In This Chapter
- Helping your dog be okay with being alone
- Knowing what to do with your aggressive dog
- Making Emily Post proud: Curing bad manners
Unpacking the Mental Baggage: Helping a Dog Who’s Been Abused or Neglected
Alone and Frightened: Separation Anxiety
Recognizing the symptoms
Excessive drooling
The loud protest: Whining and barking
Warning!
When you hear your dog whining or barking, your first reaction is probably to run to the poor dog because you can’t stand that she’s upset. Don’t do it! You’ll be reinforcing this behavior because you gave her what she had been whining about — your presence. The next time you go somewhere, she’ll turn it up another notch or two. Dogs learn very quickly! Later in this chapter, I discuss ways to stop the noise through training, structure, and positive reinforcement.
Self-mutilation: Biting and scratching
Tearing it up: Destructive behavior
Remember
When you come home to find that your dog has torn up the house, she wasn’t doing it out of spite because you left — she was doing it because she was afraid. If you keep that in mind, you won’t be as angry and you’ll feel more compassionate toward your new best friend.
Aggression
Remember
Most likely, the dog isn’t showing aggression because she wants to hurt anybody — she’s showing aggression as a way of keeping her pack together.
Knowing what to do about it
Containing the problem
Attitude is everything . . . and yours is the one that mattersDogs with separation anxiety tend to be destructive. If your dog has separation anxiety, you may come home to see that destruction. Being upset is only natural, but as your dog picks up on your anger, pretty soon she’ll feel afraid when you return home instead of being eager to see you. Teaching your dog to not miss you and returning home with a positive attitude — no matter what you find when you get there — will help alleviate your dog’s anxieties. |
Tip
Placing your mixed breed in a crate will not only give your dog a sense of security, but also keep her from injuring herself through destructive behavior, such as eating carpet strands, chewing on electrical cords, or eating poisonous houseplants. The crate offers safety for your dog and sanity for you — no mess when you get home.
Remember
A dog should not be contained in a crate for more than five hours at a time. If you must be away from home for longer periods than this, consider other options, such as hiring a dog walker or fencing off a portion of your yard. Remember to provide a source of shelter and water if you leave your dog in a fenced yard.
Going to obedience training
Sticking to a routine
Tip
Here is a regular routine you can practice to help ease the separation anxiety. It works because it redirects your dog’s anxiety to something pleasant, something she’ll look forward to.
1. Begin by finding something that has high value to your dog, such as a food-stuffed toy or special squeaky toy.
2. If you’re keeping your dog contained in a crate, place that special toy or treat in the containment area as you leave the room.
3. Peek around the corner and watch the dog’s response.
4. If she’s content playing with her toy, return into the room and praise her.
5. Release her from her crate.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 a little later, waiting a few more minutes as she plays or chews the toy.
Each time you do this, wait longer and longer, until your dog can remain for at least a half-hour in this manner without any anxiety response.
Training your dog not to miss you
Tip
You can condition your dog to be more accepting of your absence by starting small. Begin by giving your dog her special treat when you leave the room. Check around the corner where she can’t see you. When she finishes with her toy, return and reward her with praise. Gradually increase the time between giving her the as-youleave-toy and returning with praise. If you see your dog looking around for you before she finishes her treat, you’ve spent too much time away, too soon. You’ve conditioned her to look for you instead of enjoying her toy. You may need to offer a higher value toy. Gradually increase your time away, allowing your dog to slowly acclimate to the fact you’re gone and that when you return, good things happen.
Socializing with other dogs
– Dogs teach each other proper social skills, such as how to get along with others and appropriate behavior in specific situations.
– Canine play gives your dog the exercise she needs to remain physically and mentally healthy. Are you going to get down on the floor and wrestle? Most likely not. You’re also unlikely to use your mouth to grab your mixed breed’s legs or jump about and race around. In fact, I don’t suggest doing that at all, or your dog won’t respect you as her leader. There are ways of playing with your dog that offer positive interaction without making her think she’s your equal.
Tip
You can offer your dog canine social time in several ways:
– Send your dog to doggie daycare. Doggie daycare gives your dog exercise and social time while you’re at work, alleviating her separation anxiety and reducing her desire to control the activity at home.
– Find people in your neighborhood who have dogs of similar size and temperament, and arrange a specific time every day or at least several days per week when the dogs can come together and play. The more often you do this, the healthier for all the dogs involved.
