Oh No! Look What The Dog Did
If you have a dog then you probably find yourself saying that phrase once in a while
. Dogs tend to have some strange, gross, annoying habits, no matter how much we may love them. Perhaps they think the same thing about us, but let's look at some of the things they do and see if we can find some solutions.
One of the most common pleasures enjoyed by dogs is raiding the garbage can. Whether they pull out old coffee grounds, dirty paper towels, or food scraps, the result is usually a mess in your kitchen or yard. It's not hard to figure out why dogs do this. As a species they have been surviving not only as hunters but as scavengers for millennia. Your garbage can (or worse, your neighbor's) is an irresistible target. When you leave your garbage can at eye level for them in the kitchen it must seem like a gift.
Perhaps your dog was hungry and decided to prowl through the garbage. More likely, your dog saw an easy opportunity and took advantage of it. You can solve the problem of trash can raids by sealing anything particularly odiferous in its own container so it will be less likely to attract a dog's attention. Put bones and other things tempting to dogs in the outdoor trash receptacle. If the outdoor trashcan also attracts your dog's attention (or the neighbor's dog), consider building a small enclosure around it to keep animals out. Look for large cans that are unlikely to tip over. Another kitchen option is to keep trash containers under the sink or other places where your dog can't reach them. Get cans that latch at the top so your dog can't open them.
You may also wonder why your dog turns up his nose at the lovely food you place before him to go outside and eat grass. Everything you have ever learned about dogs tells you that they are meat eaters and not herbivores. They don't normally graze. So, what's up with that? The answer is probably in his own stomach. Something he's eaten may have upset his stomach and he may be seeking out a natural tonic in the form of greens to help his digestion. Humans, after eating a big meal, may feel like eating a salad. It's the same with dogs. This is not usually anything to worry about if it's only something your dog does occasionally. (The exception would be if your yard has been chemically treated. In that case you should try to keep your dog from eating the grass.)
Your dog may also eat a little grass to help him vomit up something disagreeable. This is not unusual but it should be watched. If your dog continues to try to vomit something for more than a short time you should seek out your veterinarian.
Perhaps one of the biggest disagreements we have with dogs is over how we should treat cat litter boxes. Dogs seem to believe they are where we keep dog treats. Humans look sick and disgusted when dogs pay too much attention to them. The scientific name for eating these litter box chunks is coprophagy and it is a problem. You should not allow your dog to make snacks of the litter box droppings. Yet all dogs seem irresistibly drawn to cat boxes.
There are many theories about why dogs love litter boxes. It could be a medical condition, such as pancreatic or intestinal dysfunction, starvation or even severe malnutrition due to advanced infections such as worms. It could be a way for dogs to replenish their B vitamin supply or a holdover from evolution. Or it could be a psychological condition. Perhaps it's simply because cat food tastes great, even after digestion.
There are some things you can do to try to prevent the problem. Keeping the litter box scrupulously picked up is the first option. You can also keep it situated in a place where the cat can reach it but the dog can't. This is possible since you can have a room set aside for the cat that is off-limits to the dog, or you could set up the litter box in a high place that the dog can't reach. You can also check into litter boxes with hooded systems that only allow the cat to enter and exit.
If the undesirable activity is occurring outdoors, keep the yard picked up and walk your dog on a leash so you will have complete control in case your dog finds something to eat that he shouldn't. There are also food additives you can put into cat food (or anything undesirable that your dog is eating) that will make the poop taste bad to your dog. I know, you would think that poop would already taste bad, but we're talking about a dog with a problem.
If the problem continues you can take your dog to the vet to see if there is a health problem involved since poop eating can be symptomatic of various ailments. Your dog could also pick up a parasitic infection from his coprophagy problem. It's a good idea to consult with the vet if the problem continues long term.
Perhaps these tips will help you the next time you are tempted to ask, "Did you see what the dog did?" Living with a dog brings lots of pleasure and happiness to our lives. When we do run into a problem there is almost always a solution. Hang in there and do a bit of research on some of these issues and you can find a way to overcome even the hardest problems. Your dog is worth it.
by: Tristan Andrews
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