All posts by wsrs

The outdoor cat. A complimentary spirit.

Beamer is an indoor cat now. So is Scout.

There is a difference between our cat who used to roam outdoors and our cat who has never had that freedom.

Two levels of awareness.

Beamer would often be out for hours, napping on the deck, slinking between bushes.

Sometimes he’d be gone for days – hunting and killing birds, rabbits, mice; checking out other homes; battling other cats.

He chose to sleep in window wells, sometimes, even on the coldest January nights.

After his excursions, he would sleep for days on our bed, cuddling and enjoying free store-bought cat food.

With time, he’d leave again.

Beamer knew to look both ways before crossing the street. He knew when to fight other animals and when to flee. He knew if he showed up at the back door we would always let him in.

Is that love? To allow a suburban cat that type of freedom?

Jeg ved ikke.

Is it love to keep a cat indoors in any way times?

Jeg ved ikke.

I keep my cats indoors today, out of love.

They are safe indoors – safe from traffic on 32nd, safe from our neighbors’ dogs, safe from animal control.

Yet, what if Beamer and Scout were two of the millions that end up in U.S. shelters?

What if they, although healthy, were facing potential death due to a “lack of homes”?

What if someone wanted to give these two cats – Beamer and Scout – a life with the freedom to go outdoors?

I know what I would want, if I were a cat.

I would choose life, even if that life indicated a lot more of a “risky” life.

My cat Beamer is an animal who could’ve been killed dozens of times – by the cold, by trucks, by a pet dog attack. His lifestyle was a gamble, and I did worry.

But cats can be, in lots of ways, complimentary spirits.

A complimentary spirit is able to come and go, to make choices, to think through and navigate his environment.

A complimentary spirit has the ability to make mistakes. often he learns from these mistakes. often he succumbs to them.

Is that so cruel?

Dogs bring numerous benefits to senior citizens. They offer companionship as well as decrease feelings of loneliness. They boost social interaction. as well as people with dogs are much more active.

However, some seniors can face major challenges in caring for their dogs. They may encounter health and wellness issues that impact their capability to take their canine for a walk. financially they may discover it challenging to pay for their dog’s needs. Or they may not be able to drive making visits to the vet or the groomer difficult.

Still, the benefits of having a canine outweigh the challenges, so discovering ways to support seniors with their dogs is extremely important.

Helping seniors take care of their dogs

ELDERDOG is a Canadian registered charitable organization aimed at helping senior citizens keep their own dogs in their own homes by supplying additional support as well as care that’s needed. see their web site here.

Sue Wilson leads the ELDERDOG chapter—or pawd—in Guelph, Ontario. She explains, “I was believing one day about exactly how my canine needed to go out, as well as I thought, “What’s this going to be like when I’m older?” That got me believing about older people in my neighborhood as well as exactly how I might assist them with their dogs. A few weeks later, I discovered out about ELDERDOG.”

ELDERDOG was started by Ardra Cole, a professor of education at install Saint Vincent university in Halifax. Cole’s research study into caregiving as well as Alzheimer’s illness led to the establishment of ELDERDOG Canada.

Volunteers like take legal action against help seniors with exercising their dogs, delivering pet food, grooming, transportation to as well as from the vet or groomer as well as short-term care during hospitalization.

ELDERDOG’s services are likewise offered in emergencies, which assists to alleviate tension as well as concern for seniors as well as their families.

Sue describes one client, who does not have household to assist her as well as likewise has major health and wellness challenges. “She has not allowed herself to be admitted to medical facility since she has no one to take care of her dog. now that she is connected with ELDERDOG, she has us as backup. The concern of who would take care of her canine was a huge mental burden.”

All of ELDERDOG’s services are supplied by volunteers as well as are totally free to seniors. (Information on volunteering is offered on their website.)

What volunteers do

Volunteers will likewise help in fostering or adopting dogs. In the circumstance that a senior has to provide up his or her dog, ELDERDOG assists with rehoming.

The organization works carefully with humane societies as well as other volunteer organizations in the areas it serves. Last year, ELDERDOG rehomed much more than 300 older dogs across Canada. numerous of these dogs were rehomed from one senior resident to another, with the ELDERDOG village of volunteers as well as helpers.

While numerous communities have organizations focused on helping older people embrace dogs, ELDERDOG focuses likewise on continuous support for helping seniors take care of their dogs. take legal action against encourages seniors to seek out organizations in their regional areas.

She likewise encourages people to reach out to elderly neighbours as well as relatives as well as offer to help with their dogs. “The finest thing to do is ask if you can help. It’s practical to be particular about what you’re offering. rather than asking ‘Do you requirement any type of help?’ ask ‘Can I take your canine for a walk?’ particularly as we head into winter, this support may be extremely appreciated.”

