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How to Stop Dogs from Digging

Show your dog a patch of land and he’ll see it as a challenge—how many holes can he dig? Sound about right? Don’t worry. It’s completely normal! Dogs dig holes for many different reasons:

  • Boredom or loneliness
  • Lack of attention
  • Lack of toys
  • Too much energy
  • Feeling trapped; if he digs near the fence maybe he wants out
  • Instinct to seek prey; maybe looking for bugs
  • Nesting instincts (for mother dogs)
  • Protection instincts, if he’s trying to create a den or hiding bones
  • Feeling too hot; the dirt underneath is cooler than the hot surface

The first thing you need to do is pay attention so you can figure out what’s causing the problem. Once you identify the problem you can take the appropriate steps.

If your dog is bored, lonely, looking for attention, or has too much energy:

  • Don’t give him negative attention for digging.
  • Dedicate time to spend with him daily.
  • Teach him some new tricks; this way he gets to interact with you and gets the positive attention he needs for learning them.
  • Walk him twice daily.
  • Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise.
  • Keep him busy in the yard by rotating through a series of toys, including kongs.

If his digging is instinctual, provide for those needs in other ways:

  • Give him a protected place outside, perhaps a dog house.
  • Look around to see what he may want to escape. Is he outside for too long? Do neighborhood kids tease him outside the fence? Is your garbage right outside the fence, luring him with the scent of meat?
  • Create a designated “digging area” covered with loose soil (maybe with treats and toys hidden underground). You’ll need to supervise his outside time for a while so you can train him to use it. If you see him digging somewhere else, make a loud noise and move him. Reward him when he digs in the right spot—that way he gets to dig and gets positive attention!
  • Make his usual digging spots less attractive. Spread rocks, or temporarily cover the area of plastic or wood. Place partially developed rocks along the fence
  • Make sure he has water and shade to relax if he’s feeling overheated—maybe even a small children’s pool or sand.

No matter what the cause, remember not to scold him. This won’t help anything because it will only increase his fear and anxiety. If possible, supervise him whenever he’s outside so you can redirect him when he starts digging. It might be a challenge to curb this behavior, but it’s not impossible!

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Natural Balance Pet Food – Pricing Issue in Microcosm

There is a brewing battle between the manufacturers of Natural Balance Pet Food and independent pet supply owners. The main crux of the conflict is all about the implementation of the Minimum Advertised Price or MAP. Admittedly the market leader when it comes to the premium pet food products, the manufacturers of Natural Balance Pet Food would want to streamline the distribution structure by rationalizing the pricing scheme all the way down to the end users. This is probably the main strategy of the company in maintaining a distinctive branding that will distinguish their premium lines from other brands.

Unfortunately, this pricing strategy is perceived to be too rigid by a considerable number of retail pet food chains. Its imposition seems to run counter to the pricing strategies being adopted by these retail outlets. Worse, this high pricing level is construed by the smaller players in the market as tacit accommodation and protection of corporate clients by the company. Rightly or wrongly, the imposition of MAP is turning out to be a flashpoint in the relationship of the company with independent pet food outlets.

Most owners of retail pet food outlets see the 10% upward adjustment in the price of Natural Balance Pet Food as a form of encroachment on their business independence. Definitely, any form of meddling will not sit well to them. The price differential imposed on Natural Balance Pet Food is even considered by many as onerous. While most of these dog and cat food retail outlets agree that Natural Balance Pet Food are a notch above the rest in terms of quality, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they can unilaterally impose high prices for their products.

This pricing scheme is such a sensitive issue for retailers as it is seen as their single most significant differential advantage over corporate distributors and retailers of the premium pet food lines. They are willing to go the extra mile to protect their business interests.

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Treating Dog Itchy Skin

Did you know that the majority of dogs experience skin conditions causing them to constantly scratch and itch themselves? In fact a recent study done by at Purdue Veterinary School suggested that dog itchy skin conditions are prevalent in over 75% of all pets. So, why do so many dogs suffer from these canine skin problems? It appears there are numerous factors, most of them interestingly enough are the same contributors to the sharp spike in human allergies such as chemicals cleaning goods, strong ingredients in shampoos, and numerous chemicals in our environment.

