Why Is My Dog Being Aggressive All Of A Sudden?

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. 

 

How Do I Find a Good Home for My English Bulldog?

To find a good home for your English Bulldog, you need to first know what your dog needs from a new owner. Your dog is unique, and even though she might be an English Bulldog, it doesn’t always mean that she conforms to the norm. She’ll have her own traits and quirks, and it’s these things that you’ll need to consider when you’re looking for a new home for her. 

Take Note of What Makes Your Dog Special

Take the time to write down all of the wonderful things about your dog that make her special. Maybe she loves taking a bath or maybe she prefers splashing in the mud. Maybe she loves to chase cats or perhaps she’s scared of them. Consider whether she has any special health or dietary needs that must be followed, or if she has any behavior problems that a new owner needs to know about.

When you consider all of these factors about your dog, it becomes easier for you to see what type of person you should look for as a new owner. After all, you want to be sure that you have a perfect match before you give her up to someone. Put in the added effort to be sure she gets a home where she’ll be happy.

Consider People You Know

One of the first things you’ll want to do when you know that you have to give up your English Bulldog is to talk with people in your life. Let them know that you have to give her up and why. You might find that someone is willing to adopt her. This can be a good option since you already know and trust the person, and you’ll have a better sense of whether they’re the right fit for your dog.

Still, you can’t simply give your dog to someone because you know them. You need to be certain they can provide her with everything she needs for a healthy and happy life.

Using Rehome

You might not know anyone who can adopt your dog, but you can still find a good home for her. A good option is to use an online pet adoption service like Rehome. The site from Adopt-a-Pet.com connects owners who need to find new homes for their animals with adopters looking to bring a new friend home.

Owners can create a dog profile on the site. This profile lets you add photos, videos, and a bio for your dog. This gives you a chance to show the adopters more about your English Bulldog, so they can determine whether she’ll be a good fit for their family.

If they’re interested, they’ll apply and submit their application to you. You can then look at the applications and review them to determine which owner would be the best fit for your English Bulldog. Having this level of control over who adopts your dog helps to ensure that they have a good new home.

What Does It Mean to Rehome a Catahoula Leopard Dog?

To rehome a Catahoula Leopard Dog means that you take the time to help find a new home for your dog. Rehoming is a good option because you’ll have far more control over where your dog goes and who gets to adopt her. However, you need to be sure that you’re rehoming your dog properly.

Why Do You Need to Charge a Rehoming Fee? 

You might be wondering why you should bother charging a rehoming fee if you need to give up your dog. Many people worry that it will be more difficult to find someone to adopt if there’s a rehoming fee. While this might be true, it does mean that the caliber of potential adopters will be higher. People looking for free dogs don’t always have good intentions. Sometimes, they’re looking for free animals that they can sell to a lab or even use for fighting.

To reduce the risk of something like this happening to your beloved Catahoula Leopard Dog, you’ll want to be sure that you charge a rehoming fee. The cost of the rehoming fee can vary based on where you’re located. Determine the average fee where you live, and then charge something similar. This is often between $50 and $150, although it could be a bit higher.

Use Rehome to Find a New Owner for Your Catahoula Leopard Dog

One of the best ways to make sure that your dog has a great new home is to use a quality pet adoption site like Rehome. This is a platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com that’s easy to use and can put your dog in front of a large number of people looking to adopt. You can write a bio for your dog, add photos and videos, and review adoption applications. This helps to ensure that you choose only the best new owner for your dog.

Give Your Dog to Someone You Know

Another option for rehoming that’s fast and easy is to give her to someone you already know and who wants a dog. If they already know her, it’s likely to be an easier transition for her. You’ll also feel better knowing that you’ve allowed someone you trust to adopt your dog.

Is Rehoming the Same as Surrendering to a Shelter or Rescue?

It’s important to note that rehoming isn’t the same as surrendering your dog to a shelter or a rescue. When you surrender your dog, it means that you’re giving up your legal rights to the facility, and you have no control over who adopts her. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that anyone will adopt your dog once they’re in one of these facilities.