– Get a second dog. If you don’t have the convenience of neighbors with dogs or a doggie daycare nearby, get a second dog. Your dog will have fewer anxieties if she can cuddle with someone while you’re away.
Medications and alternative treatments for anxiety
Tip
I normally try a homeopathic remedy before using a prescription one, because the prescriptions target symptoms instead of the source. Homeopathic remedies target the source of an illness, injury, or behavioral problem. Using homeopathics in conjunction with behavior modification and obedience training will cure a large percentage of dogs with separation anxiety.
– Chamomile: This flower essence helps relax a dog’s muscles — sort of like a powerful muscle relaxant given to people with pulls and sprains — but it doesn’t affect the digestive system as much as a prescription muscle relaxer. People have drunk chamomile tea for centuries as a way to unwind from a stressful day.
– Phosphorus, pulsatilla, and arsenicum: Use these if your dog panics when left alone.
– Rescue Remedy Bach Flower Essences: This blend of flower essences helps dogs with anxieties of many kinds, from separation and fear to grieving. The blend consists of Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Impatiens, Cherry Plum, and Clematis.
– Scullcap: This herbal aids with nervous disorders.
– Valerian root: This helps calm a hyperactive dog.
– Belladonna: This herbal reduces anxiety and calms the dog enough for her to relax when she’s left alone.
– Vervain: This is another herb that calms the dog, much like valerian root.
– Aspen: This herbal helps the dog feel secure, less alone.
- Equilite (www.equilite.com)
- My Fine Equine (www.myfineequine.com)
- Hilton Herbs (www.hiltonherbs.com)
- NativeRemedies.com (www.nativeremedies.com)
- Alternative Veterinary Hospital (www.alternativeveterinaryhospital.com/bach_essences.htm)
- BachFlower.com (www.bachflower.com)
Severe anxiety: When to seek outside help
– Your dog becomes very upset when left in a crate.
– Your dog is soaking wet from saliva when you return home.
– Your dog is eating things that can make her sick.
– Your dog is biting and chewing on herself.
– Your dog is biting you or others.
– Your dog is behaving oddly (circling as she whines, biting at the air, clinging to your heels everywhere you go, sucking on something, shivering and cowering).
– Your veterinarian: The first person you should contact for help with severe separation anxiety is your vet. Many sources of behavioral issues are based on physical problems, so it’s best to first rule these out. When visiting with your vet, explain what your dog is doing and when it occurs. Your vet will do a full exam. If the vet doesn’t mention it, request a full blood chemistry — organ dysfunction (which shows up in the blood chemistry) can be a source of behavioral problems.
If your vet gives the all-clear and says your dog has no physical problems, call an animal behaviorist.
– Animal behaviorist: An animal behaviorist, who is a veterinary specialist in behavioral medicine, can come to your home and pinpoint the cause of the anxiety, offering ways of solving it. A veterinary behaviorist can prescribe the medications; some will suggest herbal or flower remedies.
When you meet with the animal behaviorist, explain and try to emulate the situations that produce the separation anxiety as closely as possible so that the behaviorist can observe firsthand. Ask about ways to change the routine, or how to redirect your dog so he can see the situation as something more positive instead of scary.
– Dog trainer: A dog trainer can help you in the long term, because you’ll learn how to teach your dog about her environment and how she can communicate with you. Many dog trainers also know the correct herbal remedies and apothecaries to aid in training your dog to overcome her anxieties.
As you train your dog, you’re setting her up for a successful life with you and your family. As with the animal behaviorist, show your trainer what occurs and when so that the specific issues can be addressed. Ask about ways to train your dog to accept the situation or about ways you can change a routine to help her relax or relieve the anxiety.
No More Mr. Nice Guy: The Aggressive Dog
Recognizing the types of aggression
Remember
Always consult with a pet professional prior to tackling any type of aggressive behavior, because an incorrect approach can often cause even worse problems.
It hurts, don’t touch: Pain-related aggression
The need to lead: Dominant aggression
Warning!
Dominant aggression can be very dangerous. A dog who is dominantly aggressive wants to control you and others. She can display this aggression in a very subtle manner, from demanding attention by pushing against you to outright snapping at you. Although training can help control this dog, there is still a possibility of someone getting hurt.