As a result dog itchy skin cases have gone up three fold over the past 5 years. In fact dog dandruff, dermatitis, and even severe cases of canine eczema are now as common as they in us. Dog Allergies are also on the rise, again a direct result of chemicals in our environment.

So how do we treat our pets who are experiencing skin irritations and dog skin allergies? Perhaps the best long term solution is to begin providing your loved one with dog enzymes specifically formulated for pets. These digestive enzymes will act as a catalyst in the animals digestive system allowing them to better absorb and process the needed nutrients and supplements in the food they eat. You see, as dogs are animals by nature, there systems are designed to process raw foods and items found in the wild. There systems have a hard time digesting processed foods, and as a result they often pass the nutrients they need. The result is a weak immune system leading to dog dandruff, dermatitis, and a host of other skin problems. These enzymes will allow the dog to naturally defend itself better against allergies and skin conditions. Interestingly enough, the first place a dog shows signs of a weak immune system are on his skin and coat – in fact, next time your pet is agitated notice that will quickly see dogs dandruff and dander form on their coat.

Another treatment and preventive measure for itchy dog skin is to use a quality medicated dog dandruff shampoo at least once every other week to treat and nourish the skin. Using a dog shampoo with zinc will eliminate any bacterial growth, at the same time replenishing the skins deficient zinc.

To wrap it up, dogs itchy skin, as well as many other skin conditions, can effectively be eliminated by providing you pet with a daily dose of dog digestive enzymes. Also be sure to use a medicated dogs dandruff shampoo to eliminate the dander and dermatitis on their coat and skin.

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How to Remove Ticks from Your Home or from Your Pet

If you found a tick on your cat or dog, you need to take action right away to remove the tick and eggs from your house. The longer they’re around, the more eggs they’ll lay—meaning there’s a greater chance they’ll attach to you of your family members.

In case you’re unfamiliar, here’s how ticks operate: these parasites stick their heads into skin and feed on the blood, growing larger with every drop. When the tick reaches a certain size, it uses the fur or hair to lay eggs in. Both people and pets can get Lyme disease so it’s crucial to prevent ticks from multiplying.

1. After you find a tick on your pet, pull it out carefully by the head with fine-pointed tweezers (while wearing latex gloves).

Be careful not to squeeze the tick’s body, as this can inject more potential pathogens into you or your pet.

2. The next step is to thoroughly clean every area your dog or cat’s laid.

Use your vacuum’s crevice tool to get in the corners and cracks of furniture. You may even want to use a specialized chemical cleaner to be sure all the eggs are gone. Many pet stores sell medicated sprays and shampoos you can apply to kill eggs on your pet. If you have an outdoor cat or dog, you should also trim the grass to get rid of any ticks out there.

Your best bet is to be far more thorough than you deem necessary when you removing ticks from your home. Only then can you be certain your family and pets will stay healthy.

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What You Need to Know About Senior Dog Food

A dog is considered a senior when he’s in the last third of his life. Different breeds have different life expectancies, so your pet could be a senior dog at anywhere from 6 to 12 years old. You’ll likely notice the telltale sign of aging: his body will be less limber; his sight and hearing will deteriorate; his fur will turn gray in places; and he’ll start sleeping longer and moving around less. If your dog’s healthy—and was spayed or neutered before six months—he’ll likely age slower than a dog that’s struggled with disease.

At this stage in his life, he requires a diet that’s low in calories, protein and fat, since he’ll be less active; and high in fiber, since he’ll be more likely to develop constipation. Although you could stick with the same food and simply reduce your dog’s intake, you may want to switch to a senior formula that caters to his unique needs to ensure the correct nutritional proportions.

