Burying: A Common Dog Behaviour

Burying A Common Dog Behaviour

Ever found your dog randomly scratching the bed, floor or edge of the wall? Wondering what is driving him to bury things? Be it their favourite toy or a stinky shoe, your beloved pet digs and hides away the ‘treasure’. While burying isn’t necessarily a bad habit, the consequences of constant digging can be destructive to your property and harmful to your pet’s health. Here’s the answer to your curiosity to know the reason behind this common dog behaviour; check out our article below.   

Source: Unsplash

Reasons Why Dogs Bury Things 

Natural Instinct

One of the reasons why dogs bury things is because they are adapted to do it. Dogs have a natural drive to bury their possessions like food items or toys. This instinct has been inherited from their canine ancestor – Wolf. The fear of starvation and protecting food from predators is common among dogs. This makes them hide the leftovers by burying them under the ground. 

Possessiveness

As a coping mechanism to escape from anxiety and insecurity, dogs find peace in digging and burying objects. Dogs tend to protect their meals from scavengers and other dogs. A household having multiple pets might expose them to competition for food and toys. This makes the dog chew his toys and kibble between the couch cushions or under the furniture.

Boredom

The utilization of energy is found in different ways to occupy themselves. If your dog buries certain objects, it is probably because they are bored. Dogs see it as a way of entertainment and try to grab your attention and invite you to play along. Moreover, a dog that lacks mental and physical activities practices burying more often. The mental stimulant Rubber Chew Bone can be given to encourage non-destructive chewing among dogs by keeping them occupied.

Over Feeding 

A more obvious reason for dogs to bury their food is that you might be feeding them extra. Unknowingly, you might be giving too much food to your dog, which he buries and saves for later use. Your dog might be trying to bury items because he is full now to eat all at once. Thus, he wants to save the food to enjoy it again later. Well, if you thought your dog isn’t that smart, think again! 

Variant Breeds

The burying behaviour of a dog also varies depending on its breed. Some breeds strongly feel the urge to bury their possessions while others may not. Terriers and other members of the hound group like Beagles, Dachshund and Bassets are highly inclined to dig and bury objects. These breeds were bred deliberately to retain their hunting skills and preserve their ‘caches’.

Anxiety

Digging is a great way for dogs to release their stress and anxiety. Most active diggers suffer the anxiety of separation from a loved one. Dogs channel their negative emotions into something productive. 

If your dog is witnessing episodes of anxiety, try giving them Calm Pet- Anti Anxiety Tablets. It contains stress relieving and anxiolytic herbs like Ashwagandha, Mandukaparni, and Brahmi that reduce anxiety among pets.

 

Conclusion

Seeing your dog caching isn’t something you need to worry about. It is normal for dogs to bury their possessions. Some of the common reasons include a sense of security, belongingness, instinct and boredom. You can try giving them enough mental and physical stimulation to keep them occupied. Take them for walks, play games and expose them to fun activities. Make sure your dog is happy and has safe places to eat and play.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Why Dogs Bury Things 

  • Why does my dog bury things under me?
    Some of the common reasons why dogs bury things include the sense of security, instinct, possessiveness, overfeeding or boredom. Besides, it may also depend upon the dog’s breed.
  • Where can dogs hide things in the house?
    Besides the garden area, your dog might be hiding things under the carpet, bed or blanket, behind couch cushions, or in a dirty laundry pile.
  • How to stop dogs from burying things?
    Keep your dog occupied by involving them in mental and physical exercises, taking them for walks, playing games and exposing them to fun activities. Make sure he has enough mental stimulation.
  • What not to do when stopping dogs from burying things?
    Do not chase your dog or make a fuss around them. Avoid hitting or yelling and be cautious of using any negative reinforcement. For all you know, hiding may be passed on to them genetically. There’s no reason why a dog should be reprimanded for displaying genetic behaviour.
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5 Reasons Why Street Dogs Bark At Night

5 Reasons why street dogs bark at night

Overview

Is your sleep disrupted by the dogs barking outside? Wondering what the chaos is all about? Now is the time to bust the myths and understand why street dogs bark at night. Fur Ball Story is here with some possible causes of why dogs bark at night.    People might consider this behaviour unreasonable and baseless. There are various superstitions related to the barking of dogs, particularly at night. This exposes the innocent creature to violence and abuse. But wait, here are a few things you need to know about how this common dog behaviour can be a saviour to you. 

