Category: Behavior

In order to get a dog to stop whining, you’ll need to figure out why he is being vocal. Dogs use whining to communicate, so if you learn what your dog is trying to tell you, you’ll be better able to stop the whining. That doesn’t mean you’ll give him whatever he wants when he whines—that could only make the problem worse—but it means you’ll be able to figure out a way to tackle the issue. 

Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Whining 

There are many reasons your dog may be whining. Here are a few examples of why dogs whine:

He’s not feeling well.

A visit to the vet may be in order if the whining started suddenly. 

He’s in a new environment (i.e. when you first bring a puppy home).

Normally, the whining will stop once the puppy realizes he is safe.

He needs to go outside.

Some dogs whine when they need to relieve themselves.

He wants something such as more food or a treat.

Don’t reward whining with a treat. Instead, wait until your dog is quiet and then give him the treat.

He wants to play or go for a walk.

As with giving food or treats, wait until your dog stops whining before getting his leash or tossing the ball around.

He’s trying to alert you to something.

If he’s whining and trying to lead you to a certain spot, he’s likely trying to alert you to something. Check things out. Once your dog sees you’re not concerned, he’ll probably calm down. 

Keep in mind that whining is communicating. If you can figure out what your dog is trying to say, you’ll be better equipped to stop him from whining. 

It is not cruel to crate a dog at night as long as he is properly crate trained, enjoys being in his crate, has had plenty of out-of-crate time during the day, and was given a potty break before going to sleep.

How Long Should I Crate My Dog?  

As a rule of thumb, your dog should not be crated for more than 8 hours without a break. Older dogs or puppies will need more frequent breaks. Also, they shouldn’t be spending the majority of the time in a crate. If you crate your dog during the day and then again at night, consider doggy daycare or a pet sitter as an alternative for the daytime. This way, your pup won’t be spending all his time crated.

A Safe Space For Your Pet 

Crating is useful for training because it draws on your dog’s natural instinct to be in a den. For that reason, if your dog is properly crate trained, the crate will be a comfortable place that he likes spending time and where he feels safe. 

Another option once your dog is trained to act properly in your home is leaving the crate door open so he can come and go as he likes. This allows him to have his comfortable “den” without being forcibly confined for most of the day.

It is not cruel to crate your dog at night. In fact, many dogs happily enter their crate at night and enjoy the safety the space provides. 

You can stop your dog from digging holes by training him to not dig and to create physical barriers that will stop your dog from digging in certain areas. When your dog is a digger, it’s more than just annoying—it can also be dangerous. No pet owner wants to think about what could happen if their dog managed to dig his way out from under a fence, so it’s important to learn how to stop the behavior.

Why Do Dogs Dig?   

Understanding why your dog is digging is the first step to stopping the behavior. There are several reasons your dog may spend his time digging holes in your yard. These include:

It’s Fun

Active dogs in particular use digging as a way to keep busy and make the most of their time outdoors. Other reasons your pet may dig for entertainment include:

• They are left outside alone for long periods.
• They are of a breed that digs by instinct (terriers are one example).
• They need some toys to keep them occupied.

Fixes:

• Take your dogs on at least two long walks per day.
• Provide toys that engage them physically and mentally. 
• Spend more time each day playing with them.
• Give your dog his own “digging pit” in your backyard. That way, he can have his fun digging in a place that isn’t harmful to your landscape.

They’re Hunting

If your dog tends to dig in the same spot, he may be hunting prey that lives in your yard.

Fixes:

• Call a humane pest control specialist to search for and then safely and humanely remove burrowing animals from your yard.

To Cool Off 

If you live in a warm climate, your dog may be digging himself a spot where he can cool off. This may be the case if:

• Your dog does not have proper shelter or other protection from the sun.
• Your dog sits or lies in the holes he creates.

Fixes:

• Don’t leave your pet outside for extended periods—especially when it’s hot out.
• If you must leave him outside, make sure he has proper shelter that provides relief from the heat.

Plotting Their Escape 

It’s easy to tell if this is why your dog digs as the burrowing will be confined the fence line. Since this can lead to harm for your pet, it’s important to stop the digging as quickly as possible. Rather than relying on behavior modification alone, you’ll want to place physical barriers.

Fixes:

• Burying the fence one to two feet below ground.
• Burying chicken wire along the length of the fence.
• Partially burying rocks along your fence line.

Until such precautions are taken, never leave your dog alone in the yard. You can also work on behavior modification with a dog that uses digging to escape, but you’ll want a barrier in place in the meantime.

Take your yard back by implementing the suggestions above. If you’re still not able to curb the digging, call on the services of an animal behaviorist. 

An apartment complex cannot deny an emotional support animal (ESA) that provides support directly relating to a mental or emotional disability of the owner. While emotional support animals are not afforded the same widespread protections as service dogs, housing is an area in which there is legal protections in place. Even if a complex has a no-pet policy, a waiver must be granted in most cases once documentation is provided.

