What Is Dog Separation Anxiety and How Do I Fix It?

Dogs can sense whether their handlers are leaving or not leaving the house. They usually bark, whine and would watch from the window as their owners are leaving. This kind of behavior is often disregarded by dog owners but you need to be aware that this is a serious matter. You should not ignore this kind of separation anxiety because it may cause a threat to your dog's health. 

Here are some tips to help with separation anxiety.

THE DETAILS

• Stress and behavioral problems can easily be noticed in dogs with separation anxiety. Dogs will bark and whine when they are left alone or when they notice that you are making preparations to leave.

• Dogs frequently follow their owners as a sign of separation anxiety. One of the common indications to determine that your dog has this kind of illness is when he frequently follows you in every corner of the house. They want you in their sight!

• A dog with this illness will react quickly when you leave. It doesn't matter whether you're gone for a few minutes or hours. This anxiety in your dog takes place immediately when they sense you are leaving.

• There isn't a definite cause for this kind of anxiety. Dogs may come up with this condition due to many reasons. It may be past experiences at a different period in their lives.

• There are different indications of this illness in different kinds of dogs. Some dogs will whine or bark excessively, destroy things at home, scratch at doors, walls, or floors, immoderate salivation, or strives to escape from a crate or a room.

• Think about the scenes that can arouse the illness. Be prepared to make immediate changes in your habits. When you start with a new dog you need to learn what it expects. You can train the dog, but at times, it may be easier to change the way you do things.

• Don't make a bad situation worse. If your dog suffers from mild separation anxiety, teach him to build his confidence so that he will understand that your absence is not a big deal. To do this, ignore him for few minutes before petting him again. Sometimes it is the simple things that make big differences.

• Give him something to keep him busy before you leave. Being busy may make the separation easier for your pet. Give him something like toys to play with, but make sure it won't cause him any harm.

• Make him a comfortable shelter. Turn his shelter into a comfort zone with plenty of toys to avoid boredom. A piece of clothing with your scent on it works to help your pet relax.

• Crating a dog with this illness is not a good idea. It can make the situation even worse. Dogs with separation anxiety might hurt themselves trying to get out a crate. They may also urinate and defecate.

• Avoid punishments. They have already suffered emotionally so punishing them is too much. Dogs with symptoms of this illness must be treated with love, patience, and understanding.

• Seek veterinary care if your dog's separation anxiety becomes severe. Professional help is a must when the condition becomes severe. You want your pet to be happy so you can enjoy them for many years.

BOTTOM LINE

All indoor pets become a little distressed when their handlers leave the house. But most understand that it won't be too long before their owner returns. But dogs with separation anxiety fear that their owner is never coming back so they become mentally and emotionally stressed and may even try to escape the house. Sometimes it is annoying but keeping the fact that it is our responsibility to provide for our pet. If we don't treat the condition it will get worse. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, take action as soon as possible!

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10 Things You Should Know About Your New Puppy

Just about everybody loves a puppy. What's not to love? Okay, maybe there are a few things -- like accidents in the house, chewing your things, nipping...

Here are a few things that you should know about your new puppy:

1. When you bring your new puppy home he doesn't know very much. He's spent most of the first weeks of his life living with his mother and siblings, who are dogs. That means he knows some basic dog things, like how to whimper and bark to get attention. He knows how to poop on papers. His breeder may have taught him a few things but there wasn't time to teach him very much. Your puppy is pretty much a blank slate. It's up to you to teach him everything he needs to know.

2. Your puppy is a little animal, not a small person in a furry suit. He has animal instincts and will always react as an animal when he doesn't know what to do. That means that your puppy can bite and scratch and hurt somebody if he's not supervised and trained. He needs training while he's young so that he doesn't grow up to be a badly-behaved dog.

3. Puppies need socialization. Socialization is the process of introducing your puppy to the big, wide world and everything in it. Your puppy needs to go places, see new things and meet people. He should learn that new things and new people are good. Socialization teaches a puppy to be confident and helps him later in life. Puppies that are well-socialized tend not to develop behavior problems later on.

4. You should begin training your puppy early. You can train a dog throughout his life but it's always easier and advisable to start training a puppy when he's young. Teach your puppy good manners and some basic obedience skills like Sit and Come. You can take him to Puppy Preschool or Puppy Kindergarten classes where he can learn some simple obedience and enjoy some socialization at the same time.

5. Your puppy will most likely chew on things so you should try to "puppy proof" your house as much as possible. Put away your shoes and other things that he can reach. When your puppy chews on things take them away. If you catch your puppy in the act of chewing on something he's not supposed to chew on, you can correct him (no physical punishments). Otherwise, if you don't catch him, you should let it go. There is no point in correcting a puppy or dog for something that has already happened. Your puppy or dog won't know why they're being corrected.

6. Puppies may nip, bite too hard when playing or simply get too raucous. When they do, you should stop playing with them and ignore them. If they continue, you should call a time-out. Time-outs work with puppies just as they do with children. If your puppy nips you, you should yelp and let him know it hurts. If he even touches his teeth to your skin, yelp and don't play with him. If you stop playing with him whenever he tries to nip he will stop nipping.

7. If you have children teach them that they can't mistreat a puppy. Tell them not to stare at a puppy or otherwise make the puppy uncomfortable. They puppy may lunge at them. And, if they run away screaming from a puppy, the puppy will chase them. Not all kids are happy about that fact. Children under six should be supervised when they play with puppies.

8. Puppies may whine and bark and whimper for attention. Sometimes you will have to ignore them, especially if you want to get any sleep.

