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VanLife - With your Pup
Four paws and four wheels make the perfect adventure team! Navigate the joys and challenges of van life with your furry friend, from practical tips to essential considerations.
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Destructive Chewing - Part 2
As discussed last week, dogs chew. And chew. Let’s take a look at how to curb destructive chewing and encourage “good” gnawing so our pup’s and houses can look and feel good. What’s causing the behavior: Try to understand why your dog is constantly chewing. It can be lack of proper training, teething, boredom, separation anxiety or for just plain attention. Because once you understand what’s causing the behavior, you are in a better position to deal with it effectively. Guide to healthy habits: REMOVE TEMPTATION: Dog proof your home. All belongings that you do not want in your pup’s mouth, put up high or other inaccessible place. Ensure your dog toys are clearly distinguishable from household items. It’s confusing to give your pup your old pair of slippers as a toy to chew on and then not allow him/her to chew on your new fluffy slippers. Keep an eye on your pooch during this training period so you can immediately correct a gnawing mistake. Use a taste deterrent coating on furniture or other large stationery items to discourage chewing on those objects. ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CHEWING When leaving your pup alone, keep them in a “safe zone” with only permissible chewing toys. Instantly replace a “bad” chewing item with a “good” one, such as a treat or dog toy. Teething toys. If your young puppy is teething, find a soothing toy for his sore gums. A frozen wet washcloth to chew on can often ease the discomfort. Punishment is tricky with dogs. Any scolding or negative reaction from their human must be immediate to the bad behavior. Your pup will not associate your finger wagging to the fact that he chew your sneaker 2 hours ago. The chewing habit is here to stay. But with a combination of love, patience and proactive training, destructive chewing can morph into positive experience.
Ever wonder why… your dog licks you?
You walk into the house after a long day at work and your pup comes bounding over to you and licks your face from top to bottom! Welcome Home! What does licking mean? Licking is instinctive for canines. Mother dogs lick their puppies to groom and comfort them. Licking represents affection, bonding, greeting, to get attention or even to express hunger. Yup, hunger. When dogs are puppies they lick their mother’s mouth to encourage her to regurgitate food for them to eat. Pups will lick their owner’s face to try to get food, too. Exploration: Pup’s explore the world around them through scent and taste. Licking is a dog’s form of touching and feeling things. Grooming: Often you’ll see your dog licking himself. Dogs’ saliva has some antibacterial properties and they will lick their paws or other body part to clean them. Be aware that if your pet excessively licks one area, he may be reacting to constant itching or pain. If the behavior become very persistent, bring your pup into your trusted vet to be evaluated. Attention/Affection: Dogs crave attention. They love to spend time with you. Sometimes a lick can mean, “let’s go play!” Dogs also naturally express affection with a lick. When they begin licking, endorphins are releasing in their body creating a pleasurable and comforting feeling for your pup. Licking will often therefore help relax a very excited puppy. So, when your dog slobbers all over your face, don’t just wipe it away. Give your pup a pat and scratch and give a minute’s pause to think about what your furry friend is telling you.
Did you ever wonder why… Dogs Bark?
