Why Does My Dog Nibble Me?

Does your dog have a habit of nibbling on you? Or perhaps they nibble on blankets and other animals. It’s called cobbing, and although it’s a bit weird to us, it’s usually considered an affectionate behavior.

There’s also a few less common causes for nibbling, such as separation anxiety or boredom, but for the most part it’s a relatively harmless habit that many dog owners find endearing.

Why Do Dogs Nibble?

Nibbling, also called cobbing or corn cobbing, is when your dog gently nibbles on you (or another object or animal) with their front teeth.

Dogs often nibble on things that bring them comfort, such as you or their favorite blanket, as a way to get closer to the object in their own special way.

Dogs Nibble to Show Affection

The most common reason dogs nibble you is to show affection, and you’ll often see mother dogs nibbling their pups. Nibbling is a form of grooming, and it’s a way for dogs to show affection with us or other animals.

Gathering Extra Information

Dogs have an an organ called the vomeronasal organ (also known as the Jacobson’s organ) located in their mouth that allows them to detect pheromones. It’s a secondary olfactory system that lets dogs decipher chemical communication.

As puppies this organ helps them find their mother while they’re still blind and deaf. In adult dogs the organ is used to get all sorts of extra chemical information that their noses can’t get by itself, such as mating status from other dogs.

Nibbling Feels Good

Nibbling can be a self soothing behavior for dogs. They nibble things that bring them comfort, and the behavior helps them relax by releasing feel good pheromones.

You might often see your dog lying down with their favorite blanket, gently nibbling as they nod off and fall asleep.

Because They’re Bored or Anxious

If your dog is obsessively nibbling or chewing things it could be our of boredom or anxiety, from either a lack or physical or mental exercise.

Like any habit, nibbling can be become destructive if not redirected towards something else.

If your dog obsessively nibbles or chews try adding in a few quick brain games to their daily routine. If you have a high energy dog they might benefit from some quick exercises to help wear them out. And for those days when it’s raining out there’s also plenty of ways to keep your dog busy indoors.

What to Do If You Don’t Want Your Dog Nibbling on Certain Objects

If your dog has been nibbling on a certain blanket and you’d like them to stop the best way is to use redirection.

Whenever they go for the blanket simply hand them an appropriate chew toy instead, and praise them when they redirect their attention onto it.

It might take a little while, but with positive reinforcement your dog will learn to go towards the chew toy for that extra praise.

Does Your Dog Nibble on You?

Does your dog nibble you? My dog does on occasion, but he usually saves it for the cats. And surprisingly they seem to love it. I was a little nervous at first that he might be too rough, but they absolutely adore it.

Please share

The post Why Does My Dog Nibble Me? appeared first on Puppy Leaks.

source https://www.puppyleaks.com/why-do-dogs-nibble/

How to Stop Your Dog from Barking

The post How to Stop Your Dog from Barking by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Stopping the excessive barking is the key, not to stop the bark entirely. Barking is a completely normal behavior for dogs, and they bark for many different reasons: alarm, boredom, excitement, frustration, demand, play, stress. You have coping skills and strategies for your emotions: Your dog needs some, too.

First, figure out context. Does he bark when deliveries come?  When you leave for work? At the neighbor’s dogs? Knowing what your dog is attempting to communicate with his barking is half the battle. With time, patience and consistency ballistic barking will be a thing of the past.

How to stop your dog from barking

Once you figure out why he’s barking excessively, take these steps to help him adjust the behavior:

1. Manage the environment

• The best time to stop a behavior is before it starts!
• Set your dog up for success and minimize (ideally eliminate) repeated opportunities to get his bark on.
• Remove your dog from the situation.
• If you can’t remove him, manipulate the environment to soften the effects of the trigger, or distract him from it.

2. Train a positive interrupt

• Train the cue during down time to use when he is
• Say “Quiet please” or “Thank you,” and when he looks at you, immediately give a high value or favorite treat.
• Practice often so it’s second nature for him to stop and look to you when barking starts and you give the cue.

3. Train an alternative behavior

• Train touch, find it or go to mat/place so he has something to focus on other than barking. Here are our trainer’s tips on teaching basic cues.
• Once you have your dog’s attention, cue the behavior and have at it!

