necessarily return it. Learning a new trick or practicing disobedience skills are also fun games.

8) Visit a pet store.

A trip to a nearby pet store is a great adventure for them. Most dog noses has 220 million scent receptors, which is over 40 times as many as a human’s nose.  Let them sniff, sniff, sniff and their a happy dog.

9) Volunteer.

Join a volunteer group that is a good match for you and your dog.  Get certified to visit an assisted living home, hospital, or school.  It feels great to lend a helping paw.

10) Share a hobby.

Often, your pet can be involved in your hobbies.  My dog and I both like gardening, and he especially enjoys digging up anything recently planted.  Digging in the backyard is so much fun!  And, I get to enjoy planting a second time.

11) Have some good clean fun.

They enjoy having their coat brushed.  It feels good and makes them cleaner, which is a win-win for both dog and human.

12) Spend time together.

Whether they’re playing tug, fetching a toy, walking around the block, or having a body massage while watching TV, they’re happy just being with their owner. You will feel the same way. The gift of yourself and your time is rewarded by the delight, adoration, and sheer joy of your tail-wagging buddy.

Mocha and human, happy to be together.

There are many other activities that are unique to your dog or breed.  Swimming, catching a frisbee, or running through an agility course is not MY idea of a good time, but many dogs would love those activities.  Make your own list of free activities that make you and your human happy.

That’s our Buddy Doggy List of ways to make your dog happy without spending any money. Please post your ideas in the comments.

Well we gotta run… I hear the neighbors playing “WHO LET THE DOGS OUT”.. I think that’s our sign. !

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