Indestructible Dog Toys For Aggressive Chewers

July 7, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Best Indestructible Dog Toys

Sharing my home with powerful chewers, I’m forced to find durable dog toys that last longer than a few minutes and keep young dogs engaged for hours. Well, after years of doing research and shelling out lots of hard-earned cash, I finally found a brand whose indestructible dog toys passed our stringent testing criteria. Drum roll please.

1st Place: Jolly Ball Tug-N-Toss

This indestructible dog toy was a hit with both dogs! Stella Mae, our Miniature Bull Terrier, loves the handle on her pink Tug-N-Toss ball. She runs and shakes it so hard that it looks like a blur. You can toss and bounce this toy in the yard plus it floats. While the handle is a huge plus factor, I’ll admit, it’s usually the first thing chewed or pulled off. Our dogs still love playing with the ball even if it has a hole in it though. On average, it takes a few weeks before the handle is removed, which we trade for treats to prevent ingestion of plastic pieces.

2^nd Place: Jolly Ball Bounce-N-Play

Rottweiler With Dog Toy — Sobek with his beloved pink Bounce-N-Play ball. Photo: Fanna Easter.

Basically, this is the Tug-N-Toss ball without the handle. Sobek, our humongous Rottweiler, loves running through the yard, chasing and shaking his large Bounce-N-Play ball at breakneck speed. He paws, pounces and bites this indestructible dog toy for hours, and it still hasn’t fallen apart. It has a million punctures, but still holds its shape.

It was hard determining which ball our dogs loved most. When given a Tug-N-Toss and Bounce-N-Play at the same time, hands down, the ball with a handle won until the handle came off. 🙂

3^rd Place: Jolly Ball Romp-N-Roll

Take the Bounce-N-Play ball and insert a rope through both ends. Now you have a durable dog toy that both dogs can play with at once. Romp-N-Roll ensures tug of war will go on for hours under our dining room table or until either one dog tires out or we’ve had enough of them pulling each other around. Now, this dog toy has been known to hit walls, including us, when flung across the room by an overzealous dog shaking and swinging the rope end. So heads up!

Honorable Mention: Jolly Egg

Personally, our dogs become very frustrated when playing with different-sized Jolly Eggs. So much so, those toys were ignored within a day or two and became odd-shaped lawn ornaments. Now, I’m mentioning this indestructible toy because others have had tremendous success with it. It’s pretty indestructible as most dogs are unable to pick it up, and hence wobbling it around like a heavy egg.

Why Do Dogs Eat Strange Things?

July 6, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Does Your Dog Eat Strange Things?

Pica in Dogs

If your dog has ever chewed or eaten strange things, I’m sure you’ve wondered why and if it’s normal. Pica disorder is the continual consumption of non-food items, and it can be behavioral (learned) or compulsive. Do all stick-chewing dogs have a pica disorder? Thankfully, no. Let’s discuss different causes of and solutions for pica.

Is It Chewing or Pica?

Oh, this is the magic question! Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to note pica disorder is the ingestion (swallowing) of weird things frequently (two or more times). If your puppy accidentally swallows a rock, it could be just that–an accident. If it recently happens again, it could be a red “pica” flag. It’s important to distinguish between pica and chewing because they are two totally different things, but can be linked.

Chewing

Chewing of non-food items is not considered a pica disorder. However, if your dog constantly seeks out strange objects, chews and ingests them, then I would be concerned. It’s important to redirect him to appropriate chewing items.

Let’s discuss a common scenario: dogs chewing on sticks. Most dogs enjoy chewing wood, and sticks are pretty easy to hold with two paws and find in the backyard. When chewing, some pieces are accidentally swallowed while most chards are left behind, which is most common (not pica indicative). This is normal, but should be discouraged by replacing sticks with appropriate chews items. Then, remove all access to sticks by clearing your yard of them. This prevents your dog from learning to enjoy chewing sticks.

