Why Does My Dog Like To Sit On My Feet?

There are many reasons why a dog may like to sit on an owner’s feet.  It all depends on the dog and the other behaviors they exhibit.  What kind of dog is it?  Is he a pushy dog?  A love bug?  A dog that always likes to be touching someone?  Is this an anxious dog who doesn’t like to let the owner out of their sight?  The same behavior can be caused by lots of different things, depending on the particular dog.

If you have a dog who is very dominant, then your dog could like to sit on your feet as a way to assert himself over you.  He is physically pinning you down and putting himself in a more powerful position.  But this would only be the case if this particular dog does other things that make you believe he is trying to be dominant.

Does your dog need constant reassurance?  Are they always looking for love and affection?  Do they want to be touching you all the time?  In this case, the dog may be sitting on your feet simply as a way to stay in physical touch with you.

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety?  Do they follow you from room to room?  Do they go to pieces if they can’t see you?  In this case the dog may be trying to reassure himself about your presence.  He may be looking for comfort by touching you.

Maybe your dog simply likes to be near you.  There doesn’t have to be any particular reason why a dog likes to sit on an owner’s feet.  Maybe the dog gets some petting when he does this and he likes it.

Your dog may also like to sit on your feet as a way of “claiming” you.  Perhaps he feels that he needs to let your spouse or another dog know that you are “his.”  Dogs do display this kind of possessive behavior and can become very jealous of an owner.

This is a good example of the way different behaviors can have lots of different interpretations depending on the particular dog -- and the owner.

If you like for your dog to sit on your feet then there is no particular reason to make your dog stop it.  If you don’t like the behavior then you can discourage it.  Don’t pet your dog when he sits on your feet.  You can teach him to do something else that you like better instead.  Toss a treat for him and teach him to lie down a few feet away, for example.  Make sure that you give him lots of praise for keeping his distance.

If you have a very needy dog then it may take some time to teach this lesson because your dog thrives on being closer to you.  Be patient.

If your dog is being jealous of you and showing possessive or guarding behavior then you do need to do something about it.  Your dog looks upon you as a “resource” and he is guarding you just as he would a bone or a bowl of food.  You should let him know that this is not appropriate behavior.  IF this is the case, then when he sits on your feet to claim you, you should get up and move.  Let him know, in subtle ways, that you are not exclusively his. If you let him guard you then it will eventually make life difficult with a spouse or with other pets in the household, or even with children.

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Why Do Puppies Bite When Playing?

If you’re ever spent any time playing with a litter of puppies then you know that it can be like playing with a school of piranhas!  You can be attacked on all sides by sharp little teeth and they really hurt!  Yes, puppies bite when they play.  Why do they do that?

If you’ve ever spent any time watching children play then you know that they exhibit many behaviors that are a) natural to humans (they cry, they hit each other, they run, they get angry, they laugh); and b) they engage in play that prepares them for things later in life.  All of these same things are true with puppies, too.

When you watch young puppies playing you’ll see them attacking each other head-on.  You’ll see them ambushing each other.  You’ll see them engaging in stalking behavior.  All of these behaviors are natural to dogs.  They are hunting behaviors.  Young puppies practice being hunters, which is one reason why they practice biting things -- including you when you try to pet them and play with them.  You’re just one more thing they’ve caught.

Of course, puppies also bite when they play because, like babies, they put everything in the world into their mouths.  They like to taste things.  They like to chew things.  They like to use their new teeth as soon as they start getting them.

But, mostly, when they engage in play, they are practicing being grown-up dogs.  Whether they are alone or with their littermates, they like to use their razor-sharp little teeth to play.

When you bring your puppy home with you, you will have to teach him that this is not appropriate behavior.  His mother and siblings will have begun to teach him some of these lessons.  When your puppy played too roughly or bit someone too hard, it’s likely that his littermates stopped playing with him.  If your puppy bit his mother then she probably bit him back harder.  She may have made him cry out.  He would learn from these lessons that it was better to play nice and behave.  But, he has to learn the same thing with people.

When you bring your puppy home you should teach him that when he bites you when you’re playing together that you will stop playing with him for a minute.  If he bites again, stop playing with him for a longer time.  Yelp when he bites you to let him know that he hurt you.  If he bites again, stop playing altogether.

If you do this consistently then your puppy will get the message that you won’t play with him if he bites.

