Do Dogs Experience Separation Anxiety? You Bet!

Dog is called man’s best friend not only because it’s one of the most beloved pets in the world but also because it exhibits certain emotions akin to a human being. Did you know that dogs also feel shame, grief, joy, sorrow, and shame just like we do? We may not easily detect those emotions because they are not expressed the way we express them, but your canine buddy surely gets emotional, too.

What’s the term used for someone who finds it hard to adjust when someone he has been close to leaves him? It’s called 'separation anxiety.' And what do you know, your four-legged pooch also experiences that. In fact, he may find it harder to cope with it compared to his owner.

Image credit: Myriam Bardino (flickr.com)

If every time you return home from work you see proof that your dog missed you a lot (ex: he keeps on chewing your slip-ons whenever you’re not home), your pet pooch could be suffering from separation anxiety.

Here are ways on how to help him ease it:

1.   Have a walk with him before leaving your home – One of your goals is for your dog to be in a resting mode while you’re out. This can be achieved by taking your dog for a brisk walk as a way of starting your day. Just like us (or any living creature for that matter), after expending energy, dogs will rest, which can make him not realize the fact that you’re leaving.

2.   Don’t make a big deal about your departure – For your canine friend not to even notice it, don’t go through a lot of rituals as you say goodbye. In fact, don’t even say goodbye. Don’t even touch or look at him. By doing this, you’re telling him that ‘parting is such sweet sorrow.’

3.   Don’t say goodbye right before leaving – If you really can’t step out of your house without bidding your pet adieu, you can do that long before you leave. Give him a nice pat or even a quick hug 30 mins to 1 hour before leaving.

4.   Maintain your calm-assertive demeanor – Even when you’re leaving, you have to project that confident energy of a pack leader. Don’t let any emotions like guilt or unease overcome you, because your dog will certainly know about them. If you’re calm and assertive and have that confident bearing, your dog will feel that everything will still be fine even though you’re leaving.

5.   Practice makes perfect – You can do a little practice with him to get him used to that moment of separation. For example, try leaving your dog for, say, 5 minutes using the techniques mentioned above. The next time you do it, extend it to about 10 minutes, and so on. Continue doing this until he gets used to you being away without feeling anxious.

I also used to hate leaving my dog every time I left home for school when I was still in college, especially because I knew he’d be wandering around while I was away, and he’d be gone and nowhere to be found every time I got home (wish I had Garmin tracking collars Australia back then). But I realized that my dog and I would just continue feeling miserable if I didn’t start doing something about it. If you follow these tips here, you’ll be doing both you and your dog a huge favor by eliminating that dreaded separation anxiety.

Related articles:

What to Do When Your Dog Starts Misbehaving (cnn.com)

Walking a Dog (dogbreedinfo.com)

Top 9 Dog Breeds with No Major Barking Issues

Excessive dog barking issues is one of the most prevalent problems of dog owners everywhere. It is always good to make a research about the breed and history of a puppy before deciding to adopt it. Here are 9 dog breed that are known for their quiet and calm disposition.

1. Newfoundland

image credit: PaynesAnimals (flickr.com)

This dog is huge, intelligent and super strong. He is known for his calmness and loyalty. He is also an excellent swimmer.

2. Great Dane

image credit: gr8dnes (flickr.com)

This dog is another calm, tacit and gentle giant.

3. Italian Greyhound

image credit: 1000glam (flickr.com)

The Italian Greyhound seldom barks. He is a gentle dog that can go a long way with children and the elderly. He can be playful at times but prefers a quiet place.

4.  Whippet

image credit:  winkyintheuk (flickr.com)

This dog is intelligent, but he is the quiet type who likes to spend his time by simply resting.

5.  Mastiff

image credit: Lulu and Roos Holidays (flickr.com)

The mastiff is a quiet but gentle giant who doesn't need to bark to impose his presence.

6. Bernese Mountain Dog

image credit: White Whiskers Photography (flickr.com)

Originally bred in the Alps, the Bernese mountain dog is a good-natured, confident and friendly big dog.

7. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

image credit:  smadderattacker (flickr.com)

This is a devoted, highly affectionate, extremely patient and overly playful pet that's crazy to win your attention. They are easy with children and other dogs in the household.

8. Saint Bernard

Image credit: Tewkes (800K) (flickr.com)

Initially bred for rescue purposes, this gentle giant is very friendly even to children and smaller dogs. He belongs to a very loyal and affectionate breed.

