Doggy Mentor

Archive for January, 2009

Have you ever thought about going through the available options for pet adoptions? Pet lovers need not worry about finding the right furry companion for them. They are available everywhere, even on the cyberspace. But you must remember that owning pets entails lots of responsibilities. Here are some notes that can guide you before you decide on becoming a full fledged pet owner.

1. Adopting is cheaper than buying a pet. The cost will depend on the type of adoption center where you will be getting the pets. There are some places, just to give you a sample of how much it would cost, you could get a puppy for $150. If you opt to buy this, the prices usually range from $300 up to $600. Your expenses don’t stop there. You have to pay for the puppy’s vaccinations for its first years which may be about $150 up to $300. Other health tests must also be accomplished to ensure your pet’s health. It will cost you near about 50 to 200 dollars.

2. You are confident that you are getting a healthy animal as a pet. When you opt to adopt a puppy, the case is usually like this. The animal shelter will assure you that it already has gone through thorough examinations. And what are these? First, your puppy’s fleas have already been treated. You just have to maintain that in order to keep your companion well groomed. Health examinations have already been done for the puppy by the center in order to ensure that before you get the animal, it is fit in all respect. This assures you that you are getting a healthy pup.

If it is already suitable, when the animal is on its right age, the center will also provide its needed vaccinations. They also do the test of parvovirus on the pups and few of them also do a mandatory test for heart worm. Heart worm, distemper and parvo-influenza are considered terminal diseases for dogs. So you have to make sure that your pet have gone through tests for these and passed them all.

And this situation applies to all animals in your chosen shelter. They are all being given attention and proper funding to look out for their health.

3. When you are on the process of adopting a pet, you will be assisted by the center’s staff so that they can match you with the right animal. And this process is also extremely important. This is like helping you find the perfect partner or the additional family member who would be accepted by the family. If you’d like to get a dog, there are many kinds of dogs not only in terms of breed but also with the attitude.

You will find purebred and cross-bred dogs of different sizes and personalities. There are those that are shy and others with extremely high energy. You will be asked by the center if you are the type of person who loves sports and may want to bring the pet on your running sessions. Or are you the type who just wants to stay home after a stressful day and be comforted by the fact that you are no longer alone.

Pet adoptions can be fun as well as challenging. But you have to be responsible for the pet’s well-being after you have left the shelter. So be sure that you have made up your mind upon it and are ready for the commitment and feel accountable for whatever happens to your selected pet once you take the pet to your home.

Many myths are prevalent about adoption process of the pets.  Several myths about pet adoption is that the pet parent will get an animal with behavioural problems or temperament which does not suit the family.  There is also an animal shelter myth saying that animals in shelters are less valuable or intelligent that purebred animals.

To eradicate our fears of these pet adoption myths, we should know the adoption and selection process done by animal rescue groups and shelters.  We should be wholly participative in the adoption process to make a success out of the pet adoption.

Rescue groups and shelters ask a lot of questions about the prospective pet parents or adopters.Two reasons are there for this: first, is to ensure that adopter is able to provide permanent home to the new pet and next is to ensure if he is capable of handling the responsibility and financial commitment required to keep a pet.The other reason is to ensure that the adopter and the pet would have a good match. They normally do it interviews or signing application forms. 

A best way to be sure what kind of pet the adopter is interested having, is doing a research on their own.  There are several questions that will help the adopter to determine the pet, like activeness, family composition, type of residence, or love for the outdoors. 

There are several websites that displays different animal characteristics and one the choice had been made, the adopter can inform the shelter or rescuers what animal they have in mind.  Shelter and rescuers can identify what breed of animals you might be interested in.  Also they have a selection of mixed bred pets that can also display the characteristics of an animal or pet you have in mind.

Some of the questions may even be intrusive of the adopter’s personal life, but the rescuers and shelter staff are just trying to make sure that these homeless animals’ interest will be top priority.  Another step that can be done to assist the adopter to be prepared with what to expect in the adoption process is by checking the websites of shelters and rescue groups.