Busting The Myth 

There is a widespread misconception in India regarding barking of dogs. It is considered a sign of bad luck or a warning of someone’s death. Astrology believes that a human cannot sense the spirits, but dogs can. They bark on sensing a spirit around them, making humans drive away on seeing a howling dog. However, science bust out this myth by claiming that dogs never cry, it is a way of laughing instead. (Source: Daily hunt)

Reasons Why Street Dogs Bark At Night   

Source: Pexels
  • Medium of Expression 
Dogs face a lot of adversities like challenging weather, ill-treatment by humans or an unwanted environment. Barking is the only possible medium of expression for them. From anxiety and pain to bonding with other dogs, dogs make themselves part of such events via howling and barking. It is a way of communicating and getting involved in all these activities.   
  • Defending Boundaries 
Dogs tend to bark and guide their fellows back to safe territory. This even alerts other dogs that they need assistance in territorial fights with the area dogs. It signifies dominance and defending of boundaries against other dogs. Moreover, it is a display of authority over the claimed area and a call for the pack to guard against a possible threat.  
  • Instinct to Environment 
Living on the street builds howling instincts as an adaptation to their environment. As a stimulus-response to certain strange sounds, dogs bark at night. Such instincts can be easily triggered by siren sounds, vehicle horns, bursting crackers or loud music. The noise-sensitive nature of dogs makes them bark at these strange sounds.  
  • Health Issues 
A dog might be facing certain health issues, due to which he cries and is unable to sleep. The reason can be an external or internal injury. Also, hunger leads to discomfort in dogs. They might feel bloated or have an upset stomach which is caused by a reaction to allergic foods. There can be many such reasons that cause injury and pain to dogs, making them bark and howl.  
  • Boredom and Loneliness 
Dogs are very social animals who become bored easily. They get rid of boredom by barking harmlessly at any sound they hear and just letting their energy out. In case of inactivity, they feel lonely and become prone to depression. Howling is an expression of loneliness to grab fellow and even human attention. 

How To Calm Barking Dogs

It might be hard to ignore their vulnerability but you can always try to understand the reason behind it. Simply paying a friendly visit to the howling dog can work wonders. Try to identify something that triggers the bark and remove it if possible. Distract them by clapping or ringing a bell. Also, he might be trying to warn you about a possible threat on your way, check if any. In addition to this, you can feed them bread or any other dog-friendly food that calms them down. 

Conclusion

You cannot expect the canine to respect your peace and not bark, since barking is the only way to express themselves. Make a genuine attempt to understand their problem and calm them down, instead of shooing them away. Their innocence deserves kindness since all they seek is your affection. So don’t be harsh to the most loyal creature on this planet. Befriend them instead, after all, love and care are what they deserve. 

Frequently asked questions about why street dogs bark at night 

  • Why do dogs bark at night? 
Barking is a medium of expression for dogs. It helps them defend their boundaries, express boredom, certain health issues or it might be their instinct to the environment.   
  • Do dogs barking at night have a spiritual meaning?
Dogs barking at night is considered a sign of bad luck or suspicion of someone’s death as per Hindu mythology. However, this fact is denied by scientists.   
  • Should I ignore street dogs barking at night? 
There is nothing much you can do but try to understand the reason behind the howling dog. Although the key is to not respond at least rudely, out of humanity you ought to calm them down.      
  • How to stop dogs from barking at night?
You pet the dog by feeding him or by removing any possible threat that bothers him. You can also distract him by clapping or ringing a bell.
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Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

As a pet parent who owns a dog, you may have seen it munching on grass at least a few times while out on walks. Puzzled, why do dogs eat grass? Don’t be! Grass eating is a commonly noted behavior among dogs. However, their reasons for eating grass may vary from dog to dog. If this behavior of your dog eating grass has left you wondering more often than not, then continue reading because we might have some answers for you.

