Common Dog Behaviour Problems

Another great article from our friends at Dogster...


If you've obedience trained your dog, you have a pooch who is a good listener and a savvy learner. But some dog problems and behaviors cannot be solved with the basic commands such as "Sit!" and "Come!" And a dog who follows every command during a training session can still have behavioral problems.

When the peace and quiet of the home hearth is suddenly disrupted by your dog's bad behavior, it's not time to get frustrated and lament how this can be. You may ask why they didn't cover digging in obedience class or excessive barking or shoe chewing. But you can find the answers to these mishaps right here.
The first step is to analyze the destructive behavior by asking yourself a few questions:

What - What exactly is he doing?

When - When did this behavior start? Does this behavior occur at a certain time of day or during the week?

Where - Has there been any change in my dog's environment, big or small? Does it always occur in a certain room or outside or in a new space?

How Often - Is the behavior consistent or does your dog just misbehave when something is different, such as having guests over?

Why - An analysis of these questions will give you a "why."

Consider ruling out an illness before you begin your strategy. Any significant change in a dog's behavior warrants a visit to the vet. Look at the time the behavior started and tie that into any possible change. Change means something big like a newborn or something small like a change in your dog's routine. If the behavior occurs at a specific time each day, consider what goes on during that time - is it when you leave the house or come in? Or is it when the trash truck comes? Also, consider your dog's environment where it occurs - has there been a rearrangement of the furniture in the living room? Or new sod in the backyard?

Keep notes about the time, place, and activity going on when your dog misbehaves and follow these tips to correct the behavior.

Digging

What - If your dog is digging small holes, it's not a huge problem. If he's digging a crater in your yard, something must be done.

Why - Dogs dig for many reasons. Some dig when they're bored, some dig to bury things, some dig to create a sort of den for themselves, some dig to try to get out and some dig to follow a smell.
Where - Does your dog only dig near the fence? Then he is likely trying to escape? Near the trashcan? Then he's following a scent.

When - If your dog is digging when the sun is high, he's likely trying to cool off.

The Solution: Determine what is going on in your dog's environment outside. If he's reacting to noise or heat or the neighbor's cat slinking into the yard, bring him inside. To cure those who bury things, do not leave any toys or bones out with your dog. To keep a dog from digging to get out, place patio stones along the fence. And to thwart a scenthound, cover areas in cedar to distract his nose.

Barking

What - A few warning barks should not be curbed by a dog owner, However, excessive barking must be stopped.

Why - Dogs bark mostly to warn their humans of some danger. A dog may also bark in response to another dog or a sound such as a siren.

Where - Barking inside bursts your eardrums, outside bursts your neighbors'.

When - If a dog only barks at a certain time of the day, it is likely a sound outside.

The Solution: Unfortunately, we don't have much control over our outside environment. There are a few humane tools we can use, though - the Citronella Collar and the Ultrasound Anti-Barker. Both of these are harmless and can deter barking.

Chewing

What - No chewing of human items is acceptable.

Why - Your dog may be bored or he may be lured by the new pair of boots you bought.

Where - If your dog only chews on things in the kitchen, it may be that those objects are particularly desirable to him. If he runs outside with something, He may be more interested in burying it.

When - If your dog chew things while you are away, it actually isn't some sort of revenge. But it is a sign of boredom.

The Solution: the easiest thing to do is to put everything away. It will mean a more organized house for you and less temptation for your dog. You can spray items with a deterrent such as Bitter Apple or switch his focus from the bad item to a toy. Always leave him durable chew toys when you leave the house.

Jumping

What - No jumping should be allowed.

Why - Dogs jump on people to get attention and/or to assert dominance.

Where - If your dog only jumps on people at the door, it is likely both a greeting and a way of showing who is in charge. If your dog jumps up on people in someplace like the kitchen, it is likely to get that bit of chicken off their chin.

When - Perhaps your dog is not a jumper except when he goes out for a walk. Or maybe he jumps on you only when you wear a hat.