There are also some shelters and rescuers that do a “yard check” before the pets are taken to their new homes.  It is quite necessary since shelters and rescue groups have full grown animals that need a larger size of place to roam and have physical activities.

Some even do veterinary check with the present or former vet clinics.This to determine that current or previous pets were updated with routine examinations, shots and other required medical treatment.  While there are others who require three character references in their application papers, aside from the veterinary to be really sure. 

After these have been completed with both parties satisfied, an adoption contract is presented as a final step in the process.A contract of adoption includes information like vaccination, required veterinary visits, diet, a required spay/neuter, continuation of medical treatment as per prescription (if applicable) and return clauses if the adopter wishes to return the pet.

To fully adopt the animal, a pet adoption fee is needed to conclude the process. Normally the price ranges from $75 to $200 dollars depending on the size, animal, and vetting costs.  After this, adopters and now-pet-parents get to take home their beloved pets. 

Are you frustrated with dog chewing problems?  Why do canines engage in destructive dog behavior like this?  How can you stop destructive chewing?  Learn easy ways to stop dogs from chewing by reading this article.

Why Does My Dog Chew On Everything?

The main reason puppies chew on things is that they’re cutting teeth.  If you’ve ever been around a human baby who’s teething, you know how chewing on a teething ring helps soothe those sore gums.  It’s like this for puppies too.  They’re in the process of losing baby teeth while adult teeth are coming in.Chewing on his toys helps his sore gums to feel better.

An older dog may chew for many reasons.  One of the most common is that it helps to relieve stress and anxiety.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released.  These are chemicals that soothe and calm your dog.  You dog doesn’t know about endorphins, but he does know that chewing on things makes him feel better.

Chewing also helps to keep your dog’s teeth clean and strong.  Remember, if your dog is chewing, he’s not digging holes or barking, so there is an upside to this.

So chewing isn’t all bad.  But chewing becomes destructive chewing when your dog chews on things other than his toys.  How do you stop dogs from chewing on your toys?

How Do I Train My Dog Not To Chew?

You may be surprised to learn that your dog doesn’t know the difference between your stuff and his.  Even if he has lots of toys to chew on, he’ll still chew on a chair leg because he thinks everything in the house is a toy.  It’s up to you to teach him two things; that everything is not a toy, and that he’s not allowed to chew on things that belong to you.

Start by teaching him which toys are his.  Play with your dog, using one of his toys.  He’ll associate the toy with having fun, both with you, and by playing with the toy.  Another way to teach your dog that his toys are wonderful is to get a toy you can stuff with peanut butter or another treat.  He gets an instant food reward when he licks it out while playing with it.

If your dog picks up something that belongs to you, use the “drop-it” command, or clap your hands and make a noise to startle him into dropping it.As soon as he obeys you, give him one of his toys right away.  When he starts playing with it, reward him.  This is how you teach him that it’s good for him to chew on his own toys, but not good when he chews on yours.

Dog-proofing your home is still a good idea; put anything you really don’t want destroyed in a safe place until you know you can trust him.Or else keep him confined to one room in your home where he can’t destroy anything in your absence.

Shouldn’t I Punish Him For Destructive Dog Behavior?

No.  If you don’t catch your dog in the act, he won’t have a clue why you’re mad at him.You’ll teach him to wait until you’ve left the scene to start destructive chewing. 

Dogs operate on rewards.  If you reward your dog with attention (good or bad) for doing something, he’ll continue to do it, even if it’s something you don’t want him to do.Do your best to ignore bad dog behavior as much as possible, while praising and rewarding him when he’s a good dog.  A dog won’t continue doing something if he doesn’t get a reward for doing it.

Training your dog is an ongoing process that never really ends.  In conclusion, you’ll find that an investment in a good dog training course will repay itself many times over in building a great relationship with your dog, while avoiding dog chewing problems. 

If you’re dealing with dog chewing problems, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help to solve your problem.