The shelters and rescues work hard to find adopters, but it’s not always possible. While rescues have no-kill policies, the same isn’t true with many shelters. They can only hold your dog for a certain period. While it’s possible to surrender your dog if needed, you may want to consider rehoming instead.

Photo Credit: Emmie Green

How Do You Stop Cats from Scratching Furniture?

You can stop cats from scratching furniture by providing alternative options, such as scratching posts, but you may need to take a multi-faceted approach. This may include covering the furniture or even putting nail caps on your cat. Cats need to scratch, so you can’t stop the behavior. What you can do is redirect the scratching to appropriate places.

Training Your Cat to Scratch Where He Should 

When you’re ready to start retraining your cat, you’ll need to take steps that protect carpet and furniture while also providing appropriate places to scratch. 

Cover Furniture And Protect Carpet

Cats don’t like to scratch slick surfaces, so cover furniture with a sheet and use double sided tape to keep it in place. For carpet, you can cover the cat’s favorite scratching spots with a runner or simply move a piece of furniture to cover it.

Provide Scratching Posts

Place a scratching post or two in every area of the home where your cat spends time. They should allow the cat to fully stretch, so some posts should be at least three feet tall. You’ll find a huge selection online or at your local pet store. Keep in mind that soft carpet doesn’t usually satisfy a cat’s desire scratch. Instead, choose sisal, burlap, or other rough surfaces.

Show Them Where To Scratch

Introduce your cat to each new scratching post. Sprinkle the post with catnip to entice an adult cat. For kittens, move their paws in a scratching motion on the post. Also, spend time with your cat near the posts and try hanging toys on and around it.

Nail Caps

If the inappropriate scratching continues, nail caps are a humane solution. These soft caps cover each claw so your cat can continue to scratch without damaging walls, furniture, or carpet. Unless you have a very good relationship with your cat, it’s best to have your vet apply the nail caps, which will need to be reapplied about every six weeks. Note: Nail caps should only be used on indoor cats. 

A Word About Declawing

Some pet owners see declawing as the answer to the problem, but it’s actually an inhumane, painful procedure that is outlawed in some countries. In June of 2019, a bill in New York passed the legislature that would make it illegal to declaw cats. This will make New York the first state to ban declawing, and others are sure to follow. 

Why Do Landlords Not Allow Cats?

Landlords don’t allow cats because they don’t want to deal with potential damage, odors, fleas, and other issues that could arise. Even if your cat never has an accident and you’re a meticulously clean pet owner, once a landlord has one bad experience, it can make him not want to rent to pet owners again. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with the landlord, but other times you’ll just have to find a different rental.

Asking The Landlord To Change His Mind 

Whether or not a landlord will change his policy regarding pets depends on a few things such as:

The Rental Competition

In The Area
Landlords need to keep their properties rented, so if there aren’t many renters in your area, you’ll have a better chance of getting the landlord to change his policy. 

The Number Of Pets

You’ll have a better chance getting a landlord to change his no-pet policy if you only have one cat rather than multiple. 

If You’re Willing To Pay An Additional Deposit

Consider offering to pay a larger deposit or even a non-refundable cleaning fee in order to be allowed to keep your cat in the rental. Since most landlords are worried about damage or additional cleaning, this may be enough to get him to change his mind. 

You’re A Historically Good Tenant

Landlords want someone who will pay their rent on time and take good care of the property. Provide references, letters from past landlords, and anything else that you think will prove you’ll be an excellent tenant. 

The good news is that while some landlords won’t allow cats, there are plenty who will. If you’re having trouble finding a pet-friendly rental, call your local SPCA or humane society and ask if they keep a list of pet-friendly rentals in your area. 

Where Can I Put a German Shepherd Up for Adoption?

Taking the first step towards putting your German Shepherd up for adoption can be confusing and emotional. When we add a companion to our lives, we don’t expect to be put in a position to give them up, but sometimes pet owners are forced to make this tough decision. The good news is, there are many options to help you find your dog a good home. Below, we will be looking at some of the different methods and locations where you could put up your dog up for adoption.

Friends and Family

A natural choice may be to consider letting someone you know adopt your dog. You may find that you have a friend or a family member who is interested in giving your dog a new home. Since you already know them, it may be easier to judge whether they’re capable of providing your dog with everything he needs for proper care. Your dog may already have a relationship with your friends or family, so the transition will also be easier for him and for you.

