10 Tips for Curing Your Dog’s Destructive Behavior

January 31, 2016 by janet

All too often a dog’s destructive behavior is cause for a return to the shelter. It can even result in unspeakable things like animal abuse. At the very least, it causes stress in your household and puts a strain on your relationship with your pet. Let’s for a moment, take a walk in our dog’s paws to try to understand what could cause your beloved pet to behave so unspeakably as to destroy your favorite chair, sunglasses or pair of shoes… perhaps the paneling on the wall?

Dogs are smart creatures. They are living, breathing animals with active bodies and minds. When you leave your dog for eight hours or more a day, to go to work, your dog sleeps, right? And when you sleep, your dog sleeps, right? That’s a lot of sleep. One might even hazard a thought that your dog might get bored with 16 hours of sleep time a day. And when the dog gets bored, your favorite chair looks like a pretty enticing chew toy.

What can we do so our dogs are not bored? Don’t tune me out, please – I am serious! And what can we do to minimize the destruction that can happen in our homes?

Dogs need mental stimulation just like people do (yes, we do – stop watching that reality show…). Here are a few ideas to recharge your dog’s mental batteries:

Take your dog for walks every day or several times a week.

Being outdoors stimulates your dog’s powerful sense of smell, exposes her to new sights and sounds. She might meet some new people or dogs. Here’s a kicker – you might, too! Dogs are a great ice-breaker to meet the neighbors. The exercise will do you both a great deal of good. If you or your dog is not in shape, you soon will be. Your dog may save you the cost of a gym membership. Your dog may walk off some needed pounds, too.

2. Take your dog to an off leash dog park.

If you are lucky enough to have an off leash dog park nearby and your dog gets along with other dogs, this can be a great way for them to blow off steam and make new dog and people friends. The parks are fenced in areas where dogs can run off leash and play with other dogs. Be mindful and watch your dog at all times; not all dogs get along and they can get into fights. Once you start going regularly, your dog will have pals he can rely on for good, clean, energetic (did I say tiring?) fun.

3. Go hiking! Discover your local park system with your furry friend.

Many of us have beautiful local parks and green spaces that are set aside for hiking, biking, walking, camping, etc. Leash up your furry friend and explore together! I was amazed when I discovered the local gems scattered around New Jersey.

4. Take your dog to doggie day care or schedule a play date with another dog.

Doggie day care is a wonderful thing! While you are at work, your dog plays in a supervised setting with other dogs – all day long. Of course it comes at a cost, but if you sign up for packages it is usually pretty reasonable. Your dog will be tired and happy when you pick him up. You don’t have to take your dog every day – once or twice a week will do wonders for his happiness and yours. Dogs make friends easily. You can also invite another dog owner and dog over to play at your home. The dogs can tire each other out while you make a new friend, too.

5. Take a trip to your local pet store!

Most pet shops allow dogs to shop along with you. After all, you need dog food and treats and other fun things for your pets – you are going there anyway. It’s a great opportunity to socialize your dog and give him an outing that is not to the vet or groomer – something just for fun, just for his pleasure. And it usually involves a car ride which most dogs love. With what joy will he realize that there are cookies at the checkout counter…. He’ll be dragging you into the store next time you go!

6. Consider a second dog if you only have one.

Okay, I said consider it. I know it isn’t often possible. We had one dog for most of our lives – three is new, believe me! But I do think that having a canine friend in the house to keep him company, adds to your dog’s quality of life and contentment. It can lessen the possibility for destruction and help to tire them both out, because you know they play at least a little while you are out! (We are soon installing a doggie cam to see just what does happen when we leave… I’ll report on the findings when we do.) Also for some dogs who have separation anxiety, like our Lobo and our old girl Shelby, the anxiety can magically melt away when they have another dog to keep them company.

LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DESTRUCTION

Okay, so that gives you some ideas for tiring your dog out and expanding his mental horizons. A tired, happy dog, is less likely to chew on your slippers. Now what about dog proofing your home while you are out, just in case Fido is tempted to chew on your favorite something or other while you are away?

7. Keep your dog in a small part of your home when you leave.

Close doors to the bathroom and bedrooms. Maybe put a doggy gate or two up to close off hallways or stairways. We keep our three dogs confined to the living room and kitchen while we are out. They have access to the water bowl and a big window to watch the outside world go by.

