Dogs 101 ~ Common Behavioral Issues ~ Destructive Behaviors (Chewing, Digging)

Dog Digging In Yard

Boredom, loneliness, hot weather, or escape artistry can lead your dog to misbehave or engage in destructive behaviors like chewing and digging; the following are some suggestions for keeping your canine friends entertained!

Buster Cube

Buster® Cube (available from Bark Busters): This award-winning dog toy is a great distraction. Fill the toy with dry kibble. As your dog rolls it around on the ground, the kibble falls out from multiple compartments. This motivates your dog work for his food, keeping a brain-active dog busy for hours.

Scatter feeding: Turn feeding into a treasure hunt. Scatter a variety of foods (such as whole carrots, celery, peas, broccoli, beans, apples, healthy baked treats, etc.) around the yard when you put your dog outside. This gives your dog something to forage for as well as some nutritious food to chew on (rather than your wooden lawn furniture). You can also scatter his dry food around the yard. 

KONG Stuffable Toy

KONG® toys (available at most better pet retailers, or by request through The Gifted Pet): The durable rubber toys made by KONG® have a hollow center that can be stuffed with delicious treats. Seal the ends with biscuits to make it harder for your dog to get the goodies inside, or fill one with food and then freeze it to make your dog a “KONG-sicle” to enjoy. KONG® also produces the Wobbler, which is similar to the Buster® Cube. Place treats or kibble inside, and your dog has to figure out how to release them by maneuvering the toy around.

If your dog seems to prefer your yard or household items over his toys to chew, one way to discourage him is to have the item itself give the correction by applying a foul-tasting product such as Grannick's Bitter Apple spray, citronella or hot chili sauce to it. Never give your dog old shoes or clothing items to chew, as he may not distinguish between these old items and new ones.

Digging is a normal behavior for dogs. They dig in search of food, to investigate sounds and smells, to improve their shelter, or to escape. This behavior can be triggered by boredom, separation anxiety, chasing rodents or bugs, and/or a nutritional deficiency.

Let him have a designated digging area. Some dogs, such as terriers and hunting dogs, have a very strong instinct to dig. Perhaps there is one part of your yard that you will permit digging. Alternatively you could make him a sand pit. The dog will have to be trained to dig in the designated area, not in the geraniums.

The reason for the digging must be determined before a possible training solution can be tried. Contact a local Dog Behavioral Therapist to help you with this tricky behavioral issue. ♥

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com

Dog Adoption Checklist

Congratulations on deciding to adopt a dog! You are embarking on a wonderful and rewarding relationship. Because adopting a new dog comes with a lot of change for both dog and dog parent, we’ve compiled a checklist to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Questions for All Adopters:

* Do you have any other dogs and how will they react to a new dog?

* Is your current residence suited to the dog you’re considering?

* How will your social life or work obligations affect your ability to care for a dog?

* Do you have a plan for your new dog during vacations and/or work travel?

* How do the people you live with feel about having a dog in the house?

* Are you (or your spouse, partner or roommate) intolerant of hair, dirt and other realities of sharing your home with a dog, such as allergies?

* Do you or any of your household/family members have health issues that may be affected by a dog?

* What breed of dog is the best fit with your current lifestyle? (You can find information on specific breeds in Petfinder's dog breed directory.)

* Is there tension in the home? Dogs quickly pick up on stress in the home, and it can exacerbate their health and behavior problems.

* Is there an adult in the family who has agreed to be ultimately responsible for the dog’s care?

Other Considerations:

* What do you expect your dog to contribute to your life? For example, do you want a running and hiking buddy, or is your idea of exercise watching it on TV?

* If you are thinking of adopting a young dog, do you have the time and patience to work with the dog through its adolescence, taking house-breaking, chewing and energy-level into account? (Find more information on raising young dogs in Petfinder's Puppy Guide.)

* Have you considered your lifestyle carefully and determined whether a younger or older dog would be a better match for you?

* Can you train and handle a dog with behavior issues or are you looking for an easy-going friend?

* Do you need a dog who will be reliable with children or one you can take with you when you travel?

* Do you want a dog who follows you all around the house or would you prefer a less clingy, more independent character?

Size Considerations:

* What size dog can your home accommodate?

* Will you have enough room if your dog grows to be bigger than expected?

* What size dog would suit the other people who live in or visit your home regularly?

* Do you have another dog to consider when choosing the size of your next dog?

* How big a dog can you travel comfortably with?

Dog Costs:

* More likely than not, the adopting agency will charge a fee to help defray the cost of taking in unwanted or lost animals. The adoption fee you pay will be a tiny fraction of the money you will spend over the life of your dog.

* You may need to pay for your adopted dog to be spayed or neutered before bringing him or her home.

* Some expenses are mandatory for all dogs, including:
~ Food
~ Routine veterinary care
~ Licensing according to local regulations
~ Collars, leashes and identification tags
~ Basic grooming equipment and supplies.

Other expenditures may not be required but are highly recommended:
~ Permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo
~ Training classes
~ Additional grooming supplies or professional grooming (depending on your new dog’s needs)
~ A spare collar or leash
~ A bed and toys
~ A crate or carrier

* Unexpected costs: Accidents and illness can result in costly emergency veterinary care. 
Recovery tools for finding a missing dog can include posters and rewards.

* A dog with special physical or behavioral challenges may require specialized professional support to overcome any obstacles these issues present.

* For more on typical dog care costs visit Annual Dog Care Costs.

Time Considerations:

* Dogs need to be fed two to three times a day, more often in the case of puppies, and need a constant supply of fresh water.

* A responsible dog parent should spend at least one hour per day giving direct attention to his or her dog. This may include training, exercising, grooming, and playing or, with cats, may just be lap time on the couch. Dogs will need to be taken out to potty several times a day.

* A dog with an abundance of energy needs more time to exercise and interactive toys to keep them entertained.

* Dogs with long coats need 20 minutes a day of grooming to prevent matting.

* Dogs with certain medical conditions may need additional attention, including specifically timed injections in the case of diabetic animals.

* Remember that adopted dogs may need additional bonding and reassurance time in the early weeks.

Shopping Checklist:

It may be a good idea to wait until you select your new dog before you begin shopping for supplies. For example, some items, such as food and water bowls or collars and harnesses, depend upon the size of the dog you will be adopting.

Also, be sure to find out which food your dog was eating in the shelter or foster home so that you can provide the same in the beginning, again to ease the transition. Many times the rescue or foster will give you enough of the current food to help you with the transition to the new food.  As your dog is settling in,  you can begin the transition to the food of your choice. We recommend Life's Abundance All Life Stage Adult Dog Food, or Puppy Food.  

Once you’ve selected your dog, here’s a checklist of supplies you may need:

* Necessary Items for Dogs:
* Food and water bowls
* Food (canned and/or dry)
* Collar
* Six-foot or retractable leash
* ID tag with your phone number
* Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate
* Dog bed
* Doggy shampoo and conditioner
* Nail clippers
* Canine toothbrush, toothpaste, or doggy dental wipes
* Brush or comb (depends on your dog’s coat length and type)
* Super-absorbent paper towels
* Sponge and scrub brush
* Non-toxic cleanser
* Enzymatic odor neutralizer
* Plastic poop baggies (biodegradable ones are best) or pooper scooper
* Absorbent house-training pads
* Variety of toys (a ball, rope, chew toy and puzzle toy are good starts)
* Variety of treats (such as small cookies, larger rawhides, etc.)
* First-aid supplies
* Baby gate(s) or crate, if preferred

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com