February is a month right in the heart of winter. This month we’re celebrating how to train your dog, dental health for pets, and responsible pet ownership.
The biggest highlight of the month is usually the Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show. But in 2022, the 146th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is now scheduled for June 18-22, 2022, at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York.
Another cool thing about the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is that each breed has an associated rescue group. Be there in person if you can, but the event will also be televised.
Greetings! I hope the start of your new year is a great one. Sending you my best wishes for a happy and joyous 2022!!
I’m happy to share my December 2021 interview on a popular “pawcast” called All My Children Wear Fur Coats hosted by Peggy Hoyt. The weekly show offers “something for every pet pet parent and animal lover.”
In our evolving world of pet adoption and fostering, more people are embracing pet parenting to ease their anxiety. Pets bring love, joy, laughter, and companionship to our lives. But pets also have tax benefits. Yes, the IRS allows tax deductions for specific cases.
Thankfully, 2021 is winding down. The new year is on the horizon. I’m looking forward to a brighter and peaceful future for the planet! And it’s time to publish my favorite pet parenting tips for 2021!
The holiday season is in full swing! And there is still time to find the perfect pet toys for your pets. Do you know how to toy shop for your pet? Here’s my holiday pet parent shopping tip: Shop with a pet strategy in mind.
Veterinary care is expensive for any pet. Many pet parents have trouble paying for vet care, especially emergency vet care for their pets. Is pet insurance the answer? Are there other options to pay for costly veterinary bills?
The month of August seems to be a peak season for kittens. Weather permitting, kitten season can run from spring into winter. I volunteer for a local animal rescue, Bay State Animal Cooperative (BSAC). Since late July, I’ve processed adoption applications mostly for kittens. But I’m excited to share that more people are also looking for senior cats or special needs cats!
I’m happy to share another interview with our pet parent community! July is a special pet month to celebrate pet safety, pet loss prevention, and quality of life. Your pet’s quality of life includes their long term care in case something happens to you. Attorney and pet lover, Peggy Hoyt offers a solution: A Pet Trust. Peggy talks to us about a Pet Trust and what it means for your pet’s quality of life.
My daily walks take me through a maze of different neighborhoods, including mansions, low-income and middle income homes. But I noticed some strange things in my neighborhood: An uptick in posters of missing pets.
It’s strange because I rarely see these posters. I noticed a poster for an orange cat named Paws, missing for a few weeks. Paws’ poster is stapled to many telephone poles around town
Separation anxiety is a growing worry for pet parents returning to the workplace. During the 2020 lock down, loving families adopted cats and dogs from rescue and shelter organizations.
One study revealed four types of separation anxiety. The best solution is to treat these four underlying reasons rather than see separation anxiety as a diagnosis.
The four main areas of distress are:
A form of boredom
Reacting to external noises or events
Trying to get away from something in the house
Wanting to get to something outside
Pet separation anxiety may be caused by incomplete or unsuccessful/traumatic puppy socialization, and underlying frustrations.
The study explained that pet separation anxiety was considered to be a single condition. Dependency on the owner was the cause and the cure was to make the dog more independent.
But the study suggested that separation anxiety is actually a symptom (elimination, destruction, excessive vocalization) resulting from many possible causes and many forms. Potential treatments should be very focused on an individual symptom.
Signs of Pet Anxiety: Cats and Dogs
Dogs and cats suffer from anxiety. Signs to watch for include:
Cat anxiety: Excessive meowing, aggressive behavior, hiding, vomiting, lethargy, peeing outside the litter box and following you around the house.
Dog anxiety: Panting, drooling, aggression, pacing, depression, destructive behavior, and pee or poop around the house.
Pet anxiety can result from loud noises, a new pet, feeling stress from you or other triggers in your pet’s environment.
source: pupniron.com
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a common form of dog anxiety. As more dog parents return to work, their furry friends may have trouble getting comfortable when left alone at home.
Separation anxiety is not the same as boredom. If your pet doesn’t have enough mental stimulation, try chew puzzles and chew toys to stop the boredom. Excessive barking, destructive behaviors and aggression can be signs of separation anxiety.
5 Myths About Separation Anxiety
#1. Exercise is the cure. Not necessarily. Exercise is good for all dogs, but exercise alone is not always the cure for separation anxiety.
If your dog needs more than exercise, give her something to do before you leave. One source said to try a Kong stuffed with frozen treats.
Stuffed Kongs work so well because they give your dog something to do while you’re leaving, and take the focus off of you. Kongs are mentally stimulating, strong and and will hold your doggy’s attention.
Oscar (photo by @SocialClaude)
#2. Crate training is the cure. Once again, crate training alone is not a guaranteed cure. Remember that your dog must feel comfortable with a crate. If not, leaving him in a crate while you’re away won’t cure his separation anxiety. He will feel trapped and can increase his anxiety.
If you want to leave you dog in a crate while you’re are work, train him properly. Try crate training games and make him feel the crate is a safe place.
#3. A second dog is the cure. You may think that this popular myth is the cure for your pet’s separation anxiety. Remember your dog’s anxiety is not from loneliness – her anxiety is from missing you.
Dogs learn from each other and your current dog can teach the second dog to be anxious when you leave.
You don’t need two dogs suffering from separation anxiety. And your dog may still have separation anxiety when you leave.
#4. Separation anxiety is just a phase. Your dog will experience different phases in her lifetime. But separation anxiety is progressive and can get worse over time. Intervene early to prevent the behavior before it gets out of hand.
Managing your pet’s anxiety means you need to change your dog’s negative association with you leaving. Positive change takes time and effort. Try to find the triggers that set off your pet’s anxiety and use desensitization methods.
#5. Once you manage it, it’s gone forever. Wishful thinking. Without regular maintenance, separation anxiety can return. Stress, changes in routines and even your added stress are examples of triggers that set off separation anxiety.
When anxiety returns, manage her separation anxiety with the same methods used the first time around. Use them whenever you see signs of your pet’s anxiety.
How to Help Your Pet’s Separation Anxiety
You can help your pet feel more self-confident using various behavior modification techniques. As you shift the focus away from you and toward treating the symptoms of separation anxiety (versus a diagnosis), she will feel safe when you’re away.
Helpful practices include:
Never yell or use physical punishment on your pet when you come home to find a mess on the floor. Punishing your dog after the fact only exacerbates the problem.
Try gentle petting before you leave for a short time. Another study revealed that gentle petting before leaving helped dogs stay calm and less stressed when their owner was away.
Practice training your dog to relax during “separations” when you’re in one room and she’s in another. Move a short distance from her (while in the same room), return and reward her with a treat. Repeat at the same distance until she’s very relaxed. Gradually increase the distance until you’re almost out of the room. Give treats and praise when she stays relaxed and in place.
Consider enrolling in a nose work class, which is a great way to help your dog build confidence.
