Though these things may seem different, they are all really signs of the same thing: your dog’s natural instinct to keep “his” things safe and protected — regardless of whether or not they’re actually his. Why do dogs do this?

Short answer: because it used to be necessary for their survival.

Wild dogs and hidden treasures

Generations ago, when dogs roamed the wild in packs, they had to hunt for their food. It often took a lot of time and energy to catch and kill something, and then as soon as they managed to do that, other animals would be after it if they smelled the meat. And, of course, there were also occasions where a hunt might have gone too well and the dog simply wasn’t able to finish his entire meal. What’s was the solution to both problems? Bury the food.

By burying carcasses and bones, dogs were essentially creating natural refrigerators for them. The dirt prevented other creatures from smelling and finding their bounty, maintained freshness longer by keeping away sunlight, and also “marinated” the food with the tastes of the earth. Yum.

Why do dogs bury things now that they’re domesticated?

Obviously, your dog doesn’t have to worry about going hungry. So why does she still bury things? A number of reasons:

Instinct
Even if you know that your dog is never going to have to worry about food, and even if you’ve been feeding them every day for years, that doesn’t remove that natural urge they have to ensure their future needs by squirreling things away for later.

You’re giving them too much
The other side of the instinct to bury things has nothing to do with fear of starvation or protecting their food from predators. If you’re overly generous with your pooch in terms of toys or treats, burying them is a way for them to say “Cool! I’ll save this.” Sometimes they may even want to bury items because they’re too good for them to eat all at once — they want to save them so they can enjoy them again later.

It’s a game
If your dog is bored, lonely, or simply wants to get your attention, it’s not uncommon for them to bury things to get you to “play” with them. Often, these stolen items will be shiny things like jewelry or watches, or objects they know are “valuable” to you, like shoes or TV remotes.

The best way to curb this urge to bury things is to minimize your dog’s access to the objects they covet and rotate toys to provide variety. If you have trouble stopping your dog from burying things outside, talk to your vet. Why? Because the chemicals that many of us use in our backyards can be a health hazard that gives her diarrhea or an upset stomach.

What’s the strangest thing your dog every buried? Tell us in the comments!

The post Why Dogs Bury Things appeared first on Cesar's Way.

Some Prevalent Behaviors in Cannines

Dog Panting

Because dogs sweat through the pads on their feet, most of their body heat is expelled through their mouth when they pant. It’s their primary means of regulating body temperature. Dogs also pant to cope with pain.

Dog Barking

In nature, dogs bark to raise an alarm at the first signs of possible danger or to herald a new arrival. Barking is an important means of canine communication. See What your dog’s bark is telling you.

Dog Chewing

Just as a growing child, your dog will want to chew on toys and other objects to relieve the pain of a new set of teeth coming in. If your dog is full grown, you may also come home to find your couch cushions or favorite pair of shoes ripped to shreds, but it is not because they enjoy the taste. Your dog could be exhibiting signs of separation anxiety or anxiety in general. See 5 steps to correct inappropriate dog chewing.

Dog Digging in Your Yard

Digging is an instinctual activity, written deep in a dog’s DNA. It is especially strong in terrier breeds. Dogs in natural packs will dig to hide food or to uncover food such as small rodents. A den dug in the cool earth can also provide shelter from the heat. See Cesar’s dog training advice on how to get dogs to stop digging.

Jumping Up

Though it may seem like play behavior, or an enthusiastic greeting, jumping up is a sign that your dog is attempting to assert her dominance over you. By encouraging jumping up with affection, you are reinforcing the behavior. See Cesar’s training video on how to deal with dogs jumping when excited.

Dog Biting

A dog will bite a person as a way of communicating their current state of mind. The dog could be reacting in aggression, fear or nervousness. There are, however, ways to prevent a dog bite from ever happening if you stay in tune to the dog’s body language. See Dog bites 101: Why bites happen and how to prevent them.

Separation anxiety

Dogs live and travel in packs, so it’s natural for them to feel anxious when they are separated from their pack-mates. Try taking your dog on a nice, long walk before leaving her alone in the house. Leaving her in resting mode can calm her anxiety.

Once you understand these behaviors, you’ll be better equipped to recognize when your pack’s needs are not being met! When your dog’s needs go unfulfilled, unwanted behaviors begin to emerge. Consider: Are you giving Exercise, Discipline, then Affection?

How has your dog misbehaved lately, and how do you plan to solve the issue? Share your story in the comments.

The post What Are Common Dog Behaviors? appeared first on Cesar's Way.

My boyfriend and I have three dogs. Two are Rottweilers (three years old and one-year-old) and one is a Labrador retriever (nine months old). Our dogs love to dig and now our backyard is in shambles. We tried burying their poop in the holes so they would not dig anymore, but that didn’t stop them.

We are moving to a new house and want to break them of that habit. Is there something else we can do to stop the digging?

Please help!

Sincerely,

Cindy Kozma

Cesar Millan’s Answer:

Hi Cindy,

We know that digging can be harmful to people’s environments, but, at the same time, digging for some dogs is an activity that keeps them balanced. Digging is a form of exercise and distraction, and, for a dog, it can be simply a matter of being bored and having nothing else to do. It’s especially common if it’s in their breed to be diggers; when it’s part of their nature, they’ll often drain some of that extra energy by doing something that they are instinctually familiar with.

Human parents will bring their child to the playground and let them play in the sandbox because digging is part of our nature as well.  Today, we don’t use that ability often, but deep in our genes, we still crave it. So we have a specific place we allow kids to dig. That can be one option for you – to make a specific place in your yard where your dogs are allowed to do their digging.  If that is still not acceptable to you, you need to find a way to drain the energy they release by digging.  Exercise is always the best way to drain any dog’s pent-up energy. Running with your dog, swimming with your dog, hiking with your dog – there are so many options.

So my question to you would be: do you know the energy levels of your dogs and are you challenging them enough physically so that they don’t feel the need to dig, bark, jump, or chew? Are they exercising, and for how long? If it isn’t long enough, then I would recommend intensifying that exercise. If you don’t have enough time, that’s when I would recommend putting backpacks on them, which can help by turning 30 minutes of actual exercise into an hour.

Stay calm and assertive,
Cesar Millan

What are some of the most surprising finds your dog has dug out of the yard?

The post How Can I Get My Dogs To Stop Digging? appeared first on Cesar's Way.