Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please check our FAQs listed below to see if we have already answered your most common questions. If your questions are not answered, you can call us at 1 800 525 5273, or send us an email, and we will respond to your inquiry promptly.

The FAQs are organized in five major categories listed directly below. Click on one to see all the FAQ's within that category or scroll through the page to view all questions.

• The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive™
• Training
• Behavior
• Health
• Grooming

The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive™:

1. Someone told me that PEDIGREE® is working with the American Humane Association (AHA) on California AB 1634. Is this true?
2. Why does PEDIGREE® consider the AHA a good partner?
3. Who benefited from the fundraising efforts that were part of the 2007 PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive?
4. Will the 2008 fundraising efforts for The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive be structured in the same way as in 2007?

Training Frequently Asked Questions:

1. My puppy keeps on having "accidents" in the house, what can I do?
2. My 7 week old puppy becomes aggressive when I try to take his food dish away from him. How can I stop him?
3. My 2 month old puppy growls when I try to take her toy away from her. How do I stop that?
4. My 4 month old puppy is nipping me with her very sharp teeth. She is playing but her teeth really hurt. How can I get her to stop biting me?
5. My male is two years old and does not have "accidents" in the house, he just marks in the house. Do you have any advice on how to train him not to?
6. My dog keeps on "going" on the dining room carpet--she goes outside and then she will go a little on the carpet what am I to do?
7. Me and my sister are trying to "potty-train" her 1 year old dog, but it just doesn't seem to work, what should we do?

Behavior Frequently Asked Questions:

8. My young dog is destroying everything he can get his mouth on. Is there something I can do to stop him from destroying my house?
9. How can I get my dog to stop barking at other dogs?
10. My dogs bark at every stranger that walks by the house or mail man or garbage man. Is there any way to stop my dogs from barking so much, I am worried that my neighbors are getting irritated.
11. When I have my dog sit/stay, he tends to sit there and bark at me. How do I get him to just stay...no barking?
12. How can we get our dog to quit digging up our yard? He digs huge holes.
13. We are having some trouble keeping our dog from digging up the bulbs in our rock gardens. She keeps digging no matter what we do.
14. I just put up a new fence in our back yard. With the old fence I did not have a problem with my puppy or my older dog with digging out. But since I put up the new fence they are digging out daily. How do I train them not to dig?
15. Since my dog has turned one year old, he doesn't like kids and when he's around my kids he tries to bite them and be aggressive when they touch him. When I put my shoes and socks on in the morning he tries to bite them too, I don't know what to do, how do I stop him from getting aggressive and biting?
16. My dog has gotten into the habit of nipping at my feet when I am in the kitchen only. He is showing signs of getting more aggressive. I had him neutered last June to try to calm this behavior down but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. He has also done it to my husband and daughter a few times but it is usually me he does it to. I am the one he follows around and he is more my dog than any other member of the family. If he gets something in his mouth it is very hard if not impossible to take it away. I don't want to have him put to sleep but I am getting afraid of him.
17. If I give my dog a treat, she will sit on it in the guard mode. If you try to touch her, she will snap at you. Any way we can break her of this?
18. My 4 month old puppy likes to bite when she plays. We have tried putting toys in her mouth when she does it, and telling her "NO". But nothing seems to work. I know she is just playing, but I am afraid that she is going to play bite with the wrong person or a child. Can you please help?
19. My 3 month old puppy just lately seems to be nipping (sometimes hard) at everything, including hands. Is this a sign of aggression, or natural puppy behavior? How do I go about correcting him so he doesn't keep doing this?
20. Our 3 month old puppy keeps chewing on our fingers. We correct her but she keeps doing it. Her teeth are very sharp and can be very painful.
21. My puppy is 5 months old. She is very, very hyper. She is constantly jumping or biting. She has done this since we got her at 6 weeks old, scolding her does not work. We have tried everything. She will jump on my 3 year old, out of the blue for absolutely no reason. Do you have any suggestions? I have tried a anti-jump harness, she just slips out of it (but it didn't work to start with).
22. How do I teach my dog not to jump up on people?
23. My dog is a jumper when I go out with her. She comes when I call, but jumps on me and nearly knocks me down. When I scold she seems to think I'm still playing with her. Help!