Past is present: Fear aggression
What’s mine is mine! Possessive aggression
Me first, me first! Sibling rivalries
Knowing what to do about it
Remember
Regardless of the type of dominance your dog has, consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to handle the problem. Controlling and curing these issues require extensive knowledge of canine behavior. Though difficult, most of these behaviors are curable.
– If your dog show signs of pain — such as limping or a sensitivity to light, sound, the presence of others, or touch — go to your vet . . . immediately. Some dogs don’t show pain-related behavior. Because part of their instinctive behavior is to not display weakness, your dog may not limp or be lethargic. It’s still a good idea to have her checked by your vet, just in case. Internal injuries, bone or muscle inflammation, or organ malfunction can all cause distress, which can in turn cause pain-related aggression.
– If your dog is trying to take over the household or wants to always be first, step up your leadership role through obedience training (see Chapter Hup, Two, Three, Four: Good Manners and Basic Training) and maintenance of social hierarchy. Never allow your dog to sleep on your bed, sit on your sofa, or beg at the table. All these indulgences will lead to your dog being the boss.
– Build your dog’s confidence through regular scheduling of exercise, feeding times, and obedience training. All these regular activities play a large role in helping your dog feel safe and help her realize that she’s in a permanent home.
– Because your dog has the energy to display aggression, you need to get that energy under control with lots of exercise. A tired dog is less likely to be assertive than one with loads of energy. Focus on making sure your mixed breed gets so much exercise that she actually drops with exhaustion upon her return home.
You can also work her through her predilection for assertiveness. Put her on her leash. Work her at all times, making her heel with you from room to room. Make her sit or go into a down/stay while there. Make her come to you prior to going into another room. Because she has to concentrate on paying attention, and defer the leadership position to you, she’ll no longer have the desire to be the boss.
– If your dog is displaying any type of aggression, use apothecaries such as flower or herbal remedies (see the “Flower and herbal remedies” section, earlier in this chapter). Using these as you train your dog will help her pay attention and increase her desire to learn — she’ll no longer have the “new dog on the block” anxieties to contend with.
– Consider prescription medications. When you know the reason for the aggression, you and your vet can discuss the type of medication that would be most useful. Amitriptyline is often used to modify the dog’s reactivity to her environment. Diazepamis also used to calm the dog. Acepromazine can also be used.
You may need to keep your dog on the medication for several weeks before you can tell whether it’s working for her. These drugs aren’t to be used instead of training your dog, but rather in conjunction with the training process
Warning!
Sometimes prescription medication can have adverse effects, causing worse or unpredictable aggression, or side effects involving other organ systems.. Keep a close eye on your dog and maintain close communication with your vet and/or veterinary behaviorist.
Jumping for Joy
Knowing why dogs jump
The next time your dog jumps on you, note your reaction. Did you push at her? Yell at her? Pet her? Your reaction to her behavior will tell you the reason she does it.
Keeping your dog’s feet on the ground
– Greet your dog lower to the ground — and ask your guests to do so as well. Instead of making your dog reach upward to say, “Hi,” crouch down low to allow an appropriate nose touch. This is far better than being jumped on or goosed in your behind. If you don’t want your face washed in doggie saliva, keep your head up and offer your hands in greeting, holding them low and allowing your dog to sniff or lick them.
– Condition your dog to get a tummy rub upon your arrival, by having her sit, then lie down, so you can rub her tummy. What better way to be greeted than having your dog throw herself at your feet, panting in anticipation as she awaits a belly rub?
– Try ignoring your dog the next time she jumps on you. Don’t touch her. Don’t speak to her. Don’t look at her. In fact, step away and hold your arms up so that she can’t go to the next level of “I want attention now” and put her mouth on your hand.
– When you’re in a situation where your dog is jumping, tell her to sit. This will redirect her from doing the bad thing to doing something good — it gives her a way she can earn positive attention. Remember: Don’t ask your dog to sit too soon after the jumping up or you’ll be creating a fun game called Jump and Sit. Dogs learn patterns very easily, and if she thinks she’ll be rewarded for jumping and then sitting, she’ll be persistent about it.
Tip
If you’ve told your dog to sit and she’s too busy jumping to do so, make sure that you place her into position. When she’s in position, praise her. Don’t get too carried away with the praise, though — you did have to place her into a sit. You can get more excited when your dog sits without your help, especially if she comes to you and sits for attention instead of jumping up for it.