Sue receives various inquiries every week from seniors, their families as well as even care facilities seeking support for seniors as well as their dogs. The requirement is great, however so are the benefits for seniors, dogs as well as the volunteers who assist them.

Do you have a group like ELDERDOG helping seniors take care of their dogs in your area?

Have you ever faced a difficulty in caring for your dog?

Do you assist any type of elderly friends or household with their dogs?

Let us understand in the comments!

To discover much more about ELDERDOG, check out the web site or these articles.

Buddy finds a new home

Volunteers assist senior take care of her dog

Relaterede indlæg:

What does a therapy canine do?

Julia Thomson is a blogger at Home on 129 Acres where she writes about her adventures of country living as well as diy renovating. She as well as her household online on a 129-acreGård i Ontario, Canada. Overhold Julia på Instagram her.

I fostered an ancient black lab named Dora a couple of years ago.

Even with pain medication, her joints were so bad I just didn’t take her for walks at all. Looking back, I wish I would’ve come up with some ways to exercise her.

Today, my own black lab mix Ace shows signs of sore joints. We still choose walks, but I no longer take him running and we don’t play as much fetch.

Ace is one of those dogs who is completely obsessed with a tennis ball, and playing fetch tends to hurt his legs. So now, we just play a game every night where we roll the tennis ball back and forth in the living room. He loves it!

With older dogs (Ace is now 10), it’s tempting not to walk them as much or even at all, especially if they have less energy or if they have joint pain.

But as you know, exercise is still crucial for older dogs, for evident reasons such as:

Weight management
Nydelse!
Stresshåndtering
Bonding with family members – Ace’s favorite thing is probably to go on a walk with my husband and I together
Continued socialization and training
A healthier immune system

So, generally the same reasons why we must ALL be exercising, right?

It gets a lot more challenging with an older dog, though, because you may not be able to take him running, hiking or on those off-leash pet dog park excursions.

In Ace’s case, I can’t just throw his ball 20 times to help him burn energy like I used to do. He’ll hurt his legs.

So, here are some ideas for exercising your senior dog, especially if he’s having joint issues:

Tips for exercising a senior dog

1. just do it

Don’t use a senior dog’s age as an excuse not to exercise, said lab owner Kate O’Brien.

“It’s even a lot more crucial to appropriately exercise a senior, as arthritic joints do better if they are kept loose and limber,” she said.

She also suggested massaging your pet dog after a workout.

2. multiple short walks throughout the day

Ace gets sore after a mile or so, but he also still has energy after going that distance. I used to take him on one longer walk each morning and call it good, but that doesn’t work for him anymore. Instead, I walk him for about 20 minutes in the morning and then we choose a second walk some evenings.

On the other hand, if your senior pet dog still seems to do ok on longer walks or even running sessions, that’s great! I would keep it up if it’s working. See my post on taking senior dogs running.

3. use hills

“Hills can be a great way to keep a pet dog in shape,” according to Steve Pelletier, the other blogger behind Slim Doggy.

“Seniors in particular will often show a marked weakness in their hind legs,” he said. “Which can hinder their mobility.”

He suggested to walk uphill to a lot more successfully engage the dog’s hind legs and then “zig-zag down to alleviate anxiety on the front legs.”

4. Swimming

It’s not always easy to find a convenient, controlled area to take a pet dog swimming, but if you have the option, use it!

We are fortunate to live just a 5-minute drive from the Pacific coast and ideal by a pet dog friendly beach. pet dog paddling is beneficial for Ace because it gets his heart rate up while strengthening his muscles. He also doesn’t get too hot like he often does on walks.

Playing fetch in the water vs. on land is also much easier on his joints.

5. range of motion  

Pelletier suggested a stretching exercise you can try with your senior dog.

“Have your pet dog sit, and with a treat in hand, have them follow your hand as you slowly step it away from them, and then side to side,” he said. “You can even step it back towards their flank so they get a really great stretch.”

To make this stretching exercise effective, he said the dog needs to remain in a seated or down position. It can be used as a warm-up and will “keep your older pet limber.”

SlimDoggy.com also has a great post on balancing exercises for dogs of all ages.

6. Walks in new places

Some senior dogs are well behaved in new areas, which makes it much easier to take them places. To tire out your senior without putting too much anxiety on her body, you could take her on a walk through a pet friendly store or to an event like a street fair. Ace is wiped after such events.

What do the rest of you do to exercise your senior dogs?

Fortæl mig det i kommentarerne!

Also see my posts:

Older dogs and running

My dog’s tennis ball obsession

i sidste måned komponerede jeg om, hvordan min hund bliver ophidset, når han ser andre hunde på vandreture og trækker.

Et almindeligt problem, ikke?

