Pets /By Steve Dale
Q: I love Mabel, my 7- month-old Boxer puppy, but not when she goes berserk tearing through the house. She does this after exercising out in the yard. Her bouts of the “willies” —which is what we call these crazy outbursts—also strike after she eats. How do we stop this behavior?— J. C., San Diego
A: This problem is more common than you think. There may be several contributing factors to “the willies,” says dog behavior consultant Liz Palika, author of “Puppy Love” (Wiley Publishing, Hoboken, N. J., 2009; $24.99). “For starters, is Mabel eating a cheapie food filled with too many grains?” Palika asks. “Carbohydrates are important, but look for sweet potato or other sources, aside from grains. Sometimes it’s a matter of choosing a premium dog food, but still read the label first.”
Palika says that merely allowing Mabel out in the yard doesn’t necessarily mean she’s getting much exercise. To insure she does exercise, interact with her; play a game of fetch. While a good old-fashioned walk offers only moderate exercise, it’s wonderfully enriching to smell the 4-1-1 of every canine in the neighborhood.
While you’re definitely not responsible for giving Mabel “the willies,” the response by family members may have unknowingly trained her to go berserk even more often. Be careful to avoid rewarding your dog with what she perceives as a game of chase (either the kids racing after her in fun, or you following her, hollering in frustration). Palika suggests that when Mabel comes in from outside, keep her on a leash. When you allow her off the leash, offer a Kong or Busy Body toy stuffed with treats to keep her occupied.
Send e-mail to petworld@stevedale.tv .
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