Category: Behavior

There are several natural remedies you can give your dog for anxiety including pheromones or providing interactive toys. Whatever the reason for your dog’s stress, it’s important not to ignore it. In most cases, it won’t go away on its own and will continue to get worse over time. The good news is that many cases of anxiety in dogs can be successfully treated without medication.

Reducing Dog’s Anxiety Without Medication 

In some cases, it’s easy to pinpoint the cause of your dog’s stress—but not always. Whether you know the anxiety comes from being alone, a traumatic event, or your dog is just naturally high strung, here are some things that may help:

Lots of Exercise

Dogs have to expend energy. If they don’t get the required exercise, that can lead to stress. In some cases, the solution for an anxious dog may as simple as two or three long walks each day. If you have a fenced-in yard, allow lots of time for romping and running there as well.

Background Noise

If your dog gets anxious when left alone, try leaving on a TV or radio to serve as background noise.

Interactive Toys

Stress can be born from tedium, and interactive toys engage your pet’s mind to fight boredom. Puzzle toys and toys that make dogs work for a treat are examples. Swap out the toys regularly so they won’t become monotonous to your pet.

Doggy Daycare

If your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, another way to ensure your dog gets a lot of exercise and interaction is to enroll him in doggy daycare. Even if you can’t do it every day, a few times a week may be enough. Keep in mind that some dogs will not appreciate the raucous environment they may encounter, so do a trial run to see how your pet reacts before signing him up.

Pheromones

Using pheromones in a diffuser or calming collar is one popular solution. While some pet owners find success with such products, you should talk to your vet before adding any of these to your dog’s routine. 

If none of the above methods work for your pet, don’t worry. Enlist the help of an animal behaviorist and/or your vet who will be able to assess your situation and develop a custom plan of action. Pet owners who prefer natural remedies will be glad to know that only in severe cases will medication be required. 

Your dog might be aggressive all of a sudden because he is in pain or experiencing a medical condition. Your dog can’t communicate with you to tell you something is wrong, and many dogs react to the pain or discomfort of an illness or injury with aggression. The good news is that once the issue has been addressed, the aggression will usually be eliminated. Until the problem is addressed though, you should keep your dog away from any aggression triggers and physically separated from other dogs, children, and other people while you figure out the cause and work to find a solution.

Don’t Ignore Sudden Aggression 

If you’ve had your dog for years without incident and he suddenly shows signs of aggression, don’t write it off as a one-time thing. Make an appointment with your vet to rule out injuries or a medical condition. Your dog could be dealing with a painful dental issue, ear infection, or other illness that requires treatment.

Fear is another reason a normally docile dog may show signs of aggression. If it’s obvious this is the cause, then the solution is simply to try to avoid a repeat. For example, a dog park isn’t the right setting for every pet. If your pet is fearful of groups of dogs or larger dogs, avoid the dog park.

Whatever the reason, it is important to keep your dog away from any aggression triggers until you can find and address the problem. It’s also best to keep your dog away from other pets, children, and people to avoid any physical harm until the behavior is managed.

Moving Beyond Aggression

If a medical condition is found and addressed, it’s likely the aggressive behavior will stop. If not, or if a medical exam didn’t find any issues, schedule an appointment with an animal behaviorist who can help to figure out the reason for the sudden aggression and develop a plan to stop it.

Some pet owners immediately rehome their pet at the first sign of aggression. Instead of doing this right away, figure out why your dog is being aggressive all of a sudden and give him every chance to overcome the behavior. With the right intervention, most dogs can be helped. 

 

The answer to whether you should crate your dog at night depends on whether he is crated during the day and whether or not he has been properly crate trained. If he has been properly crate trained, and doesn’t spend time in the crate during the day, then crating at night is fine.

The Crate Can Be A Safe Space 

When you take the time to properly crate train your dog, he will view his crate as a den—a safe and comfortable place. Part of proper crate training means never using the crate as punishment. If you do, your dog isn’t going to want to spend any time there. 

Ideally, the crate is used for house-training. Once your dog is trained, you can leave the door to the crate open, so he can enter when he wants yet still have access to the rest of the house.

If your dog can’t be trusted to roam the house freely while unsupervised, crating him while you’re out is okay. However, he should not be left crated for longer than 8 hours per day total and should not have to go more than 4-6 hours without a potty break. If you feel that you must crate your dog during the workday and at night, consider hiring a dog walker to break up the day or signing up for doggy daycare.

If you’re only crating your dog at night, that’s not excessive. In fact, some dogs would sleep in their crates whether or not the door was shut. If, however, the time in the crate becomes disproportionate, you should reconsider. 

Effective cat anxiety treatments include more interaction (for cats that enjoy attention,) calming products and, in severe cases, medication. It doesn’t take much to cause anxiety in a cat. Something as simple as a new schedule or the addition of a household pet can be all it takes. Since your cat can’t tell you they are stressed, you’ll need to learn the signs of an anxious cat so you’ll know when it’s time to look for a solution.

Is My Cat Stressed?

Whether your cat is a lazy soul who spends his entire life sleeping, eating, and repeating, or you enjoy the company of an active feline who romps and plays at all hours, there are some telltale signs of anxiety that apply to most cats including:

• Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
• Aggression towards other pets or people
• No social interaction
• Excessive vocalization
• Hiding (more than usual)
• Loss of appetite 
• Destructive behavior

While these are signs of anxiety, each can also be the sign of another issue such as a medical condition. That’s why it’s always a good idea to visit your vet anytime there is a change in your cat’s behavior. If your vet does determine that stress is the cause, potential remedies include:

More Interaction

If your cat enjoys human attention and interaction, sometimes all it takes to ease his anxiety is more playtime. Some stress is due to boredom and loneliness, so spending more time with your cat and providing interactive toys can help. 

Change the Environment

Make sure that your home is a pleasant environment for your cat where he has places to hide, his own litter box, and plenty of access to food and fresh water. Adding kitty condos, window seats, and other cat-friendly features can make home more pleasant and help to reduce anxiety. 

Calming Products

Some pet owners experience success with the use of products such as calming shirts, diffusers, or collars. Such products are readily available at most pet supply stores or from your vet. 

Professional Help

If nothing seems to work or if the anxiety is severe, enlist the help of your vet or an animal behaviorist. You should also seek professional help immediately if your cat is not eating or drinking. 

What works for one cat won’t work for all, so finding the right solution for your cat is a matter of trial and error. The good news is that, in most cases, it’s possible to reduce or eliminate your cat’s anxiety and give him the happy, healthy life he deserves. 

You can crate your dog for 8 hours per day total, but should be offered a potty break every 4-6 hours. If your dog is older or still a puppy, that time will be shorter as they may not be able to hold it as long between potty breaks.

What Should I Do If I’m Gone Longer Than 8 Hours?  

Many people’s work schedules require that they be away for longer than 8 hours. If you’re away longer than 8 hours, here are some things to consider:

• Instead of crating, consider letting your house-trained dog be loose during the day or confined to a pet-safe area inside your home, with access to a potty area be that potty pads or outside
• Enroll your dog in doggy day care.
• Hire a dog walker to stop by in the middle of the day to let your dog out and to give him a little play time.
• If you work close to home, use your lunch break to let your dog out.
• See if a family member who stays home during the day would like some canine company. 

Crating for 8 hours is fine for most dogs, but he must get a potty break every 4-6 hours. If it gets much longer than that, you may have to find an alternative to ensure your pet is happy and healthy. 

If your dog bites someone, immediately remove your dog from the situation and be prepared to follow the laws in your jurisdiction. This may include quarantining the dog, especially if you cannot produce proof of current vaccines. Depending on your jurisdiction and the circumstances surrounding the bite, you may be subject to civil and criminal liability and, in some cases, the dog could be removed from your home.

Dog Bite Laws and Owners’ Liability 

It’s a situation no dog owner ever wants to face, but if your dog bites someone, you’ll need to be prepared for what could happen next. Some things to consider: 

Your Jurisdiction’s Laws

Some jurisdictions have a one-bite law rule which minimizes or eliminates the owners’ liability for a dog that has not previously shown signs of aggression. Other places have strict liability laws which make owners fully liable even if the owner could not have prevented the incident. 

The Circumstances

A bite from a dog who was allowed to roam free will carry different consequences than a bite that occurred during a break in. How and why the bite happened will have a major impact on your liability and on what will happen to the dog. 

Victims Liability

Was the dog-bite victim taunting your dog, attacking you, or entering your yard or home without permission? In cases like that, the victim will share or bear full responsibility for the incident. 

Previous Incidents

If your dog has bitten someone in the past, there is a more of a chance you’ll be liable and, in some cases, more of a chance that the dog will be seized and possibly euthanized.
Following a dog bite incident, contact a lawyer who specializes in such cases. Even if it’s clear the victim was at fault, you’ll still want a lawyer to help you navigate the process that is to come.  

You can stop your cat from running outside by keeping a jar of treats by the door to distract him when you open the door, but this won’t work with every cat. Finding the answer that works for your pet may take some trial and error, but distracting your cat just before you open the door is usually effective. If this doesn’t work, you may have to keep your cat contained in a part of the house where he doesn’t have access to the door while you’re coming or going.

Toys, Treats, and Tricks 

Indoor cats face a number of dangers when they spend time outside. In order to keep your cat safe, it’s important to keep him from running outside. Use these tips to see if you can curb your cat’s desire to dart out of the house:

• Use a Different Door: If your cat sits patiently by the front door waiting for his chance to bolt, trick him by using a different door.
• Toss a Treat: Keep a jar of treats or a few of his favorite toys by the entry. Before you open the door, toss him a treat to distract him.
• Spay or Neuter Your Cat: There are many reasons you should spay or neuter your pet, but one is that it will make him less likely to want to roam.
• Give Him (Safe) Outdoor Opportunities: Build an outdoor cat enclosure or leash train your cat and take him on regular walks if you have a secure outdoor area where you won’t encounter any dogs or wildlife. This way your pet will be able to enjoy the outdoors in a safe manner.
• Banish Boredom: Make sure you provide lots of toys, climbing opportunities, and playtime for your cat. A bored cat is more likely to want to run out the door.
• Contain your kitty when guests are over: House guests, no matter how well-meaning, are not likely to be as careful as you are when it comes to preventing your cat from running out the door. For that reason, it’s a good idea to keep your cat contained when you have company. 