Remember
Try not to get frustrated. Your dog didn’t learn to jump up overnight, and you won’t cure her overnight. Remain calm, focused, and in control. Dogs know when you’ve reached your breaking point. You have to prove that you have no breaking point. Eventually, your dog will understand that you’re in charge of doling out rewards and that she has to change her attention-seeking behavior.
Curing the insistent jumper
Tip
You can use several objects to create aversive sounds when your dog jumps on you:
– Pennies in a can: Get a small metal can, such as one used for loose tea, paint, or a small coffee can. Place 15 pennies inside the can and be sure to seal the lid securely. When your dog jumps up, shake the can hard just once or twice. If this aversive sound is going to work, it will work fairly quickly. Your dog will stop jumping and either move away from you or sit. If she sits, praise her. If she moves away, wait until she returns and sits or remains with all four paws on the floor, and then praise her.
– Rocks in a milk carton: Place small rocks inside a plastic milk jug. Use it in the same manner as the can (see the preceding item). This is not as harsh a sound as the can; if your dog is very reactive to sound, you may want to try this first.
– A bicycle horn: A honk on a bicycle horn will definitely get your dog’s attention. She’ll likely step back and have a long look at you as though you’ve just issued the weirdest noise she’s ever heard. She may be looking at you funny, but she stopped jumping, right?
Chewing Your Dog Out for Chewing
Understanding why dogs chew
– Between the ages of 3 months and 5 months, the baby teeth are falling out. You’ll see your dog’s front teeth being replaced with the larger, adult incisors. Your pup will be pulling at her toys as she explores objects for palatability. Watch out for those electrical cords — they look mighty tasty!
– Between the ages of 5 and 7 months of age, your pup’s back teeth are falling out and being replaced with new ones. When the new molars grow in, it’s very uncomfortable for your dog. She won’t be chewing to learn about her environment — she’ll be chewing to alleviate the discomfort in her gums. Anything hard is fair game. Wood of all sorts, such as molding, window frames, chairs, table legs, carpeting, shoes, plastic children’s toys, books, and more.
– At 7 to 8 months of age, the molars are all in, but still a little loose in the gums. Chewing has become more of a pastime than a need, but it’s still enjoyable as a way of releasing discomfort, anxiety, or boredom.
– Anxiety: A dog with anxiety can be extremely destructive. She doesn’t just chew — she flings and swings the objects about, tramples and pulls, paws and scratches. Dogs chewing because of anxiety create a huge mess.
– Boredom: A dog who chews because she’s bored may not create as large a destructive path as a dog who chews because she’s anxious, but the bored dog can still do some heavy-duty damage. Windowsills are typical targets for bored dogs, as are other types of wall molding, shoes left about, or other household items that have fallen to the floor. Toys become old, known things, whereas a dish towel, pillow, or sneaker is like a brand-new toy.
Solving the problem
Prevention is worth a pound of pillows
– Train, train, train. A trained dog knows the rules and will be less likely to chew the wrong items.
– Rotate the toys. Dogs get bored with the same old toys. Had ’em, mouthed ’em, tired of ’em. If you offer your dog a different variety of toys each day, your dog will think, “Wow! Brand-new toys! This is neat!” It will occupy her time, reducing the chance of boredom.
– Get another dog. The presence of another dog alleviates boredom.
– Make sure she’s getting enough exercise. A tired dog won’t do anything destructive. Take your dog for a run, or long walk each morning before going to work and again when you get home from work. You may want to vary the routine — for example, go for a walk in the morning and play ball in the afternoon. Add some training time to this routine. Teach your dog some new tricks.
– Stimulate your dog’s mind. There are many ways to stimulate your dog’s mind:
- Interactive toys: You can find all kinds of interactive toys in your local pet store — toys that can be pulled apart and put back together, toys that can be filled with food, toys that involve pet and human or several dogs at the same time. You can never give your pet too many toys. In fact, if you’re not tripping over toys, you probably don’t have enough. And don’t forget to rotate them!
- Social time: Doggie daycare is a great alternative for dogs who spend a lot of time home alone. Instead of being left home day after day, bored, you take your dog to a place where she’ll have fun socializing with other dogs and people. You come home from work tired, and she will, too. You can both relax.
If you have a dog park in the area, take your mixed-breed dog there, daily. Make it part of the routine, regardless of the weather. Few dogs care more about a rainy day than playing with other dogs.
