The most common reasons for a dog to dig include:

• Burying excess food
• Dietary requirement
• Shelter
• Anxiety
• Escape
• Fun/Physiological need

Burying Excess Food (Bones)

Dogs, like wolves will bury their bones when there is a surplus food supply, instinctively storing the surplus for leaner times (food cache). If bones are being given to the dog as an extra to the daily food intake or as an occasional treat, this may be an excess to your dog’s requirements.

Prevention:

If including bones in your dog’s diet ensure the bone is a replacement for your dog’s meal. If bone burying is still occurring, cut back the dog’s general food intake. 

Dietary Requirement

Dogs are natural herbalists – if there is something lacking in their dietary requirements, they can be quite proficient at selecting the missing components from your garden.  This can include any planted fruits, vegetables or even the roots of different types of grass.  Holes dug to supplement diet are generally small, shallow and multiple holes can appear in seemingly random locations.

Prevention:

If your dog is fed a good quality balanced dog food, this should not be necessary. A consultation with your veterinarian may disclose another reason for this habit.

Shelter

Many dogs will dig out a resting area, seeking warmth or coolness from the soil.

Prevention:

We can discourage the dog from digging in the spot they have chosen by applying one of numerous methods. Provide the dog with an alternative suitable protected resting area that is either warm in the winter or cooler in the summer. Others methods include placing their own droppings in the area, laying chicken wire over the ground, placing some large rocks or bricks in the area, concreting or paving the spot, or the use of scent aversion (vinegar, cayenne pepper, alcohol or commercial products such as “Dog-Off”).

Stress or Anxiety

Often digging starts as a puppy developmental behaviour. However, our untimely reactions to excavations or other destruction, on our arrival home well after the event occurred can create general anxiety. Your dog cannot associate your displeasure with a hole in the ground several minutes after he/she has dug it, let alone hours later, so do not attempt to punish the behaviour if you are not catching it in the act. Instead, your dog will simply learn, that some days when you return home, you will be unpredictably aggressive. Digging due to stress can also be a symptom of Separation Anxiety (see Separation Anxiety – Page 24)

Prevention:

You will need to rebuild your dog’s confidence in you by removing all aggression or intimidating tactics in your behaviour. To minimise damage, you might also like to consider leaving the dog in a confined area when you have to go out, until they are over the problem (see Separation Anxiety – Page 24).

The Escape Artist

Dogs will often dig to escape from a yard.  Digging to escape can be triggered by a drive for exploration, fear, separation anxiety and many other reasons.  Digging to escape is a very self rewarding behaviour for the dogs and as such makes it difficult to prevent.

Prevention:

A layer of cement or chicken wire under the soil at the base of the fence line will render this escape route blocked. When using chicken wire, or similar, ensure that you place it vertically down into the ground, and then horizontally out in to the property. Ensure the dog is given off-territory stimulation every day to reduce the need to escape. There is no magic answer to stop your dog from attempting to escape, other than ensuring that escape attempts are never successful – your yard simply must be dog-proof. 

Just for the Fun of it!

Most adolescent dogs will go through a developmental digging phase – many will outgrow the behaviour, but some will take it into adulthood as an enjoyable and stimulating activity. Attempting to stop the behaviour entirely will often result in frustration for both dog and owner.

Prevention:

Give the dog a “legal” digging site, like a sandpit. Encourage the dog to dig in this location by burying several pieces of food or toys there.

Your dog needs physical and mental stimulation at home to ensure that they are happy and have a healthy balance and lifestyle, full of enrichment. If dogs are given limited stimulation, they often become bored, destructive, noisy, over excitable, and can result in problem behaviours.