There are many tips to keep your dog from escaping the yard including reinforcing the fence and not leaving the dog unsupervised for long periods. When your dog escapes the yard, it puts him in danger, and could put you in legal jeopardy for not keeping your pet under control. To prevent both possibilities, it’s important to do whatever it takes to keep your dog from escaping.

Why Dogs Escape And How To Prevent It 

Your dogs may try to escape for the following reasons:

• They are left alone in the yard for long periods of time.
• They are bored and have no playmates or toys.
• They have abundant energy and doesn’t have the opportunity to use it.
• They are visiting a neighbor’s dog or have found something fun to do outside the yard. 

Knowing the reasons dogs escape can help you work on ways to prevent it. Some things to try include:

• Ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise every single day.
• Spend time playing with your dog daily.
• Complete obedience school with your dog and spend time working on behaviors each day.
• Provide puzzle toys that require your dog to work for a treat.
• Consider a doggy day care or hiring a dog walker instead of leaving him alone in the yard for extended periods.
• Spay or neuter your pet to reduce their temptation to roam. 

Those are ways to make your dog less likely to want to escape, but it’s just as important to make it more difficult for him to escape by:

• Shoring up any weak spots in your fence.
• Burying wire or rocks along the fence line.

Note: Tethering your dog all day is NOT an acceptable way to stop escaping—and in some locations, tethering for more than a few hours a day is illegal.

Bring Your Dog Inside 

If your dog spends most of his time outside, make him an inside dog instead. If you worry about him making a mess, you could properly crate train him for the time you’re not home and then let him hang out with the family once you get home. 

Keep in mind that your dog isn’t “being bad” when he escapes. He may just be trying to escape boredom or loneliness—both of which you can help alleviate. 

The most common reason your formerly housebroken dog may start peeing in the house is due to a medical condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, or bladder issues. You should also consider if there has been a change in the dog’s routine, such as being left alone at different times of day or for longer periods of time. It’s also possible that your dog may need a housetraining refresher course.

It’s Frustrating, But Don’t Punish Your Dog For Peeing In The House 

You know what’s worse than having to clean up dog urine in your house? Smelling urine and being unable to find it. That’s what you may be faced with if you punish your dog urinating in the house, because next time he’ll try to hide it.

Instead, you need to determine the cause or, in some cases, start again with potty training.

Medical Conditions

If your housebroken dog starts peeing in the house, there is a good chance it’s due to a medical condition. That’s why any sudden changes to your dog’s bathroom habits should be reported to the vet as soon as possible. The good news is that once the problem has been addressed, the dog will usually return to his proper bathroom habits.

An exception to that would be if the problem has caused long-term incontinence. In that case, you’ll need to consider installing a doggy door or having your pet wear diapers while in the house. 

Changes In Routine

If your dog is left alone more than usual or at different times (i.e. you changed shifts or started working overtime), it can be difficult for his body to adjust to the new routine. One possible solution is hiring a dog walker or having a neighbor come over to let him out. 

Aging

As is the case with humans, some dogs start to lose control of their bladder as they get older. If this is determined to be the problem, more frequent trips outside is often the simplest solution. If that isn’t enough, consider restricting the pet’s access indoors to rooms that you can easily clean up, or some dogs do not mind wearing a dog belly bands or diapers.  

When a dog suddenly starts peeing in the house, don’t ignore it. Even if you suspect it’s due to aging, it’s best to visit your vet just to be on the safe side. 

A combination of denying access, proper training, and decreasing your dog’s desire to leave are how to keep your dog from running away. There’s lots of fun stuff to see and do outside of your yard, so you need to make being home as fun as possible. Of course, you also need to make escape impossible in order to keep your dog safe and to protect yourself from any legal consequences.

Training 

Proper training is a must. If your dog obeys even the most basic commands, you’ll be able to stop him from running away—even if the stimulus is hugely tempting. Of course, this only works when you’re with your dog, so you also need to consider how to stop your dog from running away when you’re not there.

Preventing Escape 

Search your fences and gates for weak spots and shore them up. If your dog digs, you’ll also want to bury chicken wire or rocks to stop him from getting out from under the fence.

Make Home More Appealing

The reasons your dog runs away could be boredom, loneliness, or lack of exercise—and those are all things you can easily fix. Take your dogs on two or three good walks a day, spend more time playing and interacting with him, consider a dog playmate, and provide lots of interactive toys.

If your dog spends most of him time outside, consider bringing him inside. You could work on crate training for the times that you’re away. Another option is doggy day care rather than leaving him outside alone all day.

Finally, if your dog is not spayed or neutered, doing so will reduce his or her urge to roam.

If all your attempts fail, talk to an animal behaviorist who can help you develop a plan to keep your dog safe and prevent him from running.