My Dog Has A Toilet Paper Problem

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Have you ever come home and discovered that your dog has toilet-papered your house? More than a few dog owners have dogs that seem to have a toilet paper fetish. They love to grab the toilet paper in the bathroom and then race around the house with hit, seeing how far they can go. Or, some dogs will park themselves in the bathroom at the roller and just roll it with their paw, watching it pile up in the floor. Other dogs, perhaps less creative, will try to bite the toilet paper off the roll. Why do they do that?

Well, the short answer seems to be boredom. Dogs play with toilet paper because they get bored. Perhaps they think you’ve attached a little toy machine with paper products in the bathroom. They already think the bathroom is the most interesting room in the house — next to the kitchen, of course. They find nearly everything in the bathroom exciting, from the flushable water fountain (the toilet), to the fatty snacks you leave lying around for them (the soap). Of course the little squares of paper must be for doggy games.

There are a lot of dogs that eat toilet paper and other paper products. Dogs will also eat paper towels, if you haven’t already discovered that fact. No one is quite sure why dogs eat paper products. They don’t have fat or grease in them, like soap. They probably don’t taste very good. Yet, dogs still eat them.

Dogs also love to decorate with paper products which suggest that they may have a hidden artistic side. Ask any owner who has found her home draped in toilet paper. Dogs even like to take the paper products outside where they can paper the yard.

The only real way to stop these toilet paper sprees is to keep your bathroom door firmly closed in order to keep your dog away from the toilet paper. Keep your paper towels up where the dog can’t reach them.

The veterinary term for eating strange objects — paper, rocks, rubber bands, string, clothing, socks and even feces — is pica, and there are lots of dogs who do this. Dogs usually outgrow the behavior by the time they’re about two years old. In adult dogs it can be related to stress, diet, diabetes, intestinal cancer, and the need for attention.

Keep in mind that if your dog consumes a great deal of toilet paper or paper towels it is possible that he could develop a gastrointestinal blockage that would entail an emergency visit to the vet. This can be quite serious. So, please do keep the paper products away from your dog. This habit is more than just annoying; it can be very bad for your dog’s health.

If your dog continues to eat paper products you may want to mention the problem when you take your dog in for his regular check-up at the vet. Your vet may be able to find out if there is any physical cause for the problem. In all likelihood it is a behavior issue. Playing with paper products and eating this is said to be a behavioral issue in 90 percent of all cases.

Have you solved the toilet paper problem at your house? Tell us how you did it.

Until next time…….

How Often Should My Dog Have A Bath?

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Now that the weather is getting warmer it always seems that our dogs find more reasons to need a bath.

People often want to know how often their dog should get a bath.  That doesn’t always mean that they want to give their dog a bath, however! It’s not always fun to give your dog a bath, especially if he’s the kind of dog who hates getting in the tub.  In that case, giving your dog a bath can be a terrible experience, for you and for your dog.

But giving your dog a bath can be a good thing.  Dogs don’t really like to be dirty and smelly.  Dogs can’t clean themselves the way cats can.  When a dog gets dirty and nasty, they simply stay that way until they shed, or rub it off on your furniture.  And when they shed things are bad, too, because the hair goes all over your house.

So, what do you do with a dirty, smelly, shedding dog who doesn’t want a bath?  How do you make your dog look and smell nice again?  Actually, there are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about bathing your dog.  For instance:

*Grooming:  Grooming is not the same as bathing.  You should comb or brush your dog’s coat at least once a week. This will help remove mats and it will help cut down on shedding.  You should also brush your dog’s coat before a bath, especially if he has long hair.

*Coat:  You should consider your dog’s coat when deciding how often to bathe your dog.  Bathing your dog too often will remove important natural oils form their coat and make their skin dry and itchy.

Most dogs with double coats or soft undercoats, such as Cocker Spaniels or the Pekingese, should have a bath roughly every four to eight weeks.  Dogs with a silky coat, such as the Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso, should have a bath every three to six weeks.

