Category: Behavior

Coffee grounds are toxic to dogs and can lead to serious symptoms and even death. How badly the caffeine in coffee grounds will affect your pet depends on the size of the dog and how much caffeine was consumed. Do not allow your dog to consume any amount of caffeine, and keep caffeinated beverages and coffee grounds out of his reach.

Caffeine Toxicity 

When you drink too much coffee, you may become jittery or notice your heart is racing. The same thing happens to dogs. Depending on their size, it takes much less caffeine to evoke that sensation for a dog than it might for you. That’s why it’s so dangerous when your pet consumes caffeine.

How Much is Too Much? 

Negative signs will start to show when your pet has consumed 14 mg of caffeine per pound of body weight.

Signs of Caffeine Toxicity 

If you suspect your dog has ingested caffeine, watch for these signs:

• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Vomiting
• Excessive Panting

Following those early signs, the pet may also experience tremors or seizures. 

What to Do If Your Pet Consumes Caffeine 

If you suspect your pet has ingested coffee grounds, go to the vet as soon as possible. If you get him there quickly enough, the vet may be able to stop the progression of the toxicity by inducing vomiting. If that doesn’t work, the vet may push IV fluids in order to help flush the caffeine from your dog’s body.

Coffee grounds, coffee, tea, and even soda are very dangerous to your pet. Do what you can to prevent your dog from ingesting any amount of caffeine. If he does, get to your vet as soon as possible in order to try to avoid the most serious consequences.   

You can tell if your cat has anxiety if he exhibits destructive behavior, hiding, aggression, changes in mood, or fails to use the litter box. Other behaviors include panting, excessive grooming, refusing to eat, and vocalizing. Of course, these signs can also be present in a cat that doesn’t have anxiety, so it’s important to know what is normal for your cat so you’ll be able to spot a potential problem.

What Causes Cat Anxiety?  

Cats, general speaking, are not as adaptable as most dogs. That means even a small change can cause major anxiety. Adding a pet to the family, a new baby, moving to a new home, or even just relocating his favorite cat condo can be more than your cat can take, and anxiety can set in.

Some cats, like some dogs, also experience separation anxiety, which can be traumatic for both the cat and the owner. 

Ways to Alleviate Your Cat’s Anxiety 

Here are a few things to do if your cat has anxiety:

Make a Vet Appointment

In some cases, what looks like anxiety can actually be symptoms of a medical condition. It’s always wise to rule that out first, so visit the vet for a thorough checkup. 

Change the Environment

Add cat condos, perches, and window seats to provide interesting views and new vantage points for your cat to enjoy.

Provide Lots of Toys

Puzzle feeders and other toys can help keep your cat’s mind occupied and prevent boredom, thus alleviating anxiety.

Try Calming Products

Calming collars, diffusers, sprays, and other products are effective methods of reducing anxiety in some cats.

You can also get advice from an animal behaviorist, and this may be necessary if the anxiety is moderate to severe. Ignoring the issue won’t make it go away, so start looking for the solutions to alleviate your cat’s anxiety today whether that means a DIY method or getting professional help. 

It will typically take a Pomeranian about one to three months to get used to a new home and fully adjust. Of course, the time it takes for a dog to get accustomed will vary from one dog to the next. After all, they all have their own personalities and quirks. Generally, puppies and younger dogs will adjust faster. Older dogs will have a more difficult time because they’ve spent so much of their life with someone else and in a different home.

Fortunately, you can do some things that will make the process easier on yourself and your new Pomeranian.

Give Him Time to Adjust 

The first thing that you need to do is think about what your new dog is going through when they come into a new home. It’s a foreign environment with new smells, new people, and what they might even perceive as dangers. You need to give them time to adjust and get used to you and your family. This means that you shouldn’t have a lot of people coming to visit to look at your new dog the first week or so that they’re in your home. They need time to feel comfortable.

Create a Routine

A good way to help your new dog start to feel more comfortable is to create a routine from day one. This means they should be fed and walked on a schedule. Having a routine is good for a dog, and it can help them to adjust more quickly.

Be Prepared for Escape Attempts

Keep in mind that your new Pomeranian might not feel entirely at home for a while. If they see an open and unguarded door, they might bolt for it. They might try to escape your yard, too. Make sure that you’re careful whenever you’re going in and out of the house. Make sure that he has a collar with a name and address, and that you get him chipped as soon as possible.

