How to Stop Your Dog From Digging
Dogs dig for a variety of reasons. Once you understand why your dog is digging, you can easily stop this type of dog behavior.
Reasons Why Your Dog May be Digging
Dogs frequently dig as a form of recreation. If the backyard is his kingdom and he is alone, digging is one of the fun ways your dog may while away the hours until you return
Young dogs and puppies enjoy digging as well. What a way to use up all that energy youngsters are famous for !
Some dogs dig because it’s in their genes.” Some breeds of dogs such as terriers are natural diggers….so when your terrier starts digging, he’s just continuing an inherited family trait.
Your dog may be digging because he is looking for a cool place on a hot summer day.
Your dog may be looking for a way to make a break for it.
Ok so it seems that your dog is digging because his parents did or he’s just a fireball of doggy energy.
What you want to know is how to stop your dog from digging.
Here’s a few ideas.
Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. I walk my dogs four times a day. If you don’t have time to walk your dog as much as I do, by all means walk him at least twice daily. When you take your dog for a walk, make sure you spend at least thirty minutes on your walk. This is one of the high points of your dog’s day. He has a natural need for exercise . By providing him with the exercise he needs your dog will be healthier and tuckered out when you return.
As a result, digging won’t appeal to your dog as much as it did before. He’ll be more interested in a nap and some sedate playing until you return home.
Join a group training class with a professional dog trainer. There are many low cost dog training programs in your town that meet once or twice a week. The dog trainer will help you socialize your dog and learn to obey basic commands. By teaching your dog a few commands you will be able to stop your dog from digging whenever he decides to kick up a little dirt.
Divert your dog‘s attention when he starts to dig with a toy or a game of fetch.. He may soon decide that running and fetching is a lot more fun than digging through a pile of dirt.
If your dog is a “genetic digger”, who digs because it’s a breed characteristic, there is a way to control this type of dog digging as well.
Provide an area of the backyard that your dog is allowed to dig in. Whenever he starts to dig, direct him to that area and let him have a dirt digging good time.
If he starts to make a move toward another area of the yard to expand his digging territory, stop him immediately. The best way to do this is to give him a strong verbal command such as “NO Digging!”. Use the exact same phrase every time. Your dog does not understand English or any other language. But he will become accustomed to hearing the sounds of those words and the tone of your voice.
Never, under any condition strike or physically punish your dog. It's cruel, abusive, unlawful and will not achieve the results that this misguided reaction intends. Your dog will only have the undesired behavior reinforced and become fearful of you. Neither is helpful or healthy..
If your dog is just looking for a cool spot, why not provide him a shady area, with cool water and a gentle breeze. If it is too hot for you to be in the yard, it is too hot for your dog as well. Bring him indoors and let him relax in a cool place with plenty of fresh water and food.
Is your dog a world class digger? Does he misbehave in any other way such as barking or exhibit aggression toward dogs or people? Whatever the problem, help is at hand. Find out how to easily solve any dog behavior issue at http://www.dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html
This article may be reproduced intact with the author’s link displayed.
Coprophagia in Dogs, Causes and Cures
Coprophagia is the consumption of feces by your dog.
It may be due to medical or behavioral problems.
Merck's Veterinary Manual says that is initially seen in puppies four to nine months old. Coprophagia lessens with many dogs after the age of one year.
Primary among them are pancreatic problems, gastro-intestinal problems, and over-feeding.
While coprophagia is a nauseating thought to dog parents, it surprisingly has not shown to cause any health problems for our dogs.
Here’s some causes and cures for Coprophagia,
including perspective from your dog’s point of view
6 Causes of Coprophagia Behavior
• Give Me Attention-Your dog may just want to get your attention. When he eats feces, you will most probably scold him or say “No”. Your dog may get the notion that if he eats feces, you will pay attention to him. This would probably arise in a new adopted dog, or a dog that was rescued from a shelter. Dogs that have not been abandoned or abused are less likely to use this as an attention getter. Since you treat your dog with love and affection, scolding will not work
• I Learn By Watching- Your dog may see other dogs eating feces and simply copies the behavior.
• Mom Kept a Clean House- When a puppy is young, his mother may eat feces to keep the area clean for the pups.
• You’re the Boss- If your dog acknowledges the role of another dog as the pack leader he may eat feces as a submissive behavior.
