Doggy Mentor

Archive for January, 2009

Are you just plain fed up?  Does your pet go into a frenzy of destructive dog behavior whenever you leave him alone?  Is separation anxiety in dogs making your hope of having a happy, well-behaved dog into a nightmare of facing a mess every time you come home?

Unfortunately, you’re not the only one.  This condition is the second most common reason that dog owners have for giving up a dog, or even having him to put sleep.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  

Here are five things you must know about dogs with separation anxiety.

What Is Canine Separation Anxiety?

Basically, your dog has a panic attack when you leave him alone, usually within a half hour of your leaving.  Your canine may show the following dog behavior problems:

• High-pitched yipping and whining, in hopes of getting you to come home
• Digging at doors and windows in an effort to escape
• Inappropriate urination or defecation, even if he’s housebroken
• Destroying furniture, clothing, or whatever else he can get into

Your dog isn’t doing these things to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared.

Why Does My Dog Have This Problem?

Nobody knows for sure why some dogs with separation anxiety develop this condition, and others don’t.  Some breeds, including Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales are more likely to develop canine separation anxiety.  

Being gone a lot often contributes to the problem.  Dogs are social animals who need lots of interaction with their owners to be happy.You can break up the day for a lonely dog by taking him to a doggy day care, or having somebody come by to walk him during the day and spend some time with him.  

Avoid Making A Big Fuss When You Get Home

Does your dog greet you when you get home by jumping around and barking, almost to the point of being out of control?  Do you encourage this behavior by petting him, and lavishing attention on him when he’s acting crazy?  

Avoid making this common mistake.  It’s flattering to have your dog so happy to see you, but giving him attention when he acts like this only reinforces the idea that your daily homecoming is the highest point of his day.Although your dog is depressed when you leave for work in the morning, he’s nearly manic when you get home in the evening.

Keep your comings and goings low-key.  Yes, he should be happy to see you, but not excessively so.

Are You The Alpha Male Or Is Your Dog?

Many dog owners make the mistake of trying to treat their dog as an equal.You need to realize that dogs are pack animals, and there’s always a pack leader.  If you aren’t the alpha dog, there’s a leadership vacuum that your dog will step up to fill.  

If your canine thinks he’s the pack leader, he may suffer separation anxiety in dogs if you leave.  This is because in the wild, the pack leader can leave the pack and come back.  However, the other dogs (the followers) don’t have this option of leaving their pack leader.  

Your dog sees you leaving, and this upsets him because he believes he’s responsible for you as his pack member.  This is another reason you need to be the pack leader, not your dog.

The Right Training Is Key

Dogs don’t think the way we do.  They run on instinct much of the time.  Learning how your canine thinks is very important to avoid dog behavior problems.

A good dog training course that teaches you how your dog thinks is worth its weight in gold.  Instead of inadvertently rewarding your dog when he does the wrong things, you’ll be able to quickly and easily train him, once he understands what you want him to do.  

Your goal now is to take charge of your canine, and work with him to end separation anxiety in dogs.

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.

Is separation anxiety in dogs a problem for you and your canine friend?  Is it bad enough that you’re thinking of giving up your dog, or even having him put to sleep?  Don’t despair.  Dog separation anxiety training can help solve this problem.

Dogs And Separation Anxiety

The fundamental point of any dog training program is to establish that you’re the pack leader.  Doing this will nip a lot of dog behavior problems in the bud.  This is important because many dogs with separation anxiety think that they’re the pack leader, or alpha male.  In the wild, the pack leader may leave the pack for a while, but his followers never leave him.

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha male, he’ll get upset when you leave.  He feels responsible for you, and thinks something may happen to you while you’re gone. 

Another issue to avoid is allowing your dog to get too attached to you.When interacting with a dog struggling with separation anxiety, remember that you need to be the pack leader.You should be the one who initiates the contact, not him. 

You want to encourage your dog to be more independent.To keep your dog from getting too dependent on you, have others in your household feed and walk the dog too.  Don’t let your dog sit or sleep within three feet of you.  This means no sleeping on your bed.  If he is already, train him to sleep at the foot of the bed, and then in his own bed.  Eventually move his bed out of your bedroom completely.