8. Remove all possible sources of temptation.

We move couch pillows to another room when we go out. This as the result of a pillow “explosion” that happened a long time ago… it’s amazing how many feathers there are in a single pillow when the dog tears it apart. The same goes for remote controls and magazines – we tuck them away in a drawer when we leave the house. If your dog is limited to one area, simply remove all the unnecessary items (eye glasses, mail, shoes, clothing, keys) to higher counters, into drawers or to other rooms. Paper is like candy to our Lobo, so all paper goods are safely stowed away.

9. Apply ‘Bitter Apple’ spray to areas you think might be chewed upon.

Bitter Apple spray is available in most pet stores. Dogs hate the taste. When we got new couches, we sprayed the corners after Secret chewed on one of them. They were never touched again. I even tried spraying Fiona’s tail (oh dear, Secret likes to grab it) but it didn’t work! So I wouldn’t advise spraying it on other animals… But couches, wooden molding, Christmas tree branches, etc. Just check the manufacturer’s instructions before applying.

10. Give your dog a window to look out upon his world.

Dogs love to be on guard, to watch what is going on in the neighborhood, to be the first to see you when you pull into your driveway. It makes their lives interesting and feeds into their natural instincts to be aware of their surroundings. If at all possible, give your dogs a window on the world to look out while you are away. It also gives you the added gift of seeing them waiting eagerly for you when you get home!

I hope you find some of these tips useful. You may want to consult with an animal trainer or behaviorist for support; some cases are more difficult, especially in a rescue situation where a dog’s past is not known and can affect current behavior adversely for reasons you cannot fathom. If only dogs could talk!! We have to learn to speak their language as much as possible. Enjoy every day with your sweet pups!!

Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback – we love to hear from you!

Full Moon Madness: Ancient Canine Habits Are Hard to Break!

October 4, 2015 by janet

Our pups become noticeably more energetic as the weather turns cooler. I guess that is to be expected with Siberian huskies, who favor colder temperatures. I see it first in October, when the leaves begin to fall, the wind to howl and the Halloween decorations to go up around the neighborhood. Yet it is when the moon is full, that the doggie demon comes out to play.

Our girl Secret almost turns into another dog, like some sort of autumnal transformation. She doesn’t exactly become a werewolf, but I would describe her as somewhat possessed!

When the wind begins to blow and the full moon rises, little Secret wakes me up in the middle of the night with a paw to my chest. She’s not to be ignored. If I don’t rise to let her out, she wakes my husband. Often enough, he is the one she wakes first. Since his alarm goes off at 5 am to get ready for his commute, that is not really appreciated. This night, I decide to give him a break.

Sleepily I walk with Secret downstairs and let her out into the backyard. She is keyed up and wide awake. The full moon makes it bright as day if it’s not cloudy. I watch as she paces and runs. I attempt to quietly call her inside. No response. She is taken over by full moon madness.

I shuffle outside in my slippers and try to encourage her into the warmth of the house. She runs away, just beyond my reach. The full moon mocks me from above, terrible beauty that she is. Resignedly I go back inside, sit on the floor with my head against the sliding glass door, and watch her through drooping eyelids.

I give Secret a few minutes to sniff and pace and run, and then decide to try to coax her in again. I am afraid to fall asleep at the door with her outside all night. Dog cookies, usually a sure fire way to get her to come to me, don’t work at 2 am.

I walk outside, this time clad a bit warmer in a sweatshirt over my pajamas, determined to grab her and carry her in if she won’t come. She comes up to me, tail wagging, eyes locked on my face. When I reach for her, she runs away like a tease, still looking at me. She walks around the yard whining and crying, barking and howling at me as if I have broken some unspoken code of human-dog relations.

Finally as a last resort I go inside and grab her leash. After a few minutes of dodge and dash in the backyard, I manage to lasso her and bring her inside. I am sure I am breaking all manner of rules of dog training but I don’t care. I’ve taken the classes. Positive reinforcement. But it goes out the window in the way pre-dawn hours. I am a bit smarter about dog behavior in daylight hours, when I am fully awake.

Does this continue when the snow begins to fall, you ask? When the moon is full, sigh, yes it does….. Winter brings a whole new set of adventures and sleeplessness! Stay tuned as the season advances and the temperatures drop.

Making Vet Visits Fun? Why Not?!