Bonus tip: Reinforce the quiet. The instant he’s quiet mid-barkfest, mark and treat. Repeat.

How to train dogs not to bark at other dogs

This is a bit tougher. Context, again, is crucial. Is he on leash? In your yard? In your car? Barking is very self-reinforcing, meaning he’s reinforcing himself by barking since he probably likes it! So, setting up your dog for success is critical.

Start here:

1. Manage the environment

• Put up a privacy fence.
• Coordinate with neighbors to alternate dog outings .
• Only let him out when it’s neighbor-dog free. Caveat: The one time you don’t check, the neighbor dog is out and barkfest starts, then you’ll have to start all over.

This dog training video gives some helpful tips on stopping your dog from barking at other dogs:

2. Desensitize/countercondition

• Leash your dog in your yard.
• Feed high value treats in the situation without the trigger (i.e. no other dogs present).
• Slowly approach fence on leash, still treating if your dog is calm. If not, go back to last point of calm and practice there a bit longer.
• Slowly decrease distance as long as he’s calm when the neighbor dogs are out.

This video has helpful tips for desensitizing your dog from a noisy environment:

Should I use a bark collar to train my dog to stop barking?

No. The allure of instant relief from your dog’s vocalizations might be tempting, but these collars focus on punishment, and not only can they make things worse, but they end up creating unintended associations and fear.

Instead, add more exercise and stimulation to your dog’s day. Fulfilling your dog’s physical and mental needs helps alleviate most behavior issues; it’s an ideal pairing with any dog training.  Also, the longer a dog performs a behavior, the harder it is to change it. Act now so you don’t end up with a serial barker on your hands.

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Running with Your Dog: Meet Ona the 5K Racer

The post Running with Your Dog: Meet Ona the 5K Racer by Alan De Herrera appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

One could say that Ona, a punky 12-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, has enjoyed a pretty bright and breezy lifestyle over the years soaking up the sun in Southern California. Lots of beach days, a comfy warm bed and a big pile of plush toys. What more could she want? Well, as it turns out, she wants to run!

Nearly 50 races and counting

Ona likes to take the lead during the races, so her dad and running partner, Jeff, follows her nearly the whole time. © Alan De Herrera

Weighing in at just 6 pounds and standing a mere 6 inches from the ground, Ona is a seasoned long-distance racer. In the last six years, she’s completed nearly 50, 5k runs with an average pace just over an 8-minute mile. As the adage goes, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” This dog can run!

“I started hiking with Ona after she turned 3 and she loved it,” says Ona’s dad, California Highway Patrolman Jeff Jones. “She always had so much energy.”

As an experienced long-distance runner himself, Jeff decided to sign both of them up for their first race together at the Homeward Bound 5k run in 2016.

“We had already done several long hikes in the past but I didn’t know how she would do running long distance.”

When they reached the halfway mark, Jeff tells me he stopped and offered Ona a quick water break. “She refused and just wanted to keep running,” he added. “People were shouting ‘that dog deserves a medal’ as we ran by.”

Soon after, the duo signed up for several more races and thus Ona’s running journey began. “Even during the pandemic we did 19 virtual races,” said Jeff. “Nothing was going to stop Ona from running!”

Breaking records

Ona remains focused on the finish line during her races. She doesn’t get distracted by other dogs or people. © Alan De Herrera.

Last December, I joined them one early morning for their 41st race at the Christmas-themed Santa Claus for a Cause 5k run. Decked out in a warm Christmas neck gaiter dawned with little green doggie bones and striped candy canes, Ona looked up at her dad among the crowd of runners towering above her. With a few wags of her tiny tail, she signaled she was ready to go.

At the sound of the buzzer, Ona sprinted out of the starting gate tugging on her leash with all her might, keeping her head forward and focused on the path ahead. “She loves to run out in front of me, so I’m really just chasing her the whole time,” says Jeff.

A determined Ona charged along, unfazed by the cheering spectators or other dogs along her path. “She’s just so razor focused when she runs,” Jeff proudly tells me.

They crossed the finish line not only breaking their all-time record at 24 minutes and 45 seconds, but also making the podium with a first place title in Jeff’s age category. “The older she gets the faster she runs,” Jeff whispered in my ear as they received their honorable medals.

