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Teach your dog to settle down with these seven simple tips from an expert trainer
Teach your dog to settle down with these seven simple tips from an expert trainer
Does your dog struggle to settle? If you're anything like us, you may have spent a lot of time training your dog to sit, figuring out how to stop a dog pulling on a leash, or pondering the reasons why your dog's recall isn't reliable and how you can go about fixing it.
And while all of these things are really important, many of us forget to teach our dog the most crucial skill of them all — how to relax and spend time on their own.
Whether you're meeting friends at a busy cafe and you're taking your pup along, or you have family coming over for dinner, your dog needs to be able to settle around distractions so that you're not constantly having to attend to them.
Thankfully, if your pup currently struggles to settle down you'll find the below tips from expert trainer and behaviorist Nikki Mather super useful in helping you ensure your dog's needs are met and their behavior regulated. Read on to find out what they are...
1. Let them sniff: "Dogs explore the world through their nose," Mather explains. "When they're sniffing, they're getting a brain workout as well as stress relief, both of which are important for a dog to relax. It's not always about how far you walk but about the quality of the walk." Next time you're out and about with your pup, why not try a shorter 45-minute sniffari? You may find it tires your fur friend out more than a longer two-hour walk!
2. Meet their energy requirements: While walking your dog for an hour on-leash may seem like a great idea, depending on their breed you may find that 30 minutes running around off-leash is better for helping them burn off energy. "Consider your dog's breed, age and energy levels," advises Mather "and ensure their physical, mental and breed-specific needs are being met."
3. Provide mental enrichment: "Provide appropriate, stimulating toys for your dog, such as Likimats, Kongs, enrichment boxes and snuffle mats," says Mather. "These are a great way to keep your dog occupied and allow them to engage their brains while settling down." To learn more about one of our favorite forms of mental enrichment, take a look at 'are snuffle mats good for dogs?' to hear an expert vet outline the many benefits this inexpensive interactive toy can offer your dog.
4. Provide food enrichment: With most dogs being fed twice a day, Mather feels that meal times offer a wonderful opportunity to sneak in some extra mental exercise via a dog feeding puzzle. "Give their food in enrichment items, such as Toppls, Wobblers, or scatter feeding to provide an outlet for their energy and allow them to search/scavenge for their food - all normal canine behaviors." Check out our guide to the best dog puzzle toys for inspiration.
5. Make time to play games: "Our dogs are social creatures, so make time to engage in play with your dog," says Mather. "Engaging in games together is not only a great way to tire them out, but also to build on the bond between yourself and your dog."
6. Train them to settle: According to Mather, many dogs need some extra help when it comes to regulating their behavior. "We can train our dogs to settle down on a mat to help us in certain situations, such as when guests come over or in public environments, such as pubs/cafes."
7. Ensure they have space: "Some dogs are easily distracted within a busy household and can quickly become over-excited by movement within the house. Ensure your dog has their own safe area out of the way of your busy household areas, where they can be relaxed and will not be disturbed," Mather advises.
While the above tips from Mather's are super helpful in providing a range of practical things you can do to help your dog settle, if you find you've consistently been working on this issue and your pup is still struggling to relax, we recommend speaking with your vet who will be able to offer advice and guidance.
Story by Kathryn Rosenberg: Pets Radar
Mum left in hospital for days after dog pooed in her face as she slept
Mum left in hospital for days after dog pooed in her face as she slept
Awoman spent three days in hospital - after her daughter's dog accidentally did a poo on her face while she was asleep. Amanda Gommo, 51, was taking an afternoon nap with chihuahua Belle when the pooch became ill and had violent diarrhoea.
The mum-of-three was asleep with her mouth open, top and tailing with Belle, when the messy accident occurred, and some got in her mouth. She ran to the bathroom to be sick but later ended up in hospital with a gastrointestinal infection - passed on from the pooch.
Amanda, from Bristol, said: "I was having my afternoon nap with Belle, like I always do, when I suddenly felt something squirt in my mouth. I rushed to the bathroom and my son was in the shower, so before I washed it out I had time to take a quick snap."
"It was disgusting, and I was hurling violently for hours after," she added. "I just couldn't get the taste out of my mouth."
Amanda's daughter took Belle to the vet where the pooch was diagnosed with a nasty stomach bug and put on antibiotics. But later that day, Amanda started displaying the same symptoms as Belle, so she rung 111 who sent an ambulance to her home.
Paramedics prescribed her painkillers for her stomach cramps and instructed her to drink lots of water to flush out any potential infection. After their visit, her symptoms became progressively worse, and 48 hours later, Amanda's cramps had spread all over her body.
