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. 

 

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.  

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. 

How to stop your dog from whining at night depends on the age of the dog and whether this is a sudden behavior. When you first bring a puppy home, expect whining at night. He’s in a new place and hasn’t yet to figure out if it’s safe. Usually, a puppy will stop whining at night once he becomes comfortable in your home. For older dogs, you may have to change some things about the environment or the dog’s routine. Also consider a possible medical issue if the whining started suddenly.

Puppies! 

New puppies are a welcome addition. They are so cute and cuddly that nighttime whining seems a small price to pay—until you have to go to work with dark circles under your eyes. As mentioned above, most puppies will stop whining once they get used to you and to living in your home, but there are some tips that can help him feel more comfortable. Most of these tips will help with older dogs as well.

• Give your puppy or dog plenty of exercise before bed.
• Limit food and water starting about an hour before bedtime.
• Play soft, calming music.
• Work on proper crate training so he’ll view the crate as his safe place. Learn more about crate training here.
• Allow your dog to be in the same room as you. 

Sudden Changes In Behavior 

If your normally quiet dog started whining a lot, make an appointment with your vet. As with any sudden change in how your dog acts, sudden whining could be a sign of a medical condition. Since your dog can’t tell you when he’s not feeling well, it’s important to pick up on signals that something could be wrong.

No pet owner wants to hear their dog whine, but by implementing these tips, you can help them enjoy a peaceful night. 

The first step to calm an aggressive dog is understanding what triggers the aggression. It could be anything from pain to frustration or fear to redirected aggression. Just like some humans are more aggressive than others, the same is true for dogs—but one thing is true for all: No matter the size of the dog or the level of aggression, you must find effective ways to stop the behavior in order to protect your dog and the people and animals around him. While you work on finding a solution, keep your dog physically separated from any aggression triggers, other pets, children, and people until the issue can be addressed.

Reasons Dogs Are Aggressive 

In the wild, aggression is necessary for dogs’ survival. An aggressive dog isn’t bad, but that behavior does need to be modified. If you can figure out the reason for your dog’s aggression, you’ll be better able to find a resolution. Some of the reasons for dog aggression include:

• Protecting Himself or His Pack – Some dogs are extremely protective of the other animals and humans in their pack. While this is good in some circumstances, some dogs become aggressive if anyone even approaches their humans.
• Protecting His Den – Does your dog run along the fence line barking at passerby in a menacing way? Does the barking stop once the person is past your fence? That is your dog protecting his den. He’s not interested at all in the person—as long as that person moves along.
• Protecting His Food or Toys – Food aggression is common in dogs who didn’t get enough to eat at some point in their lives. A food-aggressive dog who is normally docile will turn into Cujo if anyone approaches him when he’s eating. This same type of possession aggression can also apply to favorite toys or beds.
• Redirected Aggression – If a dog can’t reach the target of his aggression, for example a strange dog being walked on a leash, he may turn on whatever dog or human he can reach. This type of aggression often comes as a shock as the dog may attack a dog he has lived with peacefully for years.
  Other reasons for redirected aggression include fear, predatory reasons, and sexual frustration. Another thing to keep in mind is that a normally docile dog who suddenly becomes aggressive could be in pain due to an undetected medical condition, so get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Once you figure out the reason for the aggression, you can begin to work with your vet or an animal behaviorist. It is important to note that if your dog displays low levels of aggression, like growling for example, correcting the behavior may lead to more aggressive behavior next time. This is because your dog realized he was punished for growling and could escalate to a more aggressive behavior in the future. Training can still be very helpful to work on mild aggression, but punishment may not be the solution.

Aggression is one of the top reasons pet owners rehome their dogs, but with the right intervention, you can put a stop to this behavior and keep your pet in your home. 

You can live with a cat if you are allergic, unless you have severe allergies. In fact, thousands of people with allergies do live with their feline friends. Some who only have mild symptoms just put up with the symptoms or treat them with over-the-counter medicine. Those with moderate symptoms often seek help from a doctor who may prescribe prescription medications.

Does A Cat Allergy Mean I’ll Be Allergic To All Cats? 

If you love cats and have allergies, you might be hoping you can find a cat to which you’re not allergic. So, is that possible? Not technically. Cat allergies are caused by pet dander and saliva, so if you’re allergic to cats, then you’re probably allergic to all cats.

But there is some good news.

Some breeds of cats produce less dander, which means they may only trigger very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. While no cat is 100% hypoallergenic, the following breeds are among those that make a good choice for people with allergies.*

• Sphynx
• Cornish Rex
• Oriental
• Devon Rex
• Russian Blue
• Siberian
• Bengal 

If you suspect you have a cat allergy, confirm it with an allergist. It’s possible to mistake a cat allergy for other types of allergies since the symptoms are so similar. Whatever the results are, don’t panic. In many cases, it’s possible to continue living with your feline family member.

*If you’re allergic and are considering adopting one of the cats listed above, it’s important to spend time around them first. This will avoid having to rehome a pet if it turns out they give you a worse-than-expected reaction. 

You cannot leave money to an animal in your will, but you can set up a trust to ensure they are taken care of after your death. The reason you can’t leave them money is because they are considered property, and you can’t leave property to other property. The good news is that the trust option allows you to make plans for your pet in which you can specify exactly how they are to be cared for.

Basics Of A Pet Trust 

In order to set up a trust for your pet, you’ll need to:

• Specify a dollar amount to be set aside for their care
• Write specific instructions for their care
• Choose a caretaker who will take custody of the pets upon your death 

The Money

To figure out how much to leave in the trust, you’ll need to estimate how much their annual care costs and multiply by the number of years they are likely to live. It’s better to overestimate here as you can also specify where any leftover money goes upon the pets’ deaths.

The Instructions

When it comes to writing instructions, you’ll want to be specific to ensure your pets get the same type of care you’re giving him now. This should include what type of food they get, how far to go with medical interventions, types of play and exercise they should get, etc…

The Caretaker

The most important decision is your choice of caretaker. This is the person the pets will live with, and they will access the money in the trust for the pet’s care. Choose someone you know you can trust and depend on to be kind to your pets for the rest of their lives. 

While you can’t make your pets rich by leaving them your money, you can at least ensure they are cared for in the manner you’d like.