There is a small wooden rack on Jeff’s bedroom wall displaying 45 ribboned medals: An homage to their running adventures together over the years.

“We will need a bigger rack soon,” Jeff tells me with a chuckle.

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Should You Separate Your Puppy and Older Dog?

The post Should You Separate Your Puppy and Older Dog? by Sassafras Lowrey, MFA, CPDT-KA, CTDI appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Bringing a new puppy home is exciting for you, but can be stressful for an older dog. Be thoughtful about your dogs’ interactions. In the past, the general advice was to introduce new puppies to older dogs in the home right away. Now we know that isn’t always the best approach.

How to introduce a puppy to an older dog: Follow these 5 steps

Step 1: Create space 

Giving puppies and older dogs their own space before introducing them encourages positive interactions in the future. There’s no reason to rush greetings and interactions between dogs; it’s oftentimes helpful to keep dogs and puppies separated for a few days or even weeks. Using baby gates, closed doors, crates and other dividers in the home creates space and lets them get used to the sound, sight and scent of the other dog without directly having to interact. Then, interactions are more relaxed and stress-free, which fosters better ongoing relationships between them.

Step 2: Introduce neutrally 

Depending on your dog’s temperament, the introduction may happen on your puppy’s first day home, or if you have a senior dog or a dog who has other health or behavioral issues you may want to wait days, or even weeks before directly introducing them. The goal is to allow them to have adjusted to the presence of the other dog before they interact. We want those initial introductions to happen in neutral spaces outside your house or yard. This helps reduce the likelihood of stress or conflict. Start by taking your dog and puppy on parallel walks where one person has one dog on a leash and someone else has the other dog on a leash to help everyone get used to being close. Once your dog and puppy have met in a neutral area, and  if that meeting went well, start to slowly allow them to spend time together in the house and yard.

Step 3: Watch for signs of stress 

Once you’ve introduced your dog and puppy, monitor the interactions. Watch the body language from your dog and puppy closely for any signs of stress or discomfort.

Tips to reduce stress between dogs:

• Before letting dogs interact, remove high value items like food, chews and toys from the area, especially if you know your older dog might have resource guarding tendencies.
• If interactions seem tense, or the dogs become agitated, separate the dogs right away to give them a break.
• Keep your dogs separated for a while to allow them to just acclimate to the scent of the other dog.

Step 4: Manage interactions

If you can’t monitor your puppy and dog while they are together, keep them separated. Even if the interactions are going well, continue to manage their playtime and engagement. Don’t allow your puppy to bother or harass your older dog. This is especially important when your older dog is sleeping and eating. We never want older dogs to be put in a position where they feel like they need to correct or “tell off” the puppy. Intervene on your older dog’s behalf and redirect an overly enthusiastic puppy; teach the puppy appropriate ways to interact.

Step 5: Go slowly

It’s tempting to rush the introduction process or encourage them to spend lots of time together right away, but a better approach is allowing your dog and puppy to learn about each other slowly and intentionally. This will help build trust. Make sure they have their own private spaces to retreat like a crate, bed or a designated area of the house, such as a dog room, that the other dog can’t access. The goal is neutral engagement and that can take time. Long-term management strategies like baby gates create a less-stressful house when interactions are tense.

Puppy and older dog: Tips for success

If your older dog has health conditions, behavioral issues like reactivity, or is a senior with age-related conditions like arthritis, be especially thoughtful about how you introduce your puppy and monitor interactions. You may want to keep your puppy separate most of the time. Consult with a dog trainer who utilizes positive reinforcement methods if you have questions. A dog trainer helps you to manage introductions and creates a training plan for future issues.

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Disc Dog Sport

The post Disc Dog Sport by Megan Arszman appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

The popular canine sport of disc dog requires a human and canine to work as a team. The dog relies on the human for accurate throws of a flying disc and the human relies on the dog’s athleticism to catch each throw.

Maryland dog trainer Gabby Scott competes in disc dog events. However, the initial reasons as to why she started training for the event was just happenstance. “I arrived early for a dog-training class I was attending with my Aussie-mix eight years ago,” says Gabby. “The instructor was practicing tricks with another trainer between classes. It was so cool to see dogs working so enthusiastically. They were happy just to catch a disc.”

