Two extremely different opinions reign when it comes to stop dog digging. First, many believe that “dogs will be dogs” and dogs digging is natural even if it’s at the expense of the fresh sod you just installed or the new rose bushes you just planted. On the other end of the spectrum, “my flowerbed is my flowerbed” and it is not to be touched let alone destroyed by my dog.

It’s healthy to maintain a middle ground with your personal philosophies regarding the habits of dog digging by letting him indulge in the habit by digging a little, but not allowing him to run rampant in your yard. Believe it or not, dogs and flowers can coexist in harmony.

If you haven’t adopted a dog yet and one of your main concerns is of your garden, consider the breed of dog you would consider adopting. The type of dog breed tends to play a large role in the likelihood of digging habits. Terriers and Nordic breeds (such as huskies, malamutes, and certain members of the spitz family) seem to enjoy digging more than other types of breeds. However, just like the different personality traits of humans, dogs have individual personalities too and there isn’t a way to guarantee certain behavior traits solely based on dog breed.

Why Do Dogs Dig?

Dog digging occurs for some of the following reasons:

• Lack of Exercise – Digging helps under-exercised dogs burn extra energy
• Boredom – Bored dogs feel they need a “job” to do to help time pass giving a sense of purpose
• Need for More – By nature, some dogs are escape artists no matter how much attention and exercise they get. It is exciting to know what lies beyond the fence.
• Separation Anxiety – When a dog is desperate for more attention, digging under the walls reflects the most direct path to you.

Separation anxiety is a very unpleasant psychological issue common among many dogs. Due to the complex nature of this topic, it won’t be covered in this article; CLICK HERE for more information and resources for preventing and coping with separation anxiety.

Preventing the Habit

Ironically enough, many of the reasons your dog digs creates their own solutions. If your dog isn’t receiving enough exercise, increase the amount of activity he gets (generally 45 minutes per day). Take him for more walks. Is he is bored, give some toys and chew toys to keep him occupied in your absence. Try to wear him out before you leave so he will sleep most of the day. The dog that is an escape artist may need to be crated or left in the home while you are at work.

Those dogs who enjoy digging as a past time, the following provides general tips to stop dog digging:

• Restrict Access – Restricting access is the most effective measure you can take. If your dog isn’t in the yard, he can’tdig…simple as that.
• Create a Natural Deterrent – Nearly all dogs will shy from the idea of digging where there is dog poop. Even the dogs who enjoy eating poop (condition known as coprophagia) in general will not dig anywhere near either, offending their basic dislike of soiling their paws and coat.
• Change Plants – If you are offended by the dog digging in your garden, plant heartier plants with deep roots and natural thorn defenses like roses.
• Install Artificial Grass – Installing artificial grass or synthetic turf in your back yard is becoming the norm in America and isn’t the Astroturf it once was. Your dog won’t be able to dig or disrupt it if a quality product is installed correctly.

Forcing a goal to stop dog digging completely is unrealistic and you will be setting yourself up for failure since your dog is a digger by nature and breed. Take the steps outlined in this article to help reduce the destructive behavior and you will be able to live more harmoniously with your pooch (and keep your flowers). For more information on recognizing and dealing with problematic behaviors like chewing, digging, barking, and aggression, see the Secrets to Dog Training Handbook. This is a detailed manual for the responsible dog owner and is packed with all the information you need to raise a happy and healthy dog, covering topics such as dog psychology, obedience, and correcting problem behaviors. CLICK HERE for more information.

House training your dog or puppy is one of the most dreaded and misunderstood types of dog training. This article will be outlining the two most common dog house training and puppy house training issues including:

• Submissive or Excited Urination
• Scent Marking

House Training – Common Submissive Urination

A submissive urinator is a dog which seemingly uncontrollably urinates on the floor and themselves in circumstances of extreme stress or excitement (i.e. after being scolded or when you arrive home for the day). Traditionally it is the puppies who demonstrate this trait, but can also be common of adult dogs (typically either sensitive or timid dogs or ones from a shelter with history of abuse). Situations when an excited or stressed dog is likely to urinate includes:

• Arrival time after long absence
• Play time
• When guests arrive
• Stressful home circumstances
• During a scolding or correction
• Sudden loud noises

The good news is it isn’t difficult to correct this habit, and more importantly, there is NO REASON to take your dog to the Vet, as there is no medical reason for this issue (like a bladder infection). Dog house training steps you can take to help control submissive urination include:

• Limit water intake when you know there is a situation coming that would normally result in urination.
• Calmly greet your dog when you come home to not create any unnecessary added stimulation. Maybe a neutral greeting and a quick pat will do the trick!
• It’s critical that you DO NOT harshly correct this behavior, as your dog isn’t doing it purposefully and it is a challenging behavior to correct. A firm “No!” with some praise afterwards should suffice.
• If your dog urinates out of fear, try to maintain a firm and authoritative calm tone. Remember you’re dealing with a sensitive dog, where anger will worsen the issue.

House Training – Scent Marking

Scent marking is where your dog marks his territory with urine. Technically this issue is based on dominance and territory, rather than dog house training or puppy house training since a dog can be house trained yet still mark in the home.  Your dog is likely scent marking instead of merely relieving himself if:

• The amount of urine is relatively small
• The urine tends to be pointed at vertical surfaces, such as walls & doors
• He is an un-neutered male at least 5-6 months old (un-neutered males typically scent mark out of instinct – un-spayed females also mark but it’s less common)
• It makes no difference how often your dog is taken outside to urinate
• Frequently targets new items at the home (such as new furniture, guests, etc.)
• Conflict between two or more dogs

The most important thing you can do first is spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible! If done early enough, this can halt marking altogether (6 months of age or earlier). If your dog has been marking for some time, this procedure won’t necessarily eliminate the habit and your house training attempts.

