There Are No Stupid Questions!

I met with a new puppy owner this week.  This is their family's first puppy, and very first dog as well! They want to do everything right, which is completely understandable.  There is so much information out there on puppies, puppy behavior, puppy training, etc., it's quite difficult to sift through and determine what's good information (i.e. based in science and presented by knowledgeable, well-informed resources) and what's misinformation (i.e. not based in science, put forth by individuals lacking the training and knowledge to know they are pushing outdated/harmful suggestions). I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.  I spent almost two hours with these clients walking them through everything I know about raising a healthy, well-adjusted, behaviorally sound puppy.  We talked about the importance of naps, the value of crates and exercise pens, toy rotation, consistent consequences for mouthing, bathroom schedules, eating schedules, and handling exercises.  It was a lot to cover and I was truly amazed that the two kids in this family stayed engaged the whole time, especially given the fact that the younger child was just 7 years old.  As we neared the end of our appointment, after her parents had prefaced several of their questions with "I know this is a dumb question..." to which I kept replying, "Not at all! There are no dumb questions!" the 7 year old said, "I have a question...but it's probably dumb too."  I smiled at her and said, "There are never any dumb questions, remember?  What would you like to know?"  She actually had two questions and I so enjoyed answering them, that I thought they'd be fun to share here too, simply because I'm sure there are lots of folks out there who wondered this as well, but didn't want to feel "dumb" by asking.  

Her first question was why did she see her puppy eat his poop (this was accompanied by the funniest facial expression on her part!).  I explained to her that, to some extent, poop eating serves a survival function.  Mother canids consume their pups' feces in an effort to keep their den area clean and make sure that there is nothing in their immediate environment to attract predators to the litter. So why would her male puppy do it then? Well, perhaps, he saw his mother do it and the behavior is persisting at their house, though likely to go away with time. I did let her know, however, that it was good that she was watching her puppy so closely.  Dogs who persist in eating their own excrement may have nutritional deficits, digestive issues, or even internal parasites, all reasons to bring up the issue with their veterinarian during their next well puppy visit if the problem has persisted. I told her that from my point of view, a lot of puppies eat their own poop because they are anxious, bored, or under-stimulated. I told her that these were all issues she could begin working on with her puppy now through toy rotation, enforced nap times, and gradual exposure to new experiences.  I did tell her that there are a small subset of puppies who persist in this behavior, despite nothing being wrong with them physically or psychologically, then just like the taste of poop (their own, or other pets/animals!) and they love the reaction and attention they get for the behavior.  I reminded her that watching her puppy toilet, having him toilet while on leash, and cleaning up right afterward (while directing him to an appropriate, alternate activity) should be all it takes to get her puppy out of this poop-eating mindset. 

For her second question, she wanted to know why her puppy "couldn't get comfortable on his bed." She was afraid that they'd chosen the wrong bed for him! Turns out, she had observed her puppy rooting around on his bed, digging, snuffling, and turning in cycles one direction, and then another.  A couple of times, she'd seen him lay down, only to get up, sniff and paw again, and turn a bunch of times before plopping.  Fascinating!  So, this, too, is what we refer to as a "holdover" or instinctual behavior, one very much adaptive for wild canids, but seemingly unnecessary for our house dogs.  Pawing and digging at the bed leaves scent markers behind from the small, scent glands in dogs' feet, defining the bed as their own. Turning in circles while digging and pawing serves to flatten the bedding and/or puff it up, making it more comfortable. In the wild, canids tamp down the grass by circling, and dig to loosen dirt, making a more comfortable sleeping area for themselves and their young. I told her that her puppy is just getting comfy, and as long as he's not tearing holes in his bedding, we won't be concerned.  I couldn't help but laugh when she told me that she likes to shake out her blanket and plump up her pillow at bed time too!

Over the years, I've answered hundreds of questions, everything from why dogs sniff butts to why dogs bite people.  None of those questions was dumb and I always appreciate that people ask me for an answer rather than "googling it," and risking finding the wrong answer, or, at the very least, a misleading one.

As always, if YOU have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Ozzie almost always turns circles and digs before plopping down on his bed.  He also frequently grumbles and growls while he's doing it, finishing up with a huff as he gets comfortable.  He curls his tail around his body, and will often use toys, pillows, and people as a head rest. He's quite a character!