Skip to main content
  The Importance of Sleep for Dogs: Why Phoebie Needs 16 Hours a Day If you’ve ever watched your dog snooze away the afternoon, you might have wondered, Do dogs really need that much sleep? As it turns out, they do! Sleep is essential to a dog’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall happiness. My dog, Phoebie, has taught me first hand just how important it is for our furry friends to get the rest they need and why it’s something we as pet owners should prioritize. Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much? Dogs aren’t like humans when it comes to sleep. While we often operate on an eight-hour cycle, dogs need about 12–16 hours of sleep per day, depending on their age, breed, and activity level. Puppies, like Phoebie when she was younger, often sleep even more up to 20 hours! Unlike humans, dogs don’t consolidate all their sleep into one long session. Instead, they nap throughout the day and night. This pattern allows them to recharge and remain alert for short bursts of activity....
Post a Comment

Positive Reinforcement and Structure

🐾Hello, everyone I am excited to post my first blog that goes on a journey with my fun little dog Phoebie.

When we first got Phoebie, she was a ridiculously small. We had noticed that she was also extremally thin and was covered in fleas. When picking her up we noticed the house she came from had two extremely aggressive male dogs outside. Phoebie also had bites on her ear which indicated the dogs were rough with her. We were also told that Phoebies mother had passed away when Phoebie was a few weeks old.

When we took Phoebie home, she was difficult to manage. Phoebie did not like being told what to do, she was not interested in learning basic manners either. In other words, she was a sassy little sausage dog. We linked this behaviour to her traumatic events as a puppy.

Phoebie had picked up unpleasant habits as well. These included chewing on her bed, barking consistently at everything that moved, biting her owners and our other dog Scottie. She was also overly hyper and obsessive over her toys.

At the time we understood that she was just a puppy, however as she got older these bad habits continued even after we disciplined her. To help teach her manners, we tried a couple of gentle approaches such giving her time in her crate and using a light tap on the nose when necessary. These approached never worked. It had appeared her behaviour got worse.

We soon realized that when she acted baldly, she was getting our attention, but when she behaved well, we tended to overlook it. From then on, we realised that we needed to take a different approach to her behaviour. After some research we decided to try positive reinforcement and a daily routine approach. Since Phoebie, a sassy pooch it was difficult at first, we first tired treats however this did not work. Phoebie did not care from them and simply spat them out. However, Phoebie loved her toys, especially her tennis ball.

When learning this we needed Phoebie to realise that her toys were a reward. To make her realise this, we took her toys away when she behaved badly. We then put a routine in place. Our structure included two times a day where Phoebie could eat and chew her toys all she wanted, this helped with her nipping and biting issue. We also made time to throw her ball for her, doing this tired Phoebie out. This made her calmer; therefore, she was no longer as hyper. Once these times were up, we then put her toys away till the next time. After play time we would also put Phoebie to bed as dogs need up to 16 hours asleep a day. Doing this allowed her to get more rest which was very affective with her vibrant energy.

 Having this structure in place had a significant impact on Phoebie behaviour. Phoebie was no longer obsessing over her toys; she had also learned to calm down. We found that this approach was very affective, as she was getting positive attention from us and no longer needed to act out🐾



 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  Phoebie’s Favourite Toys: The Ones That Passed the Chew Test   Every dog has their quirks, and when it comes to Phoebie, her playful personality shines brightest during toy time. Over the course of her training and daily life, Phoebie has tested a range of toys—chewing, tugging, and tossing them around. Some didn’t last long (RIP plush bunny), but a few became instant favourites, earning a special place in her toy basket. Here’s a rundown of Phoebie’s top picks and why she loves them.     1. The Indestructible Chew Toy Phoebie is a chewer, so finding a toy that can withstand her enthusiastic gnawing was a challenge. Enter the *KONG Extreme*. Made from ultra-durable rubber, it’s not only tough but also versatile. I stuff it with peanut butter or freeze it with a mix of her favourite treats for an extra challenge. Watching Phoebie roll, lick, and chew to get every crumb is a testament to how much she enjoys it. Bonus: it keeps her occupied when I’m busy! ...
Post a Comment
Read more
  The Importance of Sleep for Dogs: Why Phoebie Needs 16 Hours a Day If you’ve ever watched your dog snooze away the afternoon, you might have wondered, Do dogs really need that much sleep? As it turns out, they do! Sleep is essential to a dog’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall happiness. My dog, Phoebie, has taught me first hand just how important it is for our furry friends to get the rest they need and why it’s something we as pet owners should prioritize. Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much? Dogs aren’t like humans when it comes to sleep. While we often operate on an eight-hour cycle, dogs need about 12–16 hours of sleep per day, depending on their age, breed, and activity level. Puppies, like Phoebie when she was younger, often sleep even more up to 20 hours! Unlike humans, dogs don’t consolidate all their sleep into one long session. Instead, they nap throughout the day and night. This pattern allows them to recharge and remain alert for short bursts of activity....
Post a Comment
Read more