Clean soiled areas completely using a non-ammonia based cleaner (ammonia and vinegar smell like urine). Many times Oxy-Clean mixed with warm water is effective and there are many commercially available products to choose from. Because dogs tend to remark the same places, you will need to redefine the area to prevent repeat occurrences. You can achieve this in a number of ways:

• Place his food next to or on top of the spot
• Play with your dog in that area
• Groom him in that area
• Place his bed over or next to the area

If there is any hierarchy rivalry between dogs in the home, it’s your job to help reinforce the position of the dominant dog. You can determine this by seeing which dog eats first, gets the toys first, or stares down other dogs. Feed this dog first or give a little more attention to this dog, which will make it clear to all the dogs in the house which dog is dominant. When this hierarchy i s clearly established, territorial and dominant behavior like scent marking will disappear overnight.

For additional information in successful dog house training and puppy house training (as well as a lot more detailed information on proven house training and related issues), check out the highly recommended Ultimate House Training Guide. For more information, CLICK HERE to read testimonials and get more information.

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There are conflicting opinions regarding the origin of the Greyhound, from the Celts who believed that they came from Greece, to the Romans who believed that they came from Gaul (in Western Europe), with many varying opinions in between.

There are ancient pictures which date back to 6000BC in the city of Catal-Huyuk in present-day Turkey, depicting dogs very similar in type to Greyhounds. Pictures from 4000BC found on a funery vase in Iran also depict Greyhound-like dogs which suggest that these dogs were held in the highest regard. Ancient artists tended only to depict images of religious or social importance.

Appearance

Greyhounds have an extremely elegant and graceful appearance; slender but also strong. They are propelled by extremely strong hindquarters; when they run it appears effortless and truly beautiful.

It is a pleasure to watch these dogs race, with their long neck and face set on their long, slender frame.  Greyhounds come in a massive variety of colors; Black, red, white, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle or any of these colors broken up with white.

Temperament

Despite what most people think, these dogs can be real couch potatoes! Although they are capable of short bursts of speeds of up to 64km/hr, they are not blessed with great amounts of endurance, so love to get home after walks and sleep it off!

They are great family pets; kind and gentle with their families and very affectionate. They may be a little aloof with strangers, but never nasty.

However, their history must be remembered; they were bred to course and race and therefore have tendencies to chase and catch small things; this can include smaller dogs, cats and other small pets. They must be very carefully socialized with smaller dogs and extreme care should be taken around cats.

Grooming

With their short coats, they will only require a very minimal amount of time spent on grooming.

Exercise

Two 20-minute walks a day is ample for these dogs – they particularly enjoy getting home to relax after their walks!! Real care should be taken with allowing these dogs off lead – unless they are EXTREMELY well trained, they are liable to run off and chase any small thing that moves – and at 64km/h, there is no chance you’ll be able to catch them!!

Health Problems

Greyhounds can be prone to injury when expelling their pent up energy! They don’t really suffer from any genetic diseases; they can be a little sensitive to drugs although vets should be aware of this if treating them.

Dog chewing is a natural tendency for Jack Russell Terriers, and shouldn’t be curtailed or discouraged, but rather channeled appropriately. Dogs do not intentionally destroy your stuff in anger or spite, but rather as means to move or transport things (similar to how we use our hands) and to entertain themselves. They also use their mouths for communicating, which is especially important for training a Jack Russell Terrier. Dog chewing therefore is a natural behavior and you cannot train them to completely stop chewing. The following steps will help both you and your little puppy live together in harmony:

1.) Keep Your Stuff Out of Reach - It is best to train your jack russell terrier what they can and cannot chew. That being said, be sure to move your belongings out of your dog’s reach, including clothes, shoes, books, and anything else you don’t want destroyed (except maybe your homework….then you can really say your dog ate your homework).

2. Give Your Dog Proper Chew Toys - Don’t give your dog old shoes, clothes, or even plastic bottles or other rubbish to chew. They can’t tell the difference between old and new stuff, so unless you want them rummaging through your closet or garbage for a chew toy, stick to regular dog toys, which can also include items from a sporting goods store (tennis ball, other kinds of balls, etc.) or even small stuffed animals. The best deals are at your local Salvation Army, where you can usually find an entire bag of stuffed animals for a few bucks, vs. $7 for a single toy at your local pet store. Just be sure to remove any small plastic features on such toys (plastic eyes, nose, etc.)

3. Dogs Like Variety - Just like we don’t like playing the same game every day or eating the same meal day in and day out, it is important to give your Jack Russell Terrier variety so they don’t get bored and look for other “more interesting” things to chew like your sofa or new slippers. If your dog is fond of your scent, leave a toy in your dirty hamper for a day to get your scent, or fill a chew toy (like a Kong) with peanut butter to keep them interested for hours. This will help keep his attention diverted from chewing things he shouldn’t.

4.) Proper Daily Exercise - Similar to other behavior problems, the desire to chew can be reduced with regular exercise. Dogs which are mentally and physically stimulated are not as likely to get bored and go looking for your new silk shirt lying on your bed.

5.) Obedience & Reinforcement Training - There are certain programs on the market which help with dog obedience issues like dog chewing. Having a Jack Russell Terrier myself, I know they can have their own agenda and sometimes be “too smart for their own good.” Don’t be afraid to try proven and affordable programs like Clicker Training, which is a harmless correctional method to let your dog know he is in the right or wrong, and has an issue like dog chewing which needs correcting. This is a much more loving approach than yelling, hitting, or “time out” and your dog will appreciate understanding the rules so you both can live harmoniously under the same roof.

For More Information on curbing issues such as dog chewing using Clicker Training and the Proven Methodologies, CLICK HERE.