Archive for January 2012

Does Your Canine Display Signs Of Phobias?

A lot of dogs display fears without seeming to have a reason. Similar to the way in which some people react when they observe a spider, many canines react suddenly to a host of stimuli. The reasons vary and can range from a negative episode experienced early in life to a lack of proper training and socialization. Whatever the cause, canines can - and do - suffer from phobias that influence their behaviors.

For owners, these phobias can become deeply frustrating since they may prevent them from enjoying their canines' company. In severe cases, many owners give up, abandoning their pets to shelters. This article will briefly describe several phobias that affect millions of dogs.

Fear Of Being Separated From You

Separation anxiety is a heartbreaking disorder to observe in canines. When left alone, they become distraught, barking, whining, drooling, and pacing the ground, waiting for their owners to return. Sometimes, the fear motivates them to escape in an attempt to rejoin their owners.

This is one of the most difficult fears to address. It involves desensitizing the dog to his owner's absence, a process that requires substantial time and patience.

Anxiety Over Thunder

A lot of dogs are easily frightened by sudden, loud noises, such as gun shots and car backfires. Distress over thunder is slightly different. Experts believe that canines can sense a change in atmospheric pressure, causing them to be more on edge than normal. When claps of thunder occur, the animals become frightened. In response, they might hide or display destructive behavior.

Distress About Car Rides

Many pets become anxious when riding in vehicles. Some will refuse to even enter a car, backing away from it or barking when their owners attempt to force them in. This might stem from an early experience during which the animal was taken to a place he disliked. Or, the rumble of the engine and sensation beneath his paws while on the road may have seemed unpleasant to him.

Apprehension Around Kids

Young kids can scare dogs, creating a phobia in them that lasts for years. This can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, a child may pull on a dog's tail or ears, causing him pain. Or, a child may not realize that approaching a canine suddenly may be misinterpreted by the animal as an act of aggression. Or, the pet may have had little to no exposure to young people early in his life, and is thus unfamiliar with them.

It is important to always supervise the interaction between a dog and child. Otherwise, the animal's fear could prompt a reaction that results in the child's injury.

Anxiety About Visiting The Vet

For dogs, a veterinary clinic is rarely a pleasant place to visit for the first time. Not only is everything unfamiliar, but the animals are usually subjected to poking, prodding, and on occasion, vaccination shots. It's common for canines to develop an aversion, often to the point of recognizing the roads taken to the vet's office. With time, however, this phobia tends to dissipate as dogs become more familiar with their veterinarians.

Fear Of Unfamiliar People

A lot of canines become tense whenever strangers are nearby. Sometimes, their stress is mild, causing them to remain alert. Other times, the stress is severe, prompting the animal to bark and growl at the person.

This problem often develops in dogs that receive little to no exposure to new people. It may also develop as the result of mistreatment by strangers in the past.

Most canine phobias can be treated successfully with desensitization training. Although the process is long and sometimes exasperating, owners are rewarded with less anxious companions.

Helping Your Dog Overcome Separation Anxiety

Most canines want to spend as much time as possible near their owners. Knowing their owners are nearby gives them a sense of comfort. When left alone, many dogs begin to cry or whine.

Separation anxiety is a more serious issue. A canine suffering from this behavior problem becomes increasingly stressed when his owner leaves him alone, or leaves him in the care of another person. This can tax the owner's nerves, and strain his or her relationships with neighbors. Below, we'll describe some of the signs of separation anxiety. You'll also learn how to help your pet overcome the disorder.

How To Identify Separation Anxiety In Your Pet

Dogs react differently when they become stressed due to isolation. Some become vocal, barking and whining loudly until their owners return. Others will adopt destructive behaviors. They'll dig holes and rip up gardens and grass outside, or destroy furniture and other objects indoors. Still other animals will eliminate indoors to relieve their stress.

Canines with severe separation anxiety may display nervousness about being left alone when their owners are home. For example, if left in another room, they might check periodically to make sure their owners are still nearby.

Training Your Canine To Be Independent

A lot of dogs become anxious when left by their owners because they have never been taught to be independent. Their attempts to seek attention in the past have always been rewarded. The first step toward reducing an animal's separation anxiety is to discourage such attempts. If your dog barks or whines in a bid for your attention, refrain from giving it to him. Instead, reward him when he has become calm.