9. Do make sure that your puppy gets all of his vaccinations on schedule. See that he takes heartworm preventive and flea medication if he needs it in your area. Your puppy's health and well-being depend on proper veterinary care. You should also make sure that you are feeding him a good dog food with meat protein sources.

10. Puppies are adorable and they will make you do whatever they want.

Those are a few things you should know about puppies. Have fun with your puppy and may he (or she) grow up to be a wonderful dog.

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Dogs And Anesthesia

Many pet dogs will undergo anesthesia at some time during their lives. Whether it's for a spay/neuter procedure, to have their teeth cleaned or for some other operation, anesthesia is commonly used in veterinary hospitals. However, there are some things that you should know about dogs and anesthesia.

Veterinary care for your dog is very important and there are times that it's necessary to use anesthesia. However, you should be aware that the use of anesthesia is not without risks. These risks can vary depending on your dog's age and condition. You should always thoroughly discuss the possible risks of anesthesia with your veterinarian before agreeing to any surgery or procedure.

Some of the things you need to talk to your vet about concerning the use of anesthetic include:

• Will he/she be doing pre-anesthesia bloodwork on your dog before the procedure? 

• Will your dog be getting fluids during anesthesia? 

• How will your dog be monitored during the procedure?

Different vets offer different levels of services for surgeries, even when your dog is given anesthesia. This means that there can be a large difference in price between two vets offering the same surgery. When this occurs it's often because one vet is including more anesthesia monitoring during surgery, as well as pain meds after surgery, and other pre- and post-operative care. You should be sure to talk to the vets and find out what is included in the procedure before agreeing to anything. Many times it's worth the extra cost to make sure that your dog receives pre-op bloodwork before being given anesthetic. You want to make sure that your vet is fully aware of all of your dog's health matters before using anesthetic on him. Even small health matters can make a difference when anesthesia is being used.

If there is anything wrong with your dog's health then it is much safer to postpone a procedure and do it when your dog is healthier.

Depending on your dog's bloodwork and other factors, different kinds of anesthetic can be used for a dog. Some dogs require a much lighter anesthetic than others. If you know that your dog has had strong reactions to anesthesia in the past you should be sure to tell your veterinarian.

Following any procedure you should watch your dog carefully for any signs that he is not reacting well to the anesthesia. These signs can include vomiting, loss of appetite, and trouble walking. If you notice any of these signs you should contact your veterinarian right away.

Obviously, veterinarians try to reduce the risks associated with anesthesia as much as possible. Although we usually take anesthesia for granted these days it's still very important for you to make wise decisions for your dog before agreeing to any procedure that requires the use of anesthetic. By asking the right questions and considering your dog's health, you can do everything possible to assure a positive outcome for your dog.

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Big Dogs: Pros and Cons

The American Kennel Club has stated that fewer and fewer people have been registering large dogs. This may be because of the growing migration from rural areas into the city. Big dogs are what most people think of when they think of dogs. These loyal, affectionate companions love to run alongside you in the park, fetch whatever you feel like throwing, and laying with you in front of the television. However, you must actually think it through: is a large dog what you need in your life right now? What are the cons of having a large dog? And finally, can you handle taking care of these gentle beasts' many needs?

Big dogs may look scary, but many are very loyal. A Rottweiler, when trained well, will be superbly protective of their area, but defer to their owner rather than trying to suss out danger for themselves. If you live in the suburbs or on a farm, a large-breed dog may be what you're looking for. They do need plenty of room to run around and exercise in, so reconsider a large dog if you are living in cramped quarters. Sporting breeds need room to run and get depressed if they do not, and most dogs just like to have the freedom that comes with having a big backyard. As briefly mentioned above, many large dogs can become amazing family dogs, and even better watch dogs. Many of these dog breeds are protective of children that they know are part of their family circle.

For the most part, a big dog means a good trainee. They are more than eager to please their masters. It comes with being so loyal! Whether it is "sit", "come", "lay down", or "roll over", large dogs just have a paw up on their smaller counterparts for being the more trainable pet. Most dogs are generally calm and can actually do alright in small living spaces providing they get enough time (an hour or two per day) outside running around. They love to nap on beds and sofas whether with you or without.

Of course, there is a huge variance on the temperament and behavior of large-breed dogs. Make sure to look up and study whatever dog you wish to adopt into your home. Make sure their activity levels, grooming requirements, and living habits suit you, so that you can be a suitable companion to your dog and vice versa.

Before you run out of the house to get yourself a big dog, remember that there are some cons that go with such big pups, too. They cost more: almost everything about them is more expensive than small pups. Veterinary care. Food. Dog toys. The only thing that doesn't cost more is the actual large-breed dog itself, which is usually less expensive than little dog breeds.

You have to make sure that you're ready to train big dogs. Big dogs can present more danger than little ones. Also, their life spans are often quite short. In general, the rule of thumb is "the larger the dog, the shorter the lifespan", unfortunately.

Whether you settle on a Retriever, a Shepherd, a Boxer, or a Rottweiler, remember that any dog may have behavioral problems. Make sure to discipline your dog if it caught chewing on things, barking at people needlessly, or constantly bringing you object to throw for them. You are the boss, and you have to make this known to them.

If, once considering these pros and cons, you decide to go ahead for a large dog, you will find a pet who will be beside you for the rest of their life. They are loyal, and, as huge as they may become, if you get them when they are young they will always be your little puppy. Just don't shy away when it's time to clean up their house-sized poop!

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