Over the last couple of years, my youngest dog has spent a fair amount of her free time digging a hole in my yard. Hidden in the shadow of an old rose bush, the opening is so small that Heather has to wriggle her shoulders to clear it, but below is a chamber into which she can disappear entirely, turn around and come out nose-first. Curious, I once slid a broom handle into the thing and never could touch the back of it.
That, my friends, is a mighty big hole.
It has always been true that whatever puny efforts I make at landscaping are limited to my front yard; the back is solely for the use of the dogs. I know my casual attitude toward digging is hardly universal, however, and not a week goes by when someone doesn't write asking for a way to stop a dog from digging.
I've known many punishment-based "cures" for digging, and I don't recommend any of them. As with any behavior, you have to understand what's at the root of the problem before you can come up with a fair approach to minimizing the damage.
Like many behaviors people find troubling, digging is natural for dogs, with any number of triggers driving the activity. Among them:
-- Wanderlust. Some dogs, especially unneutered males, have a strong desire to dig their way out of the yard, especially when the breeze carries the enticing scent of a female in heat.
-- Prey drive. Subterranean wildlife is irresistible to some dogs, especially terriers or terrier mixes. These breeds were developed to dig vermin from their lairs, and they still do so with much enthusiasm.
-- Need for shelter. A well-dug den can keep a dog cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Although any breed or mix can show an interest in making a den, the behavior is more common in such breeds as huskies and malamutes.
-- Recreation. Digging is just plain fun. Just ask Heather.
-- Excess energy and boredom. This combination is either directly responsible or a contributing factor in most canine behavior problems. The trick to having a nice yard and a happy dog is to do what you can to eliminate the triggers for digging, and then take your pet's needs into account when planning your landscaping.
Neutering can greatly reduce the desire to wander, so if your dog's a roaming Romeo, a trip to the veterinarian should be the first item on your list. If wildlife's a problem, contact your local agricultural extension for tips on how to get the pests to give your yard a skip. And make sure your pet has the shelter he needs to stay comfortable no matter the weather.
Often the lack of exercise and sheer boredom are the biggest contributors to this behavior problem -- and any other. If you make it impossible for your dog to dig -- say by cooping him up in a concrete-floored kennel run -- he may switch to another unwanted behavior such as nonstop barking or self-mutilation.
Every dog needs an exercise program, with the emphasis on heart-thumping aerobic interludes such as a daily run or a game of fetch. If you keep your pet well-exercised, he'll be less likely to indulge in destructive behaviors. A tired dog is always good dog!
Finally, design your yard for compromise. Make a less-visible part of the yard a dog-friendly free-dig zone, and limit your pet to that area when you can't be there to supervise. Provide safe chew toys to keep him occupied, such as peanut butter-stuffed Kongs. Discourage digging in off-limit areas by filling in holes and covering them with chicken wire and large rocks.
If you address the underlying issues that cause digging and then allow your dog the opportunity to do some of what comes naturally in an area that's acceptable to you both, you'll find that it's indeed possible to have a yard you can be proud to show off.
Someday, maybe I'll be bitten by the landscaping bug. If that happens, I've promised Heather that we'll incorporate her hole into the design. By that time, it should be large enough to qualify as a tourist attraction.
PETS ON THE WEB
You don't have to live in a rural area to come in contact with a wild animal that needs help. Urban wildlife includes everything from birds to coyotes, and it's sometimes difficult to figure out when to get help and when to let nature take its course.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory (www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/#aa) goes a long way to answering those questions and others. This wonderful Web site offers information on when to help wildlife (and how), as well as how to find a group to help with an animal that needs rehabilitation. This is one site to bookmark for future reference!
THE SCOOP
Those of us who support spaying and neutering pets (which should be everyone reading this column!) will soon be able to spread the word through stamps. Starting in September 2002, the United States Postal Service will offer a pair of stamps promoting spaying and neutering. Each will feature the image of a pet adopted from a shelter. The stamps are the result of a long lobbying campaign by a wide range of animal advocacy groups that sometimes find it difficult to agree on the best way to fight pet overpopulation. On this message, they all could agree.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: A few months ago we added a kitten to a household that already includes two adult cats and an elderly Lab. We are not inexperienced pet owners. My husband and I both grew up with animals, and we've had many pets during our 32-year marriage.
But this kitten, cute as she is, is driving us crazy. She never shuts up! She is always "talking." It was cute once, but now it's not so cute. We're not getting rid of her, but we'd sure like to hear a little less from her. Any ideas? -- K.T., via e-mail
A: Some cats are chattier than others. Indeed, "talkativeness" is an adored trait in the Siamese and other so-called Oriental breeds. If you have a noisy Siamese or Siamese mix, to a certain extent you're just going to have to live with the problem.
Some measure of vocalization is actually trained into cats by humans. If you hop up and accommodate her every time your kitten demands to be fed, then you've taught her that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, even in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn. If you think your cat's chatty behavior is something you've taught her -- as opposed to something she was born with -- then you can try some retraining.
Start by resolving not to give in to her demands. If you ignore her yowling for a while and then give in, you've taught her that all she needs to do to get her way is to make more noise, not less. Correct her with a shot of water from a squirt bottle and then go about your business. She'll gets the point soon enough that her demanding gets her nowhere.
Be aware, though, that this kitten is likely chattier than the norm. You can minimize some of her demanding behavior through retraining her, but you'll also have to do some retraining of yourself to learn to appreciate (or at least tolerate) her noise. You've made it through 32 years of marriage, which always involves a certain amount of acceptance and compromise. Use these skills with your cat, and you'll be fine.
Q: Our dog is almost impossible to walk, and my husband has practically dislocated his shoulder trying. There's no way the kids can walk him, and he's supposed to be their dog. When we took Clyde to the vet recently, she recommended we try a head halter. I've seen them a couple of times, but I thought they were muzzles. Do you recommend them? -- R.P., via e-mail
A: Yes, I do. I've seen head halters such as the Gentle Leader turn an out-of-control dog into a pet even a child can walk. Head halters work on a simple idea: Where the head goes, the body will follow. That premise has been essential in controlling horses for centuries -- because it works.
Head halters further work with a dog's own instincts. Canine mothers teach their babies to mind by putting pressure on the back of their necks and around their muzzles -- the same areas touched by head halters.
It's best not to just slap a halter on and set out. Find a trainer in your area who uses them, and enroll in a group class. (I'm guessing Clyde has obedience problems besides walking on a leash.) The trainer will help you fit a head halter properly and will show you how to teach your dog to walk with one on.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.
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