Does Your Dog Roll In Poop? Here's Why by Adam G. Katz

Does Your Dog Roll In Poop? Here's Why by Adam G. Katz

Robin asks:

I'm wondering if you could tell me why-- when I'm walking Yogi through some grass-- that he smells something and the next thing I know, he's stuck his head on the ground and starts to roll his body over the area he was smelling. On two occasions, he coated himself in another dog's poop. I've been asking vets and laypersons to explain this behavior but no one seem to know. Thank you so much for listening.

Very Sincerely,
-Robin

Dear Robin:

This is a hold-over instinct from before dogs were domesticated. They would roll around in a heavily scented object to mask their own scent, when hunting.

This behavior can be stopped by telling your dog, No.
Sounds easy, right?

Well, if that hasnt worked, then you can bet that your, No command doesnt have any meaning to your dog.

Heres what youll need to do:

1. Establish yourself as the pack leader.

2. Leave a training collar and tab on your dog, so that you can start consistently associating a negative with your verbal No command.

3. If your correction is motivational, your dog will get the picture, fast. Dogs simply do not continue to do a behavior that does not feel good.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!
About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq

DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER by Adam G. Katz

DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER by Adam G. Katz

Dear Adam:

My dog, Chance, we think is a Golden retriever mix, but he's mostly white with gold patches. Also he's about 2/3 the size of a Golden Retriever.

He's 18 months old and has been loose-leash trained pretty well as long as you don't let him get distracted.

The thing I don't know how to handle is that some dogs that we meet when we're out jogging or walking, he goes ballistic.

We have used a choke chain to train him, and it seemed to work well. But there is that occasional dog that we meet will get him so riled that he pulls, then spins, then pulls backwards, then jumps up and down, then spins again - all to get loose to go attack the other dog.

What are my options?

- Greg

Dear Greg:

My first question is: Why aren't you using a pinch collar? This is advocated ad nausea in the book

Furthermore, distractions should not be avoided. They should be actively sought after. Distractions make your dog better. They allow you to teach your dog that you are going to make him behave EVEN AROUND A DISTRACTION.

My hunch is that hes not listening to you because youre using a choke chain collar and youre not able to get a good correction. If you WERE getting a good correction, he wouldnt be throwing a tantrum.

He cant be watching the other dog and watching you at the same time. If he has to worry about you sneaking off and getting caught at the end of the leash (where he gets a correction from the collar) then hes not going to have enough room in his brain left to think about going after the other dog.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!
About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq