7 things dogs do that no matter how cute or funny, we should keep an eye on

Is there anything else you think we should add to the list?

Dogs can easily get carried away with activities that amuse them. And let’s face it, there are so many things that amuse them. And we love them when they are amused. The problem is that there are some things that can potentially be dangerous if we are not keeping an eye in our dog’s safety.

Here are some things that even though they seem to be making your dog the happiest dog in the world or they seem funny to you, you should keep an eye on:

1. WHEN YOUR DOG IS DRAGGING HIS/HER BUTT AROUNG THE GROUND

dog scooping the ground

Many people find this behavior very funny but the truth is dogs are not doing this for our entertainment. It usually means there is something bothering them and you may want to check with you vet. “Scooting” the ground can be a sign of anal sac problems, worms, rectal prolapse and fecal contamination, among others.

2. WHEN YOUR DOG DEMONSTRATES HIS/HER SKILLS OVER AND OVER TO GET MORE TREATS

You may find it cute that your dog can give you the paw or sit down 20 times as long as the food reward keeps coming in. Dogs are smart, they know how to get a treat and this may be great while you are training them or as an occasional reward, but you may want to keep an eye on what kind of food you are rewarding your dog with. If you think a small cookie won’t hurt, you may be right. But if for the sake of entertainment, you already lost count of how many cookies you have granted for some show, think again. You can always reward their cute trained behaviors by making a fuzz and with a lot of cuddles and strokes –they will love that more than food!

3. WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE BEACH AND HE KEEPS GETTING HIS/HER MOUTH FULL OF SAND

dog digging in the sand

Not all dogs love the beach, but the ones that do, adore it! It’s hard not to get lost in their happiness and enjoyment. But you have to keep an eye on them because swallowing too much sand can cause a number of problems, like intestinal blockage for example. So if you are playing catch and fetch, make sure you are not dropping the ball too much and if you see your dog digging excessively in the sand or eating too much of it, you may want to take a break and enjoy a walk or a run for a change.

4. WHEN YOU CATCH AND FECTH IN THE WATER

dog with a ball on the beach

Not all dogs are good swimmers but the ones that are, love water very much. There are too things that you should be careful with. The first one is to notice signs of exhaustion; many dogs will keep on going for the ball as long as you keep on throwing it, but as they get tired they will swallow more and more water and that leaves us to the second thing you should be careful with: the type of water they are swallowing. Dogs that are great swimmers can handle the sea without a problem but make sure they are not tired so they don’t drink salty water. And if it’s a lake or a river, make sure it’s in a natural and non-contaminated place; you won’t want your dog drinking contaminated water or full of chemicals.

5. WHEN YOUR DOG BECOMES A VEGETARIAN IN YOUR GARDEN

Dog eating plants

Dogs like to chew on grass and some plants and many times it’s their way of helping their digestion. However, there are other occasions in which they may do it out of anxiety or because they are drawn to a smell or a texture. Keeping an eye on the plants that are dangerous to your pets and not having them at home or at their reach is a first step. But you should also be careful with the fertilizers or chemical products you put on your garden because your dog may accidentally ingest them while chewing on a plant.

6. WHEN YOUR DOG HAS A STUFFED TOY THAT HE/SHE ADORES

Let’s face it, dogs cuddling with their stuffed toys are incredibly cute. However, sometimes they chew on the toy and accidentally swallow the stuffing. If it was a small piece it will just come out when your dog goes to toilet, but as they cannot digest this, you may prefer to always keep an eye on the dog with the toy to avoid him/her swallowing a bigger piece.

7. WHEN YOUR DOG IS A FAN OF WOODEN STICKS AND STONES

dog digging

Many dogs –mine included, prefer a million times to play with a stone or with a wooden stick than with a ball. The bigger the stick, the more fun they seem to have carrying it around. The problem is that chewing the stick means potentially swallowing a splinter, which can actually be very dangerous and may require surgery. So when you see your dog chewing it, take it away and throw it instead, rewarding him/her for catching it and bring it back but not for chewing on it.

With the stones of course they risk is to swallow them. So you may want to choose a proper size –a small stone may create an intestinal obstruction but a bigger stone can choke your dog. Then, just throw the stone far so your dog can find it and bring it back instead of throwing it at the air for your dog to catch.