Why is it that destructive chewing is a problem for so many dogs?  How to stop dogs from chewing is the question of the year for many dog owners.  Read on to find seven solutions for dog chewing problems.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

Dogs like to chew on things for several reasons.  The first is that chewing is instinctive for your dog.  Dogs play rough, and part of their play is to chew things up into little pieces.  If whatever they’re chewing on tastes good, that’s a bonus.

A bored dog, or one that’s anxious about something will chew on something to soothe himself, or to give himself something to do.There is a similarity to people who eat when they’re upset over something or need something to do.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to burn up his excess energy.  If he’s not getting the exercise he needs, he’ll find a way to use that energy, and he may turn to chewing on your shoes to do it.

Another reason that dog chewing problems surface is that you’re not giving your dog enough time and attention.  Your dog craves your attention, whether it’s good or bad.  If your dog only gets attention from you when he’s engaged in destructive chewing, you can bet that he’ll keep doing it.

Six Solutions To Dog Chewing Problems

Your undivided attention is the one thing your dog needs from you.  Play fetch with him, take him for long walks, spend time with him.  Lots of exercise will use up the extra energy he has. 

Dog-proof your home.  Put away things like shoes, cell phones, tv remotes, books, eyeglasses, and whatever other goodies your dog loves to chew on.  Dogs don’t resist temptation well, so don’t tempt him. 

Keep your dog’s size and agility in mind when you’re putting things away.  Can he jump up on the counter to get at something?  Or is he a climber?  Or is he big enough to just stand on his hind legs and reach it? 

Don’t leave your canine friend tied up in the yard all the time.If your dog is always left in a dog-proofed area all the time, he can’t learn what you expect from him.  He does need to push the boundaries when you’re there, so he can learn which toys are his, and which are off limits.

Speaking of toys, you’ll want to keep lots of toys on hand.  Give your dog two or three at a time, and swap them out every couple of days.  Dogs lose interest in the same old thing, just like we do, so give him lots of variety.

Don’t blur the boundaries.  Avoid giving your dog old shoes or clothing or towels to chew on. It’s unrealistic to expect him to know the difference between your old shoe and your new designer shoes.  To a dog, a shoe is a shoe.

The Seventh Solution – Catch Him In The Act Of Destructive Chewing

Now you have a teachable moment.  If he knows the “drop-it” command, use it.If he doesn’t, get his attention by clapping your hands or saying, “Ah-ah-aaah!” loudly.  In either case, give him an appropriate chew toy right away.  Praise him as soon as his mouth closes around it.  You’re training him that chewing on his own toys is fine, but yours are off-limits.

Punishment seldom works to stop dogs from chewing.  If you don’t catch him in the act, he’ll have no idea why he’s in trouble.  And even if you do, he’s liable to just wait until you’re gone to chew on your things.

You can see how easy it is to inadvertently give your dog the wrong idea when training him.  The best thing you can do is to invest in a good dog training course, so you’ll avoid making mistakes and having to retrain him to stop dog chewing.

If you’re trying to stop dogs from chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help you to solve your dog’s problem.

Many urban areas are experiencing problems with the increasing amount of dog litter in the streets. With the huge concentration of dogs in metropolitan areas, whether as household pets or guard dogs, the city is experiencing a comparable increase in waste materials dotting the already run-down urban landscape.

Concern over environmental pollution in general is also on the rise. Many citizens and some media reporters have made a sensation over dog litter, claiming that every disease from the common cold to bubonic plague comes directly from dog litter. Some people have gone a little too far by coming up with slogans such as “children before dogs”.

To be quite frank, dog litter presents few problems of medical concern to the average citizen residing in large city areas. The more serious health hazard is, of course, to other dogs and not to humans. Diseases such as hepatitis and distemper are passed from infected dogs to healthy ones through saliva and urine, while internal parasites are transmitted through the stool of infected dogs.

However, for a human to contract any disease from dogs would require that he walk the street barefooted or physically ingest dog waste or fleas which is, of course, highly unlikely. The argument of the “children before dogs” group is that children will unwittingly eat dog fleas and stool. We assume that parents would not let their young children to play unattended on public streets, parks and pavements; and when they are old enough to play unattended, they have been taught the basics of cleanliness and hygiene.