The Solution: The best command to use when a dog jumps on you is "Off!". As you say the command in a firm voice, gently raise your knee into a larger dog's chest or gently move a smaller dog away with your foot. Make your dog sit and reward him. To stop jumping on other people, make your dog "Sit!" and "Stay!" away from the door when guests come in. Have a lead on him so you can easily correct any movement. Another tip is to spray your dog with water when he jumps or use a loud noise to distract him. The key is to firmly remind him that you are the alpha.

Many of dogs' behavioral problems stem from something we do or some change in the environment. Perhaps you didn't know that being a dog owner can also mean being a detective and the code you're deciphering is your dog's mind. But with a little detecting, you can solve your dog's problems easily.

Attack Cat?

The following story reminded me of the time our two cats cornered my sister-in-law's Chow. Dutchess the Chow is a pretty happy go lucky type of dog who is a bit hyper. When she comes over she bolts in the door and proceeds to run all over the house checking every room. Dutchess sometimes doesn't know when to back off when it comes to cats warning her to stay away.

We had two cats, both who have left our world, Sneaky and Monster. Well they got tired of her abrasive ways and decided to show her that cats rule and dogs drool. Dutchess came running in the house in her usual way and proceeded to our spare bedroom. Both Sneaky and Monster happened to be in there. We wondered all of a sudden where Dutchess was so I went looking for her. There she was backed into a corner with both cats stalking her like prey. They weren't going to let her out and it almost seemed like if I didn't walk in at that moment, they were going attack her! It was a sight, two small cats intimidating a good sized Chow.

This story is from Dogster's blog...

When a dog attacks a cat, it’s not news. But when a cat attacks a dog, it can be. Especially when it happens on a school playground with lots of children around. And especially when the dog is smaller than the cat.

It seems Rosie the Cat was hanging out at a local primary school’s yard in Cruden Bay, Scotland, as she loves to do. The children give her lots of attention, and she enjoys playing with them, according to the Evening Express.

Then a hapless Yorkshire terrier wandered into the cat’s “territory,” and Rosie apparently attacked him. Reports don’t say if the dog was hurt. It seems the dog was probably more frightened (and perhaps embarrassed).

Rosie’s owner, Angela Blanchard, had no idea her cat had been having a hissy fit at a canine when she got a personal visit from an officer from the Scottish SPCA. The officer told her about the incident, and said it’s under investigation.

Blanchard says Rosie does not, indeed, like dogs. “Rosie’s a lovely little family cat, she is very placid, but I suppose she could attack a dog,” she said.

She told the Evening Express it was “ridiculous” that someone reported her cat to authorities instead of coming right to her.

“What bothers me is that he now has to go away and file a report on this incident. The whole thing has been a waste of the Scottish SPCA’s time and money. They do an important and difficult job, and they could do without calls about a cat supposedly attacking a dog,” she said.

Jamaica's State of Emergency

Yikes! Can you beleive what is going on in Jamaica's capital city of Kingston right now?

I know this has nothing to do with dogs or pets but Mrs. Big Nate and I just returned from our vacation in Jamaica. The whole thing started while we were there!

The country is rising up against the government to support gang leader and drug lord, Christopher Coke. The country’s prime minister, Bruce Golding, announced that the authorities wanted to arrest the gang leader, after a series of coordinated attacks were carried out on police stations in areas of Kingston. In response, the prime minister put troops on the streets and declared a state of emergency in Tivoli Gardens, the west Kingston neighborhood, or “garrison,” loyal to Mr. Coke, who is commonly known as Dudus, and his Shower Posse gang. Apparently this guy was a former political ally!

Anyway, I would suggest staying away from Jamaica for a whille till things settle down a bit. Other than that, we had an awesome vacation and would recommend it to anyone wanting to get away and relax on the beach.

Back to our dog's life now!

May Newsletter and Poooper of the Month

Happy May 2010 Everyone!

With the exception of high winds, blasts of rain, dumps of snow and all around crappy, Calgary weather, I think it's safe to say Spring has arrived in our fair city. The Calgary weather has been sketchy at best. And of course as I write these words there is talk of more snow on it's way.

So again I want to warn our loyal customers that we may end up having to skip the odd day here and there as the weather just won't cooperate enough for us to do a decent job of scooping the poop!