Offering your mixed breed these bits of stimulation will prevent her from doing the bad chewing and create a far more positive relationship with you.
Knowing what to do when your dog is in mid-chew
The Chase Me game is not a new invention created by your dog just because she enjoys the taste of your shoes, laundry, or pillows. It’s a common game that dogs play with each other. One dog grabs a toy, tantalizes the other dog with it by pacing in front and dangling it under the other dog’s nose, and then when she sees the other dog make a grab for it, she runs, with the other dog racing after her.
Tip
This is called the exchange-and-reward system. You offer your dog a better alternative to the yucky piece of trash or dirty laundry. Here’s how it goes:
1. Put a long leash on your dog and let her drag it around.
2. When you see her chewing something she shouldn’t be chewing, call your dog to come to you, showing her a food-filled toy or treat.
3. When she arrives, and if she’s still holding on to her prize, tell her to drop it, using a stern tone of voice to prove you mean it and you’re not playing her game.
4. Show her the alternative, dangling it in front of her face just as she tantalized you with the shoe.
She’ll smell the delectable toy. Because dogs tend to have a high food drive, they usually choose the food over a yucky tasting shoe any day.
5. When the shoe falls from her mouth she’ll try to grab the toy.
Don’t let her grab the treat. Your mixed breed must earn this toy, not be rewarded for initiating a game of tag with your shoe.
6. Have her perform something such as a Sit.
7. When she does so, praise her and give her the foodfilled toy.
Tip
Here’s how you teach Drop It:
1. Put a leash on your dog so you can back up your commands without having to chase her around.
Allow the leash to drag on the ground until needed.
– Get another dog. The presence of another dog alleviates boredom.
– Make sure she’s getting enough exercise. A tired dog won’t do anything destructive. Take your dog for a run, or long walk each morning before going to work and again when you get home from work. You may want to vary the routine — for example, go for a walk in the morning and play ball in the afternoon. Add some training time to this routine. Teach your dog some new tricks.
– Stimulate your dog’s mind. There are many ways to stimulate your dog’s mind:
- Interactive toys: You can find all kinds of interactive toys in your local pet store — toys that can be pulled apart and put back together, toys that can be filled with food, toys that involve pet and human or several dogs at the same time. You can never give your pet too many toys. In fact, if you’re not tripping over toys, you probably don’t have enough. And don’t forget to rotate them!
- Social time: Doggie daycare is a great alternative for dogs who spend a lot of time home alone. Instead of being left home day after day, bored, you take your dog to a place where she’ll have fun socializing with other dogs and people. You come home from work tired, and she will, too. You can both relax.
If you have a dog park in the area, take your mixed-breed dog there, daily. Make it part of the routine, regardless of the weather. Few dogs care more about a rainy day than playing with other dogs.
Offering your mixed breed these bits of stimulation will prevent her from doing the bad chewing and create a far more positive relationship with you.
Knowing what to do when your dog is in mid-chew
Tip
This is called the exchange-and-reward system. You offer your dog a better alternative to the yucky piece of trash or dirty laundry. Here’s how it goes:
1. Put a long leash on your dog and let her drag it around.
2. When you see her chewing something she shouldn’t be chewing, call your dog to come to you, showing her a food-filled toy or treat.
3. When she arrives, and if she’s still holding on to her prize, tell her to drop it, using a stern tone of voice to prove you mean it and you’re not playing her game.
4. Show her the alternative, dangling it in front of her face just as she tantalized you with the shoe.
She’ll smell the delectable toy. Because dogs tend to have a high food drive, they usually choose the food over a yucky tasting shoe any day.
5. When the shoe falls from her mouth she’ll try to grab the toy.
Don’t let her grab the treat. Your mixed breed must earn this toy, not be rewarded for initiating a game of tag with your shoe.
6. Have her perform something such as a Sit.
7. When she does so, praise her and give her the foodfilled toy.
Tip
Here’s how you teach Drop It:
1. Put a leash on your dog so you can back up your commands without having to chase her around.
Allow the leash to drag on the ground until needed.
2. Create the situation by either throwing a favorite toy a short distance or merely dropping it.
3. When your mixed breed picks up the toy, bring her to you via the leash.
Praise her as she comes closer so that she always believes coming to you is a great idea.
4. Tell her to sit.
If she doesn’t do so on her own, place her into position. Again praise, even if you had to place her.