Health Frequently Asked Questions:

24. My dog is eating its own (stool, feces, poop), it is disgusting, what can I do?
25. My puppy is not quite 6 months old. She hasn't started losing her teeth yet but I expect it to begin any day now. My question is, in your opinion, when is a good time to get her spayed? She has not gone into "heat" yet, but I don't think I should be waiting for that...
26. At what age should you get your dog neutered if one should decide to do so? Does this control their urge to "thrust" at your legs?
27. My dog will, from time to time, make a choking noise which kind of sounds like honking. If I let her go outside, it makes it better. It is almost as though something is caught in her throat. She is not ill or any thing.
28. My dog coughs (or sounds like trying to clear throat) a lot, especially when she is excited like when we come back home after being out. What causes this?
29. When my dog gets over excited he begins to cough and breath hard (his cough is like a hack). I know that he has allergies and cant be around incense but this is a different cough than that.

Grooming Frequently Asked Questions:

30. My dog is really shedding a lot of his coat. Is there something I can do to prevent this. I am really getting tired of vacuuming up after him.
31. How do I get my dog to stop shedding. His hair is all over the house and it is driving me crazy!

The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive™:

1. Someone told me that PEDIGREE is working with the American Humane Association (AHA) on California AB 1634. Is this true?

PEDIGREE is not aligned in any way with California AB 1634 legislation. Our focus has been and continues to be finding loving homes for the nearly 2 million dogs that enter shelters each year and never leave.

2. Why does PEDIGREE consider the AHA a good partner?

PEDIGREE partnered with the AHA to help dogs find loving homes. We felt that AHA would be an appropriate partner to assist with efforts to help raise funds and awareness to make a difference in the lives of dogs of all types. The funds raised for the AHA are allocated exclusively to help find homes for needy dogs and are not associated with any legislation whatsoever.

3. Who benefited from the fundraising efforts that were part of the 2007 PEDIGREE Adoption Drive?

With America’s help, in 2007 more than $1.6 million was raised as part of The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive. All of those funds were allocated to help the four million dogs in shelters find loving homes. In addition, the PEDIGREE brand extended a monetary donation to more than 100 breed rescue organizations nationwide to support their efforts as well.

4. Will the 2008 fundraising efforts for The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive be structured in the same way as in 2007?

Based on the feedback we’ve received, we’re examining the possibility for a dual fundraising mechanism for 2008 that will support both shelter and breed rescue dogs. We believe that everyone agrees that it is unacceptable that there are more than four million dogs that find themselves homeless each year. And working together, we hope to do everything we can to find loving homes for these deserving dogs.

Training Frequently Asked Questions:

1. My puppy keeps on having "accidents" in the house, what can I do?

Do the following: Ask the question "(pup's name), OUTSIDE?" then take him on a leash out to an area you want him to use and give the command "(name), GO POTTY" and repeat this over and over until he goes then really praise him. Follow this procedure when he wakes, after he drinks or plays and 20 - 30 minutes after he eats. If there is an accident simply clean it up and pay more attention next time. For those times when you can't pay attention confine him in a with a wire pet enclosure, not the crate. Don't forget to follow the procedure when ready to let him out of confinement. Be consistent and persistent and you will get him trained.

Try hanging a bell by the door and when you ask the question ring the bell each time as you go out the door. He should soon associate the bell with going out.

2. My 7 week old puppy becomes aggressive when I try to take his food dish away from him. How can I stop him?
3. My 2 month old puppy growls when I try to take her toy away from her. How do I stop that?
4. My 4 month old puppy is nipping me with her very sharp teeth. She is playing but her teeth really hurt. How can I get her to stop biting me?

A well-trained puppy makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training the pup, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side.

When your puppy does any inappropriate behavior, stop it immediately by telling the pup "No". "No" means "stop whatever you're doing right now." Act early before bad habits become established. Ignore your puppy when he behaves inappropriately, rather than giving him attention. Praise your puppy when all four of his feet are on the ground.

Please check our website for additional information on puppy care and training. As always we encourage owners to seek professional advice from the veterinarian or a recommended behaviorist.

5. My male is two years old and does not have "accidents" in the house, he just marks in the house. Do you have any advice on how to train him not to?
6. My dog keeps on "going" on the dining room carpet--she goes outside and then she will go a little on the carpet what am I to do?
7. Me and my sister are trying to "potty-train" her 1 year old dog, but it just doesn't seem to work, what should we do?

We recommend enrolling your puppy/dog in obedience classes. Trainers of these classes can be an invaluable source of information for housebreaking and other behavior modifications. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a behaviorist in your area.