Amanda's mum then rang 999 who dispatched another ambulance, and this time she was transported to Bristol Royal Infirmary and immediately hooked up to a drip. There, doctors diagnosed Amanda with a gastrointestinal infection that had been passed through Belle's faeces into her mouth days earlier.
She was kept under observation for three days while they rehydrated her with the electrolytes and glucose that she'd lost throughout the horrific ordeal. Amanda, who also suffers with chromes disease, said: "From the moment I got ill to when I was put on the drip, I couldn't eat a thing.
"The cramps got worse and worse until I could feel them all over my body - even in my legs. They sent an ambulance the second time, and I was so dehydrated from being sick and having diarrhoea that my kidneys had shrivelled to half their size.
"I was kept in hospital for three days until they'd flushed the infection out through a drip. My discharge note said that I'd suffered a gastrointestinal infection caused by a dog defecating in my mouth - something doctors had never witnessed before.
"I've been drinking two Lucozades a day, plenty of tea and loads of water since it happened, and I'm happy to say both me and Belle are on the mend. I've forgiven Belle for her little accident and I still love her with all my heart, but I will definitely be more mindful of what position we sleep in in the future!"
Reference:My London: Harrison Moore & Elaine Blackburne & Rory Bennett
How long do hamsters live? Life cycle of a domestic hamster
How long do hamsters live? Life cycle of a domestic hamster
If you’re looking for an answer to the question ‘how long do hamsters live?’ we’ve got you covered.
Hamsters make wonderful pets, especially for children, but the downside to having these furry friends as playmates is that they have quite a short life expectancy. Most pet hamsters only tend to live between 1.5 to 4 years.
Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. The European hamster, for example, can live for up to 8 years. However they have a shorter average life expectancy than pet hamsters as their young are often killed by predators. Fortunately they have a very high reproduction rate, which helps them survive.
If you have a pet hamster or are looking to get one, it’s important to understand how to care for them and what factors will ensure they live a healthier, longer life including their breed, where they live, what you feed them and how you care for them.
Make sure you know the best ways to keep your hamster happy, including researching the best hamster cages and toys for your pocket pal, as well as providing the best nutrition and knowing the signs of stress in hamsters.
Read on to learn everything you need to know to give your hamster the best life possible.
How long do hamsters live in the wild?
Wild hamsters tend to live longer than pet hamsters if they manage to escape their predators. The Syrian hamster, for example, generally lives between 2-3 years, but can live longer in captivity. The European hamster can live up to eight years in the wild.
Life cycle of a domestic hamster
Hamsters do not tend to have very long life cycles. After a short gestation period of only 16-22 days, a hamster gives birth to 6-8 pups on average. The pups are born deaf, blind and hairless. They are, however, one of the few animals born with teeth.
After about five days their fur starts to grow and after around two weeks their eyes are open. Pups are looked after by their mother for around 28 days. At this point mothers tend to be separated from their pups, who become sexually mature from 4-6 weeks.
Males and females are also separated at this stage as breeding is more successful after 10 weeks. Before this hamsters may be not survive. A female hamster can become pregnant again 24 hours after birth. Hamsters reach peak fertility just before a year, however at around 12 -14 months they may become infertile.
How long do hamsters live for as pets?
Pet hamsters tend to live between 1.5 and four years, although some can live longer depending on their care and the species.
These are the average lifespans of pet hamsters by breed:
- Golden/Syrian Hamster – 2-4 years
- Siberian Hamster – Around 2 years
- Chinese Hamster – 2-3 years
- Roborovski Dwarf Hamster – Around 3 years
- Campbell’s Dwarf Russian Hamster – Around 2 years
What factors affect a hamster's lifespan?
If you want to know how to care for a hamster and ways to help your hamster live longer these are the factors you need to consider:
A healthy diet
As omnivores hamsters need a mix of both protein and veg. Do your research and make sure that, whether you’re buying their food or making it yourself, they are receiving the correct amount and all the nutrients they need. A Syrian hamster, for example, requires two teaspoons of food a day; a dwarf hamster needs just one teaspoon.
There are a number of foods that are toxic to hamsters including chocolate, onions and garlic, potatoes and tomato leaves. Certain foods such as iceberg lettuce, peanuts and citrus fruits should also be avoided to keep your hamster healthy.
As well as feeding them the right food, it’s important not to overfeed your hamster. It’s not always necessary to fill their food dish with food if it’s empty as hamsters tend to hide food.
