Oreo's Diary - Dog Behavior - Dogs dig digging

Digging can be a nuisance but quite a few people I've met seem to think it's natural. Our dog likes to dig and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's not like she's kept in a yard where she's wreaking havok. Perhaps the most annoying thing is not being able to control it. You kind of want to say "no" "stop" just because... just in case... whatever. But really, I think you have to ask yourself a) is digging doing harm, and 2) is it something you have to control.

If the answers are yes, then Vicki Hearne has the best story about stopping your dog's digging behavior. Her dog liked to dig holes in her back yard when she was working at home. When she realized it was becoming a problem, she went to her shed, got a shovel and pitched in with the dog, digging with great enthusiasm. When the hole was pretty big, she got the hose, filled the hole with water and promptly dunked the dog's head in. It didn't take that many holes before the dog figured out if he started digging he was going to end up dunked. He got the message so well, in fact, that if, on a walk in the woods far from their house, they would come across a hole, the dog would try to cover it up with leaves!

Hearne's book Adam's Task is a very fine book.

Oreo's Diary - Dog Training - First thoughts

This picture is of an agility course set up for a demo in our local dog park. Our puppy ran through it, led with a puppy treat held by my son, who rather enjoyed the course himself as you can see... if the mountain will not come to Mohamed ;) We're beginning to find out that people learn just by watching and I suspect that's true for dogs too.

But perhaps the message here should be "all things in good time." With people (including kids), certainly, it is the case that you cannot make them do what they are not ready to do. When they are ready, however, there is virtually no limit to what they will try and succeed at doing.

With dogs, I suspect this is also true. For example, there's no point in scolding a 10-week-old puppy if it piddles on the carpet. It can't hold it's bladder at all. When it has to go, it has to go. End of story. So, for heaven's sake, take your puppy outside every two hours like clockwork if you want to avoid accidents.
But, house training is not really training. Puppies instintively want to pee somewhere other than where they live. Your job is to give them the opportunity.
Sit, come, fetch are more complicated things, requiring some thought on your part and your dog's. So far I can't figure out a good reason why my puppy should sit when I say sit, come when I say come or fetch a ball I evidently like to play with more than she does. I'm sure there are reasons and when I figure them out, I'll get back to you.

Oreo' s Diary - Dressing your puppy

Cowgirl Oreo dressed up for the "fashion show" at our Cause for Paws (fundraiser for the City of Toronto's Animal Services, which, besides licensing, runs several shelters
Now, I used to think it horrid that people would so think of their dogs as people (anthopomorphize them) that they would dress them up. That was then, this is now.
Now I am an owner of an adorable, emminently dress-upable puppy, who seems to mind not at all, and perhaps even enjoys the attention. This is an especially interesting activity for kids, but also appeals to the absurdist in all of us. Sure she is at our mercy. Sure it is terrible objectification. But for dogs, bless their sweet hearts, there is no end to the ability to tolerate our failings and foolishness.
Just wait until Halloween!

Oreo's Diary - Dog Behavior - Size matters

But not always. Age may matter more. All puppies want to play, so two five-month olds are bound to get along. But bigger puppies can be clumsy relatively speaking and so the play doesn't always go so well. But dogs matched by size, if they get along, will run and run and run.
Our best experiences have been with small to mid-size dogs who are between 1 and 3 yrs. old. They seem to be able to connect to their "inner puppy" but also don't get too rough.
One thing though, you just can't predict by age, breed or size whether another dog is going to get along with yours. Every dog is different. Some actively dislike puppies and will growl and snap. Others just walk away. Some are patiently tolerant. Yet others enthusiastic. The best indicator of an approaching playmate will be a relaxed wagging tail, swish swish swish in big lazy arcs likely means, oh I like the looks of this puppy!.

Oreo's Diary - Dog Training - 24/7 puppy

The pleasures of puppies are endless. But those first few weeks can be gruelling. I lost faith more than once and wanted to put our pup up for adoption. Not sure what the turning point was, more bladder control (at about 13 weeks), better walking on the leash, getting used to my own routine of park, work, park, home, park, bed.

All told, we are becoming practiced, knowing what to do in more situations.