Why Do My Dogs Bark When I Leave Them Alone At Home?

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To stop a dog from barking when nobody’s home, you need to understand why do dogs bark in the first place, when they are left alone. 

We, being human, think like a human when we give our dogs all the things that we think they want, thinking it would help them.

But dogs ARE dogs, and to help a dog, you’ve got to think like a dog. And that means understanding their nature and behavior.

The common approaches used by dog owners when trying to settle down their dogs before going off are usually as follows:

• Exercising the dogs  -  This is really simply an attempt to exhaust the dog to the point where he becomes too tired to bark when you’re not at home! Actually, not a fine idea. But it does make YOU and your dog fitter. It’s good to walk your dog to spend your dog’s energy, but it does not resolve the barking when left alone problem.
• Giving toys  -  It can help for a few minutes but it rarely stops the barking
• Removing the triggers  -  If your dog is easily agitated by people or other dogs passing by, then it will help if you can remove or restrict the visual stimulus to calm him down. Placing a large piece of board to cover the fence or gate may be sufficient to help stop the barking.
• Boredom  -  If you leave your dog for 9 hours or more a day 5 days a week, it can make your dog a little bored during the day. Morning walk can definitely help, but if your dog still barks soon after you leave, then boredom not the problem.

If you have tried a different variations of the above and your dog still barks and unhappy, then this post will try to explain what is going on. It’s also about time that you learn more about dog’s behavior.

Here goes….

One of the main reason your dog barks when left alone is that he thinks that HE is the “leader of the pack” and that YOU are of “a puppy” or “a dog” in his pack that he should be protecting and looking after. When you’re not home, he’s “anxious and worried” about you.

Let’s look at the following scenario:

You are a mother and suddenly from inside you noticed your 2-year-old toddler speeding down the path towards the street. You also suddenly realized that you’re locked in the house and you couldn’t go after your baby.

How would you respond? You’d be frantic, of course !!!

Welcome to your dog’s world of perception. This is a case of “separation anxiety” experienced by your faithful doggie and the solution? Show your dog that YOU are the leader of pack and it will change a lot of things.

So how do we help our dogs overcome this problem?
 

Start the moment you get your puppy.
 

From the beginning you need to teach your puppy to be quiet and settle down for longer and longer periods of time. You need to instill patience and calmness and reward that.

When he is out with you, do not constantly interact with him. Let him learn to entertain himself. Some dog owners cannot let their dogs relax for a second. They feel that they have to pet their dogs, talk to them or generally play with them.

You do this so often that the dog thinks that it’s your job is to entertain him all the time. He’s the leader, you’re the puppy. There is no life outside contact with the owner.

Now do you see why he’s so noisy when you’re not around?

You can start rehabilitating by making your dog know what is expected of him. Let him know that you and other family members are the pack leaders and not dictated to by him.

For example, he comes up to you and nudges your hand and you think it’s cute and starts petting him. If it this becomes habitual, your dog will think, “I am in charge and I can tell you what to do”, and a time comes when you don’t do it, it creates stress and anxiety for your dog.

You can learn to show your affection to your dog without finding yourself being burdened by it or feeling like you’re hassled!

You can teach your dog to overcome separation anxiety. With some dogs, it can be done fairly quickly. With others, it may take time and lots of patience. 

Exercise, obedience, “lifestyle” training, leadership, setting limits and boundaries, feeling secure in their environment and consistency within the whole family as a pack will help you have a much happier, balanced, stress-free dog and of course, a stress free you!

One of the best place to learn more about this amazing method by watching it all on video. You must also learn exactly what steps to take to establish yourself as the pack leader. Find a site that is truly video-based so you are learning by watching videos of live consultations just as if you were there.

And make sure the site is run by a professional dog trainer.

Doggy Dan, a top dog trainer, who uses a gentle but very practical approach to dog training, has a great video site for dog owners who want to really understand and treat the cause of their dog’s problems. Find it at 

The Online Dog Trainer

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Foods You Should Avoid Giving To Dogs and Cats

Article By Dr. Andrew Jones DVM, courtesy of Veterinary Secrets

Courtesy Grant Cochrane-FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There are a number of common ‘human’ foods that your dogs and cat should NOT EAT… The important thing is to know exactly what to avoid. 


There are some very commonly known ones, such as Chocolate, Alcohol, and
Coffee, but some lesser known ones such as Grapes, Nutmeg, Onion and
the artificial sweetener in gum, Xyitol.


In this article I give you an overview of the toxins, PLUS what to do if your dog or cat ingests any of these poisons.


Continue reading below.............



Foods Dogs and Cats should NOT EAT | Veterinary Secrets Blog with Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM





Pet Lovers Corner recommends the following;

Ultimate Canine Health Formula (Dog supplements)

Ultimate Feline Health Formula (Cat supplements)

VeterinarySecrets Revealed e-Book (How to treat your pets at home)



Dog training program - Solve your dogs and puppy problems !!


Doggy Dan - The Online Dog Trainer



Home-made recipes for your pets - Save cost and protect your pets from toxic foods


Dog Food Secrets

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Riding a Wave of Hope - Short Movie

 If you like this video clip, I encourage you to Share it with the world and join me on
the mission to empower and inspire millions of people around the globe.