 Below is a list of possible stimulation ideas that you can use:

• Change up the feeding pattern. Feeding dogs in a bowl can be boring and easy. Use Kongs and other interactive dog toys to hide the food and teach your dog that they must work for the food. You can also try hiding several Kongs in the area your dog will be.
• Using a smaller portion, or the same amount of food you use in a meal, spread the food around the back yard – this will make your dog hunt for every last bit of food. Ensure that this exercise is done at random, and not as a daily replacement for feeding.
• In an old ice cream container full of water, put a pigs ear, bone, or dry food inside and freeze it overnight. Before you are planning on departing, pop it out like an ice block and give it to your dog for its meal. Avoid bones that splinter or foods and treats that make your dog have an upset tummy.
• Have a box of toys that are rotating every few days, if not every day to keep things interesting. This will ensure that your dog is not getting bored of the same toys. Include tug toys that you can tie to a solid tree.
• A sandpit or similar for your dog is a great way to allow your dog to dig in its own area. Burying food treats or toys can encourage the play.
• If your dog loves the water, use a long lunging lead and take your dog for a swim in calm water. This is a great option for exercise.
• Training your dog not only in basic obedience, but also trick training to further enhance their mind. This can include: shake, high five, roll over, spin, play dead, speak, wave, bow, crawl, targeting, retrieve items, etc.
• Keep up your daily walks and interactive games. Every dog has a different energy level and it is important to note what your dog’s is.

Dogs jump up mainly from over excitability and to gain attention from their owners. Many people make the mistake of crouching down or encouraging the behaviour by patting and rewarding the jumping up. The desired reinforcement is the attention and/or acknowledgement of the person being jumped on, so it is important not to reward the behaviour.

The person should look away, withdraw their hands, say nothing and turn their body so that the dog places its paws back on the ground. Possibly in the past, the person may have been cross with the dog, scolded him and pushed him away with their hands. In effect, giving their attention by looking at the dog, talking to him and touching him has reinforced the behaviour.

It is also important to practice meeting and greeting and issuing a command to replace the jumping up behaviour. Telling your dog to sit on greeting, and rewarding only this behaviour will teach your dog that jumping up is no longer working to get your attention.

When training your dog not to jump up on visitors, practice with your dog on lead, run the lead under your left foot. Do not hold the dog in the sit position by having tension on the lead, use the leverage to stop the dog from being able to jump up. If your dog attempts to jump, the lead will automatically correct the dog. When your dog calms down and holds the sit position, then you or the visitor can reward the dog with attention and/or food treats.

 If your dog is jumping up at the back door to greet you, ensure that you do not open the door whilst this behaviour is occurring. To decrease jumping up at the back door, use the door for training purposes. When your dog has calmed down, slightly open the door. If your dog attempts to jump up again, close the door immediately. Repeat the process until your dog understands that for the door to open, they must be calm and not jumping. It is not essential to have your dog sitting – remember not to issue a command if you cannot reinforce it.

Using a spray bottle filled with water from your local supermarket or hardware store is also a great way to stop jumping up. If your dog goes to jump up say ‘Ah-Ah’ and then spray your dog. The sensation of a squirt of water around their face creates a negative consequence resulting in your dog learning not to jump up. Once your dog is sitting nicely reward him/her quietly so not to encourage jumping.

Remember that training session should be short, sharp and enjoyable.

Teaching A Dog To Heel – Step by Step

1. Stand with your dog closely next to your left leg, both of you facing the same way.

2. Have one of your dogs favourite treats in your left hand, hold it up near your waist, not directly in front of your dogs nose. Now say (your dog’s name) to get his attention and to gain eye contact. Immediately take two steps forward then stop. If your dog moves with you and is still in the heel position enthusiastically praise him and give a treat.

3. As soon as your dog swallows his reward from step 2 repeat the heeling process again, then do it again. Say (dogs name), take two steps forward offering encouragement to your dog (“good boy”), stop, praise and treat. Only ever give the reward when your dog is still in the heel position.

4. At this point your dog will be very interested and attentive. It’s important to note that you are using the treat to reward his behaviour rather than to lure or bribe him.

5. If at any time your dog lags behind or forges ahead of you hold off with your praise and reward. Simply say “aah-aah” and start again.

6. Continue to practice your heel training and when 2 steps forward becomes easy for your dog, increase to 4 steps, then 6 steps and so on… Keep up your encouragement, praise and tasty rewards.

7. When your dog is reliably heeling for 10 or more steps it’s time to attach a verbal cue to the behaviour. The process is the same as you have been practicing except now you say “dog’s name, Heel”, then step forward. Over time and plenty of repetition this builds up the association in your dog’s mind between the verbal “heel” cue or command and the act of heeling.