Some good brands of senior dog food include:

  • Artemis Fresh Mix
  • Canidae
  • Go Natural
  • Innova
  • Merrick
  • Nature’s Logic
  • Nature’s Variety Prairie
  • Solid Gold
  • Timberwolf Organics
  • Wellness

If your senior dog suddenly won’t eat, you should schedule an appointment with your vet or try one of the following:

  • Moisten his food with water to make it easier to chew.
  • Add some of the liquid from canned tuna, or a small amount of chicken broth, to make it tastier.
  • Feed smaller amounts of food more often.

Be sure not to overfeed, as this could lead to health problems that may shorten your dog’s life. Also, consider adding a dietary supplement such as glucosamine or chondroitin for arthritis. By following these basic nutritional guidelines, you’ll ensure your older dog lives his final years feeling healthy and happy.

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How Old Does a Dog Need to Be to Have Puppies?

One of the most frequently asked questions about female dogs is when they can get pregnant. It all depends on when they first go into heat—otherwise known as the estrous cycle. This is the dog equivalent to human menstruation.

You won’t see anywhere near as much blood, but you may notice a little, as well as swelling in the vulva area (and probably a few male dogs hanging around your yard).

Dogs usually go into their first estrous cycle around six months old, although it could be as late as 14 months. After that, they go into heat every six to eight months, for about three weeks each time on average. The most fertile days in that cycle are between days 11 and 15.

If your dog’s in heat, be very careful on walks! She’ll let any male dog mount her—and the scent of her urine will draw those dogs back to your house. To avoid that risk, talk to your vet about getting her spayed.

Some vets spay as early as six weeks of age. If you don’t get her spayed, she could get pregnant at any age, although her fertility will decline a little as she gets older. That’s right; there’s no menopause for dogs. Book the procedure, expect multiple litters, or quarantine her during estrous. The choice is yours to make!

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Why Do Male Dogs Hump Each Other

If your male dog frequently humps other males, don’t worry—it isn’t that odd. Lots of male dogs do this, even after they’ve been neutered, to establish their dominance.

If you just introduced a new dog into your household, your older pet will want to show newbie right away who’s the alpha male. Or if a stray dog tries to enter your yard, he may feel the same instinct. It’s best to interrupt this behavior right away if you notice aggression so it doesn’t lead to a dog fight.

If you’re scared to physically remove the mounting dog, spray him with a water bottle or make a sudden loud noise.

Male dogs may also hump each other when they’re excited about something; and it doesn’t have to be sexual. Bring home a few huge, meaty bones?

You just might see a little humping. In this case, it’s perfectly OK for them to play with each other. Just keep an eye out to be sure neither gets too feisty so nobody will get hurt.

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How to Stop Mouthing and Nipping in Dogs

There’s an old saying: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” which might be true when used as a metaphor, but certainly is not the case when talking about the real thing. Dogs, no matter their age, are indeed trainable. All it takes is patience, repetition, and kindness. It may take longer for some dogs to learn than others, but rest-assured, dogs are trainable students.

This said, it might be true to say: “It’s easier to train a new puppy new tricks.” The reason being, puppies are still learning every day and they’ve yet to establish their habits and overall behavior. Because of this, if your pup has developed a bad habit, such as mouthing, it’ll generally be easier to change this behavior before maturity sets in.

Take Diesel for instance, a Husky featured on an episode of It’s Me or the Dog. This nine-month-old pup had developed a serious mouthing problem that had him nipping at most everyone he encountered. To help, Victoria Stilwell employed some sound-diversion and time-outs to curb him of this bad habit. As she noted, if Diesel’s owners Becky and Jordan found his mouthing a problem now, wait until he reached full maturity at 18-36 months.

Mouthing as a puppy is natural for any young dog, as it’s how he explores the world around him. It also helps him with teething. However, if the behavior persists even after his teeth have come in, it could become a problem. Like with Diesel.

If you’re experiencing this with your dog, try to alter his behavior, so that he’s not nipping you, but instead a tug toy, a chew, or a favorite ball:

• When your puppy starts to nip your hand or arm, introduce a tug toy or chew into the interaction.

• Distract him with a high-pitched sound, followed perhaps by a time-out.