Best dogs for disc dog

Gabby says most dog lovers get into disc dog because they have a dog that wants to play fetch and be active partners with their humans. Her Aussie-mix, Gus, preferred swimming and hiking to fetching, so she sought out a second dog with the drive to play along and she found Taco, a Miniature American Shepherd. “I asked for a puppy who had no fear and always had a toy in his mouth, and that’s what I got,” she says.

Taco’s breed is one of the more popular breeds currently in the sport. As is common in most dog sports, herding breeds lead the pack in popularity, as well as mixed breeds. Gabby says dog breeds you typically see are:

• Border Collies
• Australian Shepherds
• Australian Cattle Dogs
• Belgian Malinois

However,  you can also find:

• Labrador Retrievers
• Whippets
• Pit Bulls
• Mixed breeds

“You dog doesn’t need to be registered with any kennel club to play, they just need to love frisbees,” she explains.

Training for disc dog

You might believe the most important factor for a disc dog is chasing and catching the flying disc, but Gabby emphasizes that owners should really focus on engagement with their dogs in this sport. “The dog’s knowledge that the game is only fun when they play it with you, their owner, trumps the desire to have the disc,” she says.

Creating this desire can be easy, according to Gabby. First and foremost, she recommends making playtime with the disc a rare thing. “Never leave discs around the yard or in the house,” she says. “Keep discs out of sight until it’s play time. Then, keep play sessions exciting and very upbeat, and keep them extremely short.”

Disc dog is about having fun with your dog playing his favorite game. Teach basic cues of the game using a dog-safe soft fabric or plastic pup-size disc. Teach your pup to do the following with the disc:

• Fetch it
• Drop it

Short as in one to three minutes at a time. The first sessions can be practicing tugging with one disc, while making a big fuss about the fun, then switch to another disc, and so on. This builds the desire to tug and play, while also learning the cues to drop the toy and switch to another. Practice short tosses as you begin, and then work your way up to more difficult maneuvers and longer throws. As always, make sure you practice proper warmup and cooldown routines to keep your dog’s muscles and body in shape for the chase.

Don’t use a flimsy, plastic disc for disc dog as it can shatter easily, possibly hurting your dog. Instead use a dog-friendly disc like the Superhero 235 from Hero Disc USA, made from durable, flexible, puncture and bite-resistant plastic. $16.99.

Gear for disc dog

You don’t need any fancy gear in disc dog. In fact, everything you need can be carried in a small, drawstring bag to the local park. Gabby stresses not using plastic discs, as these can shatter easily. Instead, she recommends dog-safe discs like the ones made by Hero Disc USA.

How to compete in disc dog

The easiest way to get started in competing in Disc Dog events is to find a Toss and Fetch League near you. In this event, dogs get 60 seconds to make as many successful catches as they can, with bonus points awarded for catches made in the air. The leagues meet once a week for five weeks each “season” and compete against other leagues around the world.

The AKC now offers disc dog while partnering with the UpDog Challenge. This event offers a variety of challenges and ways to create teams while earning performance titles for your mixed breed or AKC-registered dog.

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Organ Meat for Dogs: Safety and Preparation Tips

The post Organ Meat for Dogs: Safety and Preparation Tips by Natasha Medvetsky appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Feeding your dog organ meat, as opposed to muscle meat, is a treat, not a balanced meal, says Dr. Jessica Taylor, vice president of veterinary medicine at Petfolk Veterinary and Urgent Care, which has locations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

Organ meat for dogs typically includes chicken, duck and turkey liver, heart and gizzards, but encompasses other internal organs and entrails from larger farm animals, such as cattle and sheep.

Is organ meat safe for dogs?

Dr. Taylor says that organ meat is high in vitamins dogs need like iron, vitamins C and E, as well as protein, which benefits active dogs who participate in dog sports or exercise and play throughout the day. But too much of these nutrients can also cause problems like obesity, so give your dog organ meat as a food additive (for example, mixed in with kibble) instead of a complete meal.