Pica

If you’ve ever witnessed it, then you know what I’m talking about. Dogs will seek out strange things to chew and ingest. When one of my dogs has a tummy issue, he will literally gobble up grass and leaves until I bring him indoors. Once his tummy feels better, his pica behavior ends. Yes, coprophagia (ingesting feces) is considered a pica disorder. Dogs either learn to enjoy the taste of feces, have medical issue (illness) or become compulsive.

RELATED: Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Causes of Pica

Behavioral

A behavioral cause means dogs have learned to continuously ingest non-food items, such as rocks, sticks, clothes, leaves, grass and anything else they can fit in their mouth. If dogs are allowed to practice chewing or picking up specific items, they’ll learn to enjoy it and seek out specific objects. This usually involves the ingestion of chards or accidentally swallowing the whole thing.

We all know practice makes perfect so it’s important to curb chewing and mouthing of inappropriate items quickly. If you notice this happening, play a game of trade by offering a delicious treat for the inappropriate item. Then, provide an appropriate chew toy, such as a bully stick.

Now, behavior-induced pica is usually more common in breeds of dogs that were bred for retrieving, meaning they instinctively pick up, explore and carry items in their mouth. If you share your home with sporting breeds, you’ve probably noticed your Labrador Retriever touch just about everything with his teeth, lips and tongue. 🙂

Prevention is key!

Compulsive

Sometimes, and thankfully it happens rarely, dogs will have an irresistible urge to constantly swallow specific non-food items. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to rule out lack of proper nutrition or illness before deciding on a compulsive behavior diagnosis. If your dog routinely swallows rocks and has had surgery to remove the obstruction, then I highly recommend seeking advice from your veterinarian. Nutrition-induced pica usually resolves itself once your dog is provided with needed nutrition. Illness, normally gastrointestinal based ones, is a common cause of eating strange objects. However, your vet should perform diagnostics to undercover and treat the issue.

Once nutrition and illness have been ruled out and pica behavior continues, ask for a referral to a veterinary animal behaviorist who specializes in obsessive compulsive disorders. Compulsive disorders do not halt if left untreated, and fitting your dog with a muzzle to prevent ingestion of non-food items is like putting a Band-Aid on a gushing wound–it’s not resolving the issue.

Good luck, and remember an ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold!

Dog Breed of the Week: Beagle

July 2, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Meet the Beagle

The Beagle is a happy little scent hound that is part of the AKC Hound Group. Beagles originated in the 1300s and their main function was trailing rabbits. Today, their function still entails trailing rabbits, competing in field trials and, most recently, detecting contraband and valued family members. Let’s sniff a little deeper into this fun dog breed!

Beagle General Characteristics and Temperament

Beagles come in different varieties separated by wither (shoulder) height, ranging between 13-15 inches tall and weighing between 18-30 lbs. Beagles are considered medium size dogs, which enables them to be easily spotted while maneuvering through low foliage or carried to the hunt if needed. You will find the Beagle has a true hound color with the mixture of black, brown and white, and a thick hard coat that protects them from underbrush.

Our friendly Beagle was bred as a pack hunter and requires companionship whether it’s with a human, animal or both. These dogs are fun-loving, curious and tolerant dogs that make excellent family pets. Families with children can expect these dogs to be incredibly funny and easy-going, yet ready to join in on family outdoor games. If you’re looking for a fierce-looking dog, Beagles may not be your best bet. However, they are great watch dogs that are happy to alert you of anything suspicious.

Beagle Health and Nutrition

Beagles have a 12- to 15-year lifespan, depending on nutrition and general care. As with all dogs, there are some health concerns, such as intervertebral disk disease (bulging or herniated discs), glaucoma, epilepsy, CPRA (degenerative eye disease), hypothyroidism, patellar luxation (loose kneecap), chondrodysplasia (canine dwarfism) and cherry eye. Always seek a responsible dog breeder who performs health testing on dogs to ensure a healthy puppy. If you’re choosing to adopt through a rescue organization or shelter, you can still test your newly adopted dog for these health concerns.