Don’t make a fuss when leaving or coming home.  It’s very tempting to encourage your dog to jump around and get excited when you return home, but it’s a bad idea because it reinforces your dog’s notion that your return is the high point of his day.

Dog Separation Anxiety Training

You’ll want to use positive reinforcement techniques to teach your dog that being alone isn’t a bad thing.  Do this by rewarding his good behavior and ignoring bad dog behavior.

An example of this is using the “sit-stay” command.This action can be repeated many times as the day passes.Your plan is to walk away from your dog and out of his sight while he’s in the “stay” position.Reward him with a favorite treat when you return to the room, if he’s still in the “sit” position.  This teaches him that he can be in one place and be happy while you go someplace else. 

You can start this training very easily when you’re watching tv.  You get up for a snack, and tell your dog to “sit-stay.”  When you come back, reward him.During the course of the day, do this as often as you can.  Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog, and the length of time he waits for you to return. 

Always reward him with a tasty treat for waiting quietly for your return.  This is the positive reinforcement he receives for waiting quietly for your return. 

If your dog follows you, return him to the “sit-stay” position and work on him staying as you walk away.  Never punish your dog during these sessions, as it will only make him more anxious. 

A Good Dog Training Course Is Essential

It’s very easy to give your dog the wrong idea during dog separation anxiety training.  Be sure to find a course that will teach you how your dog thinks to avoid inadvertently teaching him the wrong things.

Now’s the time to start putting these ideas into action.

Learn more about dog separation anxiety training by visiting No More Bad Dogs, and find a dog training course that will help to solve your dog behavior problems.

It is natural for a 100% true-blue pet dog lover to give the best to their dogs especially when it comes to food. There are so many things that they don’t know. What they don’t know and if they still keep doing it, it will be dangerous for their dogs. Example, it’s not advisable to give your dog chocolates. It is not advisable, according to a local vet, to give your dog food fit only for human consumption. You don’t even have to give your dog those expensive commercially-available dog foods. There is a secret on what kind of food you should give to your dog. Would you like to know the secret? Well, then, you better get yourself scanning and reading this Dog Food Secrets review today and see how you can give your dog the love it deserves through the food that you give without sacrificing your dog’s health and your wallet’s health as well.

So, what are things you can learn in this review site for dog food secrets? In this review site, you will learn what foods are best for your pet dog, what foods can be dangerous for them and how to really take care of them. Here, you will also get to know one of the best Dog Food Secrets Book that nobody has ever told you about, not even the contents or the articles found inside this book guide. All the secrets are revealed in here. Other book guides especially those that teaches all pet dog lovers teaches only the “tip of the iceberg” but this one is no holds barred. Every secret is revealed and that’s just only on Dog Food Secrets reviews and you still haven’t got to the book. Now, what else can you see in this site before actually going for the book itself? Here you will learn that this dog food book secrets can also teach dog owners how to properly feed their respective dogs. Many people have this misconception that feeding the dog as often as you can manage is good but that’s not the way it is. A good nutrition or the right diet is also good for dogs or any other domesticated animals for that matter. It’s not only bones, bones, bones, or meat, meat, meat but a healthy and balanced eating habit and it’s up to the owner how to feed their dog.

If you think that you are really your dog’s best buddy, then, you should have this e-book guide with you without delay but always remember, get first to this Dog Food Secrets reviews site to find out more about everything you need to know regarding dogs, dog care and dog food secrets.

It is a worry when it comes to finding suitable care for your dog whilst you are away on holiday or even for a long weekend. It is so important to know that they are well cared for.

One thing to consider is if it would it be better for the dog to be with the company of other dogs or would it possibly be best to have someone who is prepared to house sit and look after the dog. There are a lot of people who do offer this service. At least if the animal is at home there will be no upheaval from his usual routine and therefore he would feel more secure when you are away.