General tips for housebreaking:

1. When inside, closely supervise your dog or confine him/her to a small area or crate during the training process.
2. Accompany your dog outside to eliminate.
3. Take your dog out frequently, especially after eating, sleeping, and play activities.
4. Immediately reward outdoor elimination with praise and treats.
5. Provide an area for elimination that is protected from rain and bad weather.
6. If caught eliminating inside, startle your dog with a loud noise and immediately take him/her outside to finish eliminating. Reward your dog immediately.
7. Clean soiled inside areas with enzymatic cleaners. These can be purchased at pet supply stores.

Behavior Frequently Asked Questions:

8. My young dog is destroying everything he can get his mouth on. Is there something I can do to stop him from destroying my house?

Most chewing behavior is seen in young puppies due to their strong desire to explore. As dogs mature, this desire decreases and they are less likely to be destructive.

Loud noise (construction, fireworks) and separation from the family can cause anxiety-associated destructive behavior. This can often be extreme, and may require professional help from a behavioral trainer. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend someone in your area.

Behavior modification suggestions:

1. Provide chew toys that do not resemble in appearance or texture unacceptable chew items. For example, a plush toy may be similar to a pillow, child's stuffed animal or chair cushion.
2. Prevent access to unacceptable chew items.
3. Exercise and play with your dog regularly to alleviate excess energy and provide positive interaction.
4. Reward your dog with praise for chewing on appropriate items.
5. Put an aversive substance (bitter apple, etc.) on unacceptable chew items.

Consultation with a behavioral trainer is also suggested.

9. How can I get my dog to stop barking at other dogs?
10. My dogs bark at every stranger that walks by the house or mail man or garbage man. Is there any way to stop my dogs from barking so much, I am worried that my neighbors are getting irritated.
11. When I have my dog sit/stay, he tends to sit there and bark at me. How do I get him to just stay...no barking?

You might consider a behaviorist to help control this barking behavior. One behaviorist recommends videotaping the dog and seeing if something else is triggering the barking.

Barking is a normal part of canine communications. Dogs bark for many different reasons (e.g., greeting, play, solicitation, herding, defense, distress, and alarm). The motivation for the barking behavior must be determined before an appropriate treatment plan can be developed.

Barking can be complex and there might be more issues involved than you realize.

Here are some reasons:

1. Social barking (Dog barks in response to other dogs barking or as part of play). Try increased non-vocal play (e.g., fetch) and exercise: remove stimuli for barking.
2. Attention seeking (Dog receives something (e.g., attention, treats) for the barking). Try removing any reinforcement for barking.
3. Anxiety related (Specific stimuli (e.g. noises, separation from owner) trigger barking). Try identifying triggers and perform systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning.
4. Territorial defense (Intruders on or near territory trigger barking). Try blocking visual/auditory access to stimuli; systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning.

Treatments to consider:

An effective way to stop nuisance barking is counter-conditioning. The creation of a new, more desirable response to a given stimulus. It is typically used with systematic desensitization. Involves rewarding the pet for "good" behavior while undergoing systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization is the process of making a pet less reactive or sensitive to a stimulus through a graduated exposure to that stimulus.

1. Identify the stimulus or trigger for the unwanted behavior. (Is this the withdrawal of attention?)
2. Prevent exposure to the stimulus unless part of the training sessions.
3. Set-up a gradient to expose the pet to the stimulus.
4. Expose the pet to the stimulus or trigger at levels low enough to avoid triggering the unwanted response. (Low levels of attention at first)
5. Reward the pet for "good" behavior. (Some treats might be helpful in this part of the process)
6. Gradually and incrementally increase the level of stimulus until reaching the full level of the stimulus, always keeping the stimulus below the level that triggers the unwanted response.
7. Your dog might have anxiety related barking and medication intervention might be considered.

About bark collars:

Bark collars deliver a form of punishment when barking occurs. The citronella bark collar releases a harmless but disagreeable spray of citronella and may be used in conjunction with other treatments.

As always we encourage owners to seek professional advice from the veterinarian or a recommended behaviorist.

12. How can we get our dog to quit digging up our yard? He digs huge holes.
13. We are having some trouble keeping our dog from digging up the bulbs in our rock gardens. She keeps digging no matter what we do.
14. I just put up a new fence in our back yard. With the old fence I did not have a problem with my puppy or my older dog with digging out. But since I put up the new fence they are digging out daily. How do I train them not to dig?

