Andrea B.'s profile

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answered a question My dog only pees indoors when I'm home.

Breaking behavior like this can be slow and require a lot of patience. You can try approaching it by restricting the dog to certain areas when you're home. I kept my dog on a leash for a few weeks during her puppy training when she almost had housetraining figured out but was still having issues. She was stuck with me in the same rooms so I could watch her. You can also try a better signal/tell for when your dog has to go outside and reward that. I use a bell on the door knob my dog can nose to tell me when she has to go out and used to watch and reward her with treats when she went.

answered a question How do I give my dog a bath?

Beyond the helpful answers here, if your space doesn't have a good sink or tub to accommodate the best bathing conditions you can look up pet stores or locations with special dog bathing stations. It's super helpful for me in SF I go to my local Pet Food Express as I don't have a tub or removable/corded shower head at home.

answered a question Why does my dog dig at the floor?

This is related to trying to create a soft and comfortable place for them to sit or lie down. It's similar to why dogs sometimes spin or circle before lying down. You can try offering them a soft or cushioned dog bed, I even let my dog choose her own at the pet store which has been both amusing and ensured she uses it.

answered a question Why is my dog losing hair?

If it's related to the breed or a change in the season/weather, you can try brushing them more and special brushes or combs that get to the undercoat and help to de-shed. Other than that there can be allergies or skin irritation/conditions that you should talk to your vet about. Common signs if it's a bigger issue are excessive itching, biting at fur, and watery eyes.

answered a question Why does my dog eat crayons?

This is most likely to them finding the texture pleasurable...they also have different tastes than us. Your best bet is to try to find a softer bone like that, some dental bones are close, and encourage that instead.

answered a question Why does my dog get jealous?

Everything I know on this one, came from Rover already so see this helpful https://www.rover.com/blog/dog-jealousy/ (article)!

answered a question Why does my dog nibble on my clothes?

This is common behavior for puppies, or a new dog, as a sign of attention and affection. Mouths are a dog's way of exploring and communication so it seems natural to them. If it's more aggressive biting it may be something to seek attention and you will want to replace with a toy to discourage.

answered a question Why is my dog shedding so much?

The most common shedding is related to the type of breed and changes in the time of year. Regular brushing can help and there are a lot of brushes that address the undercoat and shedding as well. If it's something more intense and unusual you'll likely see it combined with itching, watery eyes, and changes in behavior, In that case, you will want to talk to your vet about allergies or skin conditions.

answered a question Why does my dog keep getting sick after eating?

The most common causes would be eating too fast or food allergy. Try smaller amounts or a special bowl to slow eating (you can find these at the pet store, it's like an obstacle course bowl). You can also change the food to a brand and type for sensitive stomachs but introduce new food in increments. If it's related to allergies or another issue you'll need to talk to your vet.

answered a question Why does my dog snore?

This is common in short-nosed breeds like pugs or bulldogs or overweight dogs but can also be caused by anything else restricting air flow in a dog's nose. It can be alleviated, or caused, by sleeping position such as a dog sleeping on its back. If your dog is overweight you will want to address that anyway. Other things to help can be cleaning bedding in case it's allergies or dust, a round bed to encourage sleeping position, or a humidifier to add moisture to the air. The worst case to look out for is if it's related to blockage or an irritant that should be addressed by a vet like an infection or mites and you'll want to talk to your vet for that.

answered a question Why does my dog like to eat cat litter?

Cat food and the resulting poop is sweeter and so dogs can find it delicious. You can try sprinkling cayenne pepper or another deterrent (that won't keep your cat from using the litter box).

answered a question Why does my dog run around in circles?

These are common responses to bursts of energy or excitement. The random ones are referred to as frenetic random activity periods or FRAPs. My dog always starts her freedom at the dog park with a few circles, I call them hot laps, to get the energy out and she'll do it randomly at home too. If it bothers me in the house I switch her to a game of fetch or take her out for a jaunt.

answered a question Why does my dog keep barking at nothing?