 For more information on our training programs contact our expert trainers on 1300 426 762.

Helen explored and experienced what it would be like to stay at Hanrob or Kitty Kingdom. She played with many of the guests while Andrew talked about the benefits and services available to our four legged friends.

Check out the photos!

“Hanrob Pet Hotel have just opened a new service in Melbourne at Tullarmarine airport, complementing their existing service in Sydney.

Start your holiday smoothly with a pet limo, which takes you and your dog to the airport where you can catch your flight, and your pet can head straight to Hanrob. A caring and experienced team greet your dog and show them to their accommodation. They cater for cats too.

Under the Hanrob roof are dog boarding and kitty kingdom. Standard accommodation includes a comfy bed, food, radiant floor heating, music and plenty of room to stretch out. Cats get their own scratching post. Dogs usually stay two to a room for company, though a single room is also offered and recommended for some breeds.

Upgrading to a luxury suite gives your pet a real bed and breakfast experience. It includes a single bed with a doona to sleep one, a TV, and a secure outdoor area to play in. It’s ideal for people with cats and dogs that are used to each others company.”

We will be uploading the most recent photos of Hanrob Melbourne this week on our facebook page. Click here to ‘like’ our page and be up-to-date with the latest information. http://www.facebook.com/Hanrobpets 

Go to http://australianluxurystays.com.au/luxury-travel/hanrob-pet-hotel-opens-at-melbourne-airport/ to read more about our unquie pet hotel.

Many dogs build respect for certain members of the family as authority figures, and often test the boundaries with other members such as children. If all members are not on the same page and rules and boundaries are not black and white training will not work. It is very important that you reward your dog for doing the correct behavious so that these behaviours will increase and bad behaviours will decrease.

Below are some important tips to remember when training your dog:

Set up for success! Don’t issue a command, attempt an exercise or behaviour unless you are certain that your dog will respond correctly or be successful. Giving a command that you can’t reinforce will teach your dog that there is no consequence for ignoring you and you are potentially allowing your dog to fail.

Each training session should be a progression. Rather than ‘going through the motions’, make sure that you achieve something each training session. If it helps, create a training diary so you can track your dog’s progress.

When using a toy or food reward, the timing is crucial. Make sure you reward for a correct behaviour instantly (or within 2 seconds).

Avoid practicing mistakes. Where your dog makes the same mistake on two consecutive occasions, do not allow the same mistake to happen a third time. Even though you might not reinforce the incorrect behaviour with praise or food, you will be developing a habit.

Maintain your dog’s focus. Reinforce attention on you by ensuring that rewards are only ever delivered when your dog is looking at you. Don’t reward your dog for being distracted.

Don’t repeat commands. Repeating commands reinforces to the dog that commands are optional.

When teaching a new command or exercise, it is also important not to continuously repeat it. If you were asked to “Super- cali-fragilistic-expialidocious!” – You would probably be confused not knowing the meaning of the word. If it was repeated to you several times or shouted at you, would you then understand? Definitely not; but this is what we do to dogs: “Drop…Drop…Drop…DROP!”

Until next month enjoy and celebrate the beauty of owning a dog!

Due to open in July 2011, Hanrob Melbourne is situated a short distance from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, perfect for domestic and international travellers alike.

Hanrob Melbourne will be a state of the art pet hotel with indoor and outdoor play areas and the most comfortable accommodation options for precious pets, including ten luxury dog suites and cat condos.

Hanrob is working with Melbourne’s leading vets to facilitate convenient pet drop off and pick up points across the city or customers can choose Hanrob’s exclusive limousine service that delivers both you and your pet safely and in the ultimate relaxed comfort.

In line with the Hanrob ethos of offering the very highest standards of pet care, nurturing and training, Hanrob Melbourne is currently recruiting and training pet care professionals to join their committed and passionate team.

Hanrob Melbourne Airport will be welcoming visitors to a family open day later in the year where pet lovers can come to see their high tech pet hotel for themselves. Stay tuned for more details.

Check back soon for more upcoming Hanrob news.