Revealed: how to Stop Dogs Digging
by Craig Clemins
Dogs frequently cause many problems for their owners through their love to dig. Every year thousands of dog owners are left wondering how on earth they can stop this all too common problem.
It’s in a dog’s natural instincts to dig which makes digging one of the toughest problems of all to remedy. Nordic dog’s are the most renowned diggers, if you are considering adopting a dog and love your garden, stare clear of breeds originating in Siberia, Scandinavia and Alaska.
Some of the main reasons dogs dig include; boredom, lack of physical exercise, anxiety through separation, and desire to escape the yard.
Given that we know the most common causes for digging, we can come up with some solutions that are likely to put an end to your dogs digging. If your dog is digging because he’s not getting a lot of exercise you might be able to stop the digging totally taking your dog for a walk daily for 20 minutes or so. If boredom is the problem, buying some toys for your dog might help solve the problem. A dog that is constantly trying to escape may need to be tied up or kept inside.
If your dog simple likes to dig for the sake of digging, consider some of the following tips to help the situation:
Restrict access to the yard. You’ll be able to guarantee no digging by doing this.
Fill your garden with tough and resilient plants. Thorny plants such as roses are a good deterrent.
Some digging deterrents come in the form of sprays and powders. Spreading these throughout your garden can work very well in some cases.
Get creative and booby trap your yard. Bury balloons that will pop when your dog hits them. In some cases this is enough to deter further digging.
Another thing that you can do is allocate an area of turf for your dog to dig in. That way he can still get the pleasure of digging but not bother you – it could be a win – win situation.
Another option is to set up a special digging-box for your dog. This method requires minimal yard space and is easy to set up. It will work best for small dogs.
You should always try to find a situation where your dog is happy and you are too. Totally banning digging will probably leave your dog a little unsatisfied. Look for other alternatives where you can both be happy.
The tips mentioned in this article can in some cases totally eradicate digging, or at least minimize it. If you want to put an end to digging for good you may need to use a professional dog training guide to assist you. Check out the best seller listed below.
Dog Boarding Do’s and Don’t's
by Mike Frederick
What to look for when hunting for a good dog boarding kennel–When boarding your dog, whether for just a few hours or for a week or more, you want the peace of mind knowing that your beloved pet is getting the very best care possible. You want to be assured that your pup is comfortable, fed properly, exercised and watered sufficiently, and treated with kindness.
Start by checking out the person who will be caring for your dog while you’re away. Ask for references, and check out each one. Make sure you know ahead of time what kind of treatment your pup will receive, so you can feel confident that you’ve made the right choice.
You want to know for certain that your dog is safe while being kenneled. Since some dogs tend to have aggressive behaviors, make sure you leave your pup with an experienced dog handler–someone who knows how to handle aggressive dogs. They should be able to keep any dangerous situations from arising.
Make an on-sight visit of the kennel ahead of time, if possible. Look for a kennel that is constructed in materials that can be cleaned thoroughly and quickly. Steel, aluminum and concrete are easy to clean, and do not hold any odors or unwanted matter. The facility should be sanitized occasionally; this will offer your pet a healthy environment.
Since wood tends to hold odors, bacteria, and other potentially unhealthy residual matter, try to locate a facility that is built with less porous materials. The health of your pet is at stake here, and you don’t want him in a location that can be potentially unhealthy.
Sunlight is healthy! A healthy kennel will be exposed to an ample amount of sunlight each day. Make sure sunlight is allowed to surround and enter the building, making it much less vulnerable to unhealthy mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew will flourish in a building that receives just a small amount of sunlight, or none at all, since the building will stay damp and cool. Ahh, beautiful sunshine!
Does the boarding kennel have an efficiently working septic system? This is imperative to keep bacteria and odor to a minimum, and to provide a cleaner, fresher, more pleasant environment for your pet. Some facilities have no system in place, and everything is simply washed into the surrounding grass or dirt. That’s not what you want! Look for a system that has no back up of water or solid material. Take the whiff test. Yes, it’s a dog kennel, and yes, there will be some dog odor, but if the kennel and kennel runs are frequently washed down, there will not be a build up of urine or fecal matter.
Kennel Runs–Your dog should not ever have to share a kennel run with another dog. Make sure he gets his own space, and make sure the dog has the ability to go inside or outside the kennel facility whenever he desires. There should be ample room inside for your dog to lie down without being crowded, and ample room outside to stretch his legs and get a little exercise.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when looking for a good dog-boarding kennel. After all, your favorite canine family member.deserves the very best. Don’t you agree?
How To Train a Dog With Ease
Bringing a new puppy into your home is a very happy occasion; but this can also be a stressful time, particularly if you have never had a dog before. There is a lot that you?ll need to learn about caring for a dog.
The first step is to make your puppy feel safe and loved in its new home. Speak gently to your dog ad whatever you do, don?t yell at them if they do something which is out of line. Yelling at your puppy can cause them to become afraid of you; this is something which can be difficult, if not impossible to remedy. It?s better to take your new puppy for training as soon as you can after bringing your new family member home.
But there are other reasons that you would want to have your dog trained and it in reality it is not just your dog that needs training! You as the dog owner will also need training so that you know what the right way is and what the wrong way to handle a dog is.
You?ll understand the need for training your puppy almost the minute you bring them home. Your new dog will be extremely energetic and will run all over the house, chewing on everything, possibly breaking things and peeing on the floor.
The commands and the way to tone your words will be an important part of the dog training classes. But quickly learning the tricks and by practicing as often as possible will avoid most of the damages to your home.
Every single day you will need to take your dog out for a walk. You will soon learn that you need to teach your dog to walk without pulling the leash and that it has to follow your directions.
Not knowing how to control your dog when you are out for a walk can lead to disaster. It?s only natural for your dog to want to chase squirrels and other small animals ? but they will run into the street after them, which can be catastrophic.
Being struck by cars is one of the leading causes of death among household pets, especially dogs. These accidents usually happen because the owner is unable to control the dog using commands ? this is one of the reasons why training is so important for your new dog; it could literally be a life saver.