How can I stop my puppy from eating things like grass?

Puppies use their mouths the way children use their hands - to pick things up, feel textures and generally understand their world. While swallowing a mouthful of grass or dirt every once in a while won't hurt your puppy, foreign objects like rocks, sharp twigs or rotten food could do some damage.

As your furry friend matures, you'll need to keep a close eye on your puppy whenever he’s outside and reprimand him when he picks up something inappropriate.

Puppy school – You may want to consider puppy school, where your puppy can learn to follow basic commands. Your veterinarian can help you find a good school.

“Drop it!” – One of the most important commands your puppy will learn will be "drop it," which will teach him to immediately spit out whatever is in his mouth.

My dog exhibits aggressive behavior.

What can I do?

Aggressive dogs can cause serious injury and even death. In addition to the tragedy sometimes caused by canine attacks, owners can be subject to civil and criminal liability for their pet's behavior.

Call your veterinarian – If your dog shows signs of aggression such as growling, snarling or snapping, call your veterinarian immediately for a behavior evaluation and counseling to help you train your dog.

Most behavior problems can be successfully treated with a strict training regimen.

In addition to your veterinarian's advice, follow these tips:

• Socialize your dog so he feels at ease around people and other animals
• Don't put your dog in situations where he may feel threatened or teased
• Obey leash laws – don't let your dog roam free
• Train your dog to obey basic commands such as "stay," "sit" and "come"

Why doesn’t my dog bark as much as other dogs?

Answer Some dogs just don't need to talk as much as others. As long as your dog barks normally when he does bark, you probably don't have a problem. If he tries to bark and it doesn't sound right (weak, raspy or harsh), then you should have your veterinarian look at his throat and vocal cords.

Separation Anxiety

Question At what point should a veterinarian recommend medication for separation anxiety?

I have three dogs, and one of them has destroyed over $2,000 in property. The other two are fine.

Answer There are volumes of information on separation anxiety. Even "experts" do not agree on causes and treatments. This is probably because the abnormal behavior is considered one problem when actually there are probably many causes.

The fact that your other two dogs are normal, and one pet is doing the damage seems to indicate that she is the one with the problem. However, that does not mean that your actions haven't or don't inadvertently encourage it. All dogs have different personalities and do not end up exactly the same just because they have the same owner, just like children with the same parents.

Your specific question is regarding anxiety relieving medications. Antidepressants, anxiety relieving, or mood altering drugs are seldom the definitive treatment for behavioral problems. Most of the time they are used as part of an overall behavioral modification program. Separation anxiety is a problem that is commonly treated with medications at least on a temporary basis.

Why does my dog chew his hind legs and feet?

Chewing on feet and hind legs is a classic sign of allergies in dogs.

Flea allergies –The most common allergy dogs experience is a reaction to flea bites, called flea allergy dermatitis. Even if your dog is protected against fleas by a collar or treatment, one flea can secrete enough saliva in a bite to cause itching and discomfort.

Food or shampoo – Dogs can also be allergic to ingredients in their food or shampoo.

Pollen – They can even have reactions to some of the same things that cause human hay fever: pollen, dust, mold and grasses.

Contact your veterinarian – Your veterinarian can help you determine if your dog is being bothered by one of these allergies or if there is another underlying medical issue causing this behavior. If it is a food allergy, you may be able to simply change your dog's diet. Other allergies can be treated with an antihistamine or steroid prescription.

Will my puppy outgrow her nervousness?

Question My four-month-old puppy seems to be very nervous all the time. She urinates when she is scared or excited.

Will she outgrow this and what can I do to help correct this behavior?

Answer Puppies go through a four-month anxiety period, during which they are scared of many things that didn’t used to bother them. Working though this period and continuing to socialize them is a must. Be careful that you aren’t encouraging anxious behavior by trying to calm her down when she seems scared. If you pet her and try to calm her, you are praising the behavior, and behavior that is rewarded is repeated so you may be making the problem worse.

If she submissively urinates, don’t punish her for it, because that could also make the problem worse. Puppies urinate and show their belly to tell you that you are the boss. Getting angry and punishing them only makes them try to tell you that you are the boss more.

Instead, ignore the behavior. When you get home, take your dog outside before greeting her. Greet her only after she has relieved herself outside. Also, try not to bend directly over her. This is a dominant posture and submissive puppies will try to appease you by urinating.

If your puppy continues to have behavioral problems, your veterinarian may be able to suggest training classes in your area or a veterinary behaviorist that can help you. Visit the Healthypet Find a Hospital section to find an AAHA-accredited hospital near you.

How can I stop my puppy from growling/snapping at me?

Growling and snapping are signs that your puppy thinks he is number one in your household.
The growling and snapping will only escalate as your puppy ages. Always remember that a growl is a bite about to happen.

Ask your veterinarian to recommend a good trainer or behaviorist who can help you correct this problem.

Why does my older dog pee on the floor?

Question
I have an eight-year-old female cocker spaniel who is a wonderful dog, except that she has trouble controlling her bladder. When we leave, she pees on the floor, as if to punish us for leaving her. She is housebroken and even comes to us to let us know that she needs to go out when we are home. However, she still pees on the floor when we are gone.

Do you have any advice?

Answer
First, take your dog to your veterinarian for a thorough physical exam, including blood and urine testing to make sure that she does not have a kidney or bladder problem. Your veterinarian may even want to do an ultrasound of your dog’s bladder to rule out a tumor.

If the tests do not reveal any problems, then I would be concerned that she may be developing incontinence. Incontinence in older female dogs is not an unexpected problem and medication may help prevent her from “leaking.” If she is suffering from incontinence, being left alone may cause her stress and make the problem worse.

If incontinence is ruled out and all laboratory tests are within normal range, then I would suspect that she is suffering from mild separation anxiety and medication may help. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate medication to treat anxiety and a recommendation for a veterinary behaviorist. Medication and behavior modification together may help resolve the problem.

Why does my dog eat paper?

Question
Why does my five-year-old Chihuahua eat paper? She particularly likes tissues and paper towels that she finds in trash cans throughout the house and she seems to have trouble making bowel movements after eating paper.

Answer
Quite simply, your dog likes paper! She doesn’t have a “cause and effect mode” to connect eating paper with a stomach ache and/or constipation, so it may be difficult to train her to stop eating paper products. Consequently, it is up to you to keep trash out of her reach. Reprimand her when you catch her eating paper with a strong “no” or “drop it” and provide more diversionary tasks for her, such as walks, play time and pet-safe toys, to keep her occupied.

How do I stop my dog from getting in the litter box?

Some dogs take on the very bad habit of getting into cat litter boxes.

Here are some ways to stop it:

Ask your veterinarian for a special product you can mix with your cat’s food to impart a very foul and bitter taste to your cat’s feces.

Put the litter box in a room or elevated area that is only accessible to your cat

Use a covered litter box

Purchase a “citronella collar” for your dog. This is a humane training device that you control. Citronella collars work by spraying your dog's face with a non-irritating, but distasteful, spray. They are available at many pet stores or can be ordered by your veterinarian.