 

Listed below are a few reasons that could be responsible for your dog’s behavior:

 

  1. Natural Instincts: Dogs by nature are omnivores, hence a good mix of plant and meat is what gets their palette going. Not to mention, a few theories lead us to believe that dogs may have an instinctive drive to eat grass as their wild ancestors may have survived on plants as part of their diet. Hence, snacking on grass comes naturally to most dogs.
  2. Lack Of Fiber: A dog’s meal is incomplete without consuming roughage found in fiber because it aids in an efficiently functioning digestive system. So, if you find your dog snacking on a lot of grass, you may want to take a look at his diet which might be lacking some fibers.

  3. Hints Of Anxiety: Usually dogs eating grass is not something to be worried about. However, if you notice your dog being less active and more lethargic, it could be a sign of anxiety. Separation and other forms of anxiety is nothing new in dogs. If reading this is getting you anxious, take a deep breath and relax. Calm Pet – Anti Anxiety Tablets can help. Calm Pet is an anti-anxiety tablet formulated with natural ingredients that help your dogs stay calm and relaxed. But remember – it directly impacts the pet’s central nervous system, which takes at least 3 weeks. 

  4. Boredom: If you find your dog running around munching on smaller chunks of grass, fret not. This is likely their way of trying to escape boredom or an attempt at getting you to pay attention to them. Either case, you have nothing to worry about.
  5. Signs Of Sickness: In certain cases, dogs eating excessive grass could be a sign of distress or sickness. Eating grass may help dogs with sickness or other issues, such as upset stomachs, by inducing vomiting or providing fiber to help move things along in their digestive system. If you are sensing any such distress from your pooch, we recommend you use Pacho Pet – Digestive Stimulant and Bowel Regulator. Enriched with nature’s healing powers, Pacho Pet is highly effective in boosting the digestive system by improving the secretion of digestive enzymes .
  6. Low In Nutrient Diet: Another circulating theory states how this grass-eating behavior could also be due to the low nutrients in the diet of your pup. Dogs may eat grass if they are lacking certain plant based nutrients or fibers in their diet. In this case, the dogs tend to wander around snacking on the grass to make up for the lacking nutrients.
  7. For Fun’s Sake: Dogs may also eat grass simply because they enjoy the taste or texture of it, or because they are bored or curious.

 

It is important to note that while eating small amounts of grass is generally not harmful for dogs, eating large quantities or eating grass that has been treated with pesticides or fertilizers can be dangerous. If you suspect the reason behind the behavior is digestive issues, anxiety, or lacking vitamins and nutrients we recommend you take a peep at the medicine and supplement range of Fur Ball Story. 

 

However, if you notice your dog eating large chunks of grass or exhibiting other signs of distress, it is best to consult a veterinarian and rule out any underlying health issues.

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Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety in Dogs

Humans and dogs have something in common and it’s not loyalty. Well, to your surprise, it’s ANXIETY & STRESS.

Just like humans, our lovely pooches also undergo stress and anxiety. You must be thinking that they don’t have deadlines and dementor bosses (who would take the life out of you). If they have the most relaxing life, then what could cause them stress and anxiety?

Before we dive into the causes, it’s important to understand that if anxiety in  is not treated in time, it can lead to severe behavioral issues.

Anxiety in dogs

Don’t worry! In this blog, we will turn every stone for you. We will talk about anxiety in pets, its causes and symptoms. Post this, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

 

Anxiety, to define it in simple language, is the uncanny feeling of fear and uneasiness. Are you curious to know what could lead your poochie to the dark place of anxiety?