Breeds of dog with a curly coat that doesn’t shed such as the Poodle or the Portuguese Water Dog should have a bath about every six to eight weeks.  Smooth-coated dogs such as the Chihuahua and the Boston Terrier will do well with a bath about every eight weeks or if they are dirty.  Dogs such as these need natural skin oils to protect their skin and they shouldn’t be bathed too often.

Dogs with coarse, wiry coats such as the Schnauzers and the Terrier breeds need baths about every four to six weeks. For dogs that have dandruff, this schedule can be moved up to about every three weeks.

*A Dog’s Personal Habits:  There are always exceptions to these recommendations.  For dogs that like to roll in the mud or play in puddles, the time table between baths may be much shorter. If your dog is removing the natural oils in his skin and coat with mud and dirty water, there is no reason to postpone a bath.

If, on the other hand, your dog is only slightly dirty, you can probably brush the dirt out of his coat every couple of days with a comb or brush.  Dry shampoos may or may not help much and they can still dry your dog’s coat out, which is not good for your dog’s skin.

*Swimming:  If your dog likes to go swimming whenever possible, especially in a chlorinated pool, you should bathe him afterwards with a mild shampoo.  This is also true if he swims in salt water.  Both chlorine and salt water can harm your dog’s coat and your dog may try to lick their coat after swimming which won’t be good for him.

*Allergies:  If you or another family member has allergies, you will probably need to bathe your dog more frequently.  This will help you keep the house free of dog dander and make life easier for the allergy sufferer.

In this case you should use a very mild shampoo for a weekly bath.  This will be less likely to harm your dog’s skin and coat, yet it will still remove dander.

Dogs can collect an amazing amount of dirt on their skin and coat in just one week.  However, dogs really don’t need baths as often as humans do.  Too many baths are not good for them.  It’s best to have your dog on a grooming schedule to keep mats at a minimum and keep nails trimmed, but don’t dry out their skin and coat with too many baths.

If you create a good grooming schedule your dog should stay happy and healthy for years, and you shouldn’t have to deal with too much doggy smell over the course of your lives together.

Until next time…..

About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists in Nashville, TN.  Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network, www.K9-University.com

Why Is Obedience Training So Important?

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To me that seems like such a silly question however there are a bunch of dog owners out there that just don’t have a clue what the answer may be.  There are many reasons that you need a trained dog and in this article I won’t be able to address them all however I do want to point out some of the very important reasons.

A Dog You Can Enjoy – Having a well-trained dog is a wonderful experience.  When you have a trained dog there is a feeling of pride that goes along with it.  You will also impress your family, friends and even the neighbors.  Simply put everybody loves a well behaved dog.

A Dog That Can Go Places With You – When you have a trained dog he can enjoy more things in life.  That can include going to visit friends, going on trips and also family outings at the beach or the park. A well trained dog is always welcome wherever you go.

A Happy Dog That Knows Its Place In The Pack – Your dog is a member of your family pack.  Whether it is you and a spouse or if the pack includes children it is important for your dog to know it place in the pack. Without training a dog will just naturally assume the position of Alpha and that is where all the problems begin. With proper training you will be the Alpha and your spouse and children will be below you with the dog at the bottom.  Knowing its rank in a pack will make your dog happy and content.

A Dog That Isn’t Aggressive – Aggression has actually become an epidemic. We are seeing more and more aggressive dogs daily.  Why you ask?  For several reasons but the #1 reason is because of the lack of training.  It seems that people are so busy with work and life nowadays that they just don’t take the time to train, exercise and socialize their dogs.  These three things are all important to have a happy friendly dog.

Another thing that confuses dog owners is that many of them feel that training is only for show dogs and that is the farthest thing from the truth.  Taking time to train your dog will give you a genuine feeling of accomplishment and at the same time will build a strong bond with you and your dog.

