Category: Activities & Fun

ecowelldog– natural leaders in problem solving grooming and wellness

Did you ever wonder about some of the habits your dog might have that seem just a bit strange to you? Your modern dog’s odd behaviors are often holdover instincts from necessary activities performed by her wild ancestors. For example:

Butt sniffing is the canine way of saying, “Hi there, friend, how are you?” Because dogs have always had such an all-encompassing sense of smell, they use that sense much like humans use sight – as a way to check out what is going on around them and to recognize situations that might be uncomfortable or dangerous. When your dog meets another dog – whether known or unknown – she sniffs the new dog as a way of grounding herself and feeling more secure.

When your dog circles and circles before lying down, she’s reverting to her ancestral habit of “nesting.” Wild dogs circle around and around to tamp down grass or snow – depending on the season – when they decide its time to make a bed and rest. By lying hidden in tall grass or snowdrifts, the wild dog protects itself from predators that may come calling while it sleeps.

We’ve all watched as our modern, domesticated pups try to bury their food in the kitchen tile or under their bedding. This habit goes back to the practices of the wild pack that would hide or bury any uneaten food in dens or underground to preserve it for later. The preservation of the pack depended on their ability to save and store extra food for the times when hunting became more difficult.

Many animal behaviorists believe that the modern dog’s predisposition to rolling in animal dung dates back to the habits of its wild ancestors. Commonly, the hunter wolves would roll in the droppings of their prey so that the animals they hunted for food would smell themselves, and not the predator hunting them for food.

Many modern dogs will howl in response to high-pitched sounds, but did you know that this behavior dates back to the days of the wolf pack and was used as a means of long-distance communication? Howling in the wild is a means of locating other members of the pack, particularly in bad weather or if the pack is in unfamiliar territory. Often, wild wolves with greet each other with a “good morning” howl when they first wake up. Each wild dog or wolf has its own distinctive howl so that pack members can easily recognize a stranger.

What does your dog get out of licking you? Most dogs learn to lick from their mothers. Female dogs that give birth will lick their puppies to stimulate breathing, to clean them up, and to quicken the release of urine and feces after nursing. It is essential to survival of the puppies. Licking is also a gesture that submissive dogs use in the wild to demonstrate subservience to more dominant pack mates. When your dog licks you, she’s showing that you are her pack leader. Another reason dogs lick humans is to gather information about them using the scent receptors in the mouth and nose to determine if this person is friend or foe.

Knowing why your dog behaves in these instinctive patterns brings you a step closer to understanding how she thinks and how she communicates with you and the world around her.

Taking your dog for a walk is a pleasant way to spend an hour. It’s enjoyable for you, but it is also great way to  evaluate your canine’s health  and to spend quality undivided time together.

Warning #1: Quality undivided time together does not mean that you are texting and tweeting on your iPhone as your dog pulls you along.

Warning #2: Now that summer is approaching, before you head out on your walk, spray him liberally withFlea the Scene, and he’ll be protected from any unwelcome biting insects.

Health

Regular walking helps your dog burn calories and keeps his waistline trim. This can help prevent weight related joint disease and heart disease. It’s also the perfect opportunity for you to watch him move. Is he limping? Does he find it difficult to get up the stairs at the park? Does he lag a little on the return journey? If so, he may be suffering from degenerative joint disease or arthritis.

Joint Resolution will help him to enjoy getting out and about for a stroll. Its active ingredients include Bio Cell Collagen Type II which helps to regenerate the cartilage in his joints. Hyaluronic acid  and chondroitin encourage healing, and improve the quality of joint fluid. The result is a healthier joint that moves easier and with less discomfort.

A daily walk is not only good for his physical health, but also his mental health. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise can become bored. A bored dog is often a destructive or noisy dog, and he can do a lot of damage to your home and garden. He can also make you unpopular with your neighbors.

Socialization

Walking your dog gives him the opportunity to sniff and explore his environment. He can meet other people and their dogs, and enjoy a play with canine friends.

He needs the opportunity to socialize in this way so he becomes familiar with the sights and sounds of the world around him. This makes it less likely that he will develop anxiety problems as he grows up. A dog that isn’t exposed to lots of people and places can become stressed if he finds himself in unfamiliar places, and may be timid when he meets new people.

Bonding

Let’s face it – one of the main reasons for owning a dog is companionship. However, in our busy lives, it’s not always easy to find the time to focus on your four legged best friend. By taking him for a walk and spending quality time together, you’ll strengthen your relationship as you share good times. He will be the center of your attention for the time you are walking together, and this will bring you closer together.

While walking is great for your dog, it also has benefits for you. Exercise has been shown to improve your mood, manage your weight and keep your heart healthy.  With all these benefits and no negatives, there’s no reason to wait any longer. Grab your dog, grab his leash and start walking!

