Why Do Dogs Kick Grass?

April 26th, 2013 04:03:54 pm

Many dogs kick their back paws after defecating, and sometimes after urinating as well. Why do they do this?

The Fake Reason

Many people mistakenly think the reason why dogs kick is to cover up the scent from their feces or urine. In a way, it makes sense: they usually kick up dirt or grass, which would seem to cover up the evidence.

In truth, dogs aren’t interested in covering anything up. If they were, no dog owners would have issues with their dogs marking. Which leads us to…

The Real Reason

The fact is, dogs are territorial. Kicking grass with their back paws is actually a way to mark their territory. If feces and urine aren't enough, then what is?

Dogs have glands in their paws that secrete pheromones. This scent is unique to your dog, and the glands that secrete the pheromones are activated as your dog kicks. It’s a way for your dog to leave behind a scent trail so other dogs know he was there. It’s like a kid scrawling “Jamie was here” next to his or her camp bunk, only with scent instead of marker.

Dogs kicking grass after they poop is an instinctive behavior. It's even been observed in wolves in the wild. Read More: Dog Behaviors That Come From Wolves

The Test

Want to test this theory with your dog? Watch him when he relieves himself in your backyard, then watch when he relieves himself on a walk through an area where lots of dogs pass. If your dog is like mine, you’ll notice kicking during the walk but not at home. He doesn’t need to claim his territory at home and is much more likely to do so in a public space where other dogs tread.

Why do dogs kick grass? It's to let other dogs know who was there first. Simple as that.

Did this give you insight on why your dog is the way he is? Get more - browse the blog categories at right for more practical dog know-how.

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Photo credit: Bruce McKay Yellow Snow Photography

Putting The “Special” In Special Needs Dogs

April 15th, 2013 02:18:42 pm

I woke up this morning to the sound of soft footsteps, as if someone was trying to sneak around my house. From the breathing beside me, I knew my husband was still asleep in bed, so it wasn’t him. I stuck my arm straight out off the side of my bed and a moment later, a warm, wet nose and whiskers pressed into my palm. I stroked velvety ears before the fuzzy head and body they are connected to settled down beside my bed. It was Nala, my special needs dog.

***

I didn’t set out to adopt a special needs dog. Over time, we discovered the little (and big) things I didn’t expect from an otherwise-healthy mutt. A deformed toe that makes her paw twist outward as she walks, something that doesn’t bother her now but will most likely lead to early-onset arthritis. Elbow dysplasia, a genetic condition common to a couple of the breeds in her mix. Then, the biggie: liver cirrhosis, which changed everything.

She was a little under 4 years old when we found the liver cirrhosis. It explained her yo-yo weight, something we thought was a product of too much food and not enough exercise at best, and a thyroid disorder at worst. Instead, it was probably a result of her liver being alternately able then unable to function normally. That showed on the ultrasound, where her vet pointed out the repeated scarring and regrowth of her liver. Even diseased, it’s an amazing thing.

It wasn’t until long after I paid the veterinary nutritionist two time zones away for Nala’s custom diet that I realized how absurd that may sound to an outsider. But when your liver can barely process normal food properly, asking it to process medication is out of the question. So instead, Nala is on a custom diet with proteins selected for how easy they are to digest and other ingredients selected to go easy on her food allergies (another issue that stems from liver malfunction). While this vegetarian never thought she’d learn to prepare meat, it’s what my dog needs to survive.

You wouldn’t know Nala is a special needs dog by looking at her. Today, between the custom diet and the 14 supplements she gets daily, she’s in the best shape of her life. She’s almost 5 years old and has boundless energy. The dog that once refused to let her paws leave the ground now excitedly jumps rocks and boulders on hikes without hesitation. Half the time, I think she runs ahead just so she can run back to us and jump those boulders again.

***

Countless “special needs” dogs languish in shelters. People often think it’s simply too much work. I understand; I was one of them until my own dog became a special needs pet. The surprising thing is how easy it can be. Dogs take work, whether they’re normal or special needs. Once you get into a routine, it really doesn’t matter what that routine is. It becomes easy when you love your dog.
 

If you’re thinking about adopting a dog, please don’t let a “special needs” designation scare you. I can’t tell you how many dogs I’ve seen run happily, as if they don’t even realize they’re missing a leg. Many medical conditions are easily managed with regular vet visits and medication. Even blind and deaf dogs are trainable; you just need to hire a good trainer to help.

Regular vet visits and a good trainer are something any dog could benefit from, right?

Of course, some special needs take more work than others. If you’re considering a special needs dog, get a realistic picture of what it takes to care for that dog. You may be surprised what you’ll find easy do for a special dog.

And that’s perhaps the greatest thing about special needs dogs: They really are special. I don’t know if it’s the resilience that comes from their circumstances, the joy they get from appreciating what they do have, or the appreciation they seem to show for what you do. Whatever it is, they have some of the best personalities in the world. Their exuberance, affection, and love are unmatched. My Nala is a magnet wherever we go because her personality simply shines.

That makes it easy to do whatever she needs to keep her healthy and happy for as long as I possibly can.

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Photo credits: Sonia Charry/PawPosse.com (top left), Kolin Toney (bottom right)

The Evolution Of Dogs

April 9th, 2013 03:17:54 pm

Sometimes it's difficult to imagine the evolution of dogs. How did they go from wolves, mighty hunters of the north, to breeds as varied as Chihuahuas, Poodles, and Mastiffs?