Enough exercise
Hamsters not only need exercise to stay healthy, but happy too. The best way to ensure they get enough exercise is to buy them a hamster wheel for their cage.
Hamsters love to run and will happily do so for hours. You can also get climbing toys and monitor playtime outside their cage. This is important because if they don’t get enough exercise they can become restless, bite their cage or try to escape.
While you might think about getting your hamster tunnels and tubes to exercise with, if you do, make sure the tubes are big enough as Syrian hamsters, for example, tend to get stuck and this can be quite traumatic for them.
If the tubes are attached to the walls, make sure they are secure so your hamster does not suffer a fall and injure themselves. Tubes and tunnels can be dangerous if they’re not kept simple. Avoid anything too steep or convoluted.
Know how to handle them
The key to a long lived hamster is a happy one and by handling your hamster with care you can keep them stress-free and happy. Make sure only a small number of people handle your hamster and that they all know how to do this.
Always approach your hamster slowly, make sure they are awake, alert and make eye contact before picking them up. Then use two hands (make sure you’ve washed them) – one beneath them and one above them to ensure they are safe.
Keep other pets away from them
In the wild hamsters have many predators and while your dog or cat may not eat your hamster, they could still kill them by injuring them – even if they’re just trying to play. Make sure your hamster’s cage is secure and that they’re kept away from other pets, especially when they’re outside the cage.
The right size cage
Cage size is one of the most important factors to ensure the health of your hamster. If their cage is not big enough they can become distressed. When it comes to cage size, bigger is better but you can research the best dimensions for each breed.
Syrian hamsters should have a cage with at least 620 square inches of floor space while dwarf hamsters need at least 450 square inches. If you have more than one hamster, you’ll need double the size cage.
Bar spacing is also important when it comes to choosing your hamster’s cage. You don’t want your hamster escaping through or getting stuck between the bars so research the best bar spacing for different breeds.
Syrian hamsters need no more than 0.5 inches and dwarf hamsters need no more than 0.25 inches of space between the bars.
A clean cage
To avoid your hamster getting ill from germs or bacteria, clean their cage regularly. Clear any old food or waste from your hamster’s cage once a day, carry out a deep clean once every one or two weeks including taking everything out of the cage, washing its bedding and wiping the entire cage down with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar.
A healthy environment
Lengthen your hamster’s lifespan by developing a healthy environment for them to live in – one that will cause them the least amount of stress. Hamsters do not like loud noises so try to create a quiet, peaceful space for them. The temperature and humidity of their cage is also key.
The ideal temperature for a hamster is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal humidity is about 40 percent. You can check your hamster is happy with the temperature and humidity by making sure they are not sweating, shivering or finding it hard to breathe, losing their energy or appetite or drinking more than usual. Check for signs of stress to ensure a healthy environment. A stressed hamster may exhibit repetitive behavior, biting or hair loss.
Make sure your hamster is comfortable. This includes the right type of bedding made from paper, wood, vegetables or grain as these are absorbent.
They must also lead an enriched life to be healthy and happy. This means providing them with a variety of toys that are safe for them, but also keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
How to tell if your hamster is getting older
Regardless of breed, if your hamster reaches the age of two they are considered old, but there are a number of other signs to show you that they are ageing:
- Hair loss - As hamsters get older they may lose their hair
- Eye problems - Hamsters don’t have great eyesight to start with, but as they age they can suffer from eye problems such as cataracts or even loss of eyesight. If you notice your hamster’s eyes turn more white this could be the case, but they can still use their other senses and lead a happy life.
- Loss of appetite - As your hamster gets older they may lose their appetite or become fussier eaters. This could be because their teeth or digestive system need softer foods. Try steamed broccoli, rice or omelette.
- Less energy - Older hamsters will start to slow down, expending less energy and sleeping more. They may also suffer from arthritis and have more trouble moving, bumping into their cage more often.
- Problems with their teeth - Hamsters’ teeth grow throughout their lives. Usually their teeth are filed down when they chew on food, but as they get older and start eating softer foods they may need to be taken to the vet to have their teeth filed down. Older hamster teeth may also break more easily.
- Cleaning habits - Not only will an older hamster groom itself less as it gets more tired, but their toilet habits will change. An older hamster may urinate in various spots in their cage including their bedding. However there may be fewer droppings if your hamster is eating less. Make sure you check their digestion and if they need to go see a vet.
Who is the longest living hamster ever recorded?
The longest living hamster ever recorded lived until he was 4.5 years old and made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. We know that he was owned by Karen Smeaten and lived in Tyne & Wear, but his name has not been recorded.
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