Minimize Your Dog's Reaction To Signs Of Departure

Think about the things you do when you are preparing to leave your home. You might put on your shoes, remove a water bottle from your refrigerator, and pick up your car keys. Your pet will quickly recognize these signs, which can cause him to become stressed.

One way to address your canine's reaction to these "signals" is to perform them throughout the day, even when you have no intention of leaving. Doing so will help sever the connection your pet has made between picking up your keys and being left alone.

Engage Your Pet's Mind

Silence and the absence of distractions can amplify a canine's feelings of isolation. Provide your pet with stimuli that will engage his mind in your absence. For example, give him a few toys, and change them periodically to prevent him from becoming bored. Test different types of music, and play the type that relaxes him at low volume (leave it on when you leave).

Another tactic is to give your dog a treat the moment before you leave your home. Though he may dread your departure, the treat will help him form a positive association with it.

Also, if your pet enjoys chewing objects (or even tearing them apart), give him an old piece of clothing or pair of shoes to play with. The activity will distract him, and can suppress his feelings of isolation.

Separation anxiety can become a distressing problem for dogs and their owners. If your pet displays signs of the disorder, be patient with him, and take the steps above to help him control it.

When Dogs Dig: How To Curb The Digging Habit In Your Canine

Digging dogs can be deeply frustrating for their owners. Unless the behavior is curbed, their yards and gardens might begin to look unsightly. Unfortunately, few people are able to identify the reasons their pets are digging, and thus cannot hope to successfully address the motivations behind the behavior.

In the space below, we'll take a close look at why many canines dig. You'll learn about the factors that prompt the behavior, which is a critical step toward discouraging it. We'll also offer a few tips for shaping your pet's habit in a way that preserves your yard and garden, and ensures his safety.

What Motivates A Dog To Dig?

There are many reasons a canine might be compelled to dig. For example, he might do so in an attempt to find cool soil to lie upon when the weather is warm. Or, he may wish to leave the confines of his yard to explore his neighborhood, roam for a mate, or look for food.

Some dogs dig because they are bored. This can happen when they are left outside by their owners for long periods of time. Lacking toys or anything else that might offer mental stimulation, they dig to entertain themselves.

A canine might also dig if he observes a rodent that triggers his prey instinct. In such cases, digging that suggests an attempt to escape is actually an indication of chasing a small animal.

Many dogs dig in order to hide their possessions. The behavior is not driven by anxiety that another animal (or person) will steal their resources, but rather by a motivation to save them for another time.

Another reason is to get away from environments they fear. The behavior may be prompted by loud noises, the appearance of a predator, or an abusive owner.

Each of these reasons may be a contributing factor in a dog's digging. Discouraging the behavior usually requires addressing its motivation. That said, the following suggestions should prove helpful in most cases.

Designate An Area For Your Pet To Dig

One method for preventing your canine from digging up your lawn or garden is to direct his habit toward another area of your yard. Designate a space in which your pet can dig without reprimand. You'll need to train him to dig there, an effort that is best made with plenty of treats.

Bury one of his favorite treats near the surface of the ground (loose soil works well). Make sure he observes you burying it. He'll likely dig it up without needing to be prompted. Once he acquires the buried treat, praise him to reinforce the behavior. Perform this exercise several times until he begins to dig in his designated space on his own.

Make Inappropriate Areas Less Appealing

If your dog is persistent in digging up a particular area of your lawn or garden, you may need to take a more direct approach. For example, consider erecting a makeshift fence out of chicken wire with a portion of it buried several inches under the ground's surface.

You can also purchase a number of products designed to keep your canine away with the use of scents he finds to be repulsive. Commercial repellents include "Get Away" and "Keep Off." But even household items, such as vinegar and ammonia are effective.

Addressing Your Pet's Boredom

Boredom is a common cause of digging. Even if the habit is motivated by another factor, providing your canine with more mental and physical activity can help curb the problem. Take him for two or three walks a day; play games, such as fetch and tug-o-war, with him; and visit a dog park, where he can interact with other pets.

If you are frustrated by your dog's digging, identify the motivation behind the behavior. Although the habit is instinctive in canines, it can be discouraged with the right steps.

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