    Content

  • Why Is My Dog Anxious? What Are The Causes Of Anxiety In Dogs?
  • How do I know if my dog is suffering from anxiety?
  • How can I treat anxiety in my dog?

Why Is My Dog Anxious? What Are The Causes Of Anxiety In Dogs?

Anxiety in dogs

There can be various causes of anxiety in our dogs. We have listed down the six most common ones.

  • Fear-Related Anxiety: Loud noise, unexpected persons or animals, elements like hats or umbrellas, unfamiliar or strange locations, particular circumstances, such as a vet visit or automobile rides, as well as surfaces like grass or wood floors, can all trigger anxiety. Even though some dogs may just react to these triggers for a moment or two, an anxious dog may respond more severely.

 

  •  Separation-Related Anxiety: Around 14% of dogs are known to have separation anxiety. When a dog has separation anxiety, he will struggle to feel at ease when left alone or taken away from his family. Unwanted behaviors including urinating in the home, damaging furniture and other items, and barking are common behavioral symptoms of separation anxiety.

 

  • Age-Related Anxiety: Older dogs are more susceptible to age-related anxiety, which is linked to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Memory, learning, perception, and consciousness begin to deteriorate in CDS-affected dogs, much like they do in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. You must’ve noticed that senior dogs are relatively more confused and anxious.

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Suffering From Anxiety?

Your little adorable poochie will display a set of symptoms. Here is a list of symptoms that will help you know that your dog is suffering from anxiety.

Anxiety in dogs

  • Aggression: Aggression can be directed either directly or indirectly. This can be related to fear-based anxiety. In some cases when a dog displays angry behavior, it means that they are afraid of the unpleasant outcome that may arise from the condition.

 

  • Urinating or pooping inside the home: Separation anxiety frequently manifests as urinating and defecating indoors. Even if they are in the house, anxious dogs frequently build themselves up to the point where they must go pee or poop in the house.

 

  • A destructive attitude: Separation anxiety frequently manifests as destructive actions. The damage is typically found near the entry and exit points, such as doorways and windows, but anxious dogs also run the danger of hurting themselves. Painful injuries can happen when a dog is attempting to escape from dog crates, windows, or even doors.

Apart from these behavioral signs and actions, there are some other signs too which can indicate anxiety in dogs.

  • Drooling or Panting
  • Excessive unnecessary barking
  • Pacing
  • Restlessness
  • Compulsive or repetitive habits (repetitive barking, growling, shivering, self-harming)

How Can I Treat Anxiety In My Dog?

There are home remedies as well as ayurvedic medications for dogs that can help you calm them down. One such ayurvedic solution is CALM PET by Fur Ball Story.

Is it safe? Will it work? What if my dog faces side effects? Well, before you go bonkers with questions, calm your mind. We will not keep you in suspense!

Anxiety in dogs

Calm Pet is an ayurvedic solution for calming your dogs. It is made from natural herbs like Ashwagandha, Giloy, Jatamansi, and Tagara along with many others. These tablets are safe and side-effect free so you don’t need to worry! If you have a small breed dog, give 1 tablet twice a day and if they belong to a large breed, give 2 tablets twice a day.

You need to administer the dog’s temperature after giving the medicine. In Ayurvedic medicine, results are not instantaneous, but rather long-term. These tablets work on the central nervous system of the dog which is why it may take up to 3-4 weeks for results to show. Stop giving the medicine if there is no improvement by the third week.

But before you begin the medication, you need to be sure that the anxiety isn’t in the genes. Certain dog breeds are anxious by nature due to their genes. In this case, Calm Pet won’t be a helpful solution. Visit a Vet or take help from an animal behaviorist to know more about the basic nature of your pet.

Dogs can’t speak about their worries like us so when we shelter a pet it becomes our responsibility to take care of their well-being. Understanding their problems in-depth will help you give them better treatment at home and improve their quality of life. Let’s not forget that in times of stress and anxiety, they made us better by just being there. This is our time to give it back.

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