Nutrition is a big part of your dog’s health, as this is what fuels them to be the best they can be. Feeding your dog a premium diet that meets his specific needs promotes good health! If you’re unsure of which nutrition plan would be best for your dog, you can always talk with your veterinarian for different options.

RELATED: Understanding Dog Nutrition

Grooming Your Beagle

Grooming requirements are minimal due to a close hard coat that protects Beagles from the harsh environment. A biweekly bath with regular brushing will be more than enough in the grooming department.

Ears

Beagles have pendulous (hanging) ears that can trap moisture, which creates a perfect environment for bacteria and fungus to grow. Make sure to flip each ear flap back, look inside each ear canal and take a whiff. If you notice any discharge or foul odor (musty or putrid), schedule a vet appointment immediately. Regular ear cleanings and inspections are very important.

Nails

Beagles have small, round paws with medium nails. It’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed to prevent cracking and overgrowth.

Teeth

Dental care is very important whether you have a large or small dog. Providing regular brushing with a dog-safe toothbrush and toothpaste can help prevent gum disease and heart disease.

RELATED: Small Dog Dental Care Tips

Dog Training and Exercise

Since Beagles were bred to trail small animals at high speed and for long periods of time, they need regular exercise, such as long walks and scent games. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: a tired dog is a good dog!

Beagles are super easy to teach polite manners as long as any excess energy has been released. Find something your Beagle loves. Scent hounds usually love stinky food so provide that to keep them engaged during dog training sessions.

Dog training doesn’t have to be a job. Make it a game by having your dog sit patiently for his food, or try teaching your Beagle to wait at the back door and reward for good behavior with a stuffed rabbit toy.

Keep That Nose Busy

Sometimes complete focus is challenging since most Beagles’ noses tend to be stuck to the ground. You really can’t blame them for this, as this is what they were bred to do! Teaching a focus cue can help. Just be sure to give a very high value reward to make it worth their while.

Barking and Howling

As trailing dogs, Beagles have a loud and far-reaching howl and bark–it’s how hunters locate their dogs when chasing game. If howling or barking is an issue, teach the “quiet” cue by rewarding quiet and ignoring barking.

Conclusion

In my experience, Beagles are fun-loving, social dogs that can be a great addition to your family. If you’re interested in gathering more information about this awesome breed, please check out the links I have provided below.

Sources:
www.AKC.org
www.nationalbeaglerescue.com

READ NEXT: Dog Breed of the Week: Pug

How to Safely Lift and Hold a Small Dog

June 30, 2015 by Fanna Easter

The Right Way to Lift and Hold a Small Dog

How to Hold a Small Dog — gpointstudio/iStock

Believe it or not, there is a safe way to pick up and hold a small dog. Knowing how to properly lift and hold your dog is not only safe for her, but for you too. The key is supporting a dog’s chest and rear at all times, which distributes weight evenly and keeps a dog and your back pain free.

Please take a moment and teach your children how to safely lift and hold a small dog. This prevents small dogs from being dropped on the ground and getting injured.

How to Pick Up a Small Dog

Squat down, place your dominant arm behind your dog’s back legs and place your non-dominant hand around her chest. As you’re lifting her up, her front and back legs will fold together a bit so her body is resting in your arms.

As you slowly pick her up and stand up, bring her body toward your chest to provide extra support for her body while securing her with your arms and removing excessive strain from your lower back.

Never pick up a dog by grasping under her front legs and lifting (like a small child). This is painful. Also, never pick up a puppy or dog by her scruff. It’s cruel and will cause irreparable damage. Just because puppies are carried around by their mothers in this manner, it does not give us a license to follow suit. We’re not dogs, so we should use our human arms and hands to support dogs.

WATCH: Safely Picking Up Small Dogs

How to Properly Hold a Dog

Depending on your dog’s size, weight and body length, safely hold your dog with one or two arms.