If that happens, we promise to keep you up to date by posting route changes or cancellations on our Twitter feed. The Twitter feed then updates the news on our website's home page in real time. If you don't have a Twitter account, just go the Poooh Busters website you can see the updates right there. If you do have a Twitter account, be sure to follow our Tweets and have them delievered to your cell phone. That way you get the updates immediately! I love this about Twitter. If you use it right, it can be a great way to keep up on things as they happen.

Anyway, the reason for today's blog is to update you fine folks on the fact that our May Poooper of the Month has been posted and our May Newsletter is complete. So be sure to check these things out at your leisure and enjoy all the glory that Poooh Busters brings to your life.

Seriously, where would you be without us?

Join Us At Tail Blazers!

We are very excited to be a part of Tail Blazers' Customer Appreciation Day! When is it you ask? Why it's tomorrow, Saturday, May 1st!

Twice a year the folks at Tail Blazers Health Food Store For Pets host a customer appreciation day where they show their true appreciation for their patrons. There are so many great things a person who visits Tail Blazers on this day can take advantage of.

Awesome deals, great prizes and fantastic giveaways!

Not only that, yours truly, Big Nate will be at the Tail Blazers Copperfield location from Noon to 2:00 p.m. handing out Poooh Busters flyers and fridge magnets.

We have also offered up some of our own coupons for the Tail Blazers grab bags. These little gems will be handed out to first 30 customers that arrive at each of their seven locations. We are offering 50% off our 12 week package. So if you show up early, you'll get a bag with our coupon and many other great deals inside!

Also if you sign up for Tail Blazer's e-Newsletter, you'll automatically be entered in their prize draw for many great prizes too. Poooh Busters is giving away 12 weeks service free to one lucky winner!

If you want full details, be sure to visit the Tail Blazers Events Page

See you tomorrow at the Copperfield Tail Blazers!

Dog Friendly Gardens

Guest blogger Cheryl S. Smith enjoys beautiful dogs AND a beautiful garden. You can, too, if you know what to do.

Poooh Busters, Poooh Busters, how does your garden grow? If you’re like many dog owners, it might not grow at all, thanks to a certain furry best friend who uses the lawn or garden for a urinal or a digging pit. But there’s hope! Dog writer Cheryl S. Smith, author of Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs, is here to help you with some of the most-common questions and concerns of people who have dogs and gardens. The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. You just have to have some of her wisdom — or her book — in your pocket.

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Dog-Friendly Garden Tips
By Cheryl S. Smith
When dog people talk about dogs and gardens, a few topics usually arise. Though my book Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs covers garden design with dogs in mind, breed considerations, fencing, training, products to use, plants to avoid, and more, when I’m out speaking, these are the most-asked questions.

Q: How can I keep my dog from making brown spots in my lawn?

A: This one often comes combined with a variety of myths, such as it’s only girl-dogs because their urine is more acidic or if I feed my dog tomato juice (or baking soda or other ill-advised items), it will neutralize the acid.

So, first, the culprit isn’t “acid,” it’s nitrogen. A high concentration of nitrogen, as is found in normal urine, burns the patch of lawn. Because female dogs tend to pee in one place and male dogs tend to mark, and thus spread their urine out more, females may have a greater impact.
In lesser quantities, nitrogen is an excellent fertilizer. So one thing you could do is apply water wherever your dog urinates. The end result will be that the patches of lawn that have been peed on and watered may actually be greener than the rest of the lawn. A researcher actually looked into this and determined that you could apply water as much as 6 or 8 hours after the fact and still effectively dilute the nitrogen.

Of course, that means you either need to know where the dog urinated or you have to water the entire lawn each day. A more practical solution may be to train your dog to use a specific potty area. If you’re starting with a new puppy, it just means going to the same location every time you take the puppy out to do his or her business, rather than wandering around the yard. If your dog is already housetrained, it would require the additional work of re-training to your chosen spot.
Also note that those brown spots may not be your dog’s fault at all. There is a fungal disease called fairy ring that looks amazingly similar to canine urine-created brown spots.