Det er ikke det, at min hund overhovedet er reaktiv, og han trækker ikke engang så hårdt. Jeg vil bare have ham til at forblive fokuseret og fortsætte hælen, når vi ser andre hunde.

Jeg har høje forventninger.

Jeg har ikke gjort meget fremskridt, fordi jeg ikke har gjort en indsats for at følge med i mine træningsmål.

I stedet for at bruge en choke/slip krave og bære godbidder som planlagt, har jeg faldet tilbage på den blide leder. Jeg elsker den blide leder, men det giver dybest set min hund mulighed for at trække, mens jeg minimerer virkningerne af at trække, så jeg kan “tjekke ud” på træning. Det er fantastisk, når jeg tager ess til butikker eller travle begivenheder. Det er ikke fantastisk, når jeg arbejder på træning i nabolaget.

Så jeg har besluttet at genoptage mine originale mål:

[check_list]

Brug en spids krave. Jeg har besluttet, at det fungerer bedre end vores billige, tunge choke krave -ess, der bærer på billedet herunder.

Bære godbidder.

Hold nok afstand fra andre hunde, så jeg kan belønne god opførsel.

Forøg langsomt udfordringerne.

[/check_list]

For at gøre dette har jeg altid godbidder i min frakke lomme på forhånd, så de er altid der. Ellers er det for let for mig at springe godbidderne over.

Jeg har også skåret min hunds daglige mad tilbage med ca. 1/6, så de ekstra godbidder forårsager ikke vægtøgning. Dette vil også holde ham mere interesseret i godbidder, da han ikke vil være for fuld. Han er smuk godkendt, men det hjælper altid med at træne, når hunden leder efter et måltid!

Årsagen til, at jeg kan lide spidsen, er fordi det føles som en almindelig krave for min hund (mod at have noget over hans næse med den blide leder).

Når vi passerer andre hunde, holder jeg snoret (ingen spænding), så min hund kan tage valget om, hvordan man skal reagere. Jeg bruger kommandoen “ur”, mens jeg lokker ham med en godbid. Hvis det ikke fungerer, giver jeg ham et let slæbebåd på spids krave efterfulgt af en “god dreng!” Og en godbid, når han ser på mig.

Det er meget grundlæggende træning, og det fungerer godt for os, når jeg følger igennem. Sådan trænede jeg af hund, da jeg først fik ham.

Jeg kan også godt lide spidsen, fordi jeg kan skifte snor frem og tilbage mellem spids krave og nylon krave, og min hund vil ikke engang bemærke det. Målet er at komme til det punkt, hvor han ikke har brug for spidsen.

I’m hoping if we work on this each day for about a month, I will notice significant improvements.

Så hvad med resten af ​​dig?

Har du nogen træningsmål til dine hundvandringer?

This post was a part of the walk Your dog hop sponsored by BoingyDog and Paws and Pedals. 

Få det Mutt’s nyhedsbrev i din indbakke:

What do canine walkers do when they’re sick?

I launched the canine walking, running and pet sitting company Run That Mutt in 2008. because then, I’ve helped several hundred other canine lovers start their own canine walking businesses. One question I receive fairly often is: What do canine walkers do when they’re sick?

Obviously, if you have a company partner or employees, you ought to be able to cover for one another.

You would want to discuss this to your clients ahead of time, of course, so they are aware of who could be entering their homes. You ought to introduce your company partner or backup employee to your clients in advancement so they know who the backup person would be if you are ever sick. Then, on the day you are sick, you ought to also notify the clients to let them know the backup person will be walking the dogs that day.

If you are sick, some of your clients might choose not to have a backup person walk their dogs. This is a sensible request. Some dogs just don’t do well with unfamiliar people.

But many canine walkers don’t have employees.

Personally, I choose to keep my company small. I don’t want a company partner or employees at this time for my company offering dog walking in Del Mar, Calif.

When I am sick, I take a day off. My clients know there is not a backup person. I give them as much notice as possible, and people understand and plan accordingly. Some might stay home with their dogs. Some will ask a neighbor to drop by. Some dogs will go without a walk that day, and they are just fine.

In-home child daycare providers get sick every now and then too. numerous of these daycare providers do not have employees, and they have to cancel their daycare services from time to time because they don’t want all the kids to get sick. Livet går videre. parents plan accordingly, often staying home with the child or calling on grandma to help that day.

Getting sick is part of life. It happens to all of us, no matter what our professions are. Ikke noget særligt.

What do pet sitters do when they’re sick?

Pet sitting gets challenging because the owners are out of town. If I am sick, I am still responsible for those animals.

Thankfully, I have never been so sick where I had to cancel a pet sitting appointment. I have been sick, but I was still able to care for the animals as usual. If for some reason I were unable to take the dogs for walks or so sick where I could not get to the client’s house, I would contact the client and honestly discuss the situation.