Together we can spread words of Encouragement, Inspiration & Empowerment one video at a time... and wouldn't you agree our world could use a little more "Positivity" these days!.







Riding a Wave of Hope Movie: Turning disappointment into a joyful new direction.



Bless you..

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Pain Management for Dogs and Cats - How can you tell if your dog or cat is in pain?

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To be able to tell whether your pet is in pain is a lot harder than you think. 

Animals, over millions of years of evolution, have been programmed to hide their pain or in discomfort for their own safety, otherwise they would become a target to predators, both of other animal or of their own kind.

In the wild, the weak or elderly are targeted as prey, and in order not to end up as prey, they need to hide their weakness.

Therefore as owners, we need to be more alert to the subtle signs in our pet’s behavior so that we can know whether they are in pain, and ensure they don’t suffer in silence. But this can be somewhat difficult because many of the signs are very subtle.

In addition, pain is difficult to quantify and shown differently by different animals. What's important to remember is just because your pet doesn't show any obvious signs such as excessive vocalizing, or obvious limping, it doesn't mean they are not in pain.

Dogs and cats feel pain for the same reasons as humans do and it can be due a multitude of causes such as infections, dental problems, arthritis, bone disease or cancer.

They also feel discomfort after a surgical procedures except that , unlike humans, they can't tell you when and where they hurt.

You are in the best position to look for the subtle changes in behavior that may indicate that they are suffering. It’s important to stay alert to these signs, because the sooner your pet’s pain is diagnosed and treated, the sooner they can heal and resume their normal life (and yours...).

Possible causes of pain in dogs and cats

There are many reasons, but arthritis seems to be at the top of the list.

• Pet arthritis is caused by joint wear and tear, loss of the protective cartilage and subsequent joint inflammation and pain, just as they occur in humans.
• Back problems such as spondylosis ( vertebrae fusing), disc disease, and pinched nerves have now been increasingly recognized as chronic sources of pain in dogs and cats.
• Chronic allergies with inflamed skin are known to have caused irritation and pain in dogs, and closely related to these allergies are ear infections which can be really painful for your pet.
• Cancer affecting bones, skins and organs in dogs and cats has many signs, one of them being pain.
• Tooth root abscess and other dental disorders can be very painful and may be the may be the reason why your pet is reluctant to eat.

Signs used by veterinarians to tell if your dog or cat is in pain

Courtesy Stuart Miles-FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If your dog or cat shows one or more of the following, it is a sign that your dog or cat is in pain. Bring them to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
 
Vocal signs:

Whining, howling, whimpering, groaning and grunting. Also take note of increased panting, breathing and increased heart rate.

Changes in daily habits:
 
Lack of appetite (eating or drinking less than usual), withdraws from interaction, changes in sleeping or sleeping more, lapses in housetraining.

Excessive attention to bodily parts:

Chronically licking a specific area ( ie over the hip or knee), biting, scratching a particular part of its body.

Level of activity:

Some pets may just be reluctant to move, to jump up, or have difficulty rising after lying down, restless, difficulty getting up from a laying position, trembling, constantly gets up and lies down, looking lame or seeks more affection than usual

Facial expression:

Grimacing, blank stare, wide-eyed or looks sleepy, enlarged pupils, looking generally depressed.

Grooming:

Coat or furs lacks shine, hair stands up in places, pain on palpation of a specific area of their body.

Self-protection:

Protective of body part, doesn’t put weight on a limb, doesn’t want to be held or picked up, hides.

Aggressiveness:

Behavior change such as being overly aggressive, or not responding to petting and grooming. If your dog has always been friendly, he acts out of character, growls, hisses, bites. Or your dog is normally aggressive, he may turn quiet or docile.

Posture:
 
Hunched, with hindquarters raised and front end down on the ground and lays on its side most of the time.

Don’t Treat Your Dog’s Pain by Yourself!

Courtesy pandpstock001-FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Please do not administer pain medication to your  pet without checking with your veterinarian first. 

Let them diagnose the problem and identify the causes. They will advice you on the benefits, risks and costs associated with various treatment options.

That way, you and your veterinarian can choose the approach that best meets the needs of you and your dog.

If your veterinarian prescribes a pain medication, ensure that the instructions are closely followed and take note of any side effects such as:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stools (the stool appears black, tarry, like it contains coffee grounds)
• Change in drinking or urinating
• Change in behavior, such as depression, restlessness or appetite loss
• Yellowing of gums, skin or whites of eyes
• Changes in skin (redness, scabs or scratching)

If you notice any of this, stop medication immediately and get in touch with your veterinarian at once.

Also remember the following:

• Keep the drug safely out of reach of your pets and children.
• Do not change the dosage or frequency unless directed by your veterinarian.
• Do not give other drug to your dog while it is taking the pain medication without consulting your veterinarian.
• Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

Your pets can’t speak for themselves when in fact they are in pain and suffering. Therefore we should be alert to the small changes that could later go into a big problem - if not treated immediately - and make sure they get them treatment they need and deserve.

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