Q: I’ve hard that snail and slug bait shouldn’t be used around dogs, but I’m losing all my plantings to those slimy little creatures. What can I do?

A: Take heart, there is help. Traditional snail/slug baits include metaldehyde, which is extremely toxic. Hundreds of dogs die from metaldehyde poisoning every year. These products should never be used in any area accessible to dogs.

Several years ago a marvelous new product arrived. Based on iron phosphate, the product has no toxic effects on mammals or birds, even if eaten. But snails and slugs are attracted to it, and sicken and die once they consume it. The original manufacturer and product are Monterey Lawn and Garden Products and SluggoTM. Other companies now produce similar products, but I remain loyal to Sluggo in appreciation for Monterey Lawn and Garden bringing this life-saving product to us. You can’t have a more slug-friendly environment than a shady garden in the Pacific Northwest, and Sluggo has proven to be very effective.

You can find a variety of nontoxic products if you look for them. Insecticidal soaps and neem can be effective against insect pests. Lots of natural fertilizers are available. Check out Monterey Lawn and Garden, Sterling International, and Naturally Scientific, or ask your local nurseryperson for nontoxic solutions to your garden needs.


Q: I don’t mind a few brown spots on the lawn, but my dog is digging craters all over my landscape. Help!

A: Some breeds – terriers and Dachshunds – were designed to dig. At one time it was their job to find and kill vermin who often lived underground. Other dogs dig as a recreational activity, or to create a cool spot to lie down. Trying to stop the digging is extremely frustrating for both the human and the dog, and can lead to even less acceptable activities, such as barking constantly. Most digging problems can be resolved by providing your dog with an approved digging location. A digging pit for diggy dogs can save your garden.

You can just choose a patch of ground to let your dog dig, or you can create an actual digging pit. The one in the photograph was created out of leftover decking lumber. It is filled with a mix of sand and dirt, to keep it lose and well-drained.

To entice a dog to dig where you choose, bury some toys and treats. Go outside with your dog, run to the digging pit, dig up a treat yourself, and give it to the dog. Scratch in the dirt and encourage the dog to join in. Play with a toy after digging it up.

Keep this up for a couple of weeks. Don’t let your dog out in the yard unsupervised (this isn’t a good idea anyway). If he or she starts to dig anywhere else, run to the digging pit and entice the dog to you. Reward with a treat or play with a toy. After repetition, the dog will get the idea that this is the most rewarding place to dig, and will start making the correct choice.

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Cheryl S. Smith is an award-winning writer widely known for her dog books and articles. Click here to learn more about Cheryl, her projects, and her dogs. She also has a blog, Dogs in Society, and is an Examiner who writes about travel and events for Washington’s Olympic Peninsula visitors with dogs.

Tail Blazers Customer Appreciation Day

We are very excited to support and be a part of a local business' effort to show appreciation to the very people who made them successful. Their customers!

Tail Blazers Health Food Store for Pets is hosting their Customer Appreciation Day on May 1, 2010. It will last all day and holds many fun events and prizes for anyone who pops in throughout the day to any of their stores.

In fact, Poooh Busters has made a few contributions to help make their day a success. We have provided 50% off coupons for the first 30 customers to arrive at any of their Calgary stores. If you are one of the first 30 to show up that day, Poooh Busters will provide 12 weeks of service for half price! It doesn't get much cheaper than that to start in on a weekly service of pet waste removal!

Also we have provided a draw prize of 12 weeks free service to one lucky person who wins the draw. In order to be in the draw, you have to sign up for Tail Blazers' e-Newsletter. If you sign up on or efore May 1st, you're entered to win many, many prizes including our 12 weeks free!

In order to get up close and personal with all the fun activities, I will be at the Copperfield location from Noon - 2:00pm handing our brochures and fridge magnets. So be sure to come on down and say hi. I'd love to meet your dogs too!

So, please keep on supporting local, small business in this wonderful pet industry of ours. Nothing says you care more about pets than supporting local business and pet suppliers that don't make it their business to sell animals raised in puppy mills for pure profit!

See you on May 1st!