Providing Documentation 

Getting the needed document is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need a letter from a licensed therapist or other mental health professional. If the landlord still refuses, you can file a discrimination complaint with HUD or get a lawyer involved.

Some landlords think they are not required to provide accommodations for an ESA in the same way they are for a service dog, so sometimes it only takes educating them on the laws to get them to comply.

Note that while the landlord should not charge you a pet deposit, you will be responsible for any damage caused by the ESA.

Service Animal vs. ESA 

It’s also important for those with an ESA or those planning to get one to understand that protections for an ESA only pertain to housing and air travel. Unlike a service dog, an ESA may not be welcome in restaurants and other rehome_legacy places while a service dog must be allowed anywhere open to the rehome_legacy.

Exceptions to the Rule 

Most rental properties must allow your emotional support animal, but there are some exceptions:

• Single-family homes rented without the help of a broker
• Buildings with four or fewer units and in which the landlord occupies one 

The laws change from time to time, so it’s important to know your rights before you begin your search for the perfect rental.  

Most dogs should not be crated for more than 8 hours at a time, and the length of time is shorter for older dogs and puppies. Also, you shouldn’t have your dog spend most of the time in a crate, even if you give him frequent breaks. Dogs are social and need to be around their people, so it’s not ideal to have them crated all the time.

Proper Crate Training Is A Must 

Crates are a great tool when house-training a dog as it draws on their natural instinct to spend time in a den. When proper crate training is implemented, the dog will view the crate a safe and comfortable space. That’s definitely what you want if you plan to crate your dog while you’re away. 

How Much Time is Too Much Time in a Crate? 

If you’re crating your dog while you’re at work all day and then crating him again all night, it’s too much. If you feel you must crate the dog while you’re at work, allow him out once you get home and overnight. Another solution is to bring your dog to doggy daycare during the day so he is supervised, but not confined to a crate or to hire a dog walker or have a friend or family come over to take your dog out for a mid-day potty break.

Crating too much is a quality of life issue for your dog, and his physical well-being and emotional well-being must be considered when deciding how often to crate.

How Long Can Dogs Hold It? 

If you’re wondering how long dogs can go between potty breaks, the average is 4 to 6 hours, but older dogs and puppies may need more frequent breaks. If you’re gone longer than that during the day, consider installing a doggy door and not crating while you’re away, hiring a dog walker, or signing up for doggy daycare.

While there is no hard and fast rule about how long you can crate your dog, one answer is: no more than is necessary. Let your dog be part of the family as much as possible.  

In most cases, your doctor will recommend a tetanus shot after a dog bite if you haven’t had a tetanus shot within the past five years. While there are no statistics on how many cases of tetanus have passed from dogs to humans, and tetanus is rare in dogs, there is still a chance that a dog bite can transmit tetanus to humans. A dirty wound presents a higher risk, but your doctor is likely to order a tetanus shot for any bite that has broken the skin.

When To Get A Tetanus Shot 

Even if you’re able to clean up the wound yourself, you should still visit a doctor immediately after being bitten. Tetanus shots may need to be administered within 48 hours to be most effective. The doctor may discuss whether you need other treatment which may include antibiotics and, in some cases, rabies shots.

Why Do I Need A Tetanus Shot If The Disease Is Rare In Dogs? 

It’s rare—not unheard of. The mortality rate for tetanus is 30% and it’s more than 50% in patients over 60. That’s why administering the shot following a dog bite is standard procedure.

Symptoms of Tetanus 

If you did not get the shot and are worried you may have contracted tetanus from a dog bite, here are some symptoms to look out for:

• Jaw Cramping
• Involuntary Muscle Spasms
• Painful Stiffness
• Headache
• Seizures
• Fever
• Elevated Heart Rate 

The chances of contracting tetanus from a dog bite are slim, but out of an abundance of caution it is best to follow the advice of your doctor if he/she recommends getting a tetanus shot following a bite. 

Bark collars are cruel in that they inflict discomfort and/or pain as a method of stopping barking. There are better and more humane ways to deal with barking that don’t hurt your dog and also will address the root of the problem. Bark collars do not address the reason for the barking. Barking is a normal behavior, so punishing your pet for just being a dog is a cruel choice.

How Bark Collars Work 

Bark collars react to the sound of barking or the vibration of your dog’s vocal chords by spraying the dog with citronella, emitting a high pitched sound, or shocking the dog. All of these punishments fail to address the reason for the barking. In the best cases, they make the dog fearful and uncomfortable. In the worst cases, they cause pain.