There are also a few options for these types of emergencies:

Use your spouse (or a significant other, family member or friend) as a backup during emergencies. You would only want to do this with the client’s permission, of course. and you want to make sure your pet sitting insurance covers this backup person ahead of time.

During your meet and greet with the client, ask if anybody else in town has a essential to his home. If so, ask for that person’s contact information. Then, in an emergency, you could potentially organize for that person to stop by and make sure the animals are ok – with the client’s permission, of course.

Overall, it’s always best to be truthful with the client, discuss the situation and continue to touch base. If you are sick, you may be able to continue checking on the animals as usual, but maybe the visits will be a little shorter (make sure to give a discount). people are typically understanding if you are honest.

For much more information, get my ebook on how to start a canine walking/running business.

Learn much more here.

You can also sign up for my canine walking and pet sitting email list and get professional suggestions from me once a month

There’s a substantial range of intelligence from dog to dog just as there is from human to human.

We can’t do much to increase the actual intelligence of our dogs, but we can increase their awareness of themselves and how they fit into their surroundings.

All dogs can learn.

Introducing a dog to as many different environments, scenarios and obstacles as possible affects how he thinks and behaves in certain situations. A dog that has experienced more will make better choices. He will act smarter than other dogs.

A person who has traveled more or studied more than others is not necessarily smarter, but she can use her experiences to make smarter decisions. It’s the same for dogs.

For example, about a third of the dogs I walk will untangle themselves if they get their legs caught in their leashes. They menouver their bodies by stepping over their leashes, backing up and twisting around, all in the correct order. The other two-thirds of the dogs I walk will just stand there waiting for my help. Some dogs do not even seem to understand why they are stuck.

The dogs that know how to untangle themselves are not necessarily the breeds usually credited for being smarter (German shepherds, border collies, Australian shepherds, etc.). Instead, they are the dogs who have experienced more with their owners. Their owners consistently reward them for thinking!

The dogs that “get out more” are very aware of themselves and their relation to their environments and to me. They are able to avoid getting tangled in their leashes in the first place. They also avoid bumping into my legs or cutting me off. They make eye contact. They do not react aggressively or excitedly to passing runners or dogs. They might show a lot of interest, but they do not freak out. Basically, they’ve seen it all before.

If a dog rarely gets out of his house and yard, he won’t have much of an understanding on how to act or what to expect beyond those boundaries. He’ll be full of energy and excitement, for one thing, and he’ll probably pull on the leash, knock things over and react to something as unexciting as a person pushing a stroller.

The dog might need help figuring out how to step over a fallen log, jump down from a ledge or walk through an automatic door.

If this sounds like your dog, don’t worry. It’s never too late to increase his awareness.

How can I increase my dog’s awareness?

The easiest way to do this is to bring him out and about in the “real world” as typically as you can.

Bring your dog to new places

I’ve taken Ace to countless places, and it’s paid off. Mostly, he doesn’t act like a freak if we check out somewhere new.

Ace has gone for walks in many different neighborhoods and parks around town. He’s visited all the pet friendly stores in our area. He’s gone on camping and backpacking adventures, carried his own doggy backpack and slept in a tent. He’s attended fairs, garage sales and fundraisers. He’s gone to softball tournaments, marathons and rugby games (along with rugby parties).

Ace goes to picnics and trips to the lake and bike rides. He goes for boat rides, jumps off the dock and swims. He participated in a 5-mile race complete with live bands, a gunshot at the start of the race and people screaming. He’s taken several agility and obedience classes. He’s been around guns and fireworks. He climbs on playground equipment. He’s visited nursing homes, churches and schools. I’ve left him at different boarding kennels and dog daycares and with various pals and family members.

All of the above are everyday scenarios your dog could also take part in. It’s not too hard to come up with places to bring your dog, even if it’s as simple as walking him in a new neighborhood every day. You are guaranteed to come across something new.

Train your dog for agility or create your own obstacles

Dogs love agility! They love the challenges of climbing, crawling and jumping at fast speeds. Ace loves agility, but he also loves playing on playground equipment, walking across beams and logs and jumping over random obstacles I put together at home.

Some dogs will be hesitant to climb on different obstacles because they’ve been told “no” every time they try to get on the furniture. So teach your dog that it’s ok to climb when he gets permission. use commands like “up” or “chair” or “climb.” Reward your dog for making small attempts. If he puts one paw up, tell him how good he is and give him a treat. Do that a few times and then keep challenging him to go a bit further. two paws, three paws.

Make sure to also teach the word “off” to use when you do not want your dog jumping on you or climbing on the furniture. For Ace, “off” means “keep all four paws on the ground.”

Pretty soon you’ll have a dog that can climb onto a bar stool or sit at the piano!

