Ask the Vet… Eating

A. Dogs do like to eat some odd stuff. Some eat dirt. This can be frustrating for the guardian, but figuring out the reason is important for your dog. Dogs do eat some odd stuff like garbage, poop, rocks, and dirt. Most of the time it is the puppy who eats the dirt. Puppies, like all babies, experience their new world by putting everything in their mouths. They usually outgrow this desire. When these pups continue to eat dirt or start eating dirt at an older age, the causes should be explored.

In the spring dirt has collected all the winter flavors and may be very tasty. This would be self-limiting as the weeks go by. Many folks add bone meal to their gardens in the fall and again in the spring. Dogs love bone meal. It is part of a natural diet. The problem is the grade of bone meal used in gardening. Grease drippings from the back yard grill

by Dr. Judith Herman

will seep into the ground making it irresistible to Fido. Contaminants such as winter run off from roads and walks, pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins can also be in the soil, which are a concern. Parasites in the dirt is another problem with your pup’s dirt eating habit. Sometimes a basket muzzle is needed when your pup is on a walk or unsupervised in the yard.

Some dogs have a behavioral problem called obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is where the dog has no control over an excessive repetitive behavior like chewing feet, digging the carpet, or eating dirt. Seeing a veterinary behavioralist would be needed to diagnosis this disorder and to treat your best friend. More common is a bored Fido. Dogs need physical and mental engagement. Many pups are either left outside or inside all day without much to do. Dogs are creative and can find ways to relieve this boredom. They may get into your house plants, start landscaping your yard or their kennel. Giving him plenty of sniff walks, mental stimulation, and constructive interaction with you and the family can solve the problem.

Another reason is a diet lacking in minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients. Many bags of kibble have been sitting around for weeks or longer since made. With time some of the nutrients disintegrate, others are not fully bioavailable. If a homemade diet is lacking, especially in calcium and other minerals and vitamins, dirt eating can occur. Addition of a high-quality vitamin mineral mix may resolve the dirt eating. Sometimes your dog is looking for a healthy mix of probiotics. These are often found in the soil. Adding a quality pre and probiotic to the diet may do the trick.

There may be health issues causing your dog to eat dirt. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and hypothyroidism are two possible concerns when dirt eating becomes a problem. Anemias will stimulate Fido to eat dirt because of the lack of iron. With IBD, absorption of nutrients can be difficult. When Fido has an upset stomach, dirt eating can help soothe the stomach and intestines because of the clay in the soil. Caution needs to be taken so your pup doesn’t get intestinally impacted. Extreme dirt eating, especially with other symptoms, needs to be taken seriously. It is important to have your best friend examined by a veterinarian.

Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, Maine www.mainehomeopahticvet.com

genealogy back three generations. While many purebred dogs no longer serve their original purpose – think of the Dalmatians who once led fire trucks – responsible breeders are committed to maintaining them as close to their original standards as possible. For information on beloved breeds and to share yours, facebook. com/NationalPurebredDogDay.

Going hand in hand with National Purebred Day is the 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Westminster Week features over 3,000 top-ranked dogs in various competitions, with 15 Maine dogs participating. The major dog groups participating are Sporting (with Bracchi Italiani as the newest recognized breed), Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. An exciting tidbit is that the show is returning to NYC after a twoyear stint in upstate New York due to COVID-19.

The competition begins May 6th with Westminster’s Canine Celebration Day including the Masters Agility Championship, the Masters Obedience Championship, Dock Diving, and Freestyle Obedience demonstrations. On May 8th and 9th, there’s daytime breed competitions and Junior Showmanship preliminaries. Evenings will feature Group judging, Junior Showmanship Finals, and concludes with Best in Show on May 9th. Check local listings for the 16+ hours of coverage on FOX Sports. Tune in and keep an eye out for the Maine competitors to cheer them on.

The first Sunday in May – this year it’s the 7th – is Mayday for Mutts, a holiday to spread love for and acceptance of mixed-breeds aka mutts. The purpose is to encourage animal shelter adoptions, giving these pets not only a terrific home but a great life. There are plenty of local shelter pets to visit and get to know if you’ve been thinking of adopting. Some may offer a trial period such as foster-to-adopt programs. This allows you to see if the mutt not only fits into your home but meshes with resident animals.

Mutts are widely accepted as being a few or more breeds, and their popularity has grown. In 1974, the canine movie about a stray mutt, Benji, hit screens, and the 4-legged star took America’s hearts. By 1978, the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America, aka MBDCA was founded, and they offered events for those excluded from purebred comps. (MBDCA is dissolving, but the St Louis chapter will remain.)