There are two main reasons why dogs dig holes:

• Natural instinct: Digging is a natural phenomenon of dogs in the wild. Typically they will dig holes so that they can bury things, such as food that they have acquired – usually to hide it from nearby dogs or other animals that might also be interested in it. Digging is also a way that animals in the wild will hunt for food such as small rodents that live underground. Even though our dogs are domesticated now, they still have the strong instinct to dig.
• Behavioral problems: Some dogs, however, have behavioral issues that can lead them to become destructive and dig – often as a result of boredom. If this sounds like your dog, you should reassess his environment and see if you can incorporate some extra mental stimulation or physical exercise into his daily regime to help reduce this issue.

Why Does My Dog Like To Bury Treats?

Burying treats goes hand in hand with digging holes! It’s certainly no picnic for dogs to exist in the wild, and that burial instinct remains in our domesticated four-legged friends. We like to make sure our cupboards are stocked with food supplies, and dogs also like to hoard their food. And even though our pampered pets at home never really need to bury treats for a rainy day, that hoarding instinct is hard for them to kick! So it’s not unusual for an old treat to suddenly resurface after many days, or even weeks!

Why Does My Dog Have An Obsession With Squirrels?

Is your dog a squirrel-stalker? Watching him interact with these furry creatures can seem almost cartoon-like, although I’m sure the squirrel doesn’t think it’s very amusing! It’s not necessarily just the squirrel that is your dog’s focal point of interest, however, but more the natural instinct to hunt – all kinds of small furry animals can become the unfortunate target of this natural, predatory behavior. Dogs chase out of instinct, and this can ultimately lead to a kill if he escapes you, and outruns his prey. Each time he succeeds with a kill, it reinforces the behavior, and strengthens the habit, and eventually you see this as his “squirrel obsession”!

Why Does My Dog Hate The Postman?

You have to feel sorry for postmen – they suffer the wrath of dogs everywhere! Thankfully most of them know better than to take it personally though. The reason why dogs tend to dislike postmen is simply a matter of protecting their territory. Your dog sees the postman as a stranger who is threatening his home turf, and the growling or barking (and hopefully nothing worse!) is his way of letting the postman know who’s boss. Although it’s useful to have a dog that alerts you to the presence of strangers around the house, it’s a good idea to keep your postman’s safety in mind (or any other service provider, for that matter). Your postman can refuse to deliver your mail if he feels physically threatened by your dog, so if there are any displays of aggression, it’s best to keep your dog indoors around the time of mail delivery.

If you think that plastic surgery is only for movie stars and models, then think again. This type of surgery is becoming more and more popular for dogs, particularly in Brazil, Europe and the United States. While there are some cosmetic operations that improve a dog’s health and well being, some procedures are purely for appearances.

Let’s look at some of the more common cosmetic surgeries that are performed on our canine companions.

Walk Like a Man

Many men won’t have their dog neutered because they don’t like the way they look without testicles. This is the reason Neuticles were invented. These silicon testicle implants allow a dog to keep his masculine profile, while still being unable to breed. They are available in a range of sizes and consistencies, so you’ll be able to find a set to suit your dog.

From Front to Back

Ear cropping and tail docking have been performed on certain breeds of dog for many years. These are controversial procedures, with some people believing they are essential to prevent tail damage or ear infections. Others feel they are totally unnecessary, and are in fact cruel. Current veterinary opinion is that there is no medical reason to perform these procedures, and may actually affect a dog’s ability to communicate with others of the same species by using their tail and ear position.

Ear, Ear

Some people are now choosing to pierce their dog’s ears. This is purely for appearance’s sake, and is of absolutely no benefit to the dog. In fact, the presence of the earring may be annoying, and lead to excessive scratching. This is one of the worst examples of changing a dog’s appearance purely to satisfy their human owner, and really shouldn’t be allowed.

Face Lifts and Eyelid Tucks

There are some breeds of dogs that are very wrinkly. The Shar Pei is the perfect example: when these dogs are young, they need their eyelids sutured open to prevent them developing an inward rolling eyelid later in life, which can cause chronic inflammation and infection. Cocker Spaniels often have very saggy lower lids, which also predisposes to infection. A little eyelid tuck in this breed can also help to prevent conjunctivitis and excessively watery eyes.

Other less wrinkly breeds still benefit from a little facial nip and tuck at times. The Pug typically has a large fold of skin between its nose and its eyes, and these skin folds can trap moisture and become infected. One of the most reliable ways of reducing infection is to remove the skin fold.

Do Dogs Need a Boob Job?

After having several litters of puppies, dogs can have very loose saggy mammary glands. These can really get in the way, and in some shorter breeds they can almost touch the ground. Loose breasts also have skin folds that trap moisture and can become chronically smelly and infected. If the excess skin causes a problem for the dog, then it’s a fair option to remove that skin and restore their pre-pregnancy tummy.

It’s All in the Smile

Orthodontics is a rapidly growing area of veterinary medicine, and it serves a very good purpose. It’s not necessarily to give a dog a brilliant smile, but to replace and restore fractured and damaged teeth. Veterinarians can now give a dog a new crown, and apply braces to better align a bad bite.

While some plastic surgery procedures are important for a dog’s health and well-being, it’s important to be realistic. Any surgery has risks, and it is often painful. Think about it – is it worth putting your dog through this, just to make him look better?