Dogs We Luv!

Like humans, our dear pets can experience anxiety that can affect their behavior.  As a pet owner, what can you do to help your pet overcome the stress or anxiety?  Consider these three stress management tips for pet owners:   photo Know the cause of anxiety. There are many possible reasons why dogs and cats get stressed out.  It can be the presence of an unfamiliar object or another animal, loud noises, or an unfamiliar situation.  Find out what’s causing your pet to be stressed out or agitated and do something about it.  If it’s an object that’s inducing stress, get it out from your pet’s sight.  If it’s the surrounding, take your dog or cat to another area where it can feel safer, more calm. If it’s not possible to remove your dog or change the situation, give it a place to hide like a crate or shelter, and make it as comfortable as possible by providing cushion, toys, or treats. Don’t add up to your pet’s agitation. A pet owne...

Just like humans, dogs can also show feelings of aggression towards other dogs and humans. Dogs can become so aggressive as to growl, show fierceness and sometimes, bite. However, there is always a reason behind these feelings of aggression. It is worth noting that dogs will often show warning signs first before resorting to extreme behavior. Therefore, humans can avoid dangerous situations by learning how to read signals of dog aggression.   But first let’s talk about the possible reasons of aggressive behavior in dogs. What Causes Dog Aggression? There are many possible reasons why a dog can become aggressive. Fear and anxiety are common causes of aggression. Boredom may also cause a dog to lose its calmness.   Dogs who feel threatened or feel like their personal space is being invaded can also become agitated. Traumatic circumstances that a dog may have experienced can result to aggression too. This is true especially with dogs who have been a...

Chewing is a natural dog behavior. However, some dogs chew excessively to the point that it can be annoying and destructive. Dogs chew objects for different reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons why dogs chew: Chewing is common to puppies who are teething.  Like human kids, puppies also feel discomfort or pain in their gums as they develop teeth. Thus, dogs gnaw or chew on objects to somehow alleviate their discomfort. This is supposed to be a temporary stage that all dogs go through. To help a pup get pass this phase more easily, you can give him dog toys that are especially designed for teething. Ice cubes or a frozen wash cloth may also help soothe the discomfort of teething. Older puppies may also get into the habit of chewing. At this stage, puppies may already have grown teeth which can be very sharp and blunt. Some dog owners may tolerate biting when playing with dogs but this can be very dangerous, especially in puppies, because even a gentle b...

love sitter , originally uploaded by oceanoaloha . When dogs are not responding to us in their best form, they may be suffering from anxiety or fear on their own. Remember that there is always an underlying cause for a dog’s behavioral problem and it is up to us humans to find out what it is. Whether it is from a traumatic episode in the dog’s life or a genetic issue, there are ways to deal about it correctly. The most important things to bear in mind are: Never re-assure your dog if he is afraid. Re-assurance only reinforces fear. Do not force your dog to get over his fear instantly. It takes time and practice. Do not punish your dog if he is not behaving well because of his fear.  Do not add to the tension that your dog already feels. Instead, introduce relaxation, calmness, ease. When desensitizing your dog, never forget to Give your dog the reward he deserves if he’s done well. Dogs respond best when their deeds are appreciated. Give lots and lot...

Cookie ride... , originally uploaded by simplycute becka . Some dogs are terribly afraid of riding cars. Dogs with this fear associate the car with a terrible place or situation. Most likely because the only time these dogs get to ride a car is to go to the vet, an animal shelter, or places where they encounter stress or pain. Thus, the thought of riding a car makes them sick or afraid. For these dogs, a car can only mean one thing – being taken to a dreadful location. If your dog is afraid of riding cars, he thinks of the vehicle as a means to take him somewhere awful. Thus, your dog needs to see the car in a new light. In this case, the car is the threat and there needs to be a re-introduction. The first step is to allow your dog to familiarize himself with the car from the outside. Walk him around the car and let him sniff, sniff and sniff his way to familiarize himself with an unmoving vehicle. This could be done for a few days until your dog is ...

Foofer... , originally uploaded by LukeDaDuke . One of the most common fears in dogs is being left alone. Dogs are pack animals and naturally seek companions. While most dogs will just sigh and wait when their humans leave home, other dogs can show uncontrollable behavior. The moment their master leaves the house, these dogs will incessantly bark, howl, drool, urinate, defecate in the house or destroy things. In extreme cases, some dogs even starve themselves or go through self-mutilation.  Also known as separation anxiety, this type of fear is true, especially for some dogs who came from shelters or dogs who have been passed around from one owner to another. These dogs have a tendency to be overly dependent and are extremely afraid of being abandoned. The best way to help a dog with separation anxiety is to not give any emphasis to your departure. Undoubtedly, your dog had already identified hints from your actions when you’re about to leave. For ins...