Make Him Part of the Family

Your Pomeranian needs to feel like he’s part of the family. Make sure that you’re providing plenty of playtime and cuddles. Let him know that he’s safe and loved, and he’ll start to come around before you know it.

If You Adopted from Someone You Know

Something you should keep in mind if you adopted your Pomeranian from someone that you know is that this person shouldn’t come around anytime soon. Even if they’re a friend or a family member, it’s better if you go and meet them somewhere instead. If the previous owner comes over to the house, your dog might think that they’re going to go home with their previous owner. This leads to confusion, and it can make the process of adjusting to the new home take much longer.

Ultimately, what you need is patience when you’re bringing a new dog into your home. Give them some time to get used to being a part of the family and before you know it, you’ll feel like they were always there. 

You can call the animal control department of your local police on a barking dog, but it should only be used as a last resort for excessive barking. If your neighbor’s dog barks a lot, it can be annoying, but you should address it with a measured response rather than going straight to the law. There should be a few steps between the dog barking and you calling the police.

How to React to a Barking Dog 

When a responsible pet owner’s dog starts barking, they either get the barking to stop or bring the dog inside—but not everyone is a responsible pet owner. Some people have no problem letting their dog bark all night. While that is inconsiderate, you need to ask yourself if it’s worth having an ice-cold relationship with your neighbor. Here are some things to do before calling the cops:

Ask Yourself If The Barking Is Really Excessive

When you live in close proximity to neighbors, you can’t expect total silence. Whether it’s a kid banging on his drums or an especially enthusiastic game of kickball in the street, some noise is part of life in a populated area. With that in mind, consider if the amount of barking is really worth involving the police or animal control. 

Know The Law

Laws regarding dogs barking vary by location, so take the time to learn the law where you live. You could bring a copy of this information along when you talk to your neighbor. Knowing the law can also help you decide if calling the police is really the route you want to take. For example, if you learn the homeowner will get a $500 fine and possibly have the dog removed from her home, would you still want to call? 

Talk To Your Neighbor

Your neighbor might not realize how her dog’s barking is affecting you. Approach her in a polite manner and tell her how it’s affecting you, i.e. you can’t sleep at night, it’s hard to have a conversation on the phone, etc…

If the neighbor seems receptive, offer ideas about how to reduce the barking such as letting the dog spend more time indoors or providing extra walks and lots of playtime. If she’s not receptive, tell her that if things don’t change, you may have no choice but to call animal control.
Police and animal control should not be used as a weapon against your neighbors. Instead, calling them should be reserved for when all else has failed or when the dog appears to be in distress.  

You can get rid of cat allergies if you have mild to moderate symptoms by reducing allergens in your home, reducing allergens on your pet, and, if necessary, taking over-the-counter or prescription medication.

Living With Cat Allergies 

First, make an appointment with an allergist to make sure you’re dealing with a cat allergy. Some blame hay fever or a reaction to mold on the cat. The only way to know for sure is to be tested by an allergist.

Once it’s confirmed, there are some steps you can take to minimize the symptoms:

• Bathe your cat once a week. If your cat is upset by bathing in water, try one of the over-the-counter cat-allergen-reducing dry shampoo products that are toweled on the cat and then brushed out.
• Vacuum daily with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
• Install an air cleaner onto your HVAC system.
• Use HEPA filters for your HVAC system.

The goal with the above is to minimize the amount of dander you’ll come in contact with, which will help to reduce your symptoms.

Additionally, you can alleviate the symptoms, such as congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing, with medication.

Choosing A Cat 

If you don’t yet have a cat, there is another way to minimize the symptoms: get a cat that produces less dander. While no cat is 100% hypoallergenic, some breeds are a smart choice for people with mild to moderate allergies. These include:

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

Many people with cat allergies still share their homes with cats. As long as your symptoms aren’t severe, you can, too! 

Vinegars and citrus fruits are examples of natural dog repellents that can help to keep dogs out of your yard, garden, and off the furniture. Dogs have very sensitive noses, so a smell that we may find mildly unpleasant can be unbearable to them. Keep in mind that, like humans, different dogs will react differently to certain smells, so there may be some trial and error before you find the natural dog repellent that works best for your situation.

Are Natural Dog Repellents Safe? 

