Frequently Asked Questions
PUPPY MOUTHING AND HAND BITING
The excitement of acquiring a new puppy is often tarnished
when the little bundle of joy begins to grab at hands its needle-like teeth. Owners are
commonly perplexed by this, because every remedy they try seems make matters worse. To
find a solution, we must first ask ourselves why this puppy is doing this.
If that puppy were out in the wild, it would need certain instincts to insure its
survival. One of these is the predatory instinct, which "tells" the puppy to
grab everything that moves. Things that move are usually food ... so the animal will be
more likely to live it naturally does this.
When puppy sees a moving hand, nature prevails and the little critter strikes. It goes for
the moving hand, the not the motionless knee. It is the movement which triggers the
problem.
Now the poor owner perceives a need to correct the problem and often does so with fast
talking and quick hand movements. This excites the puppy, agitates the owner, and
constitutes aggression training in the animal.
A better method is to freeze and offer the puppy a motionless hand. The moment the puppy's
teeth touch this hand, make a loud, sharp startling yelp, as if mortally wounded.
(Remember: It is crucial that the hand remain perfectly still as the sound correction is
made!) a lower-pitched more authoritative sharp "AHH", and see which works best.
The puppy should look surprised and, if it touches the hand again, be much more gentle
than before. With each subsequent touch, simultaneously give the sharp verbal correction;
in order to develop an even softer mouth. It is important that puppies learn to inhibit
the force of their bite before they learn to not touch hands at all unless invited.
The combination of children and puppies present special problems. Not only do children
typically have very fast hands, but they also lack the timing and coordination necessary
to give an effective correction. It is best to give the child a stuffed animal, chew toy,
or cloth Boonda bone to hold. This will give the puppy a target to mouth, while the child
enjoys being with their pets. Also instruct children to stand, fold their arms, and say
"NO" and walk away for a time out, until the puppy settles down. This will teach
the pet: If you don't play nicely, you don't get to play.
Puppies often get into wild moods. This is an excellent time to schedule an aerobic
activity, such as fetch or jogging, in order to vent excess energy in a positive manner.
Puppyhood is an important developmental period. During this state the fragile little
critter is basically innocent. However, it has too much energy for its own good and does
not know right from wrong. Handling problems, such as mouthing, humanely, yet effectively
will set the tone for a very positive relationship with the pet.
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Tel: +44(0)1491 628355
Fax: +44(0)1491 629553
Email: customerservice@hubint.com
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Tel: +44 (0) 1282 414113
Fax:+44 (0) 1282 414112
Email: sales@snooze-nsnack.co.uk
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Vellus UK shampoos, conditioners etc.
Dental hygiene is often ignored in the dog. The outcome?
Consider what your teeth might look and feel like after months, years or even a lifetime
of neglect. They would be a wreck, and you would be miserable. Yes, canine teeth also need
frequent brushing to prevent gum disease and early tooth loss, as well as just plain foul
breath.
Despite the popular conception, dog biscuits and bones do not keep the teeth clean and
healthy. Although some veterinarians feel that gnawing on these hard substances has
benefit, it does not prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar which, unless removed, can
lead to gum inflammation, tooth root abscesses and other oral problems. That's the simple
truth.
The teeth should be brushed at least once or twice a week, more often if possible.
As with grooming, acclimation is best started early in the puppy's life.
To make a toothbrush, fold a square gauze pad loosely around the tip of your index finger.
Or you can use a small, soft child's toothbrush or buy a special toothbrush from a
veterinarian. Dip the toothbrush or gauze pad in a toothpaste designed for dogs (not for
humans, since human formulations can upset the dog's stomach) or into a paste made of
baking soda and water. Next, vigorously scrub the outside surfaces of the teeth,
especially the rear teeth. With the gauze pad, you may also try to gently massage the
gums. It is not necessary to brush the interior surfaces of the teeth.
Your veterinarian should check your dog's mouth for tooth or gum disease during
annual checkups. The most common problem, tartar accumulation, resembles yellow or brown
cement deposits along the gumline or in the crevices of the teeth. Despite your best
efforts, a proper dental cleaning under general anesthesia may need to be performed
periodically in a veterinarian's office.
Housebreaking in theory is very simple. It is finding a means of preventing the puppy from doing his duties in the house and giving him only an opportunity to do it outside. A dog is a strong creature of habit and because he learns by association, he will soon know there is no other place to relieve himself but the great outdoors.
Sophisticated people who turn up their noses at certain foods
are referred to admiringly as discerning eaters. Choosy dogs, however, go by the less
flattering term OF finicky eaters. For their frustrated owner finding a menu to tempt the
finicky diner can truly be a challenge.
The dictionary defines finicky as picky, choosy, or difficult to please as well as
insisting capriciously on getting just what one wants. The second definition probably
describes what your pet is doing to you -- manipulating your emotions until you deliver
whatever his taste buds demand.
Finicky eating is almost always caused by humans. Owners love to make their dogs happy and
an easy way to do it is by giving them what they like. What they like may be steak rather
than kibble .Eventually they get the message: from their owners that if they hold out long
enough they'll get the good stuff.
Finicky eating can also be caused by giving your pet a monotonous diet. Suppose, for
example, that your dog has been eating one kind of kibble all his life and one day he gets
to sample another, tastier food. His kibble is going to seem awfully dull by comparison,
and finicky eating may be the result.
Coprohagia is the technical term for eating feces. This has been studied in dogs by several people with no definitive answer for "why" being found.
Nutritional deficiencies may be present in some dogs, but not very many. This may be boredom related in many dogs. It has some "natural" roots in the fact that dams often eat their pup's stools, apparently as a method of hiding their presence from predators. Dogs will eat the stools of other species, especially cats and rabbits, too. Dogs obviously do not find the taste of feces objectionable or the behavior would be self correcting. So I think of this as a natural behavior that upsets people. Since dogs have to live with people, it is becomes an issue.
There is a product sold that is supposed to help with this habit -- Forbid. It doesn't work in all cases (it might not even work in most cases). Another alternative is putting meat tenderizer in the dog's food. This works for some dogs. Walking a dog on a leash and working hard to keep it from turning and eating its stool is helpful. It is sometimes possible to distract the dog by running a short distance after the dog has a bowel movement or by taking a couple of rapid steps then telling the dog to "sit" and giving it a treat. These behaviors may stay on as substitutes to eating the stool. If you can keep the dog from eating stool for a month or so it is sometimes long enough to break the habit. This can be a hard habit to break.
Picking up stool to prevent its ingestion works every time.
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