Sometimes it's necessary to rearrange your home to protect both your belongings and your dog
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Every few years, when we get a new puppy or adopt an adult dog or have a foster dog spend some time with us, I have to dog-proof our home and learn some new tricks about interacting with particular dogs. You might think that I would have dog-proofing down by now, but each dog has been attracted to different items or has done things it didn't occur to the other dogs to try. Our current "new dog" is Kibo, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel we're fostering until he is adopted.
One of the first things Kibo taught me was to put away my shoes and to close doors. None of our other dogs have been chewers, but Kibo likes to examine things with his mouth in the fervent hope that they will be edible. He has gone into the closet to chew on my leather sandals (caught before he did any damage) and explored the walk-in shower. There he found and carried away a plastic razor, which, fortunately, he abandoned in the hallway instead of swallowing. He is also fond of a tiny, gold papier-mache box. He hasn't chewed it up or swallowed it, which he could easily do, but he likes to take it off the side table and lie with it. It's now out of reach, too.
Despite his short stature, Kibo tries hard to be a countertop surfer. We've learned not to hold or place food at any height where he could jump up and reach it. Our other dogs are also highly food-oriented, but they wouldn't dream of snatching food out of our hands. Kibo does more than dream it -- he tries it. I always push the chair in if I get up from the table because I can tell that the idea of jumping onto it to get at the food is running through his mind.
If you are living with a Kibo of your own, here are some tips to keep your belongings safe, your house in one piece and your dog out of trouble.
-- Use a crate. When you cannot supervise your dog, even if it's just for a few minutes, put him in the crate to prevent any misbehavior. Kibo hangs out in his crate on his own and he's happy to go into it when asked because he knows he will get a treat.
-- Tether your dog. That means he is leashed at your side at all times. This is a great way to learn the signals a new dog or puppy gives when he needs to go potty. It keeps him under your watchful eye so he can't get into mischief and helps build a bond between you.
-- Get down at dog's-eye level to see what might attract the dog's attention. Electrical cords, small trash containers and dangling dish towels all can pose threats. Bundle cords and encase them in tough plastic covers, put trash containers out of reach, and keep dish towels in drawers if your dog is attracted to them. Chair and table legs often look good to chew. Coat them with Bitter Apple spray to deter taste-testing (try it first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't damage the finish). Make sure no sharp edges or choking hazards are within a dog's reach.
-- Most important, never underestimate the intelligence and inventiveness of dogs. They can learn to open doors, climb up on counters and desks using other pieces of furniture as launch pads, and crawl under or wiggle into places you've never imagined they would go. Be smart and put away or block access to valuable, fragile or dangerous items, and secure cabinets with childproof locks.
Q&A
Benefits of having dogs include
friendship, health and confidence
Q: Our child is 6 years old. She's been asking for a dog, and I think it's a good time to get one. My spouse isn't so sure. What are some of the benefits of a child having a dog? -- via Facebook
A: When I look back on the happiest times of my childhood, almost all of my favorite memories involve my dog Scooter. Besides being a playmate, he helped me in other ways. I was shy, and Scooter helped me to open up and gave me a way to relate to other people.
For kids, a dog is someone to bond with and talk to who is always there and can be a trustworthy confidant. Caring for a dog teaches empathy and helps build responsibility. With supervision, a young child like your 6-year-old can put fresh water in a dog's dish, wash the food dish after the dog eats, and help put away the dog food. Older children can learn to brush the dog, measure out food at mealtime and take the dog for walks.
Pets also have health benefits. I think kids with dogs are more likely to get up off the couch and get some exercise, and studies show that children with early exposure to dogs have a decreased risk of developing allergies, asthma and eczema.
At every age, children are constantly going through changes, including going to school and learning how to deal with people. Some go back and forth between their parents' homes. For any child, a dog or other pet can be a constant in their lives.
With my own daughter, our two pugs provide consistency. No matter what else is going on with her or whatever challenges she is facing, she always has her dogs. They bring her comfort and stability. -- Mikkel Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
A cat's tail up?
Safe to approach
-- In a Washington Post article, anthrozoologist John Bradshaw, who has studied cat behavior for more than 30 years and is the author of the new book "Cat Sense," writes that the key signal allowing cats to assess each other's moods is the straight-up tail. Two cats checking each other out communicate their willingness to approach peacefully by raising the tail. It's a form of neoteny, a kittenlike behavior retained into adulthood. "The tail-up signal almost certainly evolved during domestication, arising from a posture wildcat kittens use when greeting their mothers," Bradshaw writes. "Adult wildcats do not raise their tails to each other."
-- According to Winn Feline Foundation, a paper published in the April 2013 issue of Veterinary Dermatology found that beef, dairy products and fish account for nearly 90 percent of all reported cases of adverse food reactions in cats. Based on a literature search of food and food ingredients, the paper reports that the animal proteins generally caused skin lesions or a combination of skin lesions and gastrointestinal symptoms. Wheat and corn typically caused gastrointestinal upset. Beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat were responsible for 78 percent of reported adverse food reactions in dogs.
-- Dogs eat the darndest things. Based on animal X-rays submitted to the Veterinary Practice News' "They Ate What?" contest, the following items were found in the stomachs of some dogs with indiscriminate eating habits: a long piece of metal with a two-inch curve; a 14-inch wooden back scratcher; a wooden-handled hunting knife; a mass of 70 rubber hair bands, which were at first mistaken for a tumor; a bread knife; an electronics cable; a llama rib bone; a Playstation controller; and an arrowhead. The takeaway? Never assume your dog won't -- or can't -- swallow something. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.