We recommend enrolling your dog in obedience classes. Trainers of these classes can be an invaluable source of information for behavior modification. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a behaviorist in your area.

To decrease/eliminate this behavior, you must determine the reason your dog is digging:

1. To cool the body
2. Hunting burrowing animals
3. Burying or retrieving items
4. Playing, and to escape.

Behavior modification options to consider:

1. Provide a cool, shaded area for your dog to lie in.
2. Eliminate rodents and burrowing animals from your yard.
3. Provide an acceptable digging area.
4. Confine your dog to an area where digging is not possible.
5. Cover areas of digging with bricks, large rocks, chicken wire, etc.

15. Since my dog has turned one year old, he doesn't like kids and when he's around my kids he tries to bite them and be aggressive when they touch him. When I put my shoes and socks on in the morning he tries to bite them too, I don't know what to do, how do I stop him from getting aggressive and biting?
16. My dog has gotten into the habit of nipping at my feet when I am in the kitchen only. He is showing signs of getting more aggressive. I had him neutered last June to try to calm this behavior down but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. He has also done it to my husband and daughter a few times but it is usually me he does it to. I am the one he follows around and he is more my dog than any other member of the family. If he gets something in his mouth it is very hard if not impossible to take it away. I don't want to have him put to sleep but I am getting afraid of him.
17. If I give my dog a treat, she will sit on it in the guard mode. If you try to touch her, she will snap at you. Any way we can break her of this?

We recommend enrolling your dog in behavior training classes immediately. Biting can be a liability issue. Please seek professional help. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a behaviorist in your area.

Dominant-aggressive dogs exhibit growling, snarling and/or biting behavior toward their owners as well as others. Play biting is normal for puppies. However, it is important to not reward this behavior with either positive or negative attention. Puppies may also test their place in the dominance hierarchy of the family. Obedience classes will help establish the owner as the alpha, or top, dog in the family. In addition to starting an obedience-training program, neutering male dogs may help decrease the aggression. Avoiding the scenarios that provoke the biting may also be helpful.

18. My 4 month old puppy likes to bite when she plays. We have tried putting toys in her mouth when she does it, and telling her "NO". But nothing seems to work. I know she is just playing, but I am afraid that she is going to play bite with the wrong person or a child. Can you please help?
19. My 3 month old puppy just lately seems to be nipping (sometimes hard) at everything, including hands. Is this a sign of aggression, or natural puppy behavior? How do I go about correcting him so he doesn't keep doing this?
20. Our 3 month old puppy keeps chewing on our fingers. We correct her but she keeps doing it. Her teeth are very sharp and can be very painful.

It is normal for puppies to be "mouthie". When the puppy tries to bite, a GENTLE tap on the nose with a "NO BITE" command should be sufficient to correct this behavior. Consistency is the key with puppies. When the pup stops the bad behavior make sure you reward the pup with "GOOD (puppy's name)!". Puppies want to make their owners happy and you need to help them by your voice tone when they are being good.

21. My puppy is 5 months old. She is very, very hyper. She is constantly jumping or biting. She has done this since we got her at 6 weeks old, scolding her does not work. We have tried everything. She will jump on my 3 year old, out of the blue for absolutely no reason. Do you have any suggestions? I have tried a anti-jump harness, she just slips out of it (but it didn't work to start with).
22. How do I teach my dog not to jump up on people?
23. My dog is a jumper when I go out with her. She comes when I call, but jumps on me and nearly knocks me down. When I scold she seems to think I'm still playing with her. Help!

We recommend enrolling your dog in obedience classes. Trainers of these classes can be an invaluable source of information for behavior modification. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a behaviorist in your area.

Dogs are social animals and often jump up on people for attention, when excited, when playing, and as a greeting. Often this behavior is tolerated in a puppy, but as the dog gets older, it becomes annoying and possibly dangerous. Any interaction with the dog, both positive (petting) and negative (pushing away), reinforces this behavior.

Behavior modification options to consider:

1. Train your dog to sit or lie down on command.
2. Condition your dog to sit or lie down when greeted. Reward him/her immediately when performed acceptably.
3. Keep a leash and head halter on your dog when greeting people so the jumping behavior can be corrected. Do not allow the dog to be greeted until he/she is sitting or laying down appropriately.
4. Turn away if the dog jumps up. Give the appropriate behavior command ("sit" or "down") and positively reward your dog when he/she responds appropriately.