Opsætningmental challenges for your dog

Have you ever heard of those exercises to test your dog’s intelligence? One trick is to put a blanket over your dog’s head and see if he can figure out how to get out. Some dogs will get out instantly. Others will take a few seconds. Some dogs will just stand there waiting for help because they’ve been conditioned not to think for themselves.

Don’t use exercises like this to judge your dog’s intelligence. Instead, use them to test your dog’s awareness. If he can’t figure out how to get a blanket off his head, then encourage him to figure it out himself and reward him when he does. treat it like he’s won an Olympic gold medal! The next time you throw a blanket over his head, he won’t be so confused.

There are all kinds of mental challenges you can set up for your dog. I put treats under cups and hide them around the house for Ace to find. He has to use his nose to find the treats and then knock over the cups with his paws or nose. sometimes I hide the treats under rugs or above his head, like on a bookshelf or on top of a scratching post. You’d be surprised how many dogs don’t seem to understand the concept of looking up.

Teach your dog commands for directions like “back up” or “turn”

Ace loves to “back up”! and it’s really increased his awareness. He has to be aware of what’s around him so he doesn’t back right into a table or a wall. He will now “back up” while turning corners, and we are working on backing up the stairs (see video below). This is good exercise for him because he uses his muscles differently. It also encourages him to think about himself in a different way.

To teach your dog to back up, start by rewarding him for very small successes. say “back up” and then walk directly into him so he automatically takes a step back. Gentage. Gentage. Gentage. build your distance slowly over time.

The “turn” command comes in handy when we are out biking. I haven’t taken the time to teach Ace “right” or “left,” but when I say “turn,” he knows we will be switching directions so he pays very close attention to where he is in relation to my bike.

Dogs make associations based on past experiences

Just because a dog knows how to lie down on command at home doesn’t mean he will lie down on command at the dog park. But, if a dog’s owner practices commands with him in many areas and situations, the dog will soon catch on.

For example, I taught Ace commands such as “climb it,” “crawl” and “jump” during agility practice. but now they come in handy when I want to tell my dog the safest way to get from point A to point B – from the dock to a boat, for example. My dog is an awkward klutz, but he has learned how to control his body and how to balance himself when needed.

As another example, last weekend we were visiting some friends, and Ace was in their kitchen showing off his begging skills. Josh gave him the command “out!” which means “Get your butt out of the kitchen!” Ace understood this and walked out of the kitchen to the place where the linoleum met the carpet and lied down. He knew what to do even though he’s never been in our friends’ apartment before.

The point is, our dogs are capable of much more than we give them credit for. It’s our job to take the time to teach them and to lead them. A smart dog can do really stupid things if he’s not aware of how he fits into an environment. A border collie might be “smart enough” to break out of his gated yard, but he might also be “dumb enough” to run right into a automobile if he’s unaware of how he fits into his environment beyond the backyard.

My mutt is by no means a genius when it comes to dogs. After all, he might be part dane! but he still has a vocabulary of at least 70 words, and he knows how to “behave” in a variety of situations. He knows how to pay attention and how to re-group. and yes, he knows how to maneuver his body in order to untangle himself from his leash.

In what ways do you increase your dog’s awareness?

We have a tendency to treat our pets like babies, and sometimes that creates separation anxiety in dogs.

Humans have a desire to nurture anything small, cute or helpless.

When a newborn human baby cries, the right thing to do is go to her and offer comfort, food, warmth or whatever she needs, right?

It makes sense that we also want to carry our pets around, keep them near us at all times and go to them when they cry.

We shower them with affection whenever they display signs of neediness. This is a way for us to express love and feel loved back.

But loving a puppy or dog in this way can actually do some harm. It often (not always) results in an anxious, overly dependent, needy and annoying dog.

Puppies and dogs are not babies. They are animals, and they have a right to be treated as animals.

How to prevent separation anxiety in dogs

This post has been expanded into an ebook filled with tips on how to stop a dog’s separation anxiety. order it here for $4.

What is dog separation anxiety?

Dogs with separation anxiety have not been conditioned to being left alone and therefore go into a frantic state of mind when separated from their owners (even when their owners are simply out of sight).

What is NOT dog separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety in dogs is overly diagnosed.

All dogs need a reasonable amount of time to adjust to a new home. most dogs will cry in their kennels for a bit for the first couple of nights or weeks, but then they settle in just fine once they adjust to the new routine.

Some dogs are said to have “separation anxiety” when really they just need:

dyrke motion
rules & training
a routine
time to adjust

A dog that is given little or no exercise, no mental stimulation (training or puzzle toys) and no time with a “pack” is going to be bored out of his mind.

Of course he’s going to bark, destroy property or rip apart his kennel when left alone. He has nothing else to do!

How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety?