It depends which one you choose and how you use it. For example, sometimes using essential oils is suggested, but they can be dangerous to pets. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to ask your vet before using any type of natural dog repellent. That being said, here is how you can use citrus or vinegar as natural repellents:

Citrus Peels

A great choice for protecting gardens, simply place orange and lemon peels in and around your garden.

Vinegar

Choose a light colored vinegar if you are spraying indoors so your furniture does not get stained. Two good options are white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Create a 50/50 mix of your chosen vinegar and water and put into a spray bottle. Then, simply spray around areas you would like your dog to stay away from. 

A repellent doesn’t have to be homemade to be natural. There are many sprays available that stick to natural ingredients, so add those to your list of things to try. When you’re looking for a natural dog repellent, you’ll have several options, but remember to do your due diligence to ensure you’re not putting down something that could be harmful to dogs, cats, or wildlife. 

You can tell if your cat is stressed if he begins to display changes in mood, destructive behavior, excessive grooming, and any behavior that is outside the norm for your pet. While those signs can also be due to something other than stress, such as a medical condition, it’s important to consider stress as one possible cause.

How Do I Help My Stressed Out Cat? 

There are many reasons a cat may experience stress, and the truth is that it doesn’t always take much. Cats like things to stay the same and are easily stressed with any changes to their household such as:

• A move
• A new pet
• Death of another household pet
• A new baby
• Litter box being moved, not cleaned frequently enough, or use of a new type of litter. 

So how can you help? Scheduling an appointment with the vet is always a good idea in order to rule out a medical condition. If your cat gets a clean bill of health, you can try:

• Providing stimulating toys, such as puzzle feeders.
• Adding perches and window seats to give your cat new views.
• Calming products like collars and diffusers.
• Enlisting the help of a highly rated animal behaviorist. 

One Important Note 

If the event or the trauma that caused the stress is severe, your cat may stop eating. This is a dangerous situation as a cat can become deathly ill after just two or three or days without food. Unlike humans and dogs, a cat’s body cannot handle fasting. If your cat stops eating, go to the vet right away. The sooner you get the cat to the vet, the less likely your cat will be to develop a serious health problem, such as kidney failure or fatty liver disease.

Don’t ignore the signs of anxiety in your cat, as the stress is not likely to go away on its own. Instead, try at-home methods of dealing with the stress or seek the help of a professional. 

The amount of time it takes a Great Dane to get used to a new home can vary, but it’s generally around one to three months at most. Of course, you have to consider that all dogs are different, as well as the age of the dog when he comes to you. Some dogs will adjust quickly in just a few days, while others will take longer. You can make the adjustment process faster and smoother for your new dog, though.

Give Your New Great Dane Her Own Space

You’ll want to make sure that she has a place of her own, like a nice big dog bed to use. This should be in a location where she’ll feel comfortable. In some cases, it might be in the living room near the family. With other dogs, it might be in a separate room where she can spend some time without being bothered.

In addition to providing your new dog space where she can relax, you may want to see if the previous owner or shelter can provide some favorite toys, blankets, bowls, etc. Even though you might want to go out and buy brand new items, having a few familiar items might help her adjust to her new home. Eventually, you’ll be able to replace them, of course.

When she first comes home, you’ll want to keep things normal around the house, too. This means you shouldn’t bring over a bunch of people to look at and play with your new dog. Give her the time she needs to get used to you and your family first, and then you can introduce others.

Start a Routine

Dogs are similar to children in the fact that they thrive on routine. Start a routine with your dog as soon as she arrives. Give her walks and feed her at about the same time each day. If you can follow a similar routine to her previous owner, she might adjust to your home faster. If not, it’s okay. You can put her onto a routine that works for you and your family, and she’ll slowly adjust to it.

Make Your Great Dane Feel Included

Although you want to provide her with some space, you also need to make sure she feels included with the things you do. Spend plenty of time playing with her, petting her, telling her she’s a good girl, and making her feel loved and part of the family. This will often help dogs to feel more comfortable, so they can settle into a new home.

Be Patient with Your New Dog 

Your new Great Dane is a wonderful addition to your family, but it can take time for her to adjust. Keep in mind that younger dogs will often adjust faster than older dogs will. If she’s been with a different family her entire life, it’ll feel strange for her to be in a new home with new people. It’s important that you’re patient and let her settle in at her own pace. Before long, it’ll be like she’s always been a part of your family.