Research on why dogs eat grass is still inconclusive.  Some speculate that grass eating is a result from a gastrointestinal disorder.  Usually, dogs that eat grass are found to have gastric ulcers, worms, or just typically an upset stomach.

It seems that the grass acts as a binder for the toxins or worms that infest your dog’s digestive tract, and is purged along with the grass when your dog either vomits or has diarrhea.  It is still a mystery if your dog vomits or has diarrhea because of the grass, or he does so because he initially has stomach problems.

Pregnancy can also cause your dog to eat grass.  Usually, this happens when your dog is at the first stage of pregnancy.   You will notice that before your pregnant dog would eat grass she would show signs of being nauseated, but nothing comes out.   It seems to help calm her stomach after inducing her to vomit.  However, this is a case to case basis.  Some pregnant dogs will not eat grass during the duration of their pregnancy.

Dogs also seem to prefer eating grass that has been constantly urinated on by other dogs or animals.  The keenest senses of canines are their sense of smell and taste.  Once they have caught the scent of another canine that has urinated on a patch of grass, they would munch away.

It may be because the dog is gathering information about the dog that has marked its territory.  Or, it could be that the taste of that particular grass is much better compared to others.  Urine has urea, a component that is found to enrich plants and a common compound found in composts and commercial fertilizers.

Other dog owners theorize that dogs eat grass because it is a common part of a dog’s diet in the wild.  Even if wild dogs hunt game, grass and other vegetation are still found inside the intestines of these animals.  The preference has evolved because dogs cannot simply pick out grass from the inert parts of what they have killed.

Grass-eating is quite harmless to dogs.  Just make sure that the grass that they are eating are not prayed with harmful insecticides and maintained by use of commercial fertilizers.  These chemicals are harmful for dogs, and can create health complications. If you are concerned with your dog’s grass grazing habit, try to substitute some vegetables in the diet.

A lot of pet owners have found that supplementing their dog’s diet with raw vegetables such as carrots and lettuce lessens the grazing of dogs.  Excessive vomiting and diarrhea may or may not be brought about by grass eating and regardless of the cause, warrants an immediate visit with the vet.

But then again, experts beg to differ.  Through research, it has been found that a dog’s eye has different amounts of photoreceptors compared to us humans.  There are two photoreceptors in the retina: rods and cones.  The rods are responsible for night vision, peripheral vision, and perception of black and white.

The cones on the other hand, are responsible for day vision, central vision, and color perception.  A dog’s eye is mostly made up of rods, and only has 10% of cones.  How does this relate to vision?  A dog perceives the world differently.  They see mostly black and white, and can only appreciate color when their nose is already touching an object.

Meaning, your dog will not realize that you’re wearing a pink shirt unless he’s already all over you.  Also, your dog perceives movement differently compared to humans, and some claim that a lower refresh rate will only make viewing harder for dogs.

Still, if dogs cannot watch TV, then how come this skateboarding dog knows how to play a video game?  A dog’s interest may be captured by a sudden movement in the screen, or a sound from another animal.  If they see another animal on screen, they react by barking and wagging their tail.

And, if you hook your TV to a video camera and shoot your dog with it live, your dog will react to his image by growling and barking.  That means a dog can still perceive objects even in 2D.  But dogs do not watch TV if the family is around.

Their attention is mostly riveted on the actions and motions of the family that he’s guarding, so your dog would mostly just ignore the TV.  However, the sounds and sights in a TV can be highly beneficial for your dog if he has separation anxiety.

A human’s eye is appreciative of a TV screen if the refresh rate is around 50Hz-60Hz.  On the other hand, the refresh rate for a dog is around 70Hz-80Hz.  For us, the TV may be running smoothly.  But for dogs, the screen is just like watching an old movie, with the film highly scratched and worn out.

Aside from that, a dog mostly relies on his hearing and smell.  Sights and sounds are secondary for him, and his sense of smell is the most important of all.  This signifies two things: 1) your dog can be somewhat uninterested what’s on the tube for it’s not stimulating his sense of smell.  2) If you make your dog addicted to the tube, his sense of smell would not be stimulated enough and it can eventually dull a somewhat sharp perception.

If you notice that your dog is watching too much TV,  you must lessen his tube time and stimulate him by bringing him outside the house, or presenting him with something new every now and then.

There is still some debate going on over a dog’s ability to watch TV.  What’s important is that you let your dog be a dog by letting him act like one and not love it too much when he’s “acting human” by watching the tube.

As with humans, a stationary dog can have health problems related to lack of mobility and stimulation, so play with him every once in a while.  You are your dog’s best entertainment system, and you will gain more of your dog’s adoration by letting it stay that way.

1)  Your dog barks as a form of warning.  This type of bark is usually started with a low, menacing growl followed by a loud series of sharp bark.  Usually, this is heard when your dog senses that someone is approaching.  To fully understand this bark, see if you have a friend who’s got a dog that has just given birth, ask if you could visit.  Try to walk near while the dog is nursing and you will hear that distinct bark.

