Expert Q&A: Bad dog habits

Emma marchington, a small animal vet at Brelades Vets in surrey, is our expert in animal health.

Q My dog is eating her poo. What should I do?

This is a behaviour often seen in puppies, which adult dogs usually grow out of. It can return later in life, though – sometimes when the dog is unsettled by a change of circumstances, such as a new puppy in the household.

If she’s only eating her own poo, then it’s quite easy to break the cycle. Make sure you supervise her every time she goes in the garden. As soon as she finishes doing a poo, distract her by calling her over and giving her a treat, then scoop up the poo so there’s no temptation. It’s harder if she’s eating other dogs’ poo on walks. You may need to use a muzzle to stop the habit.

Just occasionally, a medical problem may be behind this behaviour. If your dog is adult and has suddenly started eating poo for no apparent reason, it could be worth a visit to the vet.

Q How can I stop my dog peeing around the house?

You need to make sure you’re taking your dog outside frequently, as well as last thing before bed. If the problem persists, it’ll help if you can spot a pattern. Is it happening straight after your dog eats or at a particular time of day? Do you find a wet patch on the bed in the morning? If it’s when visitors arrive, for instance, it’s probably just excitement.

A young dog will usually grow out of it, but not always. Ask your guests to ignore the dog when they first arrive. Then, once the situation has settled, get them to greet the dog calmly and quietly, bending down to his level.

A sudden onset of peeing indoors or wet patches on the bed could indicate your dog has an infection or some other problem, so it’s a good idea to book an appointment with your vet. If possible, take a sample of your dog’s urine with you.

Q How best can I discourage my dog from begging at the table?

Most dogs quickly learn how to wheedle food out of humans, and will beg at the table if you let them. The first rule, then, is never, ever to give them any food from the table, and to ask others, including kids, partners and guests, not to do so either.

To avoid temptation, you shouldn’t even allow the dog to sit near the table at mealtimes, never mind on a chair or lap. Best of all, make it a rule that when people sit down to eat, the dog has to go and wait in a specific spot – perhaps in its bed, in a different room or even in a crate if you use one. You can give the dog a snack or toy to keep it occupied if you like.

Avoid grey areas, such as handing out leftovers when you’ve finished your meal – your dog won’t be able to tell the difference between that and begging while you eat, and will end up bothering you throughout the whole meal.

Q My dog barks all the time. Is there anything I can do about it?

There can be many different reasons why dogs bark. To get to the bottom of why your dog is doing it, you’ll need to find a pattern to the barking. Keeping a ‘bark diary’ can help you identify what the triggers are for your dog.

If you become agitated or cross when the dog barks, it can make things worse, so try to keep calm. Distraction can be a useful technique and, once you know what triggers the barking, you may be able to pre-empt it.

These things take time, and your best chance of a long-term solution may be to seek advice from an animal behaviourist. Ask your vet or doggy friends for a recommendation.