May 8th is National Catahoula Leopard Dog Day. Catahoula is part of the breed’s name in honor of their origin, the Catahoula Parish in Louisiana. The Catahoula Leopard Dog, an intense and high energy breed, is also referred to as Catahoula Cur, Catahoula Hog Dog, Catahoula Hound, and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Catahoula Rescue of New England: Houlas & Heelers Inc. is an allvolunteer group based in Warren. Founder and Director, Shannon L. Nachajko, is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming this independent thinking breed. Their mission is to advocate for homeless Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs, and mixes thereof. They pull their dogs mainly from high-kill southern shelters. When asked about her preferred breed despite their unique personality, she answered quickly, “You have to be able to look beyond what you see on the surface with a Catahoula. They are beautiful dogs, but that is not a reason to get one. If that is why you are attracted to one, look elsewhere because these dogs make you a better owner, trainer, and dog lover every day. Between testing our knowledge and leadership and what they already know, they are more than amazing and keep you on your toes.”

Next on the calendar is National German Shepherd Day on May10th. GSDs as they’re often called, are known for their courage, loyalty, and guarding abilities. These reasons are why they excel as police, military, and search and rescue partners. They’re also well-suited as guide dogs for the blind.

Tuesdi Woodworth, President of Miracle German Shepherd Rescue (based in the Mid-coast area), said her love for GSDs began 35 years ago when she adopted her first one. “They are so intelligent and quick to learn. Because of their intelligence they are also extremely sensitive and intuitive and can have a wonderful sense of humor – making them a real joy to have around. The very traits that make them so desirable for a lot of people, though, also make them not suited for everyone, and I urge people to think long and hard about whether a GSD is the right breed for them.”

GSDs must have a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They require plenty of socialization, so they don’t their needs. That said she added, “For the right people though, who make the effort to give them the tools they need, they make an absolutely wonderful family companion.”

National Dog Mom’s Day is on the second Saturday in May – this year it falls on the 13th. It was created by the founder of the lifestyle brand, Dig Dates (a dating app to connect dog lovers!), and author of The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy, Colleen Paige. The day is designed to honor the bond between moms and their beloved pooches.

The best way to reinforce that bond is to spend quality time together. Get out and walk together, sit on a patio and have lunch (order a children’s burger for your sidekick), stop at a pet store and pick out a new toy. If your day is busy, at least take a quick drive to a custard stand together for a doggie cone. Your pal will thank you.

If you want to take a road trip or you’re near Augusta, leash up your fur kid and get to Kennebec Valley Humane Society’s 30th Annual Mutt Strut at Youth Memorial Park & Buker Community Fields, 22 Armory Street, at 10 am. Check pethavenlane.org.

Finally, May 20th is National Rescue Dog Day. The day was founded in 2018 by Lisa Wiehebrink, children’s book author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach, an organization that helps children learn the kind and proper treatment of their pets. She believes in celebrating the rescue dog in your life and advocates adopting, fostering, and volunteering for shelters or purebred rescues (and mixes thereof) to save lives.

Her words struck me so intensely that you might have thought I’d been physically hit. I heard, “she doesn’t love you.” That’s not exactly what she said about my dog, but that’s the message I received.

Most hands went up, including mine, when the puppy class instructor asked, “who thinks dogs have a natural desire to please their owners?” “Of COURSE they do,” I thought. There I was, brand new to dog ownership but very much buying into “the desire to please,” “alpha status,” and “no people food” myths, along with many others. Those are the messages I’d heard and believed, and now this woman was telling me that they may not be accurate.

It’s hard to accept, digest, and embrace information that conflicts with what we believe in, especially when there is an emotional attachment involved. Add a hearty dose of longstanding habit, all the “they say” experts, and it becomes exceptionally difficult to change a way of thinking or doing, no matter what we are trying to change.

by Diana Logan

unrealistic concepts such as “desire to please” and “unconditional love.” We humans thrive on the feeling of being important, in control, and superior, so it gives us the warm fuzzies when we say, “my dog loves to please me” (e.g., “I am a demigod”). We are also quick to blame the dog when he fails to please us. We place ourselves at the summit of nature’s hierarchical pyramid. In doing so, we miss out on seeing the world from our dogs’ perspective, and we may interpret their behaviors solely through our human lens. This affects our relationship, training, and more. The dog can never live up to our expectations.

Does it make sense for one species to exist solely to please or “protect” another species when there’s nothing in it for him? From an evolutionary standpoint, it would be disastrous to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of another.

would be filled with dogs who only did what humans liked in the perpetual pursuit of pleasing us. And I would be out of a job I love because no dog would ever need training. Our dogs can love us deeply without the need to “please” us.