July 12, 2015 by janet

Lobo is nervous at the vet's office. — Lobo is nervous at the vet’s office.

Our Lobo is a bit nervous at the vet. Being a rescue dog with a hazy past, we have a hard time separating fact from fiction with what we have been told about him. What we do know is that not long before we started to foster him, he was taken to the vet because he had injured himself trying to escape the room he was left in overnight alone. His mouth and paws were bloodied (it breaks my heart to think of it) and he had to be muzzled at the vet because he was in such an agitated state. This was before we met Lobo.

Our first visit to the vet with Lobo was just a meet and greet, not an exam. He glued himself to the exit door of the room. He even squeezed between Rob and the back of a tiny chair. He wasn’t aggressive but he wasn’t friendly.

The second visit was for a rabies shot for Lobo. The vet’s office insisted on an examination as well and our usual vet wasn’t in that day. The other vet was fearful because Lobo bared his teeth at her and she had us put a muzzle on him for the exam. I wasn’t happy with this but I guess I can’t blame her for being nervous. He’s a big boy and he can be a bit of a loud mouth.

Fiona smothers her doctor with enthusiastic kisses.

Truly Lobo is “a big mush,” as more than one person has told us about him. Our two girls Fiona and Secret love their vet excessively and we want Lobo to have the same experience. Rob and I have always felt that the vet-pet relationship is so very important because an animal must be comfortable with the doctor and the doctor’s office in order to be well-examined, cared for or diagnosed.

This weekend, Fiona and Secret were scheduled to see the vet for an exam and shots. We wanted Lobo to see how much they love their vet. To bring the experience up another positive, emotional notch, we picked up two Wendy’s hamburgers en route to the appointment. We gave them to the vet to share among the three dogs.

Lobo looks at the doctor adoringly - more hamburger please! — Lobo looks at the doctor adoringly – more hamburger please!

Lobo must have thought he was in heaven! This nice lady with a stethoscope was giving him hamburger and petting him. He looked at the doctor adoringly and ultimately threw himself across her foot as he lay on the floor.

Our hope is that when we go back in a few months for a checkup for Lobo, again with hamburgers in hand, that Lobo will associate the office and the vet herself, with a positive experience, and allow himself to be examined easily. The poor boy’s teeth are a mess from his days and nights left alone and trying to escape, so they will need to be seen to in the near future. All in good time.

We are going about this gradually to give Lobo the best chance for stress-free healthcare. I’ll keep you posted on our progress! This vet-apprehension is a new experience for us. If you have any comments or suggestions, I would really love to hear them!!

The Key to Canine Health: Know Thy Dog

July 11, 2015 by janet

Our girl Sabrina was an amazing husky. She traveled with us all over the US. My husband was racing a BMX bike so in the summer, spring and fall, we were outdoors at races in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Massachusetts etc. We would set up our canopy, bring lots of water, ice and a battery operated fan for Sabrina to help her stay cool.

I also had a business selling Irish books and would set up shop at Irish festivals across the east coast. Sabrina would come along of course -she was quite a draw at the booth, with those blue eyes! And the Irish wolfhounds which invariably came to the festivals got along with her fine, even though she looked like a wolf as most huskies do!

We knew our girl very well. One thing she loved above all else was popcorn. When we drove long distances in the car, we would throw popcorn to her in the back seat to catch. At home we shared popcorn all the time. So when she turned up her nose at popcorn one night, we knew that something was seriously wrong.

Sabrina was lying in her crate and would not come out. We placed a trail of popcorn from within the crate, to the foot of the couch where we were sitting, worriedly watching her every move. Or lack of a move. She would not budge from her little cave.

I looked at Rob and he looked at me. He picked up the phone and called our vet – we’re coming in now! No desire for popcorn – something is definitely amiss. Luckily we have an excellent, twenty-four hour veterinary hospital only ten minutes away and we drove down there at 11 o’clock at night with Sabrina.

After a few hours with the emergency vet and techs, we discovered that Sabrina had a grapefruit-sized growth on her spleen. They scheduled surgery for the next morning to remove it. Once they removed it, we had to wait anxiously for several days for the test results to come back to see if the growth was cancerous. Thank God, it was not.

Had we waited, that growth on Sabrina’s spleen would have burst, and Sabrina would be dead. She was twelve at the time and lived to bless us with four more wonderful years of love and affection.