Nothing to us is definitely something to them. They have better hearing so they might be alerting you to noises, requesting food/bathroom need, or lonely and bored. All of these are addressable but the first step is to determine which it could be and go from there.

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answered a question Why does my dog eat chicken poop?

Unfortunately, it tastes delicious to them along with cat poop and other fecal delicacies. Try sprinkling cayenne pepper over chicken poop as a deterrent. You don't want your pup to contract any bacteria or have issues from eating others' poo.

answered a question Why is my dog sneezing?

Harmless sneezing can be related to excitement or anticipation. The sneezing to look out for is anything more intense, frequent, or continuous that can be related to allergies, infections, or irritants and you should check with your vet.

answered a question Why does my dog have a dry cracked nose?

This can be a sign of dehydration, extreme heat exposure, allergies, or a skin condition. Make sure your dog is getting enough water. See if you can notice any environmental factors that are causing the dry nose to determine allergies to plastic, food, etc. Make changes/remove potential causes one at a time so you can figure out what is what and check w/your vet if you need help. You can also find balms for their noses at the pet store if they're in the sun or spend time near a heater/warm blowing air.

answered a question Why does my dog keep barking at night?

This is likely related to alert or loneliness/separation anxiety barking. If there are a lot of noises in the night, your dog is alert barking at those sounds. If the dog sleeps outside or inside, you can try moving them to a room or place that is quieter or get a white noise machine. If it's related to being lonely or bored at night your pup is just restless or dislikes not being near you while you sleep. You can try exercising them more before bed making it more likely they'll be tired/calm or you can work with their separation anxiety if that's the cause.

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answered a question Why is my dog scared of everything?

This could be a self-confidence/esteem issue. I would recommend taking your dog to an obedience course with other dogs of a similar size. Training and guidance from other more confident pooches can help build their esteem and comfort levels.

answered a question Why does my dog have a curly tail?

This is actually a breed specific congenital condition. The tail is an extension of the spine and made up of vertebrae. The curly tailed dogs have special wedge-shaped vertebrae that cause the curl.

answered a question Why does my dog dig holes?

Digging is fun for some, others are hiding their treasures, some are trying to get at rodents or animals in the ground. Other reasons can be to create a cooling space or boredom/anxiety.

answered a question Why does my dog sleep on her back?

This is a sign of comfort and confidence! Congrats on giving your pup a great environment to live in.

answered a question What do I do if my dog got sprayed by a skunk?

First, make sure their eyes aren't red and irritated, if they are, you need to rinse them w/water or eye drops. Then you can tackle the stinky issue at hand. There are a lot of suggestions on this one including tomato baths but the best I've heard is to bathe with 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (typical 3% from the store), 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap. Wear gloves and remember that when you first get them wet the smell gets worse.

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answered a question Why does my dog eat a lot of grass?

Dogs eat grass for a variety of reasons and it's completely normal. It could be to aid their digestion, lack of fiber in their diet/nutritional need or I've heard it can be due to intestinal worms. You can try switching to a high-fiber food, have the vet check a stool sample, or you may have a pup that just enjoys the taste and texture of grass.

answered a question How can I tell if my dog is in pain?

Limping, licking, scratching, drowsiness/lethargy, whining, or other behavioral cues may let you know. If your dog isn't eating or drinking like usual it's a good sign something is off.

answered a question Why does my dog keep barking at me?

There are a few different types of barking, this type is most likely attention seeking. The attention can be something as simple as a request for food, pee/poo, or related to loneliness/boredom/separation anxiety. Ignoring is usually recommended but I find it difficult. In my dog's case, I came up with different alerts for outside, she noses a bell hanging from the doorknob and set a regular feeding schedule. I also taught her the command bark which has helped the most. Now that she understands what barking is, it's a lot easier to train on "no bark".