If your dog has a medical problem, for instance arthritis or diabetes then it might be a good idea to contact your vet to inquire if they have anyone that they can recommend. Ask friends and family members if they have anyone that they can recommend. A follow up call to find out if they were really satisfied with the care of their pets is always a good idea.

If using a boarding kennel always request a tour of the place before you make a commitment. Always check for overall cleanliness, friendliness of the staff and check out their knowledge of animals as regards proper feeding and exercise etc.

Always ask to take a look inside the kennel that your dog would be allocated. Make sure that it is really clean and hygenic and that means the actual bedding etc. Most kennels nowadays have special heavy duty washing machines to help cope with the continual turnaround of the animal bedding etc. These are similar to veterinary laundry equipment which again is designed specially for heavy duty washing requirements.

If you opt for the first choice of having the pet carer come to your home then make sure you follow up on references and it would be a good idea to introduce them to your pet before you actually go away. Some important points to look for are good understanding with the animal and a willingness to adapt to their schedule.

And finally make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date well in advance of your holiday.

Have you ever wondered why separation anxiety in dogs is a problem for some canines, but not for others?  If you’re dealing with destructive dog behavior, you may be wondering if it’s because your dog is bored, or if it’s because you have one of the four to eight percent of dogs with separation anxiety.

Although a bored dog and a dog with canine separation anxiety may both engage in destructive dog behavior, the difference lies in when the behavior begins.When their owners leave them alone, dogs with separation anxiety will go into a panic attack.The problem dog behavior begins within a half hour, or less, of your leaving.  A bored dog, on the other hand, will be happy for a couple of hours, but then start destroying things to amuse himself.

Are Some Dogs More At Risk For Canine Separation Anxiety Than Others?

Separation anxiety is when a pet panics when he’s left by himself.  All puppies show some signs of separation anxiety.  But most of them outgrow it as they mature.  

Long-nosed breeds of dogs, like herding and guarding dogs, seem more prone to this condition.  It’s also seen more often in spaniels and setters.One vet made the obthat dogs with this problem usually are thin and are prone to digestive upsetsservation.  

Separation anxiety in dogs happens in both males and females.  It doesn’t seem to matter whether they’ve been spayed or neutered or not.  It usually starts when the dog is between five months and two years of age, although older dogs can be affected as well, usually suddenly.  Sometimes a dog owner thinks their older dog is becoming senile, but the problem is really separation anxiety instead.

Other Risk Factors For Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Sometimes puppies that were rejected by their mothers, or who were taken away from their mothers too soon, will develop separation anxiety.  Although dogs that have been bounced from one home to another may develop it, a history of abuse doesn’t seem to make a dog prone to it.  

Sometimes dogs in close-knit families who suddenly lose a family member to illness, death, or divorce develop this problem.  If a favorite person leaves to go to college, or a new baby suddenly takes up a lots of the favorite person’s time, it can have an impact on a dog.  

The problem of separation anxiety often runs in the family in humans, and this is true of dogs, too.If your pet has a parent or litter mate with separation anxiety, he’ll be at higher risk of developing it than a dog that doesn’t.  

Sometimes the problem lies with the dog owner.  It can be flattering to have a dog that follows you around, not letting you out of his sight for a second.  It’s tempting to give your dog lots of attention when you get home and he’s so happy to see you that he bounces around, barking and giddy with joy, for several minutes.  

However, while your dog should be happy to see you when you come home, his happy dance really shouldn’t last for more than 30 seconds to a minute.  Anything longer indicates that your dog has a problem, and it’s not good to encourage it.

How Can Dogs With Separation Anxiety Be Helped?

Your vet does have drug treatments available for dogs with severe cases of canine separation anxiety, but it’s best to try dog behavior modification techniques first.

You can take steps to desensitize your dog to your leaving.This is a long process that can’t be rushed, but many dog owners find success with it.  A good dog training course can be extremely helpful, especially one that teaches you how your dog thinks.

Go ahead and invest in a dog training course that teaches you how your dog’s mind works.  This is the best way to avoid inadvertently training him to do exactly what you don’t want him to do.