Health Frequently Asked Questions:

24. My dog is eating its own (stool, feces, poop), it is disgusting, what can I do?

Coprophagia is the ingestion of feces. Dogs are extremely attracted to the feces of all animals, as well as their own. Because coprophagy provides immediate gratification, it can be a difficult behavior to eliminate. Although coprophagy is usually a behavioral problem, there are some disease processes that can exacerbate the tendency. They include pancreatic enzyme deficiencies and diseases and medications that cause an increased appetite. Your pet should be examined by your veterinarian for any underlying medical problems.

Behavior modification options to consider:

1. Immediately clean up after your dog.
2. If your dog is eating his/her own feces, changing the diet may help. A high fiber diet may be helpful for some dogs, while a highly digestible, predominantly meat diet may help for others.
3. When walking your dog, prevent contact with feces. A wire muzzle or head halter may help, as will maintaining your dog on a short leash.

Your veterinarian may also recommend products that can be added to the food that may discourage coprophagia.

25. My puppy is not quite 6 months old. She hasn't started losing her teeth yet but I expect it to begin any day now. My question is, in your opinion, when is a good time to get her spayed? She has not gone into "heat" yet, but I don't think I should be waiting for that...
26. At what age should you get your dog neutered if one should decide to do so? Does this control their urge to "thrust" at your legs?

A dog or cat can be spayed or neutered anytime after 6 to 8 weeks of age, however, some veterinarians prefer to wait until they are 4-6 months old. The main risks of the procedures at a younger age are anesthesia and creation of hypothermia (too low body temperature). The newer anesthetics and short duration of the surgeries minimize these risks. Spaying before the first heat cycle is recommended for female dogs to decrease the chance of mammary tumors developing later in life. After the first heat, the risk is decreased but not as much. After the second heat there is no difference in the rate of occurrence. Spaying is also recommended to eliminate the possibility of ovarian and uterine problems and unwanted pregnancies. Neutering male dogs is recommended to help minimize testosterone (male) related unacceptable behaviors, as well as to eliminate the possibility of testicular disease, and substantially decrease the possibility of prostatic disease, perianal tumors, and perineal hernias. Published studies report no decrease in overall growth, etc., when these procedures are performed at 4 months of age versus 6 months. Animal behaviorists generally agree that spaying and neutering prior to sexual maturity result in more acceptable pets. Their only concern is that at 8-16 weeks of age puppies and kittens are in their "fear" period of development.

27. My dog will, from time to time, make a choking noise which kind of sounds like honking. If I let her go outside, it makes it better. It is almost as though something is caught in her throat. She is not ill or any thing.
28. My dog coughs (or sounds like trying to clear throat) a lot, especially when she is excited like when we come back home after being out. What causes this?
29. When my dog gets over excited he begins to cough and breath hard (his cough is like a hack). I know that he has allergies and cant be around incense but this is a different cough than that.

Kennel cough, also known as Canine Upper Respiratory Infection Complex (C-URI) and Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, is a very contagious respiratory disease of dogs that may last for several days to several weeks. It is characterized by bouts of coughing. A number of microorganisms have been isolated from the dogs with upper respiratory disease, including viruses and bacteria.

Dogs with mild signs do not require treatment. However, a warm, draft-free environment should be provided. Vigorous exercise, collar-induced pressure on the trachea (windpipe), and excitement should be avoided as these can induce coughing. If a dry, persistent, hacking cough is present, cough suppressants can be prescribed. Antibiotic therapy is recommended if bacterial involvement is suspected.

We recommend you contact your veterinarian for an examination and treatment.

Grooming Frequently Asked Questions:

30. My dog is really shedding a lot of his coat. Is there something I can do to prevent this. I am really getting tired of vacuuming up after him.
31. How do I get my dog to stop shedding. His hair is all over the house and it is driving me crazy!

Shedding is the normal process of fur or hair turnover. Some breeds will shed more than others. We recommend daily brushing and/or combing of your pet to remove any loose hairs. You can also try adding ½-1 tsp. sunflower oil to his/her food once daily. Your veterinarian may also be able to recommend some products to help decrease the amount of fur or hair being shed.

Phone us with your questions

Phone Consumer Affairs toll-free at: 1 800 525 5273