So set aside 15 minutes a day and go train your dog.

Do you need help training your dog?  If so visit us at Canine Behavior Specialists and give us a call, or for our out of town readers  .

Until next time,

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P.S. Do you need some advice from a Canine Behavior Specialist?  If so CLICK HERE now!

About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists in Nashville, TN.  Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network.

How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Dog Poop

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We all know that dogs can be fairly disgusting at times.  But there’s one behavior that usually grosses out every owner:  eating fecal matter.  For various reasons, dogs will sometimes wolf down dog poop in its various forms, especially when they are young.

This behavior is technically called coprophagy.  Fortunately it is usually easy to stop if you give your dog the proper nutritional supplements and make some behavior modifications.

Why Dogs Eat Poop

To begin with, you need to know why your dog is engaging in this behavior.  If you notice your dog eating poop you should take him to the vet if it’s something he does often.  Your vet can find out if your dog is eating poop because of some kind of nutritional deficiency in his diet.

Eating poop can be a sign of several deficiencies but your vet can perform an easy blood test to find out if there is something important missing in your dog’s blood chemistry.  In many cases you can simply add a supplement to your dog’s diet and it will help stop the problem.

Training Your Dog to Stop

Once you know if there is a physical problem with your dog you can address any deficiency.  On the other hand, if your dog is eating poop because of a behavior issue, then you can use behavior modification to change his behavior.

Reduce your dog’s opportunity to eat poop.  You can begin by reducing the number of chances your dog has to eat the fecal matter.  Pick up the poop and remove it as soon as your dog, or any other dog, relieves himself.  Pick it up daily or even more often if your dog has a yard that he uses.

If you walk your dog you should take him yourself to where he normally potties and don’t let him near any other fecal matter you may encounter on your walk.

Personally Supervise Outings.  You should personally take your dog on his walks, if possible.  This includes outings to the dog park since dogs sometimes get away on these trips and can find poop to eat.  If you will spend more time with your dog so you can watch him and correct his poop-eating behavior, he will learn faster that the behavior is not acceptable.

Negative Stimuli.  If you really want to change your dog’s poop-eating behavior you will need to teach your dog that it is unpleasant.  You can use a noisemaker or spray him with a spray bottle to startle him when he starts to eat poop.

It is important that you add this negative stimuli immediately, as soon as your dog starts to eat the poop.  You can’t delay it or give verbal commands.  Your dog needs to hear the startling noise or feel the spray as soon as he starts to eat the poop so he will associate the the negative stimuli with eating the poop.  Otherwise he will be confused.

Use Deterrents.  You can also use deterrents such as cayenne pepper or bitter apple on the poop.  When your dog eats the poop, he won’t like it, or he may not want to eat it.  Another deterrent is to give your dog pumpkin with his food.  Pumpkin makes the poop unpleasant so your dog won’t want to eat it.

There are also some commercially-sold deterrents but you should read the ingredients.  Avoid deterrents that have chemicals or ingredients that you don’t know.  Try to use natural deterrents.

Vitamins and Supplements.  If your vet determines that your dog has a deficiency of some kind, you can add a good multivitamin to your dog’s diet.  Ask your vet to recommend one so it contains the vitamins or minerals that your dog is missing.  You may also want to supplement your dog’s diet with more fresh foods.

If your dog is eating dog poop you can usually train him to stop doing it.  It’s important to help your dog understand exactly which behavior you object to and want to change. You have to be consistent and make sure your family is consistent, especially if other people in your family walk your dog.

If you can keep control of your dog’s walks, what happens on their walks, and whether they eat anything on their walks, you should be able to stop the poop-eating behavior fairly easily.

Please share your thoughts.  Does your dog eat poop?  How were you able to cure the problem?  Don’t be shy, please leave a comment below.  We can’t wait to read your response!