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

If separation anxiety in dogs is a problem for your pet, there are many things you can do to help.  There are also many things you can do to make the problem worse.  Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for dealing with dogs with separation anxiety.  We’ll look at the “don’ts” first, and then finish up with the “do’s.”

Here Are Some Don’ts For Dealing With Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing you need to know is that you should never punish your dog when he’s acting out because he’s scared.  This will only make him even more anxious.  Plus, unless you catch him in the act of destructive dog behavior, he won’t know what he’s being punished for.

You need to rethink how you interact with your dog. The problem of separation anxiety in dogs is often related to dominance issues.  A dog who thinks he’s the pack leader will be anxious when his followers leave.  This is because in the wild, although the leader can leave the pack for a while, the other members of the pack can’t leave the leader.

To assert your position as pack leader, try these suggestions.  Instead of giving your dog attention every time he asks for it, you should be the one initiating contact with him.  Feed him after you eat, because pack members eat only after the alpha dog has eaten.When you take him for a walk, make sure he is either walking next to you or behind you.  Don’t allow him to pull on his leash ahead of you, because the pack leader always goes first. 

Discourage your dog from becoming too attached to you.Keep him a yard away from you when he sits down or lies down.You may need to put something on the floor or rearrange the furniture so he can’t get too close. 

Don’t let your dog sleep on your bed.  Ideally, he shouldn’t even be in the same room.  Start out by making him sleep at the foot of the bed, and then get him a dog bed to sleep in.  Eventually move his bed out of your bedroom.

If there are other people in the household, take turns feeding the dog and taking him for walks.  This way your dog won’t become too dependent on one person.

Here Are Things You Should Be Doing To Help A Dog With Canine Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to find out that your dog knows you’re leaving a lot sooner than you think he does.  You may go take a shower, comb your hair, put on your work clothes.Your canine buddy pays attention to these things, and he associates your doing them with your leaving. 

Your goal here is to desensitize your dog to these cues that you’re leaving.  Do these same things, but then stay home.  Get your car keys, and put on your coat.  Then sit back down.  This is a slow process, and you’ll have to do it many times over several weeks, but eventually your dog won’t get upset when you do them.

Do make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise.He needs a couple of long vigorous walks every day, both in the morning before you leave, and again in the evening.  This will use up excess energy, and help him to remain calmer in your absence.

Keep your exits and entrances low-key.  Ignore your dog for twenty minutes before you leave, and again for twenty minutes when you come home.If he gets worked up when you return, don’t encourage him by giving him your attention.  You want him to learn to accept your comings and goings in a matter-of-fact manner. 

Do invest in a good dog training course.  You’ll want to choose one that focuses on teaching you how a dog’s mind works.  If you don’t understand  how your dog thinks, it’s very easy to give him the wrong idea when trying to train him.

Don’t make the mistake of inadvertently training your dog to do the wrong things.   A good dog training course is the easiest way to solve the problem of separation anxiety in dogs.

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

If you are one of the many people who suffer from allergies you know how uncomfortable it can be.

Imagine how hard it must be for your dog to suffer with allergies. She cannot complain and she cannot ask for help. So as responsible dog owners it is up to us to figure out when she is having an allergy outbreak and to provide her with medicine as soon as possible.

Similar to humans, dog allergies are usually passed through genetics from parents to puppies.

There are several things that can cause an allergic reaction in a dog. The more common dog allergies include dog food allergies, protein allergies, allergies to pollen, and dog skin allergies. The good news is that with proper treatment and monitoring they can all treated. For allergic reactions to dog food try and change the food until you find one that does not trigger the reaction. You should be able to find other treatments for other types of allergies.

If you believe your dog has allergies then schedule a vet appointment. You vet can examine her and then recommend the best course of treatment.

The easiest way to indentify dog allergies is to know your dog. Know what “normal” looks like for her. That way, you can probably tell when something just doesn’t seem right. This can be helpful not only in identifying potential allergies, but it can help to identify the start of other illnesses as well.

There are many dog allergy symptoms that can help you to figure out that your dog may be allergic to something. She may be scratching constantly, or even gnawing at her skin. There is no sure set of symptoms that you can use to identify your dog’s allergies since there is no telling how a dog will exactly react to something.