1. Solution: try to see what’s eating your dog.  This type of barking is the one that should not be ignored for it may signify an intruder.  But once you notice that the dog is barking at a person you know but he’s not familiar with, hold the dog by the collar and say “STOP” in a firm voice.  Don’t tug at the collar for you may injure your dog’s wind pipe.  Maybe your neighbor’s dog or cat is at your yard and it’s making your dog irritated for your dog’s territory is being invaded.  Scoot the invader away and then tell your dog to “STOP!”  The moment your dog stops barking, praise him and tell him he’s a good dog for knowing how to stop barking.

2)  Your dog is trying on alert.  This form of barking is characterized by low, staccato-like barks.  This behavior is observed whenever the door bell or telephone would ring, or when someone you know is approaching.

1. Solution: see what’s captured your dog’s interest.  If it’s the doorbell, tell your dog “STOP” and when he does, say he’s a good dog for telling you about the door bell.  The same goes for the telephone.  Now, if you still cannot order your dog to stop barking have friend over and ask her to help train your dog.  What your friend can do is ring the doorbell every now and then.  Every time your friend would ring the bell, command your dog to STOP and SIT.  Wait a couple of seconds, and praise your dog or give him a treat.  Tell your dog that one bark is enough when the doorbell rings, then repeat the process again.  The same procedure can be done with the telephone.

3)  Your dog is longing for company, or bored.  When dogs are having separation anxiety issues, they can incessantly bark and howl while you’re gone.  Dogs are pack animals.  This means that your family is not treated as an individual, but a group in which he sees himself as a leader, or the one being led.  If you are gone, as a leader he would worry about your safety.  As the one being led, your dog will feel lost when left alone. This bark is also observed when you put your dog in a kennel, crate, or leash for the first time.

1. Solution: of all the types of barking problems, this is the hardest to correct for it happens during your absence. Behavioral modification can be the only solution to this problem.  You have to train your dog to wait for you while you’re gone.  Address your dog’s separation anxiety issues by leaving the house for a couple of minutes and coming back in just before your dog starts to bark.  Whenever you leave and arrive home, don’t make a fuss.  Tell your dog firmly and as short as possible that you’ll be gone and be back after a couple of hours, then leave.  When you get back, painful as it may seem, ignore your dog for 15 minutes, or until he’s calmed down.  Rub his neck and don’t say you miss him, that you’re glad to see him.  Just rub him and say he’s a good dog for not barking too much while you’re gone.  As for the kennel, crate, and leash issue, you have to introduce him to it slowly.  Don’t just dump your dog in or tie him.  An abrupt curtail in freedom is not what every dog would like, especially if the dog grew up being free to roam around the house.

4)  Your dog is in pain. A dog in pain will give a series of yelps.  It may be because his paw or tail got stuck on something, someone threw a stone or a stick at him, or he may be having some medical condition that needs attention… or your dog may be in labor.

1. Solution: immediately see what caused your dog to yelp.  Unstuck his paw or tail, and sooth him by rubbing him and giving comforting words.  You may want to put ice on the affected part to lessen the pain.  If there is no obvious cause and your dog is yelping, not eating, has labored breathing, bring him to the vet to see if there is a medical condition is causing a problem.  If your dog is recovering from a major operation, make sure you stick to the pain medication regimen to lessen his pain.

5)  Your dog wants to play. Low, short, repetitive barks will come from your dog whenever he has the desire to play with you.  Usually, your dog will bark this way when you get his leash, favorite toy, or Frisbee.

1. Solution: Always give your dog playtime, even for just 15-30 minutes a day.  Each dog, especially a puppy, would always want to have some physical activity to release some pent up energy.  Play time can be very good for dogs, especially when your dog has separation anxiety issues.  This can prevent your dog from getting bored and keep him from distracting you and your neighbors.

If your dog is still barking non-stop you can buy either a spray bottle or a citronella dog collar.  Whenever your barks spray him with the spray bottle set on squirt mode.  Don’t use a squirt gun, the point here is to get your dog’s attention and not play with or traumatize him.

Tell him why you had to use the squirt gun and tell him that one bark should be enough.  A citronella dog collar works on the same principle.  The collar has a sensor attached that monitors the vibration in your dog’s throat. Whenever your dog barks, the vibration will set off the collar and would spray a dose of citronella.  The odor is quite strong for your dog’s sensitive nose, and most dogs do not like the scent.

Try to line your garden with citronella plants and you’ll notice that your dog will not approach the side that has citronella in it.  Most dog owners prefer a citronella dog collar to other collars that deliver an electric shock to a dog.  Just remember that if your dog has separation anxiety, giving a dog collar while you’re away will not help his condition, but only make it worse.  Address your dog’s separation anxiety first before utilizing a dog collar for behavioral modification.

It can be very hard to train a dog to stop excessive barking.  But in time, coupled with patience and practice, your dog will become a well-behaved canine that is adored by your neighbors.

