I recently had someone call into my shop with a dilemma. Her new puppy had severe separation anxiety and was scratching the door relentlessly. To the point of causing itself injury. We recommended some calming herbs and essential oils and even a plug-in the vet carries that gives off a scent to calm dogs.
Then we suggested getting a crate and making it their little ‘doggy den’ with toys and a bed. Even covering it with a blanket so it didn’t look like a crate. Just a little place they could call their own, a bedroom of sorts. We even suggested keeping the door open for them to go in and out of while they’re home so the dog knows it’s not a bad place. We told them what dogs do in nature. They don’t leave themselves exposed to the elements in case a predator was on the rise. Leaving a dog in an open room no matter how small we think it is, to them it might as well be a football stadium. Putting a dog in a room where the ceiling is 10 feet above their heads is like putting a person in a room with a ceiling 3 stories high. And for a den animal that is just plain scary.
The reply to this last suggestion was a firm ‘No! It’s cruel to cage and animal.’ Under no circumstances do what we suggest be, in any way, cruel or inhumane. We know dogs. We know it’s their natural instinct to protect themselves and no matter how much we try, we can not breed that out of them. To try to do so has only been met with aggravation and disappointment for the outcome always turns out the same. Instinct is instinct and it cannot be changed.
Now, that being said some dogs are extremely afraid of the crate because it is not being introduced to them properly. In my experience this is one of the best ways to crate train your dog.
Step 1. Purchase a crate that is big enough for your pet to stand in but not be able to get away from any messes they make in there. Most dogs don’t want to lay in their own droppings but the occasional accident might happen.
Step 2. Place a bed or blanket with an article of your clothing in the crate along with a chew toy or two. Kong toys lined with peanut butter are great for keeping your puppy busy. Try not to put too much in as it can be fattening or cause overnight accidents in the crate.
Step 3. Place a blanket over the crate so it doesn’t look scary or too open. Remember we’re trying for a ‘den-like’ feel. Some people keep the crate in the living room and use it as an end table. That way the dog isn’t banished to the utility to be alone and scared. So when it’s bed time, the telly goes off, Fido gets in his bed, and the door is shut. Good night.
Step 4. Encourage puppy to go in and out of the crate while you’re home. Even shut the door while you’re home to get them used to it. Giving a small treat or rawhide after you shut the door will distract them from wanting to get out and makes it a more positive experience.
For the first night or two they will resist and cry but do not back down. That will only prolong the training process and we need to get Fido feeling calm and at home as quickly as possible. If they start barking and carrying on, clap your hands and say ‘No!’ firmly. They need to know you’re the alpha and in control. Dogs act out mostly when they don’t understand their place in the pack. And, by the way, you’re ALWAYS the alpha.
Don’t let them train you. If they’re doing something that’s against the rules, reinforce them. Place them in the crate for a time out. Be consistent, they’ll get the picture. Training a dog is sometimes a constant effort. Some catch on quickly while others are a true test of our patience. If you’re not sure how to train your dog ask a professional. Ask several professionals. Get all the information on dogs, breeds, training, and their instincts before you bring home your pet. Trust me, it will be worth the effort to ensure a smooth training process.
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Ever wonder why Fido acts up when you’re stressed, even though you’re not physically showing you’re stressed? Call it ‘Doggy 6th Sense’. (I see stressed people) Dogs pick up on our feelings no matter what they are. Happy, sad, worried, angry, dogs will react to everything. You may even notice that when you’re ill your dog will lay near you a lot or demand more of your attention. This is their way of showing they know you’re sick and they want to help you feel better and guard you until you’re well.
To ensure you have a calm dog, calm yourself. Do Yoga or meditate with your dog in the room. Meditation has been proven to be the best way to calm ourselves so why wouldn’t it work for your dog? They may start off wanting to lick the face off of you but eventually they will calm and meet your pace. If you make this your daily ritual you may even, over time, calm hyperactivity in a pet that correctional training or nutritional supplementation doesn’t fix. Dogs can’t communicate verbally so they show their feelings by acting out. Use meditation to your advantage and try to connect more with your pet on a mental level. Create a ‘Zen Doggy’. It may even help you train or calm them in other environments like the dog park or the vet. When you take them into those environments take a deep breath and feel only a sense of calm. Make eye contact with them and send that calm feeling to them without speaking. Keep doing this the entire time you’re out.
A Zen Doggy may feel more comforted when left alone at home for many hours. Dogs with separation anxiety are usually that way because of an over attachment to the owner and a sense of being in an unstable environment. They were possibly moved around a lot, or had a trauma of some kind, shaking their stability. They crave attention at all times leaving you drained and afraid to leave them alone. Some people ban a dog from certain rooms or put them in a kennel. Your dog should feel that his/her home is their palace and can roam freely without problems. And, if you desire, you should be able to give them that freedom (once housebroken of course). Bring them into different rooms to meditate with them in there. Tell them mentally what you expect of them in that room. Visualize them calmly entering the room and napping while staying off furniture you don’t want them on. Also see them chewing only their toys. Send these mental images to your pet and at the end make eye contact. See if you notice anything. Is Fido calm or napping? Are they chewing their own toys or rawhide?