Like humans, dog use verbal and nonverbal cues to communicate. Barking is your pup’s way of talking to you, together with its non-verbal body language. Until you learn the intricacies of bark language, here are some clues as to what your dog is trying to convey through barking. Excitement When your pup barks as you walk into the house, or as you walk to the pantry to get their snack – Those are barks of excitement! Attention Sometimes dogs bark to get your attention. They are hungry or want to go on a walk or just want some cuddle time. They want you to pay attention and provide whatever it is their need. If your pup is on a clear schedule, it’s easier to determine what he/she is asking for. Otherwise, use trial and error or have your pup show you what it’s looking for. Boredom When a dog gets bored they will often bark for some mental or physical stimulation. Stimulation is very important to a dog’s routine to ensure that destructive habits do not develop. Some smart dogs will go over to the leash and drag it to you while yipping for a walk. Or will roll a ball or puzzle to your feet to help you get the hint as to its needs. Defensive Defensive barking is a reaction to a situation that makes your dog uncomfortable or scared, such as a stranger approaching or another dog nearby. The dog’s body language will indicate whether they are communicating fear/ anxiety or a territorial stance. Pain Dog will bark a higher pitched sound when they are in pain. If your pup barks like this when you touch or pet them, something may be hurting them or they may be anticipating pain from being touched. This should indicate a trip to the vet to have them checked out. Surprise When a pup bumps into a surprise, they’ll let out a reactive yelp! As long as the dog is not aggressive, this need not indicate that they’ll jump out or attack. This can happen if you walk up to a dog that didn’t notice your approach or if something unexpected happens around them. Of course, these are just common examples of why dogs bark. There can be many more in any day-to-day situation. The key to is pay attention to body language and look for any stimulus that will give you a clue as to your pup’s needs.
The Who’s, What’s and Why’s about Cow Ears
Who: Cow ears are a softer chew that is a great treat for dogs of all sizes and breeds. Due to their naturally large size (cow ears can be up to double the size of pig ears!) they are compatible for large dogs. They can, however, be cut down to size to treat smaller dogs and puppies. Being a softer chew, cow ears are terrific for light to medium chewers. It should take between 20 to a couple hours to finish a dog ear chew when being enjoyed by a lighter chewer. What: Cow ears are simply that: cow ears! This single ingredient treat is highly digestible and therefore safe for dogs to enjoy! Cow ears are minimally, yet carefully and in a sterile environment, processed to ensure that your pup can safely enjoy this delicious treat. Process: First, all cow hair is removed. They are then boiled and afterward slow dried to effectively lock in the flavor and nutrients without need for preservatives. Why: So why should you choose cow ears as a treat for your pooch? Cow ears contain all the goodness you want for your pup, without the garbage. Firstly, being a single ingredient natural product, you don’t need to worry about any fillers or preservatives. This is a grain-free, sugar-free, salt-free, soy-free and guilt-free treat! Cow ears are a naturally high protein and low-fat treat, which is an awesome bonus. Additionally, cow ears are made mostly of cartilage so they are naturally high in chondroitin. Chondroitin has been proven to contain anti-inflammatory properties which greatly enhances joint health. Lastly, chewing on cow ears not only relieve the natural urge to gnaw, but also helps promote oral hygiene. The chewing motion exercises the jaw muscles and effectively scrapes the tartar away for fresher breath and stronger teeth. So go ahead and treat your dog to a treat you can feel good about!
Ever wonder why… Dogs chew?
All dogs have a natural urge to chew. This is an inborn, ingrained trait that will accompany your pup throughout its life. Let’s learn some more about why dogs chew. Investigation: Dogs are curious. They are constantly learning about the world around them. Like with small babies, dogs explore with their mouths. This type of chewing will be most pronounced when going to a new place with your pup or soon after adoption. Your dog is learning its new surroundings through chewing. Discomfort: Dogs react to discomfort by chewing. Most common is with young pup who are teething as their baby teeth come in and then again as their adult teeth erupt through their gums. This is very painful for dogs and they will chew on anything and everything to alleviate this discomfort. In older dogs, this natural urge to chew is very healthy. It strengthens their jaws and keeps their teeth healthy as they rub and scrape against different surfaces. Entertainment: Chewing is an activity for your pooch. Many dogs resort to gnawing when experiencing anxiety or frustration. This is common when dogs are first getting used to their owners leaving the house for long periods of time. Separation anxiety and boredom can easily bring on destructive chewing. Dogs find the chewing action to be soothing and calming; as well as stimulating when bored. Don’t forget, dogs also love to eat! Gnawing on their favorite treat is often your pup’s calmest, happiest time of the day! So yes, your dog gnaws..and chews…and gnaws some more! It’s natural and it’s normal and it’s telling you something about your dog’s world.