One particular instance when your dog would pee uncontrollably is during an exciting event such as you arriving home, having visitors over, a sudden loud noise, or whenever you and your dog are just having a good time.  This is called excited peeing.  Here are the steps that you can do to help lessen its occurrence.

1)  Whenever you get home, do not make such a fuss when you arrive.  Greet your dog with a pleasant “hello” and then keep your interaction low-key as much as possible.  Try ignoring your dog for 15 minutes then give him your full attention.

2)  If you’re having visitors over, you can pre-warn your dog by saying that some of your friends will arrive shortly.  You can also lessen your dog’s intake of water before your friends arrive.  The keyword here is lessen, not eliminate.  Dogs need water as much as you do, so make sure that you just limit the intake and not deprive him of it.

3)  Take your dog out for a walk before your friends come over.  Encourage him to urinate while outside, and do not go in while he hasn’t.

4)  Greet your friends outside with your dog.  When your dog urinates outside, tell him he’s a good dog for he urinated outside the house.  This way, your dog will get the idea that he should be doing the deed outside, and not inside the house.

5)  If your dog is small, then by all means hold him when your friends arrive.  This way, your dog will be reassured and be calm whenever strangers are around.

Submissive peeing, on the other hand, occurs when your dog is feeling threatened or dominated.  It is also due to your dog’s belief that he must be submissive enough to gain your approval.  To lessen this problem, the following tips can be employed.

1)  Whenever you arrive home, greet your dog pleasantly but without looking at him straight in the eye.  This is a show of dominance, and your dog will react by showing submissive behavior.

2)  Wait for him to be the one to approach.  When he does so, do not pat him on the head.  Rub him behind his ears or give him a little scratch beneath his chin.  You would be in a less-dominating position and your dog will get the idea that he does not need to become submissive to gain your affection.

3)  You can also greet him this way:  when he comes near, command him to sit, and shake.  When he performs the command correctly, praise him appropriately and also tell him he’s been a good dog for not peeing.

4)  Expose your dog to a lot of children or dogs.  Tell children not to pat or touch your dog when she rolls over.  Tell them to touch your dog only when she’s standing on all fours, or sitting down calmly.  This can also be told to your friends whenever they come over.

5)  If ever your dog pees whenever he is given attention, tell him softly and calmly in a normal tone of voice that you and he are going out for a walk.  When he pees outside, tell him that he’s being good and peeing is best done outside the house and not inside.

Do take into mind that excited and submissive peeing are not problems due to improper training, or because of lack or too much attention.  If you suspect a medical condition, consult a vet.

However, whenever you observe your dog doing such an act, do not scold or punish him.   Doing so will only make the condition worse and not resolve the issue.  All he needs is proper encouragement and a boost in self-confidence to overcome this behavior.

• Your dog may need to have a bath.  How many times a week do you bathe your dog?  If your dog is itchy or hot, he would relieve himself by licking his fur or skin.   This is the normal way dogs groom themselves, and the instinct will not disappear no matter how domesticated your dog would be.

• Your dog may be irritated by an allergen in the food, or something else in the environment.  You may have fed him a food that has eggs or seafood in it that did not go well with your dog’s skin.  Fleas between your dog’s paws may also be irritating your dog, as well as leaving some itchy marks on his body.

• Your dog is anxious.  This can be seen after a major relocation, or whenever you or a favorite person leaves the house.

• If your dog is excessively licking you or other people, this is a behavioral problem that comes from different reasons:
  • Your dog has been trained during puppyhood that excessive licking is acceptable.  Your child may be playing with your dog as a puppy and can be constantly delighted with the excessive licking the puppy is showering her.  When the dog grows old, that “learned” behavior is carried on and manifested when you come home from work, or when visitors drop by.
  • It is your dog’s way of showing affection.  Dogs are not able to communicate properly, so this behavior is their way of saying that he likes you, is delighted to see you, and he wants to play with you.

To stop the dog from licking, you have to address the issue.  Ensure that your dog is given proper hygiene.  See if your dog has some flea issues you have to take care of.  If your dog is licking himself and you or a favorite person after a period of lack of contact, you may want to do some separation anxiety management.

Make sure that you don’t make a big issue about coming and going the house.  Leave the house for 5 minutes and come back again without saying anything to your dog.  This would take some time, but it will do its trick once your dog gets used to it.

You can also correct his behavior by not noticing him when he licks you.  Train him that he will still get the attention that he wants without having to resort to heavy licking.  When he finally stops licking you, ignore him for a short while and then praise him for not licking you.

Train him to do some tricks, and give him rewards and praise when doing so.  Tell him firmly “NO!” when he jumps at you starts licking you.  Do not punish him for doing so.  Punishing will only cause more behavioral problems.  Remember that dogs respond better through positive encouragement, and as a responsible pet owner, you are in charge of producing a dog that has acceptable behavior.