Dog Article
courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com
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Dogs
That Chew Through Electric Cables
Stan Rawlinson
www.Doglistener.co.uk
Sometimes a
puppy can chew through a cord leading to an electric appliance.
The shock is usually not serious (though in certain circunstances
has proved fatal), however it can knock the puppy out. If this
happens, put a little ammonia on a cotton wad and hold it under its
nose. Don't touch the nose with it, as ammonia will burn the
skin. The sharp odour will bring it round. When iy does
come to, give it some cool, strong , black
coffee to drink. If its mouth is burned, wet a cloth in cool tea
and
wash the burned place with this. Take the puppy to the vet if it
seems
burned or injured in any way.
Stan Rawlinson
Founder member of Association of Applied Canine Trainers (PAACT)
www.doglistener.co.uk
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Dogs
That Eat Glass or Other Sharp Objects
Stan Rawlinson
www.Doglistener.co.uk
What Do you
do
if your dog eats glass or other sharp objects? Buy some natural
cotton
balls and a carton of double cream, which you can freeze untill
required,
shred the balls, dip them into cream and feed them to your dog.
Dogs
less than 10lb should eat two balls, dogs 10lb to 50lb, three to five
balls,
and larger dogs five to seven. As the cotton works its way
through
the digestive tract it will wrap around the smallest of sharp objects,
protecting
the intestines. Consult your vet if your dog's stools show fresh
blood
or have a tarry appearance.
Stan Rawlinson
Founder member of Association of Applied Canine Trainers (PAACT)
www.doglistener.co.uk
Tips to Prevent Chewing and Bitting in Puppies
Pet Library
Puppies naturally explore the
world with their mouths. The tastes and textures of objects in their
environment help them to learn about their world. They spend several
months shedding their baby teeth and growing in their adult teeth. This
stimulates them to chew and, thus, it is normal for them to chew.
However, what puppies must learn is those things that are appropriate
for them to chew on and those things that aren't.
The most important learning period for puppies occurs between the
ages of 4 and 16 weeks. From birth to about 8 weeks, a puppy is mostly
learning from his mother and littermates. The pup should also have
generous
amounts of gentle human handling during this time as this will help to
prepare him for his new home.
A new puppy should not have free rein of the house at first. This
is too confusing for him. Keep him mostly in a smaller, easily cleaned
room such as a kitchen. Give him acceptable chew toys such as Kong
toys,
rawhides and nylabones. Do not give him discarded shoes or clothing. He
can't differentiate between old and new clothing. Never strike or yell
at your pup during this time because you will only frighten and confuse
him and may create unwanted aggression.
Your puppy will need chew
toys that outlast his teeth and others that he can really get his teeth
into. Add some squeaky toys, balls, tug-o-ropes, and whatever else you
think your pup will enjoy that won't hurt him.
If your puppy chews on you or your clothing, make a loud noise, such as
'no', to get his attention, then remove whatever it is that he's
chewing on. Promptly replace it with an appropriate toy for him to chew
on and
reward him when he does.
Although often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and
biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething
is more likely to involve gnawing or chewing on household objects. The
first thing you must do is to provide your puppy with ample opportunity
for play without biting. Social play with people could involve chase
and
retrieve games, as well as long walks or jogging. Although wrestling
and
tug of war games can be fun, they may lead to play that is too rough or
rambunctious. Puppies need to learn bite inhibition. This is something
they start to learn while with they are littermates. It is one reason
that
puppies should not go to new homes until 7 - 8 weeks and they have had
time to practice social skills with other dogs. It can therefore be
extremely
beneficial for the puppy to have regular interactive social play
periods
with other dogs or puppies in the home or in the neighborhood
There are many reasons why dogs gradually or sometimes suddenly become
aggressive. It is always frustrating and sad because it usually means
the demise of the dog. A dog that is repeatedly biting, leaving bite
marks or drawing blood, must, for the safety of others, be confined,
muzzled, or sometimes even put down.
One cause of aggressive biting is pain. For example, a dog may bite if
touched where there is a growing tumor. He may bite if he has a severe
case of indigestion or a bladder blockage. If you suspect pain as the
cause, see your veterinarian immediately.
There are at least two normal causes of aggressive biting. One is
maternal protection of pups by the mom, and another is interfemale or
intermale rivalry. Here, the best advice is to properly socialize your
dog at a very early age to people as well as to other dogs. Sometimes
hormonal
medication will effectively treat the aggression in these dogs.
Provide your dog with adequate play, attention and exercise, and you
can turn the training to bite inhibition. One of the things that
puppies need to learn is the amount of pressure from their jaws that
causes pain. Without this feedback, a puppy does not learn to inhibit
the force of his bite. Because all dogs can and will bite at some time,
this lesson is vital for human safety.
Remember that play biting is a component of play behavior in puppies.
Play is a form of social interaction. Realize that your puppy is trying
to play with you even though the behavior is rough. To ensure that you
are in control, be certain that each play session is initiated by you
and
not the puppy and that you can end each session whenever you choose.
One
effective strategy when the play gets too rough is to immediately end
the play session and leave. Social withdrawal can be a very powerful
tool.
Leave the puppy alone long enough to calm down. If, upon your return,
the wild playing begins again, leave again. Although it is tempting to
pick the puppy up and take him out of the room, this interaction may be
interpreted by your puppy as additional play and the biting may
continue
as you carry the puppy to a confinement location
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Dogs Who Chew Stones
This may not be the most
common problem among dogs. In fact, many dog owners have probably never
even heard of stone chewing before. But there are, nonetheless, dogs
who do it. Stone chewing behavior in dogs is most likely a type of
play. However, this behavior can pose a risk to your dog and his health.
First, the actual act of chewing the stones can wear down or even
break your dog's teeth. This can be painful for your dog and it can
lead
to infection. It's also possible for your dog to accidentally swallow
a stone or two. While smaller-sized stones may not necessarily be
harmful,
if your dog swallows larger stones, they can obstruct the passage of
food
or tear the intestinal wall. This can lead to serious illness and can
even prove fatal.
Because of the risks associated with chewing stones, you want to
discourage your dog from doing it. Since he most likely just wants to
play, redirect his attention toward more appropriate and safer toys. Be
sure that you have a variety of toys on hand that your dog likes, such
as balls, chew toys, kongs, rawhide toys, and so on. You may also need
to keep a close eye
on your dog and keep him leashed in rocky areas.
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