I have received some more letters that I want to share with you.

Dear Grover,

I am at my wit’s end. No matter what I do, my dog Trixie gets into the trash. I have tried hiding it in the cupboard, but she opens the door. Putting a lid  on it doesn’t help, she takes it off when I’m not looking. It’s not like I don’t feed her. Please help, I am tired of coming home with trash strewn all over the floor.

Thanks for your help,

Trixie’s Mom

Dear Trixie’s Mom,

For a dog, the trash can is like going to the nearest fast food restaurant. Not knowing what we will find, we keep coming back, hoping for a big score. Even the stinky smell doesn’t deter us. I guess there’s no accounting for taste. For dogs, eating  junk is just part of our evolution.

To bring back some peace into your house, I suggest that you keep the trash in a place that Trixie can’t get to, like the garage or you can get a garbage can with a spring lid. That’s what Doc uses and I’m afraid of it. Take as many precautions as you can, dogs are and always will be scavengers.

Dear Grover,

My dog loves to dig holes all over the yard. Why is he doing that and how do I get him to stop? It’s driving me bananas. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Sincerely,

Frustrated in Fairfax

Dear Frustrated,

You have come to the right person. As a reformed hole digger myself I can help you. Doc had to figure out why I was digging to get me to stop. Being the sleuth that she is, she figured out I was just trying to get comfortable in the yard, by digging holes to lay in and stay cool. (She was right!) Instead of  letting me dig up the whole yard she re-directed me to one spot, behind the bushes where I can lay in my dirt hole and stay cool. 

The way to redirect your dog is to start by choosing a place in the yard you don’t mind having a hole. Then, bury something in the spot and when he starts digging cheer him on. We love praise and will get the message. If he goes back to the old holes, do what Doc did, booby trap them with some rocks and a little ground red pepper on top. That worked on me. Good luck!

Grover