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It's amazing to think of how wolves and dogs are related, but the connections are there. Whether barking protectively or retrieving a stick instead of a meal, we can see why our own ancestors would have wanted wolves alongside them.

Thanks to Invisible Fence for sharing this infographic.

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2 Dog Food Companies Recall 6 Dog Food Brands

April 1st, 2013 07:07:21 pm

When it rains, it pours. Two companies have issued recalls on dog food that affects a total of 6 brands of dog food.

Recall #1: Natura Pet Brands

Natura recently found a batch of food contaminated with salmonella. With continued testing, they have found that the contamination affects more foods than previously thought, all manufactured in the same facility. Natura is voluntarily recalling all dog and cat foods made on this manufacturing line from January through March of this year.

Natura is a large company with several highly-recognized brands. Their recall affects 5 of their brands:

   •  Innova
   •  EVO
   •  California Natural
   •  HealthWise
   •  Karma

Normally, we would list each of the formulas affected by this recall. However, the list is simply too long to duplicate here. If you feed your dog any of the brands listed above, please review this list of recalled Natura foods to determine if your dog’s food is affected. Note, the recall affects cat and ferret food as well, so if you have a multi-species household you should definitely take a look.

If you have any of these recalled foods, Natura requests that you download this form to receive a replacement or refund. For other information, Natura can be contacted at (800) 224-6123.

Recall #2: BARF World

BARF World is a smaller company that focuses on raw diets. Their food has not tested positive for salmonella; salmonella was found on a non-food item in the same manufacturing facility BARF World uses. Their voluntary recall affects all foods made the same day and in the same location as the contaminated products.

BARF World products affected by the recall include:
 

If you have any of the affected foods, contact BARF World’s customer service line at (866) 282-2273, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

Why Salmonella Is So Serious And What To Do Next

(Whether You Buy These Foods Or Not)

Salmonella is a particularly nasty bug to get into food because it can be spread between humans and animals, making it a public health concern.

Symptoms

Symptoms of salmonella are similar between dogs and humans. They include:
 

How To Keep Salmonella From Spreading

Throw away any food affected by a salmonella-prompted recall in a place your dog cannot “rescue” it. Thoroughly wash any bowls, storage containers, and serving scoops that may have come in contact with the food. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the food and food items.

Spread the word about this recall. “Like” us on Facebook and share this post so others know to check their pantries for recalled dog food.

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Battle Of The Sexes: Are Male Dogs Smarter Than Female Dogs?

March 29th, 2013 01:42:50 pm

Certainly humans have been engaging in a battle of the sexes of sorts for years, with both sides fully believing they have the superior intelligence. However, researchers have found that the brains of male and female dogs are more different from one another than previously assumed. According to the results of a recent study, in at least in one task females seem to have the edge.

Researchers working in the Clever Dog Lab at the University of Vienna wanted to find out if dogs understand a concept known as “object permanence.” This concept can best be understood as the realization that an object does not disappear or change form simply because it goes out of sight. Human children learn this physical law usually by the time they are one year old and the researchers wanted to see if dogs understand it as well. They selected fifty family dogs for the study, 25 males and 25 females. The researchers showed each of the dogs one of four different scenarios involving tennis balls and a wooden board:

• A small ball disappears behind the board and reemerges
• A large ball disappears and then reemerges
• A small disappears and large ball emerges
• A large ball disappears and a small ball emerges

The first two events did not break any laws of nature, so they were the “expected” conditions. Since the second two scenarios are impossible because objects to not grow or shrink when out of sight, they were the “unexpected” conditions. Similar to experiments on infant cognition, the researchers then measured each dog’s ability to comprehend that something impossible had just occurred by measuring the length of time the dog stared at the emerging ball. Both children and animals will typically look for a longer amount of time if something unexpected or impossible happens.

Analyzing Study Results

When the researchers looked at the results based on the sex of the dog, they found that only the females had noticed something odd and the males did not seem to notice anything odd at all.  The female dogs stared at the conditions that were “unexpected” for over 30 seconds on average, which was over three times longer than they looked at balls that had not changed size. The researchers found that this difference between males and females emerged across all breeds, whether purebred or mixed, and ranging in size from small to large.

Possible Explanation
 
There are a few possible explanations for the emergence of brain differences based on sex. The first argues that evolutionary pressures over thousands of years may have caused subtle shifts in male and female brains. For example, if one sex hunts while the other builds the nest, the hunter might become better at navigation, while the nest builder becomes better at spatial reasoning. Another possibility is that the responsibility for bearing and caring for offspring can lead to changes in the brain that equip the female for nurturing. Being aware of subtle changes from what is “normal” could serve a female well in this capacity. The researchers themselves are leaning toward a third explanation that argues that brain differences result from sex differences, and are nothing more than a by-product of sex hormones acting on the brain.

Conclusion

This research is interesting, but by no means exhaustive. Just as in research on human cognitive functioning, there is a strong possibility that male dogs will excel on some tests while females excel on others. Also, the researchers had no way to be sure if the male dogs did not notice the differences, or they noticed and just did not care about the change. While researchers are not certain of the root cause of these differences in male and female canine brains, they do point out that sex needs to be taken into account when trying to understand how different animals think.

About the author: Susan Wright DMV is a vet,, a wireless dog fence specialist and writer. Susan enjoys writing articles to share her knowledge to help dog owners learn to provide special care to rescued pets.

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