• I Always Do This- Your dog may eat feces because he has eaten feces. Really. Feces eating may be simply a reinforced habit as odd as that seems. This behavior may have, are you ready for this…the taste which some dogs like as the initial cause. Eating more feces will provide more of the flavor to your dog, hence the behavior is reinforced.
• Feed Me Please ! - If you feed your dog at night and first thing in the morning he seeks out some feces to munch on he may be telling you that he likes to eat more than once a day.
5 Ways to Cure Coprophagia
• Add meat tenderizer to My Diet- This may add certain enzymes that will assure your dog of getting a more nutrient filled daily diet, eliminating the need for the nutriments found in feces.
• Spoon a little hot sauce on the feces. A lick or bite of two of this unpleasant taste may deter further interest in Coprophagia behavior.
• Clean up when feces is on the ground. Simply make it unavailable.
• Keep My Mug Muzzled - A muzzle that is properly fitted can easily deter your pooch from snacking on feces when you go for a walk. Be certain not to leave the muzzle on for long periods as this will constrict his ability to drink water, will become uncomfortable and can produce other behavioral issues. Just for a little while when were’ strolling folks, that’s all
• Let Me Grow Out of It – Many dogs begin eating feces as puppies and grow out of it as they mature,. Even an adult dog may pick up the habit and grow tired of it.
• Divert My Attention- When he makes a move for a "bowl of feces", throw him a ball, command him to sit or come. He’ll lose interest in the feces in a few seconds.
By all means, never punish or strike your dog to get him to stop eating feces. This is cruel and unlawful as well as ineffective. Depending on the potential behavioral cause for Coprophagia you will be accomplishing nothing less than reinforcing the behavior, and hurting your relationship with your dog
Is your dog feasting on feces? Does he misbehave in any other way such as barking or exhibit aggression toward dogs or people? Whatever the problem, help is at hand. Find out how to easily solve any dog behavior issue at http://www.dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html
This article may be reproduced intact with the author’s link displayed.
7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food
When choosing a dog food for your best friend, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind.
Here’s 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food for your dog
• You should select a super premium or holistic dog food that is nutrient rich and has human grade ingredients. This means that the dog food is made up of food that is fit for human consumption. Most dog food is not. These dog food brands will include necessary protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. They are also made without the toxins and additives that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
• Meat should be the first ingredient as this is the primary ingredient in the bag or can. Meat by products, and other nebulously described ingredients, when listed as a primary ingredient should be your cue to pass on this dog food.
• Secondary ingredients should be vegetables and rice. Once again, be wary of any by product, meal or odd sounding term. If you don’t know what it is, it’s probably not something you would want your dog to eat.
• Preservatives such as BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole and BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene are used some dog food manufacturers including one that is a favorite of many veterinarians The problem with these preservatives according to some dog nutrition experts is that these chemicals may be carcinogenic. Vitamin E & Vitamin C are natural preservatives and healthier for your dog. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that fights the formation of free radicals and the onset of cancer in dogs.
• Check the label for the AAFCO guarantee. The Association of American Feed Control Officials works to insure uniform standards for dog food nationwide.
• Check the expiration date. Some manufacturers make these dates hard to read, When in doubt ask the retailer to point out the date to you.
• Consider making your own homemade dog food. This is an increasingly popular way assure a healthy and nutritious diet for your dog. A couple of options for homemade dog food include: The Bones and Raw Food Diet also known as BARF and vegetarian dog food diets. You can learn more about these diets at http://www.dogs-4life.com/why-homemade-dog-food-may-save-your-dog-s-life.html
If you have any questions about the quality of your dog food you should consult with a holistic veterinarian. Holistic vets are much more in tune to the benefits of a natural and nutritious diet than many mainstream veterinarians who have had minimal training in this area while in veterinary school
This is not a jab at vets. Anyone who has dedicated their life to healing and saving animals deserves our support. It is simply an observation of which type of vet is the best resource in the all important area of canine nutrition and picking the best food for your dog.
My small 8 year old dog suddenly became ill and no vet could determine the cause. She died after enduring 2 weeks of pain and misery on Mother’s Day morning. Her life expectancy was 25 years. Don’t let anything happen to your best friend. Find out what is in the dog food you use at http://www.dogs-4life.com/dog-food-that-kills.html