Holding a Dog With One Arm

After picking up your dog, stand still and move her body under your dominant arm (if you’re right-handed, you probably have more strength in your right arm). Now, take your dominant hand and place it under your dog’s chest (between her front legs) while securing her rear end between your side and arm. Now, you can safely carry your dog anywhere.

Now, you and your dog are facing the same way, which prevents your dog from being distracted by things going on behind or on the side of you. Plus, your other arm is free to grab your purse, hold treats, close doors or whatever else is needed.

WATCH: How to Hold a Small Dog With One Arm

Holding a Dog With Two Arms

For longer or heavier dogs, holding and supporting with two arms is beneficial. Place one arm around your dog’s chest and the other arm around her rear end. Using two arms works best for people with injured backs, especially lower back issues. Always keep both arms securely holding both ends of your dog.

Never allow a dog’s rear end to dangle unsecured. It’s extremely uncomfortable for your dog. She’ll most likely wiggle and scratch to get away, and fall down. Plus, securing both the front of her body and rear end keeps back and shoulder pressure to a minimum.

WATCH: How to Hold a Dog With Two Arms

You may also like: My Dog Won’t Let Me Pick Him Up: Try This Tip!

My Dog Won’t Let Me Pick Him Up: Try This Tip!

June 29, 2015 by Fanna Easter

How to Get Your Dog to Let You Pick Him Up

Picking Up Small Dogs — Offer a treat while picking up your dog. feelphotoart/iStock

When sharing your home with smaller dogs, you’ll eventually need to pick them up. Some dogs stand still while you’re walking toward them or wrapping your arm around their chest. Some dogs scamper way, stand still until you try again and take off again. Yes, let’s focus on the scamperers.

Stand Still for Pickup

You’ll need super yummy treats that’ll stop your dog in his tracks. I’m talking hot dogs or pieces of fresh deli meat. You need to make it worth your dog’s while, especially if he’s a professional scamperer.

Grab yummy treats, leash your dog to prevent him from moving too far way and take a seat in your chair indoors (this keeps distractions low).
More than likely, your dog will hang around you because of the treats. Have patience. Your dog will likely become distracted by something and walk away from you.
Once this happens, stand up and walk at your normal pace toward your dog while holding out a treat.
Your dog will likely walk right back to you or stand still. Bingo!
As you wrap your arm around him, click or say “yes,” and give him a treat. Remember, we’re teaching, “stand still while I pick you up.”
Place your dog back on the ground and practice four to five more times, and then end the training session.

Make Pickups Fun

Most dogs run away when being picked up because they’ve learned that pickups mean bath time, vet visits and the end of fun games. Instead, pick up (reward for good behavior) your dog for a few seconds and place him back down on the ground for a game of tug or chase, or let your dog continue sniffing and exploring outdoors. Aim for more positive associations with “pick up” than negative ones. As a general guideline, I recommend 10 positive experiences to each negative one.

Now, negative associations don’t mean punishment. If your dog has been running buck wild on 40 acres and finally decides to stand still for picking up, you better curse in a happy pitched and positive tone because your dog stopped. If you choose to punish instead, you’ve just ruined your dog’s polite pickup manners and it’ll take a long time to earn your dog’s trust again.

Better yet, instead of chasing your dog, check out tips on teaching your dog to come back to you. 🙂

Practice Outside

Once your dog happily stands still while you pick him up indoors, it’s time to practice outdoors–on leash, of course. If your dog is hesitant to allow you to pick him up, try squatting next to him instead of looming over him.

If your dog still ignores you, I recommend using better treats. If you’re holding a decadent cupcake, you better believe I’ll walk through traffic to get to you. 🙂

Treats Are Not Forever

Treats paired with a clicker help teach your dog new behaviors. Once your dog happily allows you to pick him up nine out of 10 times, it’s time to wean your dog from treats. Do know if your dog goes back to his scampering ways, it’s time to bring the goodies back out and practice some more.

VIDEO: My Dog Won’t Allow Me To Pick Him Up

https://youtu.be/iFeoU9NzIgM