Remember that puppies don’t know any better but they do learn quickly.  You can teach your puppy not to bite you very easily.  You should also be sure to teach your puppy this same lesson if you have children in your household.  You will need to supervise to make sure that your puppy doesn’t bite them when playing since puppies don’t always respect children.  But if you insist that your puppy not bite, he will get the message.

Help! My Dog’s Breath Is Killing Me!

Does your dog have breath like death warmed over?  Do you cringe when she gives you doggy kisses?  Is her breath making your kids faint?  Then it’s time to do something about your dog’s breath.  Luckily, there are some answers.

 Dogs can have bad breath for lots of reasons.  One of the most basic reasons is because they are eating some very foul things.  Do you know what your dog has been eating?  For instance, does your dog eat dog poop outside?  Does your dog get in the cat litter box?  These are two common causes of bad doggy breath and they are both preventable.

 If your dog is eating doggy poop outside you should do the following:

1. Make sure you keep your yard picked up.  Pick up poop as fast as your dogs make it so they won’t have a chance to eat it.  
2. If your dog still finds poop to eat, add some pineapple or meat tenderizer to his food.  Both of these ingredients will make poop taste unappetizing to him (as if it needs something to make it taste bad!).  Or, you can look for products for this purpose at your pet supply store.
3. Make sure that cat litter boxes are kept in places where your dog cannot get to them, such as a special room for the cat, or in high places.

Finally, check to see if your dog is eating other nasty-tasting things outside.  Is he eating dead birds or dead squirrels?  If your dog is eating carrion or rotting flesh then it could very easily give him bad breath.

Next, check your dog’s teeth.  What do they look like?  If you have a young dog then your dog’s teeth should be pearly white.  Even older dogs should have teeth that are mostly white, though they may show some signs of wear.  If your dog has teeth that are brown, yellow, green or which have obvious cavities or broken teeth; you have likely found the source of your dog’s bad breath.  You need to take your dog to the vet.  He may do doggy dental work himself or he may refer you to a doggy dentist.

In some cases your dog may simply need his teeth cleaned.  This is usually done by giving your dog anesthesia and scaling all of his teeth while he’s asleep.  Your dog can also fix any cavities or pull any bad teeth while your dog is asleep.  In some cases a dog may need a root canal in order to save a tooth.

 Most dogs will need their teeth cleaned by a vet at least once in their lives.  Good dental care will prevent bacteria from these bad teeth from getting into your dog’s bloodstream and going to his heart.  As your dog ages, bad teeth can also prevent him from eating, so it’s very important to keep your dog’s teeth in good shape.

There are a number of gooddental chews recommended for dogs that can help to freshen their breath.  Check your pet supply store for dental chews for dogs and other things to freshen your dog’s breath.

 Finally, check what you’re feeding your dog.  Canned food tends to stick to your dog’s teeth more and can cause bad breath.  Dry food may be slightly better from a breath stand point.  People who feed a raw diet say that their dogs have the cleanest teeth and the freshest breath.

Weekend Re-Cap!

Maddie's weekend was full of activity again this weekend, although this time it was spent in Mercer, PA.

Friday after Jay and I got home from work, we all went for a cool autumn walk together. I thought it was rather cool, but Madison thoroughly enjoyed herself as always!!

Saturday to her dismay, we had to wake up early in order to make it to her 9:00am veterinary appointment for her yearly check up. I know, I know...what was I thinking 9:00am on a Saturday?!?!  Ha ha ha ha!  Note to self...never do that again!! Maddie hung in there like a champ. I was really worried because she had a small bump that appeared on her back that I wanted to be checked out. Everything went really well! Four shots later, and a thorough checking of the previous mentioned bump, and they are certain it's only a fatty cyst. We were assured it's nothing to worry about.  Whewwww...what a relief!!!  The rest of the day consisted of pampering Maddie.  She was showered with lots of love and some of her favorite treats (cheese and steak-she was given a few pieces after we were done with dinner).

Now on this Sunday afternoon, Maddie is resting on my lap while I blog to all of her loyal friends!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!  xoxox

Does Your Dog Like To Feel The Breeze?

Long hair blowing in the breeze, the rush of air in the face.  Not a care in the world!  What could feel better, right?  That’s probably what your dog is thinking when he sticks his head out the car window.

