Why is my puppy obsessed with vet treats and suddenly cranky?

I do have clients who have dogs that are moody like Bongo. Sometimes it helps if they get a trainer to come to their home and other times they need medication for life. If the medication helps then I would recommend putting him on that and also getting a trainer to come to your home to try and work with him. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Food aggression or toy aggression is a common behavioral concern that can often be worked through. I would recommend hand feeding Sadie for each meal and teach her to “wait for it” before allowing her to eat. Once she is sitting and listening then allow her to eat. Start with a small amount in your hand, then put some in her bowl from your hand, then desensitize her to your hand in her bowl. I would also train her to “wait for it” for any toys she may love. If she is food motivated then she will associate this training with lots of reward and will learn not to “guard” her food or toys. If she is fully vaccinated then she is at a great age to begin puppy kindergarten. These classes are a great way to bond with her, establish boundries, and strengthen your relationship.

Ginger is adorable! Thanks for including pictures. I have a few thoughts. If Ginger is stealing food, her appetite or weight have changed, or there any other abnormal signs, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her to make sure there isn't a medical cause for the change in her behavior. It says that you are in Canada. Are Ginger's activities different in the winter? Certainly cabin fever can affect our dogs as well as us. If so, I would be creative about finding ways to keep her busy inside. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for her to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. You can keep her mentally and physically busy during meal times using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps my dog busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even thought you have done training with Ginger, you could consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, you can work on training some new tricks at home. Mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is also a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are also a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that I am intrigued about. clever.pet So, regardless of the cause of Ginger's bad behavior, I think the key the a well behaved dog is to vary their activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire her out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I would recommend taking your dog to the vet for an exam, as there are definitely some medical conditions that can cause a dramatic increase in appetite like this. Some possibilities would include Cushing's disease, diabetes, a thyroid tumor, or a problem with absorbing nutrients from the GI tract. Your veterinarian can do blood work or other testing if needed to help determine what may be causing this.

The snacks can interfere with training because Pocky is more interested in the treats than in you. It is certainly not necessary to use treats to train, and I don't use them in beginner obedience for this reason. Second, treats can undermine the trainer's confidence if he relies on them--he comes to think he "needs" them to make his dog respond. . And last, rewards need to be given aat precisely the right time, and most amateur trainers are not good at rewarding with goodies initially. Aussies are very receptive to training, so feel free to forget about the treats and just let the trainng be between you and your dog. Good luck!

Not eating is typically one of the first signs of illness. It could be caused by a dental problem, systemic illness, infection, or injury. Without seeing Oggy in person, I can't say for certain why she is not eating much. Because this has been going on for 3-4 days, it's time to see the vet. I'd take her into a vet today. Best of luck.

First of all, Bella is adorable! I'm sorry to hear that she hasn't been feeling like herself today. It is possible that the fish stick treat may have caused a bit of gastrointestinal upset that could be causing this lethargy, or she may have a virus or other medical condition. If she is still eating and drinking normally without any vomiting or diarrhea, you can continue to monitor her today to see if she perks up tomorrow. However, if she refuses to eat or drink, or begins to develop signs of vomiting or diarrhea, it would be best to take her to the vet for further evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, be sure to take the fish stick treat away in case this is part of the problem. I hope that she's feeling better soon!