However, not everyone has people in their lives who have the capability and the resources to care for a German Shepherd.  

Specialized Rescues

In some cases, you might want to surrender your dog to a rescue that specializes in German Shepherds. These facilities have experience working with this breed, and will know how to care for your dog properly while he is in their care. Additionally, they can take care of finding someone to adopt the dog.

What You Should Beware of When Listing a Pet for Adoption 

The Internet has made many aspects of life much easier. However, it can also be dangerous. While it may be a simple matter to list your dog on classified sites online, there is no way to determine just who will respond and whether they will be a good and loving owner for your dog. Instead of choosing to use dangerous classified sites online, you should always look for trusted online methods, such as Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com.

Consider the Benefits of Rehome

Rehome is a peer-to-peer pet adoption platform that is free to use. It is a safe and reliable method for you to put your German Shepherd up for adoption rather than relinquishing the animal to a shelter or a rescue. Rehome will provide owners with the guidance and the tools needed to list their German Shepherd, add photos, and a bio, and more. You can even create application questions that are appropriate for your dog, and then see answers from potential adopters. This ensures that the best fit is found for your dog. You can also upload medical records that will be transferred to the person who adopts your dog.
This service is free to the pet owner, and the adopter will only need to pay a small fee. The fee is similar to what shelters will typically charge. The service is simple to understand, and it is highly effective. It will allow you to find the perfect adopter for your German Shepherd, giving you peace of mind knowing that your pet will be going to a great home where they will be loved. 

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Border Collie?

To surrender your border collie means that you’re giving up your legal rights to your dog. You can surrender your dog at an animal shelter, for example. Once you have signed the paperwork and they have taken your dog, they’ll take him and place him into the shelter, where he will stay until he is adopted, or until they can no longer hold him.

You must understand the basics of what will happen when you surrender your border collie. You should also know there are better options than bringing him to a shelter or even a rescue.

Surrendering Your Dog to the Shelter

First, you should know that you can’t simply drop your border collie off at the shelter unannounced. You need to get in touch with the shelter or the rescue where you want to bring your dog first. The rescue will let you know if they even have room at the facility for him. Many rescues are filled to capacity and can’t take on new animals. The shelters will ask questions about your dog and will want to know why you need to surrender him. The same is true of rescue.

This is because they want to be sure you don’t have the option of keeping the dog. For example, some of the common reasons for surrendering a dog include behavior problems and not being able to spend enough time with him. The organizations can provide you with resources that can help with these and other problems. They might have the numbers of local doggy daycare facilities, for example. They could also know local trainers that could help.

Ultimately, they want to have you keep your dog. It’s best for you and him, and it will ensure that the shelters are not as crowded.

If you still have no other choice, you can set up an appointment to bring him to the shelter. When you surrender him, you’ll likely have to pay a fee. The price for surrendering your dog can vary based on the facility. Generally, the cost of surrendering will be between $50 and $150. Once you finish the paperwork, you’ll relinquish your legal rights to your dog.

Once he has been brought into the shelter, they’ll try to find someone who will adopt him as soon as they can. However, this is not always possible to find your dog a home, even when you have a wonderful border collie. If this is the case, your dog could be euthanized after spending a certain amount of time at the shelter, so they can make room for more incoming dogs.

Consider Rehoming Your Border Collie Instead

Rather than surrendering your border collie, consider rehoming your dog. Whether it is with a friend who has been looking for a dog or someone that you find through the Rehome platform, it ensures that he gets the home that he deserves. You’ll have far more peace of mind knowing that he’s in a loving home rather than scared at a shelter.

Do You Have to Pay to Rehome a Jack Russell Terrier?

When you rehome your Jack Russell Terrier, you won’t typically have to pay any fees. However, it’s important to understand the different types of fees that could be charged depending on whether you’re the owner or you’re adopting.

What Are Rehoming Fees and Why Are They Important?