In a past post, I outlined the symptoms of dog separation anxiety and the steps on how to help a dog with separation anxiety. Please check it out HERE.

In this post, I want to focus on preventing separation anxiety.

How do I prevent dog separation anxiety?

1. Do not carry your puppy everywhere.

A lot of small dogs develop separation anxiety because they are carried around all the time. They are literally treated like babies.

They never have to think for themselves. They are not encouraged to explore or be independent. They never learn proper socialization skills because their owners pick them up when the dogs are faced with anything new.

Some of these dogs become insecure, fearful and anxious without their owners in sight. Others become overly possessive of their owners and bite anyone who comes close. This can be prevented by treating the dog like a dog.

2. teach your puppy to “stay” for long periods of time.

All dogs should be able to lie down and stay for at least a half-hour, especially when there are no distractions such as when you are watching TV or checking email.

This helps drain some mental energy, builds confidence and self-control.

Teach your dog to stay on her “place” or “bed” while you leave the room.

If your dog doesn’t have the most reliable down-stay quite yet, keep working on it.

Start with just 2 seconds while you’re right next to your dog. then try 5 seconds and over time you can increase to 10 seconds, 15, 30. eventually you can take one step away and she should remain staying. then two steps.

It helps if you can give your dog a special chew toy like a Kong toy or a puzzle toy while she stays on her bed.

2. Do not pick your puppy up if she cries or jumps on you.

This is the kind of behavior you do not want to reward.

Unless she is truly in danger, completely ignore your dog when she cries or jumps on you for attention. Do not look at her. Do not scold her. get up and leave the room if you have to. Your attention is a reward, and she only gets it when she is being calm and quiet and respectful.

By the way, I’m not saying it’s wrong to pick up and cuddle your dog! but if you are worried she is becoming too dependent on you or if she’s showing signs of separation anxiety, setting these boundaries will help her gain confidence in the long term.

*Enjoying this article? get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Klik her

3. Reward your dog with attention when she is calm and quiet.

A reward can be something as simple as eye contact, a pat on the head or a treat. but this is also a good time to pick your dog up!In the meantime, work on other ways to create temporary separation:

4. Purposely separate yourself from your puppy.

You and your dog will naturally want to be together, but you can’t be together all the time. It’s important to help puppies learn to feel comfortable being separated from you. Make sure you are creating these scenarios, even when you are home.

Some ideas to try for short periods:

Tether your dog to a chair or table and walk away.

Return only when she is quiet. This could take a few minutes. Heck, it could take an hour! If your puppy won’t stop crying, just wait her out and return when she has been quiet for even 3 seconds.

If she starts celebrating and barking as you approach, turn around and ignore her again until she is quiet. having your attention is the greatest reward for your dog.

Kennel your dog when you are home.

This could be for 10 minutes or an hour. It’s the same concept as above.

Only return when your dog is quiet. Kenneling your dog when you are home will also help her feel more comfortable in her kennel because she won’t associate it with you leaving the house.

Make sure to stock the kennel full of goodies like Kongs filled with frozen peanut butter and treats.

Shut doors behind you.

If you have a pup who follow you into the bathroom, then close the door in her face and make her wait for you. This is an easy way to create temporary separation. If she scratches at the door or cries, do not open the door. opening the door is too much of a reward.

Create boundaries.

Don’t let your puppy crawl into your lap unless she sits quietly first. Don’t let her sleep in your bed until she is a confident and well-trained dog. Puppies do not belong on the bed.

6. stick to the same routine before you leave your dog home alone.

Sticking to a routine when you leave will really help your dog feel secure. before you head to work, maybe you go for a 30-minute walk with your dog, then shower, then eat breakfast, then put her in her kennel and then do your makeup.

Dogs really depend on a routine to help them feel secure.

7. ignore your dog 20 minutes before you leave and 10 minutes after you return.

Making an event out of coming or going confirms that being apart was bad.

Being apart is not bad, it’s normal.

So, completely ignore your dog before you leave the house (just for 10 minutes or so). Don’t talk to her. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t even look at her. Drawn-out goodbyes will only make her feel anxious. She will pick up on your feelings of guilt.

When you return, do the same. Do not look at her or acknowledge her at all (this is hard!). If she is barking in her kennel, that gives you even more reason to ignore her.

If you don’t kennel your dog and she greets you by jumping and crying, walk into another room like she doesn’t exist.

Return when she is relaxed. If you know she can’t relax, then simply have a Kong toy filled with peanut butter you can drop on the floor as you walk in the door and into another room, ignoring her.

Return in 5 or 10 minutes. This is the perfect time to take her for a walk.

8. Leave your puppy with a friend.

If you have an understanding friend who loves dogs, sometimes it helps if you can leave your dog with a friend for an hour here and there. This helps the dog associate positive experiences with people other than you.