• If he enjoys playing rough-and-tumble, try and introduce another game, such as fetch.

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Why Won’t My Dog Eat?

Dogs don’t suffer from anorexia in the human way. They don’t have to fit into skinny jeans or deal with unrealistic Hollywood ideals. But sometimes they don’t eat—and it’s stressful for the people in their lives! If your pup loses his appetite there could be a number of explanations, from illness to depression. In this post we’ll explore them all.

Problems that Affect Your Dog’s Appetite

Gastrointestinal diseases—which affect the esophagus or stomach—can make eating uncomfortable. Causes include parasites, like roundworms, hookworms, and giardiasis; viruses, such as parvo; bacterial or fungal infections; ulcers; and food allergies. Look for the following symptoms: salivation, vomiting, diarrhea and general sluggishness.

Liver diseases cause the body to back up with waste and toxins, which ultimately affects the brain and dulls hunger. Common diseases include chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and portosystemic shunt (a blood circulation issue). Symptoms include constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, swollen belly, orange urine, increased drinking and urinating, yellowed skin, seizures, and occasionally, bleeding problems.

Kidney diseases affect your dog’s ability to filter out body wastes and regulate blood pressure. Loss of appetite is the main symptoms. Others include excessive drinking, frequent urinating (and maybe even urine leakage), vomiting, muscle weakness, and overall listlessness.

Pancreatic diseases decrease the production of digestive enzymes—juices that dissolve food into small pieces the intestine can absorb. If the pancreas is inflamed, those enzymes may actually digest the surrounding organs. This causes great discomfort, not to mention vomiting and lethargy. Pancreatic problems include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pancreatic tumors, diseases of the exocrine portion of the pancreas (related to the digestive enzymes), or diseases of the endocrine portion (related to the control of blood glucose).

Blood diseases, including leukemia (cancer of the blood), leukemia-related anemia, blood loss due to ulcers, and polycythemia (excessive red blood cells) can cause reduced appetite. Other symptoms include weakness and even occasional collapsing.

Dental problems, like periodontal disease can make chewing painful. If you notice your dog chewing on one side of his mouth only, that’s a sure sign. Other symptoms include bad breath, bleeding gums, irritability, and even vomiting or diarrhea.

Psychological issues may also affect your dog’s appetite. If you’ve recently moved somewhere new, introduced another pet into your home, or even switched your dog’s food, he may react by snubbing food for a while.

If It Seems Like a Simple Problem

If you don’t notice a string of alarming symptoms, don’t panic just yet! There are a few things you can do right away to encourage him to eat.

  • Do a little research. Maybe someone is sneaking him extra treats during the day spoiling his appetite for meals.
  • Empty out yesterday’s dish if he doesn’t empty it and replace it with fresh food. This way he’ll be more apt to dig in.
  • Make sure you aren’t feeding him expired food, or try a different brand that might be more appealing.

If You Notice Serious Symptoms

If you suspect a serious problem may be the root of your dog’s decreased appetite, schedule an appointment with your vet. He’ll recommend:

  • A specific treatment, like antibiotics, to address an underlying cause
  • A supportive treatment, like fluid therapy, hand feeding, or appetite-stimulating drugs, to stimulate his appetite

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Dog Parks and Liability for Dog Bites

Liability for bites that occur in dog parks is different than attacks that occur in other places since you enter fully aware dogs may be off-leash. Generally speaking, you assume the risk by entering the park—and oftentimes, you’ll see signs posted that establish this. However, the law states that every person can assume others will abide the law. If an irresponsible dog owner doesn’t follow the park’s rules and this leads to an attack, you, as the victim, have a case.

In every state, the owner of a dog that has a propensity for aggression is liable for injuries no matter what. If a pet owner knowingly brings a dangerous animal into a park, this qualifies as negligence and a reckless disregard for other people and animals. That pet owner can be held fully responsible for resulting injuries.