9.  Golden Retriever

image credit:  Denilson B. Coelho (flickr.com)

The golden retriever is probably one of the friendliest dogs around. He is a trusting, playful, crazy-for-attention dog who is eager to please his master. He is very active but silent. His friendly and trusting disposition make the golden retriever a poor guard dog.

Fun Facts about Your Pet Pooch

Took a break from writing and created this short video instead. No more additional details. I believe the video speaks for itself. I hope you will like it. Enjoy!

Dog Pain Management

image credit: mikeasaurus (flickr.com)

Pain management is one of the most important subjects in the veterinary profession. It is through the mastery of this and related topics that you can help to improve the quality of life of our canine companions. It is important to educate dog owners and give them a good understanding about this subject because dogs cannot verbalize the discomfort and pain they are going through.  

As a pet owner, you play a major role in easing your dog's pain. It is your responsibility to learn and understand the signs that your pet is experiencing pain and discomfort. You must be proactive in finding possible solutions to alleviate your pet's suffering. Taking a step in requesting dog pain-relieving medications for example, is an indication of your concern and advocacy for your pet's welfare. As pet owners, each one of us must aggressively strive to understand the different causes of dog pain and discomfort.

Pain management is not just the responsibility of a dog's attending veterinarian.  It necessitates the active participation of pet owners. The development of pain management strategies is crucial to the lives of our furry friends. And dog owners and vets have the primary responsibility to make it happen.

One of the very first steps towards the treatment of dog pain is to recognize it in the first place. Pain manifests itself through slight changes in your dog's behavior. When you see that he or she has become more withdrawn, reluctant to climb stairs, or reacting strangely when you hold or pick him/her up, he/she is experiencing pain. You should not take these for granted; these may be the only clue that your pet is hurting - and you are his/her only hope.

Why Dogs Keep Silent with Anti-Bark Collars

image credit: d o l fi (flickr.com)

Barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but when it is excessive and uncalled for, it becomes a disturbance that can be upsetting to you and your neighbors. This is a common problem that different dog owners treat in different ways, but one of the most common solutions is the use of anti-bark collars.

An anti-bark collar is a device that's designed to stop dogs from barking excessively. They work in either of two ways:

1. Interruption

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, and some of them bark for long periods out of boredom. They often bark at anything that catches their attention. To create a solution to this problem, an anti-bark collar designed to interrupt the dog when he barks was invented. These dog collars typically employ citronella, ultra-sonic tone, water, or air to surprise the dog and stop him from barking. These are made for dogs that usually bark at objects and not for canines that woof to catch attention.

Collars that are designed for interruption are not intended to harm or inflict pain, but this may not be the proper way to address the dog's excessive barking behavior. Canines that bark because of boredom or lack of stimulation or exercise don't actually need bark control devices to stop barking. They do bark because they are simply bored and have too much pent up energy to expend.

Although these collars are effective in reducing your pet's barking problem, it would be prudent to consider giving him some exercise and other activities. Engaging your pet in play and exercise can help to eliminate his boredom. This will also reduce his attention on things that can temp him to bark unnecessarily.

2. Punishment

Some anti-bark collars deliver electric shock or a loud and unpleasant ultrasonic tone to stop a dog from barking. The term might be too harsh, but this method is intended to "punish" barking canines in some way. It is a way of telling your pet that his barking is followed by an unpleasant consequence. The shock that follows could be gentle, but it can traumatize a dog if not used the proper way.

Dog owners should carefully monitor their pet when they use electric collars to stop dogs barking without any reasonable stimulus. It is undeniably true that electric collar manufactures produced these products with good intentions, but they can be used for the wrong reasons. These dog training devices are intended for short-term use, and if the trainer or owner allows them to stay around the dog's neck for a long time, it might cause psychological damage on your pet.

I'm not saying that that the use of anti-bark collars is inhumane. In fact they are effective and they allow your pet canines to learn not to bark easy and fast. But you must remember that these products are not intended to stay around your dog's neck for a long time. You should take them off your pet when you see that he has learned to keep silent.

Another thing that you must consider is the dog breed. Some breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Border Terriers are barkers. You should not wonder why they bark a lot. You should not punish a pet for doing what he naturally does. One way to avoid the dog barking problem is to raise or adopt a dog that is naturally quiet yet beautiful. These include the Basenji, Collie, Greyhound, Pekingese, and Mastiff.

Related Articles:

Quiet Dog Breeds (mysmelly.com)

The Ten BestFamily Dog Breeds (cesarsway.com)

How to PreventDog Barking (cesarsway.com/)