Chicken gizzards are a tough muscle from a bird’s digestive tract, which can present a choking hazard, says Dr. Taylor. Cut chicken gizzards and other tough organ meat into small pieces before feeding it to your dog.

Raw organ meat vs. cooked organ meat for dogs

Dr. Taylor does not recommend feeding any dog raw organ meat, due to the increased health risks from bacteria, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even death in both humans and dogs. Although cooking removes some of the nutrients, Dr. Taylor says it’s the safest option.

Read our article on which raw dog foods to avoid.

How much organ meat can dogs eat?

Feed organ meat to dogs occasionally like once a month, says Dr. Taylor. How much organ meat you feed your dog will depend on your dog’s size and health, so ask your veterinarian before including this type of meant into your pup’s diet, she adds.

Organ meat alone is not a balanced diet. Feed your dog chicken liver and other organ meat as a dog food additive, not a complete meal. A balanced pet food diet ensures your dog is getting proper nutrients.

Final note: Organ meat for dogs a great treat that utilizes your leftovers if you’re cooking a whole chicken for your family, but should be seen as just that, a treat.

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How to Choose a Good Dog Food

The post How to Choose a Good Dog Food by Mike Clark appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Today we have  many options on the dog food market. So, how do you decide on a healthy, good dog food for your pup? Here are four things to keep in mind.

1. Opt for the best-quality ingredients. Dr. Gary Richter, founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition, says, “Optimal nutrition comes from a balanced, fresh, whole food diet.” In order to create that type of diet for your dog, Dr. Richter recommends, “following a balanced recipe or purchasing a commercially prepared, fresh food diet — cooked, raw or freeze-dried are all fine.”
2. Factor in your dog’s activity level and weight. Richter advises, “There aren’t really different nutritional profiles specific to breed; although, activity does play a role. More active dogs will need more food/calories than less active dogs.” So, if you have a more athletic dog, they will require more calories, but if they slow down due to medical issues or age, you may need to reduce their caloric intake.

Studies prove that dogs kept at a healthy body condition live up to 2.5 years longer than overweight dogs. For overweight dogs, therapeutic weight loss diets contain less than 260 calories per cup compared to maintenance diets that range from 325 to 500 calories per cup.

3. Narrow your options by your dog’s age. Dog food is formulated for your dog’s stage of life. Puppies, for example, need a higher percentage of protein to make up their diet. They should not eat food formulated for adult dogs. Senior dogs, on the other hand, may be more prone to medical conditions that affect dietary needs and their reduced activity level will also mean that they’ll need reduced calories in their food. VCA Animal Hospitals advises reducing senior dogs’ calorie intake by 20 to 30 %. Ask your veterinarian for further recommendations. They may also recommend additional vitamins and supplements for seniors to maintain good health.
4. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s medical needs. An appropriate diet can actually improve your dog’s condition in many cases. Dr. Richter says, “Almost any chronic condition in dogs (organ disease, allergies, GI upset, etc.) all can be improved/supported with a fresh diet formulated for that specific condition.”

For example, when it comes to dental issues such as gingivitis, Dr. Richter again recommends fresh, whole foods. This can also help with allergies as “fresh diets will have fewer carbohydrate fillers than kibble,” he says. Dogs with diabetes benefit from a low-fat diet that is high in insoluble fiber. Dogs with skin conditions may require more Omega-3 fatty acids, and studies from nonprofit Ketopet, which studies dog diets and cancer, suggest that canines suffering from certain forms of cancer may benefit from a ketogenic diet.

Your dog’s ideal diet may change over time. Dog breed may have an effect on these factors, but that doesn’t mean every dog of a certain breed should have the same diet. Watch for food sensitivities or allergies. If your dog has a poor reaction to certain foods or seems to have chronic gastrointestinal issues, you may need to try an elimination diet with the help of your veterinarian to find out which foods are causing your pet’s distress.

Your dog is an individual with particular dietary needs, and you may not be able to get all the answers you’re looking for from one article. The best thing to do is to consult a certified nutritionist, your veterinarian or a professional pet care specialist who is familiar with your specific dog. You may choose to buy prepared food for your dog or prepare it yourself, but always follow a nutritionist approved recipe, and make sure to choose dog-safe foods.

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