5. Now, tell her “Drop it,” as you hold your hand just beneath her jaw.
You can be sure she won’t, because she already has a prized possession that is more rewarding than whatever you can offer.
6. Place your other hand over the top of her muzzle, with fingers on either side of her lips and squeeze her lips into her mouth.
Few dogs like to bite their own lips so you will feel her jaw releasing.
7. As your dog’s jaw slackens, praise her.
8. When she drops the toy, praise and offer her tasty treats such as freeze-dried liver or cheese. Remember
When first starting this, always offer a high-value replacement.
Tip
If you’re having your dog drop one of her toys, you can offer it to her again so that she learns she isn’t prohibited from playing with the toy — she just has to give it to you upon your request.
From Beggar to Chooser: Getting Your Dog to Stop Begging at the Table
Tip
You can prevent your dog from begging for food (or stealing it!) in several ways:
– Never feed from the table or counter.
– Always make your dog earn her food. She must at the very least sit before receiving anything, including her dinner.
– Teach your dog how to go to a specific place while you and others eat at the table. If you place a food-filled toy on a pad or bed nearby, your dog will be lured to the spot and rewarded for remaining there.
– Have a specific area where your mixed breed is fed her meals so that she learns that the only place she eats meals is at her special place.
Nipping and Mouthing
Understanding why dogs nip and mouth
Preventing the problem
– Have lots of toys around for her to put her mouth on.
– Never play with her mouth.
– If you’re playing with her with a toy, the moment she touches you with her mouth the game is over for a little while.
– Never allow anyone to dangle their hands near her face.
– Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise so that she’s not nipping at you trying to instigate play.
Curing the problem
Warning!
Never, ever hit your dog!. Mother dog never hits her pups. Even fighting dogs don’t hit each other. There are several ways to use your hands to make your point.
1. Put a hand on each side of your dog’s neck and hold firmly.
2. Stare into her eyes, growl at her, and roll her over onto her back.
3. Continue the stare and growl.
4. When your dog shows submission by turning her eyes away from you, blinking, and going limp, slowly release her neck and allow her to get up.
5. If she goes back to nipping at you, pin her down again.
Repeat this as often and as long as necessary to make your point. It may be a long hold the first couple times, but the length will decrease as your dog realizes that you have no breaking point and she must be the first to give up.
Remember
As with all severe behavior problems, talk to a professional trainer or behaviorist. Nipping and mouthing are not easy to contend with, and implementing the wrong correction can have severe consequences.
Digging to the Center of the Earth
Knowing why dogs dig
– Digging is less boring than lying in the shade. Plus, digging is great exercise.
– There might be something edible to go along with a scent. Who knows what lies beneath the surface? Gotta dig to find out.
– Dogs feel earth vibrations. Moles and other underground critters make lots of vibrations. Trenching is a great means of following their paths.
– Holes are often cooler to lie in than surface dirt — never mind that the current hole used to contain an azalea. The azalea had a prime resting spot.
Remember
Digging is a very natural canine behavior — one that cannot and should not be prohibited. Without the chance to dig, you’re setting up your dog for failure in other areas of her life, such as proper house manners.
Giving your dog a place to dig
– Separate your dog’s yard from your garden.
– Give your dog a place to dig such as a sand box or pile of mulch.
– Fence off your plants so that your dog can’t get near enough to dig them up.
– Fill existing holes and pour vinegar around them so they become less attractive for future digging. Put your dog’s feces in the hole prior to filling.
Tip
You can’t expect your mixed breed to change her digging location without your help. You’ll have to prove to her that the sand pile will offer greater rewards than beneath the English Boxwood. Here’s a great means of redirection:
1. Half-bury a favorite toy or biscuit in the place where you want her to dig.
2. Guide your dog to the buried toy and point it out.
3. Praise her if she goes for the toy or eats the treat.
4. Repeat this many times until your mixed breed runs straight for her digging area each time she goes outside.
Tip
Spend time with your dog in her digging area. Praise your dog when she puts her nose to the sand and even more when she begins pushing her feet into it.
– A small child’s pool filled with cool water
– A dog door so that your mixed breed can come inside and lie on a cool basement or kitchen floor
– A doghouse with a fan to cool the interior
– A dog bed that can be soaked in water to maintain a lower body temperature
by Miriam Fields-Babineau