Aa
digging at water bowl
bit of a pathetic question but its a problem
my 11 week old border collie cross staffy thinks its fun to dig at her water bowl! drenching the kitchen, just wondering if there is anyway i can stop her doing it, i tell her off every time i catch her but she still manages to get water everywhere!
thankyou!
my 11 week old border collie cross staffy thinks its fun to dig at her water bowl! drenching the kitchen, just wondering if there is anyway i can stop her doing it, i tell her off every time i catch her but she still manages to get water everywhere!
thankyou!
A little trick you can teach her, even at this very young age, is one that I just call "touch". Hold your hand out with the palm either up or facing her and lightly tap her on the nose with your palm and say "touch". Then give her a treat. Usually after doing this only a few times, you can then say "touch" and she will tap your palm with her nose herself. At that point, you know you have her attention.
When Katie is getting a bit hyper and I need to bring her "back to earth", I give her the "touch" command. She complies and that way I know I have her attention. That one simple little command helps to keep you and your dog connected during your training sessions. If she starts to appear bored, do the touch thing and you'll know you still have her attention. :)
I love Kate more than life itself, but I have been cursed with a rough Collie with the attitude and herding instincts of an Australian Shepherd! She has so much energy and such drive that sometimes it's a struggle to keep her reeled in. So "touch" has rescued our training sessions countless times! :D
Ghilly
When Katie is getting a bit hyper and I need to bring her "back to earth", I give her the "touch" command. She complies and that way I know I have her attention. That one simple little command helps to keep you and your dog connected during your training sessions. If she starts to appear bored, do the touch thing and you'll know you still have her attention. :)
I love Kate more than life itself, but I have been cursed with a rough Collie with the attitude and herding instincts of an Australian Shepherd! She has so much energy and such drive that sometimes it's a struggle to keep her reeled in. So "touch" has rescued our training sessions countless times! :D
Ghilly
thankyou for the help! it is amusing watching her do it as she finds it fun lol. we recently invested in a heavy water bowl as we all knocked the lighter one over,
we took her on her first walk the other day so shes starting to get used to them now as we take her on one every day,
she does have bursts of energy then sleeps, we both ensure that she is played with and now that she is house trained (thanks to ghillys really good advice!) ive started teaching her the basics like sit and stuff as i seem to have a knack for teaching dogs tricks, but never thought about teaching her her name and eye contact so im definately going to try that!
again thanks for the great advice! your all so much wiser than me about dogs!
we took her on her first walk the other day so shes starting to get used to them now as we take her on one every day,
she does have bursts of energy then sleeps, we both ensure that she is played with and now that she is house trained (thanks to ghillys really good advice!) ive started teaching her the basics like sit and stuff as i seem to have a knack for teaching dogs tricks, but never thought about teaching her her name and eye contact so im definately going to try that!
again thanks for the great advice! your all so much wiser than me about dogs!
peek, the 125 lb Lab next door does the same thing. LOL! Since we have a pool, the rule for visiting dogs is that they learn how to swim. Many people assume all dogs instinctively know how to swim, but they don't. Big surprise when the dog drowns.
Anyway, it took several weeks to teach King about the pool. How weird is that for a "water dog" like a Lab?! He started out standing on the steps and playing submarine. It was hilarious watching him stick his head under the water and roll his eyes up to look at us through about 3" of water. LOL!
Once he figured out how much fun swimming is, there's no keeping him out of the pool. Any time he wants a dip he wanders over and waits by the side gate. We let him in, King swims and lays out on the deck a bit and heads home. He still plays submarine - while he's swimming. LOL!
Anyway, it took several weeks to teach King about the pool. How weird is that for a "water dog" like a Lab?! He started out standing on the steps and playing submarine. It was hilarious watching him stick his head under the water and roll his eyes up to look at us through about 3" of water. LOL!
Once he figured out how much fun swimming is, there's no keeping him out of the pool. Any time he wants a dip he wanders over and waits by the side gate. We let him in, King swims and lays out on the deck a bit and heads home. He still plays submarine - while he's swimming. LOL!
When we had that little Doxie puppy, he would regularly put his whole head underwater, just for the heck of it.
He'd trot up, stare into the bowl, and submerge his head. He would do this endlessly if we let him. When he drank, he drank normally just like any dog does. He just liked to put his head underwater.
He'd trot up, stare into the bowl, and submerge his head. He would do this endlessly if we let him. When he drank, he drank normally just like any dog does. He just liked to put his head underwater.