You can even connect with your dog mentally when you’re not even there. A Zen Doggy can pick up on things you’re thinking or feeling while you’re at work or even on holiday if you meditate. Try it. While you’re away from home meditate and try to send messages to your dog. It may even be the best way to calm their separation anxiety. See if you come home to a happy and relaxed dog with the house left intact.
You never know, you just might get to the bottom of all your problems when you create a Zen Doggy. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could get your dog to do tricks by just thinking them? That’s one parlor trick I’d love to see.
Reiki, a form of energy healing, is also a great way to open meridians and heal your dog of any emotional baggage they could be storing. Opening meridians clears any blockages that may be causing physical problems like digestive issues or even allergies. I’m Level II Reiki Certified and I’ve experienced some amazing physical and emotional transformations just by doing 10 minutes of Reiki on my 4-legged clients. I’ve cleared gastrointestinal blockages and even calmed an entire room of dogs.
Sometimes healing needs to be done on all levels; physical, emotional, and mental. You can give all the nutritional supplements and change the diet of a dog all you want but if they are a nervous wreck it will undo all the good you’ve done. Getting them to a state of Zen is one of the best ways to heal them. Once you’ve ticked that box move on to physical remedies (if needs be) and you’ll have one healthy hound.
It’s the question on many people’s minds as to whether they should neuter their pets or not. Some say it’s ‘unnatural’ or mean while others have their appointment booked the day their pet is ready. Here are a few reassuring reason why you should neuter your pet.
1. Health-Spayed or Neutered pets have a lowered chance of developing cancers of the reproductive organs and mammary glands. Hormones cause cancers to grow and spread rapidly and not having them present can prevent that.
2. Safety-Un-neutered males have a tendency to wander out of the garden searching for a mate. This could lead to them getting hit by a car, stolen, or cause a disturbance to neighboring dogs. They tend to be more aggressive and will get into a fight and get hurt or even impregnate a dog you, and their owner, wouldn’t want to of had puppies with. (Diluting pure bred bloodlines)
3. Domestication- If you neuter an animal it changes their thought process from the instinct to reproduce to that of being your pet. Taking away reproductive hormones does absolutely no damage whatsoever. It actually calms them and could lead to easier housebreaking as most un-neutered males have a tendency to mark their territory and that includes your entire house.
4. Over-population- There is a growing problem in Ireland, and most countries, of over-population in domesticated pets. People are breeding to make money but in a recession not all puppies are being bought so there is a surplus of dogs on the market. Plus the overflow problem in charitable organizations like MADRA and Galway SPCA are ever increasing. They can’t keep up with the demands of sheltering unwanted animals that get abandoned every day.
It is not cruel to want to neuter your animal. It simply means you’re looking out for their best interest and keeping them safe and home. If you have any questions or concerns about neutering your pet, contact your local veterinarian and they should be able to put your mind at ease.
For over 15 years I’ve been telling people that they should only use dog shampoos on their dogs and never human. Recently I watched a video put out by Pet Head products clearly explaining what I’ve been saying for years. Here are a few reasons why human, even baby, shampoos can be very harmful to your pets.
- The Ingredients: Dog shampoos have ingredients that are safe and beneficial to their skin and coat. They have a formula for conditioning and gently cleansing to protect your dogs skin from over drying. Some even contain ingredients that help with fleas, ticks, and hot spots (skin abrasions or ulcers) while human shampoos do not and can even cause skin irritation.
- pH Balance: Human pH is 5.5 while dog pH is 7.5 making human skin over 100 times more acidic than your dogs. Due to the acidity of human shampoo it can overly dry out your dogs skin and open it up to potential problems.
- Skin Layers: Humans have 10-15 layers of skin while dogs only have 3-5. The more layers of skin you have the more protection. Using human shampoo strips off these protective layers of skin and can open your pet up to potential bacterial and viral infections.
A few shampoo brand I recommend (and carry) are Tropiclean, Happy Tails, and Pet Head. All perfect to fluff and buff your pampered pooch.
Just one note I’d like to add to dogs having fewer layers of skin is the harm of fur getting matted. ‘Dread Locks’, while less painful on a human, are extremely painful and dangerous to your pets skin. This includes cats as well. Knots and matting on just a few layers of skin will be massively more problematic than on our thicker skin. If skin cannot breathe it will retain moisture under the coat and lead to the build up of harmful bacteria and viruses. These pathogens will eventually destroy layers of skin causing painful infections and a possible trip to the Vet. Regular grooming at home, and in a salon, is the only way to prevent dangerous matting and keeps health related costs down. In a recession, we need all the prevention we can get.