If the pet owner wasn’t negligent in any way, you may have a case against the city or county. Generally speaking, immunities protect government entities from claims—but this only applies if that entity actively enforces its own rules and regulations. If, for example, a dog owner frequently breaks the park’s rules, and the local animal control officers fail to take action once informed, you as a victim may have a case against the city or country.

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Dog Dying Symptoms

Just as you’re never prepared to say goodbye to someone you love, it’s always heartbreaking to let go of your pet. If you recognize the symptoms and anticipate what’s coming, it may be easier to accept your loss.

You might already notice some telltale signs your dog is dying—aging, sight or hearing loss, incontinence. Or maybe it will be a little more sudden, like a heart attack or car crash. If your experience is the former, here’s what you can expect:

Lethargy and excessive sleeping. You’ll notice him moving more slowly, drifting in and out of sleep.

Difficulty moving and loss of coordination. He may bump into things and seem to have trouble getting his bearings.

Vomiting, diarrhea, and incontinence. Toward the end, he’ll likely struggle to keep food down. It may be wise to surround him with puppy pads.

Decreased appetite and difficulty swallowing. As his body starts shutting down, he’ll be less interested in eating and drinking—meaning he will urinate and defecate less.

Decreased responsiveness to affection. Your dog may seem like a shell of himself, barely responsive to attention and playfulness.

If you notice these signs, give your veterinarian a call. He may give you some pills to help with your dog’s pain—or if necessary, put him to sleep. It sounds unbearable, but sometimes it’s the only way to end your friend’s suffering.

In the meantime, keep him as hydrated as possible by supplying ice cubes and administering water with a medicine dropper. Consider feeding him wet food to make swallowing easier. And lastly, just be there. Pet him, talk to him, and know you’re making a difference.

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Why Dogs Need Daily Exercise

Exercise for dogs isn’t just for their physical health, but for their mental and emotional health as well. Dogs by nature aren’t content to eat and sleep the day away. They need interaction and a stimulating environment to challenge them. They need an outlet for their energy, and if they have no way of releasing it, they tend to redirect it… and bad behavior is often the result.

Remember:

  • Regular exercise is necessary for your dog’s good health (especially his joints and cardio).
  • It’s interactive and thus, a way of connecting in a wonderfully positive way.
  • It counters boredom and restlessness, which could very well be the reasons why your dog is barking, chewing, or weeing in the first place.

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The Best Dog Food Brands

You want to give your pet the safest and most nutritious food available, especially after the slew of dog food recalls in 2007 due to melamine-tainted wheat gluten. With so many brands on the market, how do decide which food is the best? We did a little research to identify experts’ favorites. Here is what we found:


Innova EVO contains no grains, only potatoes which are a great source of B vitamins and minerals. The top four ingredients are turkey, chicken, turkey meal, and chicken meal. Other high-quality ingredients include whole fruits, vegetables, and eggs.


Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul is a reasonably priced all-natural brand made with top-quality ingredients, including four meats. The brand offers a wide selection, with formulas for puppies, adults, large and small breeds, overweight dogs, pregnant dogs, and seniors.


AvoDerm natural formulas contain avocados, which have an abundance of vitamins A, E, and C, as well as folate, potassium, niacin, and essential fatty acids. Choose from chicken and brown rice; lamb and brown rice; chicken meal, brown rice, and oatmeal; and vegetarian formulas.


Canidae offers dry and canned formulas for dogs in all different life stages. Made with human-grade ingredients including hormone-free meat, Canidae food includes 10 skin and coat conditioners.


Of course these are only a few possibilities. The following resources will help you make a smart choice:


  • The Truth about Pet Food is a video that exposes the practices of pet food manufacturers and teaches you how to read a pet food label.
  • Rate It All provides consumer ratings of different dog food brands.
  • A+ FRR for Dogs lists a side-by-side comparison of five popular dog food brands: Flint River Ranch, Iams Chunks, Eukanaba Adult Maintenance Formula, PETsMART Premier Oven Baked Chicken Recipe, and Science Diet Canine Maintenance Original Formula.

