That cute pup with his sweet eyes immediately stole your heart. Or your partner and your children talked and convinced you and you eventually took him home anyway. And then you notice your dog doing strange things. And that your dog smells terribly sometimes. That he is going to bury his food. And that he always lies or sits in your place. But why do dogs sometimes do the things they do? Should they let them be or should they go against it? Some home, garden and kitchen facts about dogs.
Why Do Dogs Lick Humans?
Like cats, dogs wash by licking their fur with their tongue. But dogs also love to lick their owners, especially on the face and more specifically around the mouth or nose. This act does have a meaning: the dog wants to show itself submissive. In nature, a wolf shows that it sits in a lower position by licking the leader’s lips. In fact, it is enough for the submissive wolf to lick the corners of his mouth, as a gesture of submission. The adult dog licking its owner is simply imitating the behavior of a puppy licking its mother’s snout to get food from her. So it is wrong to reject or even punish your dog when he licks you. It’s his way of showing that you are the boss. If you find it irresponsible for hygiene reasons, let the dog give you one short lick.
Why does a dog bury its food?
A wolf can consume up to eight kilos of meat in one meal. A house dog, who does not have to work for a living, will settle for much less. If a dog gets more than he can eat, his instinct tells him to save the rest for worse times. Therefore, a bone that is too big to eat in one sitting is neatly buried underground. This is also sometimes done with hard candies. The tender food from the food bowl cannot of course be hidden underground. Some dogs that are overfed and where the urge to store food is quite strong, make this clear to their owner by pushing their food bowl towards the corner of the room, digging with their paws and their bowl with their muzzle. to cover. Other dogs just keep on eating and converting excess food into fat for more difficult times.
Why does a dog sit or lie in your place?
Confident dogs, in particular, try to declare themselves leader of the pack in this way. You must insist that your dog get off your place, if necessary, pull him off by the collar. Then sit in your seat and do not pay attention to your dog until he has repented. Provide a permanent place for the dog in every room. They learn this quickly and so they know where everyone is.
Why can’t my puppy play for a long time?
Puppies tire quickly
Puppies get tired after 20 to 30 minutes. They then take a nap. If they are not given this rest, it can lead to developmental disorders, for example. an overloaded nervous system. Sometimes they can even become aggressive.
Balloon to maintain body temperature
When sleeping, puppies roll into a bubble to reduce their body surface area so that their body temperature does not drop too much. After all, when the dog is sleeping, his breathing and heart rate slows down and his oxygen consumption decreases.
To dream
During deep sleep, which only accounts for 10 to 15% of the total sleep time, the dog dreams. During their sleep, the puppies also process what they have already experienced.
Potty training
Sometimes puppies are so tired that they fall asleep during play. And just as suddenly as they fell asleep, they wake up and just continue where they left off. Remember that puppies must always be needed when they wake up. So always take them out after their nap and they will quickly become toilet trained. The following rule applies to walking with puppies: 1 minute per week old. An 8 week old puppy will walk for 8 minutes, etc. Do this three to four times a day.
Why does my dog smell?
Dogs who like to swim or who are washed too often can start to smell. This is because the skin is degreased by the water, which causes the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum and the dog starts to smell. With frequent washing, the natural resistance of the coat also deteriorates, so that one has to wash even more. The message is to wash as little as possible. When it is really necessary, just brush with a washcloth and pure water and dry with a rough towel.
Why does my dog whine when he has to do something bad?
Because you are pathetic to your dog, it is that simple. You feel sorry for your dog because he has to be alone for a long time, because he has to take a bath, because he has to go to the vet, etc. Your dog feels or understands that from the tone of your talking to him. When your dog shows that he doesn’t like something, just respond calmly and calmly. Put him at ease, firmly, without patronizing him. Your dog will then take the action for granted and stop acting sad. Other members of the family must also be consistent. Even when you leave, it is best to say goodbye briefly and to the point and close the door.
Why isn’t my dog doing his tricks when strangers are around?
Your dog knows his trick perfectly, he has done it a hundred times with and for you. Now is the time to show it to someone else. Very proudly you give the dog its assignment, and … nothing. How come? Very easy. You change your posture, intonation, facial expression, speech tempo in the presence of other people. You look (desperately) at that other person, you are less concerned with the dog itself. Your dog will feel that flawlessly. He just doesn’t understand what you want from him. And the more angry or desperate you get, the less the dog will do it.
Why does my dog pull like that when I go for a walk?
Because he’s the boss! Let him know that you are giving the orders and that you decide where and at what pace the walk is going. Your dog needs to focus on what you are doing. For example, suddenly change direction so that the dog has to follow. If he follows closely, reward him with a pat on the head or a dog treat.
Why should a dog not eat chocolate?
Chocolate contains theobromine. Dogs do not tolerate this substance. In case of allergy, 10 grams of chocolate is fatal. There is no antidote, only emetics or a gavage can be used. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. If the dog does not have a chocolate allergy, he can have some chocolate before he develops poisoning symptoms. A 20 kg dog must already eat more than a kilo of milk chocolate or 120 grams of dark chocolate before the poison limit is reached (if the dog is not allergic to chocolate!). But as they say, “better frightened pier than dead pier”, so it’s best not to give your dog too much of that brown treat. Also be careful with cocoa powder and cocoa beans. Did you know that raisins are also poisonous to a dog? Do you want to spoil your dog? Better give him a dog treat. After all, these are made especially for them! No dog treats at home? A block of cheese or a piece of sausage or pâté are also excellent as a reward.