Rehoming fees are fees paid to the owner of a dog or a pet adoption site. These fees are important for several reasons. The fees help to ensure that only people who have an interest in loving and caring for your dog bring them home. When someone gives away a pet, the person who takes that pet doesn’t have any financial stake in the animal. Some people turn around and sell the dogs to labs, or they use them as bait for fighting dogs. The fee helps to greatly reduce this risk.

When you’re charging rehoming fees for your dog, you’ll want to keep them in line with what a rehoming site or a shelter would charge for adoption. This will generally be somewhere between $50 and $150. It’s enough that people wouldn’t have any reason to want to buy a dog that they would then turn around and sell to a lab for less, for example.

When rehoming your dog on your own, you should always charge a rehoming fee. If you’re rehoming through a site like Rehome, you won’t have to worry. The platform will charge the people who are adopting a rehoming fee that’s similar to what would be paid at shelters.

As an owner who is rehoming their dog through Rehome, you won’t have to worry about any fees to use the site. It’s free and it’s easy to use. You’ll create a profile for your Jack Russell Terrier, add some images and videos, and then review the adoption applications that arrive. This makes it easier for you to find a great new home for your dog.

What Are Surrender Fees and Adoption Fees?  

Even though owners won’t pay a rehoming fee, if you’re giving up your dog to a shelter or a rescue, you’ll have to pay surrender fees. These fees can vary based on the shelter or rescue, the location, the age of the dog, etc. You’ll want to get in touch with the facility to determine just how much the fees will be and to set up an appointment to drop off your dog.

If you’ll be adopting through a shelter or a rescue, you can also expect fees. These are usually called adoption fees. Again, the price of these fees will vary based on many factors, so you’ll want to speak with the facility to get an idea of what you’ll have to pay.

You might be wondering why there are both surrender fees and adoption fees at these facilities. The money from these fees go into helping keep these facilities running, so they can take care of more animals. Charging adoption fees also ensures that only people who are going to care for the dogs properly are adopting them, as well.

What Natural Remedy Can I Give My Dog For Anxiety?

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. 

What Does It Mean to Surrender an American Bulldog?

When you surrender an American bulldog, it means that you are giving up your rights as your dog’s owner to a rescue or shelter. You will not have any legal rights to your pet once he has been turned in to the shelter. Most shelters and rescues will also charge a fee when you surrender a pet. The cost can vary depending on your location and the facility’s policies.

Shelters and rescues provide the pets in their care with safe lodging, playtime, and access to food and water, until they are adopted. However, there is no guarantee that every pet will be adopted from the shelter, and in some locations, pets can only be held for a certain length of time because there are so many incoming animals.

Although the shelters try their best, being in a shelter environment can still be stressful for a pet that’s used to living in a calm home environment. Therefore, you might want to look at some of the other options available to help you find your American bulldog a new home.

See If You Can Keep Your Pet

The best course of action is to find a way that you can keep the pet. If you are having trouble with your dog’s behavior you may want to look into finding a dog trainer or a certified animal behaviorist. If you are having a hard time caring for you dog financially, you might be able to apply for grant programs or free services from local rescues. As a responsible pet owner, you can find creative resources to help you keep your pet if possible.

Let Someone You Know Adopt Your Dog

If you find that you cannot realistically keep your pet you can help find your dog a new home. Do you have a member of the family who loves your dog and who has mentioned wanting to adopt a dog of their own? If you are in a situation where you have to give up your dog because you have to travel for work, you are in the military, or because you simply can’t afford your dog any longer, this could be a good option.

Take the time to check with your friends and family members to see if there is anyone who might be able and willing to adopt your dog. Of course, you can’t just give your dog to anyone that you know. You still want to be sure that the person has the room available and the capability to provide your dog with the care he needs.

Rehome Your American Bulldog

Another great option is to rehome the dog. You could do this on your own, or you could use Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. Rehome is a simple, free and safe peer-to-peer adoption service that allows you to list your pets on Adopt-a-Pet.com. Get on the platform and create a profile for your pet complete with a bio, photos, and videos. This can be seen by countless people who are looking to adopt. Rehome also provides you with tools to help vet potential adopters and make sure you are sending your beloved companion to a safe and loving home.

You can find a great home for your pet through Rehome, and give yourself peace of mind that he is in the best environment possible.