If you are the primary caretaker of your dog, it can also be helpful to have other family members step up and take over some of the important roles like feeding the dog, training sessions, play or walks.

This is especially important if your dog seems overly attached to you vs. other family members or roommates.

Tip: Dogs usually love whoever takes them for walks!

9. Leave your puppy at a dog daycare occasionally.

I’m not saying you have to take your dog to dog daycare every day or every week, but it’s good for dogs to get out and stretch their boundaries every now and then without their owners hovering.

It’s good for the owners, too! It’s so hard for me to leave Ace somewhere overnight, but I know it’s good for me! I’m probably the one with separation anxiety.

10. Make sure all of your dog’s needs are being met.

Dogs that are not given any physical, mental or emotional challenges on a daily basis will likely be very anxious, hyperactive and “crazy” dogs.

Be fair to your dog and provide her with the daily exercise and training she needs. spend time with her. stretch her boundaries. and never assume that small dogs or “lazy” breeds do not need exercise. De gør.

I fostered a Pomeranian mix named Elli who came to us with severe separation issues.

HoW hjalp jeg Elli?

Jeg tog hende med at cykle hver dag for at slippe af med hendes ophøjede energi. Hun var omkring 9 pund, og hun løb 2 miles ved siden af min cykel uden noget problem! Hun elskede det!

For mere information, se mit indlæg om almindelige kilder til hundeangst og hvad jeg skal gøre!

Hvilke yderligere tip har du for at forhindre adskillelsesangst hos hunde?

Adskillelsesangst er meget tidskrævende at korrigere. Det er stressende på ejeren, hunden og alle andre familiemedlemmer og kæledyr – og naboer!

*Nyder du denne artikel? Få realistiske hundetræningstips e -mailet en gang om ugen. Klik her

Lindsay Stordahl er grundlæggeren af den mutt. Hun skriver om hundeuddannelse, hundeøvelse og fodring af en sund rå diæt.

min hunde-ess såvel som jeg var ude på en gåtur så godt som vi så en dame nærme sig med det, der så ud som en rødfarvet laboratoriehvalp-fem måneder gammel eller deromkring. Hvalpen var allerede vild såvel som stærk, sandsynligvis 45 pund. såvel som da vi nærmede os dem på en smal gangbro, undgår damen muligvis ikke hendes hunde fra at trække så meget som os.

Denne slags ting opstår til ess så godt som jeg hele tiden. Det er ikke en enorm aftale. Mange af hundene er venlige, såvel som det er ess.

Så selvom damen havde forsøgt at rulle sin hunde ind, endte hun med at oplyse noget i retning af “OK, stat HI.” Jeg er sikker på, at hun måske fortæller, at Ace syntes venligt, men af ​​programmet er det stadig finest at spørge.

Så denne unge hvalp kom på bagbenene såvel som kastede sig på min hunds aftale med så meget energi såvel som spænding. Jeg skulle have gjort noget for at gribe ind, men det var en af ​​de omstændigheder, hvor jeg bare prøvede at fortsætte med at bevæge mig med min hund såvel som at komme af damen så hurtigt som jeg kunne.

Under alle omstændigheder, i de to sekunder eller for at sikre, at vores hunde rørte ved, så jeg min hunde ekstremt ubehagelig, såvel som han havde krøllede læberne, såvel som hans hackler var op. Jeg brugte min krop til at komme mellem hundene såvel som typen af ​​stødte min hunde ud af metoden såvel som vi fortsatte. Eventuelt skulle jeg have lader ham fortælle hvalpen, fordi ingen andre skulle til det.

Årsagen til, at denne omstændighed var betydelig, er, da jeg fortsatte med at tro på den hvalp såvel som alle de adfærdsmæssige problemer, han sandsynligvis vil have. Hvis han allerede udløser ugunstige reaktioner fra de mest vildeste hunde, kan jeg bare forestille mig, hvad der opstår, når han går forbi såvel som hopper på endnu mildt reaktive hunde. Det udløser en kædereaktion, jeg er sikker på. Hvalpen synes ikke overhovedet aggressiv, men han er bestemt ekstremt foran såvel som bestemt. Jeg håber, at han ikke etablerer nogen større barriereirritation såvel som snoraggression. Jeg håber, at en dårlig hunde som Ace ikke får skylden for at knurres over hvalpen såvel som at kaste ham til jorden – “Kan ikke lide!”

Vi har alle haft de øjeblikke, hvor vores hunde er helt ude af styring (i det mindste har jeg). Måske er det alt, hvad der skete i denne situation. Jeg håber, at damen typisk bruger en slags træningskrave i stedet for den flade, spænde krave, jeg så. Jeg håber, hun er dedikeret til at træne sin hund såvel som at få hjælp, hvis hun har brug for det. Jeg håber, at hvalpen bevarer, at han er venlighed, selv når han er indstillet så meget som mislykkes.