What saved Sabrina were a few things. First, our luck to have a good vet nearby. Second, the vet on duty (who became our doctor until this day – the dogs worship her!) had excellent diagnostic skills and pinpointed the problem immediately. We credited her with saving Sabrina’s life and rightly so.

Most of all what saved Sabrina was our being observant and noticing her change in behavior, recognizing it as significant, and acting on it. Dogs cannot speak. We need to hear what they are saying by what they do and what they don’t do, what they are doing or not doing that is different from the norm for them.

I know a trip to the vet can be scary for some dogs and expensive for humans. The only way to know if a change in behavior requires medical attention, is to have a of expert eyes take a look at your sweet canine.

Sabrina lived to happily continue traveling with us for four more years, and to be the flower dog at our wedding. I am still learning to speak my fur babies’ language. I am so very grateful that Sabrina taught me the valuable lesson that actions (or lack of) do indeed speak louder than words.

Dog Pack Dynamics: Integrating the New Dog

May 15, 2015 by janet

I am fascinated by the pack dynamics among my dogs. If your dogs don’t get along very well at first, don’t despair. In the canine world, the subtleties of the pack order sort themselves out over time. I have three Siberian huskies – I’ve seen my share of small dramas!

We’ve had Fiona since she was a small puppy of eight weeks old. When Fiona was three years old, we took in my father’s dog Shelby. They’d known each other since Fiona was born and she was like a mother to Fiona. They got along famously.

Feeding time with Fiona and Shelby was easy. We would fill the dog food bowls with kibble and they would eat an appropriate amount among themselves over time; we would simply fill the bowls when they were empty. Amazingly, the two dogs were the perfect, healthy weight all the time. They appeared to be self-regulating in their diet.

A few years later, our sweet Shelby dog became sick and died. Poor Fiona fell into a depression without her friend and companion. She would barely eat. She moped around the house. She was grieving and she was lonely.

After about four months, we decided to “get a puppy” for Fiona. We contacted the husky breeder where we adopted her and were told they had a two and half year old dog who needed a home. Her previous owner had died recently. The dog’s name was Secret, a female, and she was not house trained, not spayed, and in heat. Wowee, we did not know what we were in for!

When we brought Fiona to meet Secret, Fiona tried to get her to play and woo woo-ed at her in typical husky fashion, jumping at her energetically, grabbing her ruff, wagging her tail. Secret took this as not friendly, and growled and snarled at Fiona. We drove home, a seven hour drive, with two dogs making an uncertain peace in the back seat of the car. I wasn’t sure it would work out. My husband, always confident in the power of dogs to work things out among themselves, was sure it would.

Once we got home, the saga continued. Secret was in heat and grouchy, peeing everywhere. Fiona knew that this was bad dog behavior and would bark at Secret to get her to stop. Secret again took this as aggression and growled and snarled back.

Secret acquired a habit of grabbing Fiona by the base of her tail which would pin Fiona down and not allow her to free herself. We crated Secret when we were not home, more for Fiona’s protection than to save our floor and furniture. Secret, in typical husky fashion, soon learned to escape the crate and we gave up on crate training her.

With my heart in my throat, I left Secret uncrated and headed off to work. When I came home, both dogs were fine. No bloodshed. No house damage. No severed tails. Fiona, however, was hiding down the end of the hallway and refused to play with her toys or join the family. It seemed that Secret liked stealing away every toy that Fiona grabbed. Secret also would still drag Fiona around by her long, luxurious tail.

Secret is a voracious eater and we could not leave food down unattended as she would eat it all. Fiona was not used to eating like this and I had to entice her to eat in one sitting in the morning and one at night. She continued to lose weight. With persistence and creativity, we got both dogs to eat healthy amounts of food in two separate meals a day. I weighed them every two weeks or so to see how the feeding schedule was doing, to make sure the amount they were getting was on target.

With time and patience, we wooed Fiona from her hiding spot at the end of the hallway, to join us and Secret in the living room. Now Fiona plays with her toys, eats heartily and spends time with the family. But I think she resented the newcomer for a while. Secret wasn’t nice – at first – and she wasn’t Shelby.

Fiona and Secret did not get along at first

Now Fiona and Secret still have their battles, but they do occasionally lie together and do cute things like make hearts of their joined paws!