The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [43]
A Doggy doors have their benefits and their downsides. Some of my friends have the same complaint about their dogs. No one likes to come home and find muddy paw prints and smears from unburied canine treasures all over the floors.
Thousands of years ago, dogs did not know where their next meal would come from, so after a kill they would bury any uneaten food to hide it from scavengers. When they were hungry again, they would return to their cache and dig up their leftovers. The dirt also helped keep their food fresher longer by protecting it from sunlight. Your dog is just following that ancestral urge. Even though you feed your dog every day, you can’t take that “must stash food for a hungry day” mentality out of him. The same goes for those extra toys he stashes away. Be glad he doesn’t take other household items like the TV remote or your wallet — both have been known to disappear!
Keep in mind that dogs tend to bury extras, not essentials. Patrol your house and pick up any spare dog bones or toys. Limit his access to one bone and one toy at a time. Vary the type of dog bones and toys from time to time to keep him interested. By limiting the quantity and providing variety, you may lessen his motivation to take his treasures out to the backyard. Make his favorite digging spots less attractive by covering them with chicken wire or bricks or other objects that are not paw-friendly. And try offering your dog a less-destructive indoor option: Show him how he can bury his favorite bone or toy under a blanket instead.
Must-See TV
Q Growing up, I loved to watch Lassie, but my childhood dogs never seemed to pay attention to the television set. Now I enjoy programs on my wide, flat-screen TV and am interested to note that my dog seems to pay close attention to what’s happening on the screen. He even barks when he hears a doorbell ringing on the TV and races to my front door. Why do some dogs seem to watch TV and others ignore it? What attracts them, the sight or the sound or both?
A Although some TV shows these days have gone to the dogs in terms of quality, it’s not the programming that draws canine attention. Dogs do not see televised images as clearly as we do, but they certainly pick up the sounds. One reason for the difference between your childhood dog and your current companion might be that television sets during the Lassie days were far less clear and crisp than the vivid images and true-to-life sounds being delivered to flat-screen TVs of the digital age.
Even with modern technology, however, some dogs completely ignore the sights and sounds of all television programs. Others perk up when they hear a doorbell ring or a dog bark or a fire engine sound on TV. Some dogs seem to have a favorite movie that they will sit and watch intently. Others may paw at the moving images on the screen. One dog I know goes crazy when any kind of animal appears — she tries to jump into the TV and has to be removed from the room! Other dogs just aren’t interested or may even realize that the sounds aren’t worth making a fuss over.
PAW PRINTS
Move over, Lassie. Rin Tin Tin, a German shepherd, appeared in 26 movies before his death in 1932. In comparison, there have been 11 Lassie movies over the years, using a number of different canine actors.
If you have a canine TV watcher, consider putting in a dog-themed movie or invite him to join you when you watch dog shows or agility events. You can even buy video or DVD programs specifically designed to interest dogs. Some people leave their television sets on when they leave their dogs home alone to provide some familiar background noise.
Getting over the Hump
Q Rocky, my boxer, is neutered, but that doesn’t seem to matter to him. When visitors come over, Rocky runs up to greet and sniff and then tries to hump their legs. I am so embarrassed. Why does he do this, and how can I break him of this