Alternatives to Bark Collars 

Inflicting pain and discomfort shouldn’t be a method any pet owner is willing to try. Fortunately, there are plenty of humane ways to stop excessive barking such as: 

• Ignore It: If your dog is looking for attention by barking, ignore him completely. Don’t say “no.” Don’t act annoyed. Just walk away. When the barking stops, give your dog the attention he craves. He’ll learn to associate barking with being ignored and being quiet with getting attention.
• Find the Cause: If you can figure out what is triggering the barking, you can deal with that directly. For example, if he barks at people walking by, consider keeping him in a back room or blocking the windows during high traffic times of day.
• Professional Training: If the methods you try at home don’t do the trick, invest in professional training. You’ll learn how to use positive reinforcement to stop unwanted behavior.
  If you suspect the barking is due to separation anxiety, seek the help of a vet or animal behaviorist at once. The problem will only get worse if left untreated. 

Whatever is causing excessive barking, punishing your dog isn’t the way to go. Rather than inflicting pain with a bark collar, find a training method that is positive and healthy and that will bring out the best in your pet. 

To stop your dog from licking everything requires identifying the reason for the behavior, which can be either medical or behavioral. From there you’ll be able to either treat the medical condition or work on behavior modification. It’s important not to rule out a visit to the vet—especially if the behavior started suddenly.

Tips for Stopping Excessive Behavioral Licking 

Unlike cats who gracefully sit in the sun and silently groom themselves, the sound of a dog’s sloppy licking is enough to drive even the most patient pet owners a little crazy.

If your dog is licking everything and your vet has ruled out fleas, allergies, or another medical cause, the reason could be as simple as boredom or because the act calms him. Other dogs lick out of habit, when they are anxious, or, in the case of licking their owners, out of affection. If you’d like to curb this behavior, try:

• Training: So many pet behavior problems can be solved by training your dog to obey the “leave it!” command. Work on this so when you see your dog start to lick, one simple command will put a stop to it.
• Ignoring: Your dog could be licking just for attention. Try ignoring the behavior completely.
• Playtime: If boredom is the cause, extra playtime and daily long walks could be the cure.
• Bitter Spray: If the rest fails, you can try spraying the areas he licks with an unpleasant tasting spray that is designed to stop dogs from chewing and licking. Note that some dogs find some of these sprays to be pleasant, so you might have to try more than one. 

Obviously, the above won’t work if the reason is medical. Dogs who lick themselves excessively may be dealing with fleas, allergies, parasites, GI issues, or infections. Some dogs lick so much that they lose hair and create hotspots.

If your dog is licking floors, furniture and other objects, another possible medical cause is nausea as the licking can help to soothe that feeling. Once the underlying cause is treated, the behavior will stop pretty quickly.

Whether the cause is medical or behavioral, if your dog is licking to the point that he is damaging his skin, you’ll want to see your vet right away. Fortunately, licking isn’t usually harmful and it’s fairly easy to stop through some trial and error. 

 

Your dog may be barking at the wall because he hears animals or pests scurrying about or because he is experiencing cognitive dysfunction. The latter is more likely to occur when the dog is older. If he only focuses on one area of the wall, pests are more likely the cause while those with a medical problem typically stare and growl at various places on the wall.

So It’s Not Ghosts? 

The internet is fun. It’s given us dancing babies, social media, and information about how to tell if your dog barking at the wall is due to paranormal activity he’s sensing. The truth is that it’s much more likely that he hears mice or other animals or that he has a medical condition. Here’s what you need to do if you dog is barking at the wall:

Set Up An Appointment With The Vet

Anytime your pet exhibits strange behavior, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment just to rule out any medical concerns.

Call The Pest Control Company

If your pet is barking because some uninvited guests have taken up residence in your walls, the behavior will cease soon after they are removed. Call a humane pest control company that will safely relocate your visitors.

Another possible reason your dog may bark at the wall, especially if he’s never done it before, is because he senses an outside threat. Whatever the cause, it’s important not to ignore unusual behavior in your pet. Whether he’s trying to warn you, detects pests, or is suffering from a medical condition, it’s vital to address the underlying cause of barking at the wall. 

Before you feed a stray cat, you should check with your neighbors that the cat does not belong to them. Some cats are allowed to wander outside at their leisure and though they are fed, they will still beg for more. If the cat does not belong to your neighbors and does not seem scared of humans, the cat may be lost. You can feed the cats if you have the means to do so and it is legal in your area. You should also refer to our lost pet guide on the next steps.

Know The Laws In Your Area 

It is illegal to feed stray or feral cats (cats who have lived their entire life outdoors and do not tolerate human interaction) in some locations, so it’s important to know the laws in your area. It’s also important to know that many communities have groups of animal lovers advocating against such laws—and they have been successful in several places.

Talk With Members Of A Local TNR Group

If you notice a cat or multiple cats that are extremely scared of humans, it is likely a feral cat. Find a local group of feral cat advocates who will be happy to give you advice specific to your area. They will know if it is legal to feed these cats and whether or not it will be helpful for them. They’ll likely also encourage you to get the cat or cats TNR’d (trapped/neutered/released), which is another great kindness to these cats.