This is the lesson I learned in that class so long ago. I learned that I had to separate my emotional desire to be my dog’s raison d’etre from the reality that she was a sentient being whose Number One was, and always would be, herself. I took the onus off her to understand what I wanted and put it on me to help her learn that pleasing me meant, pleasing her in the process.

“The Concept that dogs have an innate desire to please us is a direct result of our desire to be demigods.”

“OUCH.” Right?

That quote is one of my favorites because it effectively captures the essence of why we may hold onto

What does “please” mean, anyway? We throw that word around a lot when we talk about our companion animals. Well, not cats. I’ve not heard much about “pleasing” and cats. But why not? We share our lives with them, too (by the way, you can train cats).

Where is the line?

If dogs truly wanted to please humans, I argue that there would be no “problem dogs”, no stray dogs, no dogs in need of homes, no dogs who pulled on leash or chased bicycles. The world

Dogs learn that our pleasure may predict something good for them, but we shouldn’t misconstrue this by claiming our pleasure is the inspiration for their behavior. It all comes around to patterns: if the consequence to a behavior is something a dog values, the dog is likely to repeat it, regardless of whether or not it pleases us.

All this being said, I do believe that we dog owners want to please our dogs on a regular basis! Proof? The US pet care market is valued at over $200 billion. That’s a lot of toys, treats, beds, and food!

Now go out there and please your dog some more.

Happy Training!

In-Person Dog Classes: Are They Right for Every Dog?

By Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Calder Veterinary Behavior Services, www.caldervbs.com

Dog classes can be beneficial for many dogs, but in-person classes may not be appropriate for every dog. There are various factors to consider when deciding if an in-person class is right for your dog.

1. Is your dog fearful or anxious? Dogs that are friendly, outgoing, and sociable with both dogs and people generally do well attending in-person classes. These dogs are more likely to enjoy interactions with other dogs and new people in a controlled and predictable environment. Fearful or anxious dogs often find in-person classes overwhelming and scary which means they are less likely to learn, you are less likely to learn, and their behavior could escalate over time into barking, lunging, growling, snapping, or biting.

2. What if my dog is aggressive? Dogs with a history of aggression, excessive barking, or lack of impulse control should not attend in-person classes. These dogs may require an evaluation by a veterinary behaviorist or a specialized behavior modification program with a qualified professional instead. Often online classes are best suited for these dogs where they and you can learn foundation behaviors in the safety of their own home.

3. What about puppies? Many in-person and online classes are designed for specific age groups. Puppies can benefit from early age-appropriate socialization in these classes as they learn critical social skills. Older dogs may require different types of class structure based on their age-related needs. When attending puppy socialization classes, it is important to make sure your puppy is not overwhelmed, has received age-appropriate vaccinations, and is free from obvious signs of disease (vomiting, diarrhea, runny noses, coughing, and skin lesions).

4. What about my dog’s overall issues, respiratory problems, or contagious disease should not attend in-person classes. Consult with your veterinarian if your dog has any health concerns and always consider your dog’s health and well-being when enrolling in classes. Online classes may be more appropriate for these dogs once all medical conditions have been addressed by your veterinarian.

5. What if my dog has never attended training classes before? Dogs with little to no previous training can still benefit from classes. However, you may want to start with an online class or private training session first. The behaviors and skills that a dog needs to learn can vary, and there really is not a “one size fits all” to training. Dog training is more about training the human than it is the dog. This means you are the student and not your dog. During in-person classes, it can sometimes be difficult to receive the individualized personal attention needed, therefore an individual online class or one-on-one training may be more appropriate.

Dog classes can be beneficial for many dogs, but it is important to consider the above factors when deciding if an in-person class is right for your dog. Consulting with a qualified professional such as a veterinarian, veterinary behaviorist, or certified dog trainer can help you make the informed decision of which type of class may be best for your dog.

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Puppy ownership is a rewarding experience filled with laughter, play, and snuggles. However, a new 4-legged addition to the family is not without its challenges and anxious moments. Every pet owner wants the best for the pet, and having a knowledgeable team of pet professionals to assist you is helpful. The pet professional team should consist of a veterinarian, a trainer, and a groomer. These professionals will aid in keeping your new friend healthy physically and emotionally. If the pup is a long or curly-haired breed, it will need to visit the groomer more than other professionals. For this reason, setting puppies up to have successful, positive grooming experiences is essential. Home handling and early appointments increase a puppy's chances of accepting and enjoying professional grooming.

Puppies often enter their new homes at 8 to 16 weeks old, an impressionable time in their development. As a result, frightening or painful experiences will undoubtedly shape their view of