More likely to be of significant danger to human health is contamination of food by roaches, rats, and the common housefly, none of which seems to be exciting enough for these same people who are so concerned with dog litter.

But regardless of who’s judging who, most people agree that dog litter does present an awful smell and unsightly pollution of our environment in an area that can hardly afford it. Every dog owner is responsible for the mess created by his dog. Whether it is a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, each dog does his share in contaminating natural resources and infuriating pedestrians.

It is puzzling that some dog owners with a backyard have no difficulty keeping it clean of dog waste; but these same owners will walk their dog allow her to litter a public street.

People who have never loved a pet do not quite understand the sensitivity to nature that many animal lovers feel. But the love and sensitivity must go beyond our pets and encompass our human neighbors. We cannot ignore the rights of other people. Our dogs are our responsibility and we should not expect other people to clean up after them.

By cleaning up after our pets, we contribute to a substantially cleaner environment. It is up to us to preserve decent cities to our pets as well as for ourselves and our neighbors.

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Pet adoption fees are being collected during the adoption fees.  Whether it is a pet adoption from shelters or from rescue groups, adoption fees range from $75 dollars to $200 dollars.  There has been numerous debates over pet adoption fees. 

People who are giving up their pet for adoption think that their pets is not up for adoption but for sale.  Most people think that it is inappropriate to charge for an animal that is already homeless or soon to be homeless.  Some people interpret that shelters and rescue groups are in it for the money, rather than looking for the best suitable home for their beloved pets. 

There are even arguments  from people saying that the range of the adoption fee is to high,  something between $20 to $50 dollars will be suitable enough for “homeless” animals.As higher the fees of adoption is, as larger we make concept that people and organizations are trying to get more and more money from the buyers pocket. 

But there are realistic reasons for charging an adoption fee.  Adoption fees make sure that animals are going to suitable, responsible and secure homes.  It is a sad reality that there are dog fighting rings and animals can be used as bait to train fighting dogs.  Giving away animals can make these “homeless” animals more vulnerable to abuse. 

Paying adoption fees also shows commitment.If there are some people who are not in position to pay the adoption fees of the pet’s, is it possible that they can afford to provide other needs of the pet.  Pets do not only requires attention and time, but also they require financial responsibility.  Aside from food, grooming and day-to-day needs, there are also regular veterinary check-ups and vaccines that needs to be done. 

Pet adoption fees do not go to people’s pockets for personal use.  Pet adoption fees cover the operating expenses, pet care, medical bills and so forth.  In most cases, adoption fees may also fall short of the actual expenses. 

Pet adoption fee is sometimes determined by the vetting cost.It includes spay/neuter ( for puppies generally it takes a time of 6 weeks up to 16 weeks ) and vaccinations.  There are even adoptable animals that require dental cleaning or tooth removal or a surgery.Yet, the rescue organizations and shelters never overcharge but a nominal fee. 

For animal rescue groups, their adoption fees are usually higher than that of shelters.Often the shelters have relationship with the rescue organizations, they request these organizations to take the responsibility for animals when a vet is required and they are unable to afford. 

There are people who are doing the adoption process personally without shelter or animal rescue organization help to ensure that their pets will be taken to a good home.  Individual pet owners may charge adoption fee since there are times that they include kennel, food dishes, toys, bedding and other pet accessories before adopting.Some may need the fee of adoption to cover the cost of vetting as they have incurred. 

Why animal rescue groups charge higher fees than shelters is that are volunteers that provide care and training for animals using their own personal finances.  Rescue groups do not have corporate backing.  Rescuers use their funds for looking the best possible match,  setting up transports, calling adopting family prospects and reference checks. 

Pet adoption fees are justified by having a healthy companion or additional family member.  Let’s remember that pets are not toys to be discarded when we are already done with playing them.

Because we are living in the materialistic world it is hard to believe but true that the pets having no value are considered as disposable.