So anything that seems out of the ordinary is cause for further investigation. Try to find out what is causing the change in your dog’s behavior.

Dog allergies should be indentified and treated as soon as you can. This can help you poor little dog to avoid additional pain and discomfort and bring her some relief to her allergy suffering.

If you got your dog from a breeder then it is quite likely that they can tell you if her parents had dog allergies too. That may make it a bit easier to pinpoint what she may be allergic to.

Read the rest of the articles in the dog allergy series.

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As a pet dog lover, you always see to it that you give all the best in the world for your furry best friend. There are even some who would go undergo the extreme of enrolling their dogs to an obedient school for a long time. Well, that would be a swell idea if you have the financial resources. They can also opt for a trainer who can train their beagles right in the comfort of their own homes. If you have the financial resources, go ahead. But sad to say, most dog owners can’t seem to handle in investing in these things. That’s why, they would resort to going through the Web, browsing for an online dog training course and help them learn how to train their own dogs.

If you really want to train your dog on your own, this is also what you need to find. There are many rewards in learning how to train your beagle. First of all, you can create a stronger relationship with your pet. Among all people, you are the only one or your children, for that matter, knows the attitude of your pet and training him on your own can be much easier as compared to employing a dog trainer. A dog training course that you can do on your own is much cheaper. You might, for example, find a system or an e-book which you will only pay for a minimumlesser amount and you can train your loyal friend with it and you can even apply your knowledge from what you’ve learned from a book guide on other dogs.

For the last one, training your own hairy sweetheart won’t really be a hindrance to your time and your other important duties. You can set out your fixed schedule on when to train your dog efficiently. But the thing is, where can you find a an efficient method to train your dog? If you go to the Net right now, you can come across some dog training reviews site which has compiled several guides on how to train your dog. From there, you can get to learn the different system and after reading them, that’s the time for you to decide to choose from among those options which you think will work best for you and your furry friend.

Tell me, does this describe your dog?  He’s very attached to you, but is leery of strangers,  He may go as far as growling and snapping at unfamiliar people or dogs who get too close.  Friends say he’s a “one-person dog,” but actually he’s a shy or fearful dog.

It’s important to work on training shy dog before his behavior escalates to fear aggression in dogs.  This type of aggressive dog behavior is characterized at first by growling at people he doesn’t know, and can quickly progress to snapping and biting.

Why Is My Dog Shy?

Sometimes a dog is shy or fearful of strangers due to a bad experience somewhere along the line.  Some cases are due to genetics.  But most cases of shyness in dogs are caused by one thing; neglecting to socialize a puppy in his first few months of life.  It’s also very important not to stop socializing your dog too soon, as many dogs go through a shy period around six months of age.

Are You Teaching Your Dog To Be Shy?

Speaking softly and reassuringly to your fearful dog in an attempt to calm him down is a mistake.  First, you’re teaching him that if he hides, or growls, or even snaps at someone, he’ll be rewarded with your praise and attention. 

Second, think about how your voice sounds when you’re reassuring your canine friend.To your canine’s ears, your voice sounds like a dog whimpering.Even though your dog doesn’t understand your words, he does understand how your voice sounds.He’ll become even more anxious about the stranger because he thinks you’re whimpering at him.

Training Your Shy Dog

Socializing your dog when he’s a puppy is the best way to prevent your canine from becoming a shy dog.  He needs to be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and dogs so that he can learn through experience that there’s nothing to be scared of.

If your canine friend is already a shy adult, it’s still possible to socialize your dog.  It takes longer, and you’ll need lots of patience, but  it can be done. 

The important thing to remember with training shy dog is not to rush him.  If you try to force him into socializing with unfamiliar people or dogs, all you’ll do is reinforce his belief that these things are scary.  Plus he may feel that he has no choice but to defend himself, which leads to aggressive dog behavior.

It’s never a good idea to let a stranger come up to your dog and attempt to pet him.Allow your dog to make the first move.  If he doesn’t want to, that’s fine.  If he’s hiding, don’t try to coax him out, as he’ll think you’re praising him for hiding out.

