Dinner time is an important family time for most families and let’s face it, our dogs are members of our families. It is important to know not only when is the proper time that a dog should eat, but why that is when they should eat. If at possible, a dog should eat after the family dines. Whether the family sits at a dining table or gathers around the television during dinner time, it is important that the dog not be fed from the dog owner’s plate, and also not be fed at the same time.
Dogs are naturally pack animals, even though they are tame they still have many of the same natural tendencies and instincts that their wild animal counterparts do. Wolves and coyotes travel in packs and there is a definite structure in terms of who is the pack leader and has the authority over the rest of the animals in the pack. When feeding in the wild, it is the pack leader who eats first while those animals lower in the structure feed later, and finally those at the bottom of the pecking order will feed last. When a dog is in a home, it is important that they know their place in the family structure. By feeding them last, it is clear to them where they rank and who in the family is of more importance.
By helping a do learn and realize that they are at the bottom of the home pack, it helps in a number of other areas too. It can help in obedience as they learn that all other members of the family rank above them and should be respected and listened to. It can help a dog learn it’s boundaries as far as eating off of people’s plates or jumping on people when they come indoors. It can also help a dog bond closer with it’s family and not feel that it is competition for affection or play time, this closer bond can benefit a family in that the dog will interact with the family members better and may also be more protective of the entire family, including the children.
Mar 12, 2009 | | Dog Know-How
Some dog owners feel that one of the most annoying habits their dogs can pick up is the habit of incessant chewing. Dog chewing can be a normal activity, but when done at an excessive level it can be harmful to the dog’s psyche as well as the dog owner’s property. But, why do dogs chew like that? There are actually a number of reasons that dogs resort to chewing.
-Chewing can be somewhat of a stress relieving behavior for dogs. Whether they are dealing with separation anxiety, the loss of a sibling or parent, or even the loss of a human, dogs sometimes deal with these stresses by developing a chewing habit. The chewing habit of a dog can sometimes be compared to humans biting their fingernails, among other bad habits.
-Dogs that don’t get the level of exercise that they desire often use endless chewing as a way to release pent up energy.
-Boredom can also be the instigating factor in a dog’s obnoxious chewing behavior. This is perhaps the most easily solved chewing habit as simply providing chew toys or alternative activities can sometimes do the trick.
-Chewing is a natural process that dogs use as a way to pass time and satisfy themselves. The chewing action stimulates the saliva glands and many dogs enjoy what is to them a basic and familiar natural function.
Understanding why a dog chews all the time can go a long way in determining what kind of reaction the dog owner should have so that they can get them to either stop or lessen the amount of chewing they do and destruction they cause.
Mar 09, 2009 | | Dog Know-How
There are a number of acceptable ways to potty train your new puppy, but one thing you must do during whatever process you choose to use is constantly reward the young dog after it does the right thing. Puppies love to please their new families. Most of the annoying or wrong things that puppies do are things that they don’t have a lot of control over. As they learn to go potty on paper or outside, rewarding them will reinforce what they are learning and hopefully help them master it sooner. A reward for a puppy or full size dog does not always have to be food. Dogs are very social animals and a reward can be as simple as scratching the tummy or playing ball, of course rewards can also be any of the tasty treats that dogs of all ages love to eat.
Mar 05, 2009 | | Dog Know-How