Puppies are some pretty smart little critters! :D
I have seen many of them start this behavior after getting a snootful of water, and when I first realized what they were doing, I was amazed at how smart they were to deduce that if they could visualize the actual level of the water, they would know just how far to put their nose in so that it didn't happen. The puppies that I have seen do this have been predominantly Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Collies; all herding breeds with extraordinary problem solving skills in the first place, but I am certain that bright little individuals of ANY breed could figure out this same thing. :)
Ghilly
I have seen many of them start this behavior after getting a snootful of water, and when I first realized what they were doing, I was amazed at how smart they were to deduce that if they could visualize the actual level of the water, they would know just how far to put their nose in so that it didn't happen. The puppies that I have seen do this have been predominantly Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Collies; all herding breeds with extraordinary problem solving skills in the first place, but I am certain that bright little individuals of ANY breed could figure out this same thing. :)
Ghilly
Lots of dogs do this, it amuses them to see the water move. Your dog, however, is a puppy, and has just started to drink water on her own a few weeks ago. I'd bet that if you ask her breeder, she would tell you that your puppy experienced the following:
When puppies first start drinking water, their eyesight is not yet as sharp as it will eventually be. Because water is clear, they can't see where the water level is in the bowl and they put their nose in too far, thinking the bowl is empty, and end up dunking their nose in and getting a snootful of water. It only takes one of those experiences to cause them to start exhibiting the behavior that you have described. They start to paw at the water because it makes the water and the movement makes the water visible to them. When they can see the water moving, they know how far to put their nose in before they'll get a dunking. :)
It's actually a sign of real intelligence in your puppy, which is not surprising with her being half Border Collie. Those dogs are problem solvers and they will do some AMAZING things to figure out how to get done what they want to get done. :)
Ghilly
When puppies first start drinking water, their eyesight is not yet as sharp as it will eventually be. Because water is clear, they can't see where the water level is in the bowl and they put their nose in too far, thinking the bowl is empty, and end up dunking their nose in and getting a snootful of water. It only takes one of those experiences to cause them to start exhibiting the behavior that you have described. They start to paw at the water because it makes the water and the movement makes the water visible to them. When they can see the water moving, they know how far to put their nose in before they'll get a dunking. :)
It's actually a sign of real intelligence in your puppy, which is not surprising with her being half Border Collie. Those dogs are problem solvers and they will do some AMAZING things to figure out how to get done what they want to get done. :)
Ghilly
LOL! Some dogs simply like to play "submarine" and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. A very heavy water bowl that can't be moved around can help sometimes. Also, most dogs tend to grow out of the submarine phase, so try to work around the problem for now.
She just sees it as a game, so when you catch her playing with the bowl instead drinking, maybe try distracting her with a suitable toy. That brings up exercise. If dogs, and particularly puppies, don't have enough mental and physical exercise they WILL find ways to entertain themselves and burn off energy. Their methods generally don't go along with what we call acceptable. LOL!
Your pup is at an age where she needs a few energy bursts followed by naps. She's also at an age where her mind is a little sponge and she'll soak up anything you begin to teach her so start looking into puppy training classes. Three months isn't too early to start formal training so you have plenty of time to scout out a good school.
In the meantime, use your time together wisely and try to be present for playtime energy bursts. Direct her attention where YOU want it to be. A great exercise is to get her started on responding immediately when she hears her name. Have a few small treats in your hand and sit with your pup. Say her name once. If she looks you right in the eye, she gets the treat and praise. If she doesn't look, use the treat as a lure. Pass it in front of her nose and raise it to your eye level. The second she looks, give it to her and praise. Repeat a few times and do this daily. You'll be way ahead of the other classmates in puppy school if you have name recognition nailed down.
Your pup is capable of walking for 15 or 20 minutes, so go ahead and spend one of those energy bursts on walks. A tired dog is a good dog, so if you are supervising when and how she uses that energy, you'll soon see undesired behavior melt away.
She just sees it as a game, so when you catch her playing with the bowl instead drinking, maybe try distracting her with a suitable toy. That brings up exercise. If dogs, and particularly puppies, don't have enough mental and physical exercise they WILL find ways to entertain themselves and burn off energy. Their methods generally don't go along with what we call acceptable. LOL!
Your pup is at an age where she needs a few energy bursts followed by naps. She's also at an age where her mind is a little sponge and she'll soak up anything you begin to teach her so start looking into puppy training classes. Three months isn't too early to start formal training so you have plenty of time to scout out a good school.
In the meantime, use your time together wisely and try to be present for playtime energy bursts. Direct her attention where YOU want it to be. A great exercise is to get her started on responding immediately when she hears her name. Have a few small treats in your hand and sit with your pup. Say her name once. If she looks you right in the eye, she gets the treat and praise. If she doesn't look, use the treat as a lure. Pass it in front of her nose and raise it to your eye level. The second she looks, give it to her and praise. Repeat a few times and do this daily. You'll be way ahead of the other classmates in puppy school if you have name recognition nailed down.
Your pup is capable of walking for 15 or 20 minutes, so go ahead and spend one of those energy bursts on walks. A tired dog is a good dog, so if you are supervising when and how she uses that energy, you'll soon see undesired behavior melt away.
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