Why do dogs seem to love to stick their heads out of car windows?  Well, they probably like to do it for the same reasons that kids do.  It feels good.  Grown-ups are used to riding in cars, but for dogs everything is new and fun.  Unless a dog is prone to carsickness, most dogs love going for car rides.  What’s not to love?  They get to go someplace with their favorite person (you).  It’s exciting.  Who knows where they may end up?  So, for a dog, getting to stick his head out the window is the icing on a the cake.

When your dog puts his head out the window he can probably enjoy it in ways we can’t imagine.  With his superior sense of smell he may be able to take in a million scents a minute at high speed.  It must be intoxicating for him!  He can enjoy the sounds and other sensations in the same way.  Plus, the feel of the wind on his face is probably just as pleasant for him as it is for us.

In short, your dog likes to put his head out the the car window when you go somewhere because it’s fun.

However, that doesn’t mean that you should let your dog engage in this activity.  Driving around with your dog hanging his head out the car window can be dangerous for him, just as it is for children.

A dog who sticks his head out the window when you’re driving can easily get things stuck in his eyes.  Even tiny seeds or gravel in the air can cause serious injury to your dog when you’re driving at moderate speed.  If something larger were to hit your dog in the head, such as a soda can, he could be seriously hurt.

If you drive around with your dog sticking his head out the window there is also a danger that he could scramble out of the car and onto the road.  If you have the window down for him to stick his head out it may be possible for him to squeeze the rest of his body through the opening, too.  Dogs can become very excited by things they see when you’re driving and you wouldn’t be able to prevent your dog from climbing out before you could stop him.

As a matter of safety it’s usually a good idea to crate your dog when you’re driving or, at least have him wear a safety harness in your vehicle.  This will prevent him from wandering loose in the car and from being tossed around the vehicle if you should have an accident.  Yes, it will also prevent him from sticking his head out the window, but it is safer.

Here’s one definite safety tip:  please don’t let dogs ride loose in the back of pick-up trucks.  This can be dangerous not only for your dog but also for people driving behind and around you.

If you do like taking your dog for rides and letting him stick his head out the window, try to find safe, quiet streets where there is little traffic.  This way you can drive slowly and your dog will be safer.

Tips For Taking Good Dog Photos

If you have a dog then you probably have some photos of your favorite pooch.  You may also know how difficult it can be to get a good picture of your dog.  As soon as you haul out the camera it seems like some dogs start turning their backsides to you. Other dogs start walking toward the camera to investigate which means all of your pictures are close-ups of their noses.  And some owners only seem to get pictures of their dogs sprinting through the background.  Don’t despair!  Here are some tips for getting good photos of your dog.

1.  Plan ahead.  In order to get some good pictures of your dog you need to do a little strategic planning.  That means letting your dog get used to the camera.  If you only bring out your camera a minute before you want to take a picture your dog is going to walk straight to the camera to investigate it.  Instead, take your camera out and let your dog get used to it.  Take the camera out often.  Wear it a while.  That way your dog will be used to it and will act naturally.  You should also consider some other factors before you take pictures.  Is your dog wound up and zooming around?  Then be in position for his action shots.  Is he being lazy and mellow?  Get in the best spots to take those shots.

2.  Take lots of pictures.  If you take just a few pictures of your dog you may get lucky and get a great picture but you’re much more likely to get good pictures if you set aside some time and take lots of photos.  You can catch your dog doing all kinds of cool things and his personality will really come out in the pictures.

3.  Consider the angle.  Some of the best dog pictures are usually taken at your dog’s level.  Many people take pictures standing up, looking down at their dogs but if you really want to get good pictures of your dog then get right down on the floor with him.

4.  Look at your surroundings.  You can take great pictures anywhere but it certainly helps to have good surroundings, free of clutter.  Simple surroundings can help focus attention on your dog.  A clean, sandy beach or green trees will make your dog look great.  Watch for things growing out of your dog’s head like telephone poles.  And try to keep some contrast in the background.  If you have a black dog stay away from black backgrounds; stay away from light backgrounds for light-colored dogs, and so on.

5.  Have fun.  Don’t be afraid to have fun with your dog.  Remember that you don’t have to make every photo look the same.  Mix them up a little!  Have some close-ups.  Do some body shots.  Take a head shot.  Use different angles.  And ask a friend to help.  Sometimes having a friend playing with your dog can help, especially if your friend has a squeaky toy.  Professional photographers often use squeaky toys to get a great facial expression from a dog.

Follow these tips and you should be able to get some great pictures of your dog.  It’s all for fun so go out and have a great time with your dog and your camera.