We summer on a large lake, complete with waterfowl. Our miniature schnauzer likes nothing more than rolling in goose poop, and she abhors almost nothing more than baths.  Can aversion training overcome instinct in this case?

This is a common problem. Dogs’ sense of smell is their primary source of information about the world — and one of their main pleasures is covering themselves in delightful scents. Unfortunately, we tend to disagree with their taste!

This is a natural dog behavior and very difficult to train away. A few suggestions:

Manage the environment: This means curbing your dog’s freedom, at least for a while. Only let her run free when you can keep an eye on her and stay close enough to intervene immediately if she heads toward the poop. No chances to roll in poop equals fewer baths and less frustration.

Work on a solid recall: Initially, do this inside, away from enticing distractions. Slowly work up to calling her to you outside, when she’s off leash. Always use a high-value reward (something she absolutely loves and gets at no other times). Whenever you are outdoors with her, have some treats with you. Practice, with her on leash, calling her toward you when she notices the poop. Lavishly praise and generously reward when she looks at or comes to you (remember, she’s on leash) when there is poop nearby.

Build associations: If you can ever catch her in the act, immediately tell her No! and bathe her or give her a thorough rinsing with the garden hose. If you never catch her in the act, bathe her the instant you see her covered in poop. (Be careful, though. This could simply cause her to be more sneaky about doing it.)
Build strong positive associations with not rolling in poop. When you are outside together, praise and reward her for coming when called, for ignoring poop, for any behavior you like, even if means you randomly go up to her, praise her, and offer her a treat for lying on the grass and being her beautiful self.

It’s doubtful that you will cure her completely of this charming behavior, but you might be able to make it less appealing.

Far too often these days, I hear about pet food being recalled by its manufacturer. Sometimes it is because of contaminants in the food or the packaging. The latest, an East Coast recall from a U.S. pet food producer — Diamond Pet Foods — is for a salmonella outbreak linked to dry foods from its South Carolina plant.

How can we be sure that our dogs (and cats and other pets) are eating food that is not only healthful and nutritious but safe?

Debate rages about what a dog’s diet should contain. Raw or cooked? Homemade or packaged? Is kibble ever OK? One blog is too short to wade into that debate; all I will say is that every dog is an individual and every family’s needs are different. Consider how much time, effort, and money you are prepared to invest in feeding your pets; do your research; and choose the best options for your family and your pets.

However, if you (like most pet owners) choose to go the commercial food routs, there are ways to choose better quality and safer foods. While the latest recall belies the opinion that U.S.-made foods are safe, I still prefer food manufactured here over foods from, say, China. But that is only a tiny first step.

Pet-advice websites abound, many with advice on choosing a quality food; one example is the Dog Food Advisor. And, an excellent source of information and evaluations is the Whole Dog Journal. Each year, WDJ publishes a comprehensive review of dry and canned dog foods. They interview the manufacturers, trace the sources of the ingredients, and evaluate dozens of foods. To see their results, you must either subscribe or purchase the issue with the results — the dry food list is usually in the February issue. (I do not see that as a drawback; the magazine is high-quality and informative, year-round.)

When choosing my dogs’ food, I look for identifiable, quality sources of protein, and minimal fillers and potential allergens, such as corn. I choose foods that are produced by small companies that do not sell in supermarkets and pet super-stores, hoping that smaller firms keep a closer eye on quality. I supplement with fish oil, glucosamine, and lots of home-cooked additions. But each dog’s needs are different; I do not recommend specific brands since there is not a single best choice for all dogs, and I believe that a variety of high-quality foods is the best approach to balanced eating — for ourselves and our dogs.

The blog Mindful Leadership features a three-part post on choosing pet food. Check it out! Be sure to read all three posts.

Dogs can be allergic to anything we can be allergic to — presumably even to us!

Fortunately — and despite what your dog might tell you — dog allergies to cats are very rare.

And all that That itching and scratching when he’s around the cat? He’s nervous or stressed. (Maybe because he hasn’t been very nice to the cat and is worried that the cat will seek revenge.)

Many dogs are allergic to certain foods or certain plants, however.