Posts tagged “Water Fountain”

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If you’re a dog, there’s nothing like a good chew session to relax, unwind and get in touch with your inner canine self. Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs, a beloved pastime that helps them explore the environment around them, alleviate anxiety and boredom, strengthen their jaws and even clean their teeth. (Plus, it’s just plain fun!) In the wild, dogs and wolves gnaw on animal bones. But at home, there are safer (and less messy) options. Ready to treat your best friend’s chompers to a toothsome treat? Read on for everything you need to know about the best long-lasting dog chews, including expert veterinarian advice and product recommendations from pet parents like you.

The best part about this simple DIY project? You’ll be able to make two bandanas with one T-shirt—perfect for sharing with a friend.

Tips for Dealing With Resource Guarding in Dogs Don’t give your dog any high-value items unless he’s allowed to enjoy and finish them in peace. If your dog displays guarding behavior with a location (for example, the couch), don’t allow the dog access to that area. If a dog is resource guarding a favorite human (like you), immediately walk away from him as soon as he displays any subtle guarding behavior (such as staring) toward another person or dog. Don’t wait until the dog growls, barks, or lunges. Teach your dog early and often to trade items, and always use a higher-value item to trade. Teach cues such as “drop it” or “leave it.” In most cases, resource guarding can be easily managed and is only a problem when people try to confront the dog. But if a dog is showing any signs of aggression—and especially if he leaves the food or other item to proactively go after a person or another dog in the home—the underlying cause could be a medical condition, such as a gastrointestinal problem or anxiety, and will need to be addressed by a veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behavior specialist.,When I brought Bo, a 9-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, home from the shelter, I placed his food bowl down and immediately knew I had a potential behavior problem to address. When I approached Bo while he was eating, he suddenly stopped eating, stiffened, hovered over the bowl, and I heard a deep growl. I realized I had just adopted a dog with signs of resource guarding.  What Is Resource Guarding in Dogs? Protecting a food source is within normal canine behavior. In a natural environment without humans, dogs are scavengers living in larger groups around food sources. Food protection behavior has evolved to keep other dogs away from a meal, and in most cases these behaviors are ritualistic. While a pup wants to keep his food away from fellow scavengers (including you or another animal in the house), his resource-guarding behaviors serve mainly as a threat display rather than actual aggression.  Even after thousands of years of domestication, these ritualistic behaviors continue to be displayed by some dogs. Our domesticated dogs can guard anything they consider a highly valued or scarce resource, such as food, toys, their dog bed or crate, or even a favorite human.

The ideal age for puppies to start using stairs is 12–16 weeks of age. You might have noticed young puppies aren’t exactly coordinated or nimble before they reach this point. This is partly due to their inexperience with the world and things like gravity, but also because their joint strength isn’t very good yet, notes professional dog trainer Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, Camp Bow Wow‘s animal health and behavior expert based in Atlanta. Puppies’ inherent incoordination causes them to be a little more on the clumsy side, which isn’t ideal when climbing stairs. Another issue they may have before reaching this age is their size. As cute as they are, this petite puppy package makes using the stairs nearly impossible. Think about the scale of a single stair in comparison to their body, then imagine having to make that climb yourself. Whew! While 12–16 weeks is a good benchmark, Askeland says there’s some nuance here. “When puppies can use the stairs is dependent on the size and health of the puppy, as some dogs this age are still not big enough to safely navigate the stairs, or if a puppy has a medical condition that may be impacted by stair use,” she says. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice.,Jump to section At What Age Can Puppies Use Stairs? Are Stairs Bad for Puppies? How to Puppy Proof Stairs How To Teach Your Puppy To Take the Stairs Are Stairs Bad for Adult Dogs? Should Some Dog Breeds Not Climb Stairs? Best Staircase Gates for Dogs FAQs About Puppies on Stairs