In any decision that you do in life, you must think hard about it in order to arrive at the best choice as much as possible. In the end, it is also you who will suffer or who will benefit from anything that will arise from that. Pet adoption considerations must also be at the top of your mind if you want to venture into this situation.

The reason for adopting a pet

your reasons might be very simple like, you wish to have a companion. The pets of your choice will depend on your lifestyle. You don’t want to get an animal that will require a lot from you physically if you cannot really afford the time to give it to them. You can just settle for a tamer one like a fish, rabbit or parrot that will serve as a companion white they really don’t ask you for too much attention. It will be enough for you to give them their basic necessities like shelter, warmth and food.

You may also want to acquire a pet because you merely want to make a difference and help in this good cause. You may have a soft spot for animals especially for those that have been left in shelters or have been cared for by charitable institutions. It is a good sign which can take you towards a brighter future in pets caring. Just be sure about the fact that you are ready to handle the responsibilities  needed from you when you opt to trek this way.

Never give pets as a gift.

This is a must. The reason for this is very obvious. The recipient of the gift may not be ready to owe up to the responsibilities that your gift comes with. What do you think will happen to the animal when they are handed to an unwilling owner? You may have your own reasons why you give the pets as gifts. You may think that you’ve already assessed the recipient based on the facts that you know about them. But for sure, there are certain spots that you do not know about them. The pets may end up in shelters or may also be given out to others. The worst thing that could happen is for the pet to be ignored and may cause its health to diminish.

What are the other considerations?

Owning pets will give you lots of joy. But these are animals. You cannot teach them to tidy up by themselves. So expect the unexpected. Prepare yourself to clean up your pet’s mess that may be distributed even on your favorite parts of your house. You can teach your pets tricks and share with them some manners. But you must not expect them to follow what you are saying all the time. They can be clever however you are more superior than them. You cannot

People who never had pets earlier, often entertain the thought of being a pet owner when a free pet adoption opportunity arises. Those who entertain the possibility of using these free channels often do not request to get their own pets because they are confused as to how to go about the entire process. Luckily, there are a lot of adoption centres and shelters that can assist families and homeowners in their pursuit of the perfect pet.

One of the best places to look is a rescue organization. These rescue organizations for pets are part of a big effort in order to help save the almost 7 million pet dogs and cats that die due to the lack of care and overpopulation in the streets. Their goal is to keep these animals of the streets, and possibly, find for themselves a sustainable home to stay in for the rest of their lives.

By keeping this aim in mind, these rescue organizations try hard to be sure that they find the best possible home for the pets they rescued. They do this firstly by making use of the services of volunteers. More than a strategy to cut costs, the use of volunteers in the facility helps them make sure that they know the pets they have very well and that these pets are well taken care of.

This is because volunteers at pet shelters and rescue organizations are often individuals who are very much interested in taking care of animals, and invest time and effort in getting to know animals in order to give them what they need. Because they know these animals so well, they are also able to know what sort of environment will best suit the pet once it is ready for adoption.

They also have a series of application steps and screening interviews for prospective adopters. It helps them in determination of  intentions of prospective pet owners seeking for adopting pets. Additionally, they are capable of assessing, which of the pet will me more suitable for the person who is seeking to adopt pet. Through the series of interactions these volunteers have, they are able to cross-reference about the pets they’ve taken care of with the personality of the prospective owners.

Some of these individuals seeking to adopt pets can come into the facility already looking for particular breeds, or are more inclined to a pure-bred dog or cat over a mixed breed. What they may not expect, however, is that these rescue facilities can have a 30% population of purebreds at any given time. This, of course, is not to disparage the remaining 70% of the hybrids, who are equally wonderful as pets.

As they go through the entire application process, these rescue facilities often offer adoption counselling, which will allow the individual or family adopting to cope with the challenges of adjusting to a new pet.As a matter of fact, they have to be sure that their lifestyle conditions and their current home are appropriate in providing attention, love and caring to the potentially abused pet.

