1st question - Bess my 2 yr old patterdale  whenever we are playing she'll lick my hand but she also scratches with her teeth.  She doesn't attempt to bite but she does scratch, she's only been doing this since she came back from the kennels in August.  Is this something that I should get her to stop, if so how?  Or is it how dogs are in general, I've only had her since October and don't have any other experience of dogs.  I'm probably more aware of it now since it is only something that she has started to do recently.

2nd question - A horrible one I know - re dog poo!  Recently hers have been very soft and difficult to scoop up.  Is this as a result of her eating dog chews?  Basically she has a handful of mixer biscuit and a 3rd of a tin of butchers dog food.  She has this twice a day morning and tea time.  In an evening we are giving her a raw hide chew, either the cigar type ones or the ones that look like a hot dog with the red stuff in the middle.  I have heard that raw hide can cause this problem, is this true?  Or do you think I'm giving not giving her enough to eat hence the soft poo.  Is there anything I can do to help firm them up again.  She does have problems with her anal glands and want to try and avoid her needing the vets all the time.  Not because of the cost, it's only £8 but because she is in discomfort when she gets problems with them.

Hi

re. 1st question, as soon as her teeth make contact use either a deterrent (ah!ah!) or introduce a command word such as "gently" :)  Be persistent and consistent - she sounds as though she's getting over excited and so if things are going that way stop the game until she settles.

re 2nd question.  Dogs which have repeated soft motions often do so because of diet - it can be too much food (rather than too little) or something which is slightly disagreeing with them.  I'd cut out the rawhide - personally I think they're dangerous as they can become lodged in the GI system and cause an obstruction.  If she gets these as a recreational reward rather than as part of her daily food quota, then substitute with a large recreational knuckle bone which will keep her busy and help keep her teeth clean, gums healthy :)

If the above stops loose stools and you think she needs more to eat, then increase the biscuit part of her diet or give her a late night snack to stave off hunger pangs. 

There are lots of alternative food choices available but I see no point in suggesting a change in diet if you are otherwise happy with her overall condition but would add that firmer motions should prevent the anal gland problem too.

HTH, Teri