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What is Rabies and the symptoms

No one wants to see their dog turn into Old Yeller, right before the movie’s tragic ending. It’s even more traumatic to see your defenseless little puppy suffer.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a viral infection of the central nervous system that leads to neurological damage. It can cause inflammation and paralysis in the brain and eventually death. Wild animals transmit the disease through their saliva, either by biting your dog or licking an open wound or mucous membrane, like the eyes, nose, and mouth.  Such wild animals include bats, foxes, skunks, coyotes, raccoons, and wolves.

Once infected, your dog likely won’t show any symptoms for several weeks or months while the virus grows in the muscle tissue. After that the virus spreads to the spinal cord and the brain (the central nervous system). Once the virus spreads to the bodily fluids, the dog has less than a week to live.

What are the symptoms?

The first symptoms occur in the Prodromal phase, which lasts just a few days. They include:

  • Flu-like symptoms, including muscle pain, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Subtle changes in behavior and temperament
  • Loss of appetite
  • Chewing at the site of the bite
  • Change in bark tone

The furious or Mad Dog phase lasts 2–4 days. Some dogs skip this and go right to the final stage. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Poor coordination
  • Muscle spasms
  • Seizures
  • Aggression
  • Disorientation
  • Erratic behavior/aimless wandering
  • Constant growling and barking
  • Inability to recognize familiar people and things
  • Lack of fear around predators

The last phase, known as the Paralytical Phase, also lasts 2–4 days. Those symptoms include:

  • Difficulty swallowing causing increased drooling and foaming at the mouth
  • Paralyzed jaw, throat, and chewing muscles
  • Appearance of choking

How is rabies diagnosed and treated?

After contact with a wild or potentially infected animal, visit your veterinarian. He will ask certain questions to assess your puppy’s risk; for example, where did the incident take place? What type of animal attacked your dog, and which animal provoked it? Has the other animal had his shots? Do you have access to the other animal to test him for rabies? If your dog’s been vaccinated, your vet will revaccinate him and quarantine him for up to 90 days for observation. Protocal for an unvaccinated dog is euthanasia (killing) and brain testing. Your only other option is to quarantine your puppy for six months with another vaccination one month prior to release.

How can you prevent rabies?

  • Have your puppy vaccinated for rabies at 13–16 weeks old, at one year, and three years after that.
  • Keep your puppy under your supervision whenever he’s outside. Do not let him run loose!
  • Never take in a wild animal as a pet.
  • Keep doors and windows closed so wild animals won’t enter your home.
  • If you see stray animals, report them to your local health department so no defenseless animals are at risk.
  • If your puppy shows signs of illness, visit your veterinarian.

Rabies can affect people, too, so always maintain your distance around wild animals. If you work in the wildlife industry, or as an animal control officer, you should get a vaccination, which is given in three shots, administered once a month. Unlike dogs, humans can survive rabies if given a vaccination within fourteen days of infection.

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Symptoms of Dog Stroke

There are two different types of canine stroke. Neither is common, but they do occur and can cause permanent or temporary brain damage and other serious health problems.

The two types of dog stroke are:

  • Ischemic stroke, caused when a blocked artery inhibits blood flow to the brain
  • Hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a burst blood vessel

The causes of dog stroke include:

  • Brain tumors
  • Cushing’s Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Head trauma
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney disease
  • Lung worm
  • Parasites
  • Spinal cartilage
  • Thyroid disease
  • Tumors

Although these symptoms are not exclusive to dog stroke, you should visit your vet for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) if you notice a combination of them:


  • Balance problems
  • Behavioral changes
  • Blindness
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Eating out of one side of the food dish
  • Head tilt
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of bladder and bowel control
  • Seizures
  • Turning the wrong way when called

Keep in mind, dogs don’t respond to stroke like humans. Even if you don’t see a dramatic drooping on one side of the body your dog may still have experienced a stroke. Your veterinarian will do a number of tests possibly including X-rays, ultra-sound tests, and a spinal tap. Most dogs recover motor functions and movement in several weeks, depending on how severe the stroke was.

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