Ignore your dog when he acts shy or scared around strange people or dogs.  Keep him on his leash, and don’t let him get close enough to start displaying fear aggression in dogs.  Let him hang back and check out the situation from a distance.  When he’s ready, he’ll get closer on his own to the stranger.  This is when you praise him lavishly.

A Good Dog Training Course Can Work Wonders With A Shy Dog

You can see how easy it is to give your dog the wrong idea.  The fact is that dogs just don’t think like people do.  Understanding how your dog thinks is crucial to training shy dog properly. 

Investing in a good dog training course is essential.  You’ll want to find out what other dog owners who have used the course think of it.You’ll want to check for testimonials from people who have used the course to see how satisfied they are with it. 

You’ll also want to look for a course than includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  This benefit alone may pay for the cost of the course. 

Believe me, once your start to apply this advice, your problem with your fearful dog will be solved.

Visit No More Bad Dogs for resources to help your fearful dog.

Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know the triggers for fear aggression in dogs?  If not, then you need to read this article to learn more about this type of canine aggression.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

This is one of the most frustrating types of dog behavior problems.  Your dog may not hate all strangers; just certain ones.He may have a dislike for all men, or just men with beards, or men wearing hats.  He may absolutely detest kids under five, but older children are fine.  He may be fine with strangers outside the home, or he may bark at anyone who walks by the house.  

You can use dog behavior modification techniques to desensitize your dog to strangers.  But in order to do so, you need to identify exactly what it is about a stranger that’s scaring him.

Common Triggers For Canine Aggression In Fearful Dogs

Men often seem more threatening to a nervous dog than women do.  They’re bigger, their voices are deeper and louder, they may have beards or moustaches, they may wear hats.  Men have a more direct way about them.They are more direct about making eye contact, too.  Sometimes a man may remind your dog of someone who scared him or abused him in the past.

Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of children to send a fearful dog over the edge.  Their voices are high-pitched, and they move quickly and unexpectedly.  They’re sometimes attached to scary things like skateboards and roller blades.If your dog already has fear issues, small children with noisy toys can be terrifying to him.  

Kids also have a tendency to grab dogs with no warning and hug them.This can lead to an attack by an unfamiliar dog.  Most dogs don’t like to be hugged anyway.  Teach your children never to hug a dog, especially one they don’t know.

Any dog finds it threatening if someone makes prolonged eye contact with him.  This is especially true with a nervous, fearful dog.  Avoid looking a strange dog directly in the eye.  Look down or to the side instead.

Someone who’s just walking down the street fast or very slowly can be scary, too, especially if they appear to be coming right at your dog.  Anything out of the ordinary can be unsettling for him.

Odd movements like somebody waving their arms around, or jumping up and down, will also get a fearful dog’s attention.If your dog catches a whiff of an unfamiliar smell on a stranger, like beer or cigars, it can scare him, too.

Sometimes it’s not something as obvious as any of these things. You’ll need to spend some time watching your dog and making notes of which trigger, or combination of triggers cause him to display fear-based aggression towards strangers.

Dog Behavior Modification Can Help

Punishing a dog who displays canine aggression towards strangers doesn’t work.  Dogs learn by associating things.  So punishing a dog who’s already aggressive towards strangers only serves to teach the dog that strangers really are bad.He associates a stranger getting closer with getting punished, so he gets even more aggressive towards strangers.

What you need to do is to desensitize your dog to strangers.  You do this by associating strangers with good things, like tasty treats.  Dog behavior modification is a long, slow training process that can’t be rushed.

A good dog training course can be worth its weight in gold when working with a fearful dog.  When looking at courses, you’ll want to choose one that has lots of good testimonials from dog owners who have used the course material.  It’s also important to find a course that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  Another essential feature you’ll appreciate is a dog owner forum where you can ask questions, and talk to other dog owners who have solved the same problem with their dogs.

This is the easiest way you’ll find to to deal with fear aggression in dogs.

Visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about fear aggression in dogs.