If, for some reason, some incompatibility results regardless of the preparation already put into place, these rescue organizations offer individuals the opportunity to return a pet. This is to help reduce the probability of pet owners simply leaving their pets out in the cold, or neglecting them because of an inherent dislike. At the end of the day, the goal of these rescue organizations is to keep these pets in safe homes, making an incompatibility compromise necessary.

At the end of the day, free pet adoption shouldn’t scare people, especially with shelters offering as much assistance as they can along the way.

If your canine friend is showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs, there are several dog behavior modification techniques you can use to change his behavior. 

How To Handle Mild Cases Of Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing to do is to keep your comings and goings low-key.  If your dog is overly excited when you come home, and jumps around in happiness at your return for more than a minute, this isn’t a good thing. 

Many dog owners make the mistake of encouraging their dogs to get worked up when they come home.You may not see anything wrong with it, but you’re really teaching him that your coming home is the highest point of the day.  The problem is that when you need to leave again, it makes it even harder for him to see you go.

Try leaving your dog with a piece of clothing that has your scent on it.  Dogs with separation anxiety often find it reassuring to sleep on an old sweatshirt or t-shirt that you’ve worn recently.

Without knowing it, you’ve already established “safety cues” for your dog.  A safety cue is an action you take upon leaving that tells your dog you’ll be back soon.  For example, when your dog sees you going out with the trash, he knows you’ll be right back, and he doesn’t get upset.

A good technique is to use safety cues with your dog.  If you know you’re going to be gone for a short time, you can leave the radio or tv on, or give him a certain toy to play with.  Use these safety cues when you’re practicing with your dog so he gets to know what they are. 

Be careful though.Don’t use a safety cue like leaving the radio on for longer than your dog can tolerate, or it won’t be effective any more.  These cues are useful for shorter absences. 

Dog Behavior Modification For More Severe Cases

If your buddy has a severe case of separation anxiety in dogs, you may want to try these dog behavior modification techniques.  Keep these sessions short, but do them several times a day.

Start by putting on your coat and grabbing your car keys like you usually do when you leave, but then sit down.Do this until your dog is no longer upset by it.  Next, you’ll do these things and go to the door and open it, and then sit back down.  Again, keep doing it until your dog shows no interest.

Next, go out through the door, leaving it open, and then come back in.  The next step is to go though the door, and close it behind you.  Immediately come back in.  Progress to staying outside for a few minutes and coming back. 

Remember to keep your exits and returns very low-key.  You don’t want your dog to get excited that you’re back.  His attitude should be, “ho-hum, it’s you again.”  If your dog gets upset at any point, you’re going too fast.  Go back to any earlier step, and start again.

You can see how you’re desensitizing your dog by teaching him that you can go away for longer and longer periods of time and still return safely.

Don’t Make The Mistake Of Teaching Your Dog The Wrong Lessons

In conclusion, now you understand how easy it is to unknowingly train your dog to do what you don’t want him to do.  Avoid these mistakes by finding a dog training course that shows you how your dog’s mind works.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can deal with separation anxiety in dogs once you understand how your canine friend thinks.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone?Separation anxiety in dogs is a common reason why dogs chew up furniture and clothing, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone.   By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem. 

You have two goals with this training.  The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.

Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training

It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order.  The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top.  Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family.  Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.

Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you.  We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap.  It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast.  It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you.  He needs to learn that he doesn’t have to be in constant contact with you to be happy.

Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you.  If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed.  Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom.He’s learning to become more independent of you.

Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has.  A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.

This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home.  Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there.  It’s best to ignore your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, and again when you return.

Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone

Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands.  He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.

Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv.  Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave.  At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you.Slowly lengthen the amount of time that you’re gone.  Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back.  He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded. 

Find a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy your belongings.  Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself.  Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you.  Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat.  Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. Remember to put these toys away when you’re done with the training session.

What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return.  This is teaching him that being away from you isn’t so bad after all.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it.  You’ll want to look for a good dog training course, so you can avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your dog behavior problems.

Learn more about dog separation anxiety training, by visiting No More Bad Dogs to find an effective dog training course that uses these principles.