The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [17]
In the event that Schotzi does sink her teeth into one of your shoes, and you catch her in the act, take it away from her (have you taught her the leave it! command? See Ignoring Temptation, page 169.) and trade it for the rawhide chew. In time, she will get the message that shoes are a no and rawhides are a yes.
If Schotzi is one of those rare dogs who does not like to chew on rawhide, you may need to try a different chew toy to get her attention off your shoes. Take a trip to your local pet supply store and bring her with you. Walk her through the aisles and see which chew toys interest her the most. By letting her pick out her own chew toy, you are making her an active participant in her retraining.
Undercover Agent
Q My dachshund, Bogart, makes us laugh with his bedtime ritual. Whatever the weather, he insists on burying his entire body under the covers and sleeping at our feet. To make it a challenge, we’ve tried tucking the sheets and bedspread in tightly, but he still manages to wiggle his way in. I worry that he won’t get enough oxygen being so deep under the covers. Why does he do this and can it be harmful?
A Bogart belongs to a great breed that was born to dig. Although affectionately known as “wiener dogs” because of their long backs and short legs, dachshund actually means “badger dog” in German. These funny, curious, and determined dogs were bred to dig for burrowing mammals and to take on badgers and other large varmints, climbing out of the hole triumphantly clutching their prey in their mouths. Designed so that their teeth — not their toes — are the first body parts that come in contact with prey deep in a hole, dachshunds are fierce fighters.
As for the bedtime ritual, wiggling into tight places (like under the covers) comes naturally to Bogart and feels cozy. As long as he doesn’t disturb your sleep or nip your toes, let him continue this nighttime ritual. Don’t worry — he can breathe under the sheets and will emerge if he becomes uncomfortable.
Tossing and Twitching All Night
Q My family gets the biggest kick out of watching our six-year-old Lab, Barnaby, sleep. Not only does he snore — loudly — but also his outstretched paws move and he twitches all over. Sometimes he yelps or whimpers, but his eyes stay closed. Watching and listening to him when he is sleeping makes us wonder if dogs dream and, if so, what do they dream about?
A Compared with us, dogs are regular Rip Van Winkles. They sleep at least twelve hours a day and rarely suffer from insomnia. At night, they seem to nod off before you even have time to set your snooze alarm. Not all dogs snore like Barnaby, but it is fairly common for dogs to twitch their paws and make noises when they are asleep. Some dogs move their legs as if they were in full stride, perhaps chasing a rabbit. Look closely at Barnaby and you might also notice the twitching of his eyelids and whiskers, indicating that he has fallen into the deep sleep stage. But dogs don’t stay in that deep slumber for long. Most of the time, they sleep lightly and are aware of their surroundings.
Sleep experts report that dogs do indeed dream. The big mystery is their topics of choice when they drift off into dreamland. We can only guess that they dream about activities like trips to the dog park, chowing down on their favorite treat, or finally catching a speedy, elusive squirrel.
Some scientists speculate that dogs may dream primarily of smells. That holds merit. After all, we dream visually because sight is our dominant sense. Dogs rely on their noses more than their