Until next time……

About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists in Nashville, TN.  Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network, www.K9-University.com

Proper Etiquette For Your Dog

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Every good dog owner should teach their dog proper etiquette.  A dog with good manners is welcome in many places while a dog with no manners is welcome nowhere. So I guess your question is how should I teach my dog proper etiquette?

Well it all starts with obedience.  Without obedience your dog has no idea how to be good.  Training your dog establishes the dog master relationship so it knows that you are the boss and also what the rules of the house are.

This is real similar to children in a family.  Mom and dad start early to teach their children what the rules of the house are so that as the child gets older there is no confusion.

Here are just a few of the things you should teach your dog to make it welcome anywhere.

  1. House training is #1 since you don’t want your dog having an accident when visiting friends or family.
  2. Teaching your dog not to jump on people is very important.  Even though your dog is friendly jumping on small children or elderly people can cause injuries.  Teaching your dog to do a sit when meeting people is very important and can be taught easily with the sit-stay command.
  3. Walking nicely on a leash is an important exercise for any well behaved pet and can be taught easily with the heeling command.  Your dog should learn to walk nicely at your side and not drag you down the street.
  4. Ignoring other dog or distractions like bikes and cars is also very important.  Nobody wants to deal with a dog that goes crazy when one of these distractions come around the corner.

All of these things are easily accomplished however many dog owners just can’t seem to accomplish these few small goals with their dog because there pet seems to be wound up and overly excited all the time.

OK, I am going to share the secret to a well behaved calm dog with you.  Are you ready for the answer?  It really is easy and is called EXERCISE.

Yes now you know the secret.  If you will give your dog plenty of exercise your dog will be much calmer.  The problem however is how you can do that without walking for hours a day.

Again, the answer is easy.  DOG DAYCARE!  Yep, that’s it.  Take your dog to a local doggy daycare 2 – 3 times a week and you will see an amazing result in your dog.

Don’t believe me?  Then give it a try and you will see how right I am.  It’s simple and it works.  Give it a try.

Do you need help with training your dog?  If so visit us at Canine Behavior Specialists and give us a call, or for our out of town readers  .

Until next time,

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P.S. Do you need some advice from a Canine Behavior Specialist?  If so CLICK HERE now!

About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists in Nashville, TN.  Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network.

The Love Of A Senior Dog

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While there may be a number of reasons that potential pet owners will be looking for younger dogs to buy or adopt, there are even more reasons why it is a good idea to look into the love and companionship of a senior dog. Whenever you find that you are looking for a new pet to add to your household, you will see that a senior dog is an excellent choice for a number of reasons.

All sorts of senior dogs can end up in a shelter for a lot of the same reasons that a younger animal will. These reasons may include the owners moving, getting divorced, the death of the owner and more. Most of the time, the dogs that get surrendered to a shelter are there by no fault of their own. Simply because a dog that is at the shelter is older, it does not mean that they have behavioral issues or health conditions that will lead to hefty veterinarian bills. There are often situations where an owner will have a difficult time making a commitment to the full lifetime of a dog and will simply trade the older dog in for a younger one for the novelty of it all.

There are also times when an owner is unwilling to change their lifestyle to include an aging dog so that they can give the care and commitment that they need as they get older. Some older pets can end up developing hip dysplasia, joint problems, cataracts and more, all of which should be treated with the help of a veterinarian. These are all pets that really need the love of a caring family and have plenty of love to give in return for the perfect home.

Depending on the type of household that you have, you could have the perfect home life that will be just right for bringing in an older dog. Senior dogs will have plenty of experience with other people and in many cases you will find that they are already trained for bathroom breaks, commands and more. Many of the senior dogs that you will find in a shelter will also have several good years left if you are able to make the commitment necessary to care for them.

While the idea of a puppy is appealing for many people, a senior dog can make an incredibly worthwhile companion that will be a true asset to your family.

How can Canine Behavior Specialists help you with your new dog?    Come visit our website or give us a call.

Until next time,

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About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists in Nashville, TN.  Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network.