Ace og jeg kom lige tilbage fra en to-dages tur for at tjekke familie, hvor Ace havde friheden til at løbe i en stor gård. Problemet med det var, at det var sværere at kontrollere ham, da han ikke var i snor. I nogle tilfælde bragte han mig pinde, helt fikseret på dem. Alle legetøj blev fjernet, og han ville stadig besat at spille hentet med noget. Selvfølgelig kastede jeg ikke pindene.

En af de mest betydningsfulde udfordringer for mig er at håndtere alle andre, ikke kun min hund. For eksempel synes mange mennesker (venner og familie inkluderet), at jeg virkelig er usædvanlig for ikke at lade min hund mulighed for at spille, når han vil. Han er en retriever, siger de, og han kan ikke ændres. Det er måske sandt, men jeg tror ikke på det. Og det er jeg, der skal bo med en boldbesat hund, så jeg vil i det mindste prøve at løse dette problem. Jeg tror, ​​at en del af grunden til, at Aces første ejer blev af med ham, var på grund af hans generende besættelse af legetøj. Men hun fortalte mig ikke det, da jeg adopterede ham!

Uanset hvad, Ace fik at løbe og løbe og løbe i to dage, så han er god og træt. Jeg kom ud af en bunke af hans legetøj, da vi kom hjem – bolde, udstoppede dyr, knogler osv., Og satte dem i en bunke på gulvet. Han så på mig som “Dette skal være et trick.” Bare det faktum, at han skabte øjenkontakt med mig med involveret legetøj, er et betydeligt skridt for ACE. Jeg håber, at hvis legetøjet er ude hele tiden, vil de ikke være sådan en big deal. Hvis han typisk vil spille alene med legetøjet, er det fint. Når han bringer et legetøj til mig og bliver endda lidt fikseret, er det, når jeg passer til ham ved at få ham til at ligge på hans side.

Jeg har skrevet før, at hunde med en besættelse typisk har flere besættelser. En af Aces andre besættelser er vand. Han plejede at drikke alt sit vand med det samme og ville ikke tillade noget vand tilbage i en skål. Hvad jeg gjorde for at løse dette var altid at holde hans vandskål helt fuld overhovedet. Hver gang han drak, fyldte jeg det bedst væk. Han lærte, at det ikke var påkrævet at drikke det hele. Der vil altid være meget mere vand, og ingen prøver at tage det fra ham.

Ved at holde Aces legetøj ude, håber jeg på en lignende reaktion. Jeg vil give ham ros hver gang jeg bemærker, at han ignorerer sit legetøj, skaber øjenkontakt med mig eller ligger roligt ved siden af ​​et legetøj. Vi får se, hvordan dette går.

(Dette er dag tre af min 30-dages udfordring at bryde min hund

En kæledyrshund, der var huset i Animal Shelter i Idabel, Okla., Blev filmet og spiste den kæledyrshund, der døde ved siden af ​​hende, ifølge Tulsa World Everyday -avisen .

Videoen blev offentliggjort på Facebook af Abe Thomas, efter at han gik til huslyen i denne uge, der havde til hensigt at omfavne en hund, ifølge Tulsa -verdenen.

Fra Tulsa -verdenen:

Cecil Richards, byens dyreforvaltningsofficer, sagde, at han har arbejdet i krisecentret i 24 år såvel som kaldet forekomsten af ​​en ulykke.

”Jeg spillede med kæledyrshunden kl. 10:30 (den morgen),” sagde han. ”Jeg gik til frokost på (middag), såvel som da jeg kom tilbage fra frokosten, jeg tilfreds med en person, der sagde, at han ønskede at omfavne en hund. Det var da vi begge så det. ”

Foshee (borgmester i Idabel, Tina Foshee) erklærede onsdag, at byens embedsmænd ikke havde drøftet sagen, men det ville blive undersøgt.

”Der vil blive gjort noget,” sagde hun. ”Det har bare ikke haft tid til at forekomme endnu.”

Thomas sagde, at han omfavnede kæledyrshunden, der blev set i videoen, af bekymring for, at det ville blive dræbt, hvis han ikke gjorde det. Richards sagde, at byen normalt venter 10 dage, før de tager hunde til en dyrlæge for at blive aflivet.

Thomas erklærede i indlægget, at han navngav den omfavnede kæledyrshund Joy.

”Fordi hun så så glad ud af at være derude.”

Fuldt indlæg her.

Idabel Animal Shelter er et kommunalt husly.

Der er produceret en Facebook -side, der beder om omform af husly i Idabel Shelter samt at afslutte Richards.

Billede fra Tulsa -verdenen. Jeg tog en beslutning om ikke at offentliggøre eller linke til videoen.