How should I handle my dogs separation anxiety?
Try to make your arrivals and departures very boring. Don't make a big fuss over saying hello and goodbye. Be very casual. When arriving wait 10-15 minutes until your dog has calmed down to greet them.

Try to make interactions with your dog on your terms, not his. You pet him, treat him, or play with him when you want, and not when he asks for it.

Get your dog used to your getting-ready-to-leave cues, like picking up keys and jacket. Go through these actions repeatedly during the time when you're staying home, without actually leaving. If your dog has already learned to associate his fears with your departure cues, it will take a lot of repetitions before the dog will get it.

Give your dog more exercise. A tired dog is a good dog! A dog can sleep most of the day if he's tired enough. Most young dogs could use 20-100 minutes of full-speed running per day. Increase your dog's exercise. Don't forget mental exercise, like training, exploring new places, encountering new smells, and social interaction with other dogs. Taking your dog to a park where he can run and play with others may be crucial.

My dog is chewing everything and anything he finds. How can I get him to stop?

Boredom is a primary cause of chewing in most dogs. Even dogs that aren't prone to separation anxiety find it pretty hard to have nothing to do all day, day after day. Even a dog that has the full run of the yard can get hideously bored - which is where chewing comes in. A welcome diversion, chewing gives a bored and lonely dog something to do, and makes him feel like he has a task to complete. Your dog relies on you for companionship, mental and physical stimulation. If he's chewing destructively on a regular basis, this is a reliable sign that you're not doing enough to keep him happy.

To keep your dog happy, he needs mental stimulation. If you work all day, or your schedule requires that you leave your dog on his own for long periods of time (a long time is anything more than two hours, especially on a regular basis), consider getting someone in to play with him and take him for walks during the day: a trusted neighbor or friend will do the trick nicely, but there are also dog-walking and dog-sitting services. Another alternative is to take your dog to doggie day-care (like a child-care center) where your dog will be looked after and played with all day by trained professionals. He'll have lots of other dogs to play with and interesting toys and activities to occupy his time; this is by far the best option, although it does cost more.

Dogs need sufficient exercise. Depending on the breed, your dog will need anything from a brisk 20 minute walk twice a day to several hours of vigorous cardiovascular exercise every day (the only exception to this rule is the more lethargic breeds, such as the English bulldog, a lot of pugs, and some toy breeds). Make sure you're meeting these exercise requirements, as an excess of energy is a leading cause of destructive chewing.

Your dog has a mind, too! All dogs get bored. Some handle it better than others, most breeds, particularly working breeds (which tend to have a strong need for a 'job' to do) like Border Collies, Retrievers, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds, will quickly become frustrated by a blank itinerary each day and will express this by chewing, digging, and barking. If you provide your dog with a stimulating, interesting vent for his mental capacities - particularly if it seems like a 'job' for him to do - he'll chew less, but (and this is at least as important) he will be a lot happier. There are some great brain-stimulating games and puzzles out there; go down to your vet's, the pet store, and even your supermarket to check them out.

My puppy is teething and I am not sure how to handle the biting, any suggestions?

Young puppies love to chew. Chewing serves to ease the discomfort of teething and sometimes relieves boredom. It is also a form of play as well as a puppy's way of exploring the big new world he's fascinated with. Puppy owners should accept a certain amount of chewing, even as the dog matures. However, in order for Puppy to live in harmony with the family, his urge to chew must be controlled and directed in positive ways.

* Provide your puppy with plenty of exercise and play time with you. This will help prevent boredom. Train your puppy not to nip or mouth your hands. If he does, give a loud, high-pitched ‘no’ and stop playing immediately. Totally ignore him for a few minutes. Over time, he will learn that playing too rough causes the fun to stop. Don’t ever hit or slap a puppy as this can come back to haunt you in the form of aggressiveness or hand shyness.

* Provide plenty of chew toys for your puppy that don’t resemble items that are off limits to him. Make sure they are safe and not something he can choke on. Good choices may include rawhide chewies (the crumbly kind; not the leathery kind), toys that can be filled with treats, and rope toys. You may wet and freeze rope toys, or even a carrot, to help relieve sore teething gums. Rotate his toys so he doesn’t become bored. If you catch him chewing on your shoes or the tv remote, give him a stern ‘no’ and replace it with one of his chew toys.

* Remove temptation by keeping children’s toys, valuables, garbage, and hazardous items, such as electrical cords, out of Puppy’s reach.

* Make use of a baby gate or a crate when you have to be away but leave your puppy plenty of his own toys to occupy his time.


I try to get my dogs out for daily walks but to be honest it is a challenge becuase all the do is pull and drag me around, how can I get them to calm down and walk nicely?

Before training your dog to walk calmly while on a leash it is important to train them to be calm when you are putting their collar and leash on. Have them sit-stay while you are putting on the leash. If your dog does not stay then do not put on their leash. Once they are calm and waiting then proceed with putting on the leash. Don't give in or they will learn that it's OK to be out of control. If your dog doesn't have a reliable sit-stay, then practice training sit-stay without the distraction of the prospect of a walk.

Most dogs learn very quickly that they must sit while the leash is being attached to the collar. They usually tremble with excitement, ready to explode into frenzy as soon as this stage is accomplished. If your dog bolts toward the door, dragging you behind, then the situation is still out of control. Simply hold onto the leash, stand still and let your dog dance, ricochet and bounce around at the end of the leash. It may take 5 minutes or more, but they will soon realize that you are not going anywhere and will begin to calm down. When this happens, praise them for being good. After another minute or so, take your first step, but NOT towards the door. Instead, walk your dog around your house or yard to give them a chance to practice their 'not-pulling' skills. Every time your dog pulls, lunges or strains on the leash simply stand still again. When they calms down, praise her calmly and quietly. Try to keep the attention on yourself instead of the door that leads to outside. When you feel that your dog is in control and they are walking nicely without pulling in your house or yard, then it is time to proceed outdoors.

Every time your dog pulls on leash and you continue the walk, you are rewarding her for pulling and lunging. Every time your dog gets out of control it is essential that you instantly stop the walk, stand still and wait for them to calm down before continuing. It is a great effort in patience at first but it will pay off if you persevere. You may only get to the end of the block or even your driveway on your first outing, but if you give in to your dog's demands, then they will continue to pull. You can speed up the process by asking your dog to sit- stay for about 5 to 10 seconds every time she begins to pull. Of course this will only work if your dog already has a reliable sit-stay.



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