Taking a Dog’s Food or Treats Away While Eating
Not only is it ridiculous to take away dog food or treats, especially when they are eating, but it serves nothing more than to assert what a grand bully you are. It’s helpful to teach your dog instead that people being near his dog bowl signals that something good is about to happen, like getting extra-special treats, rather than an attempt to take his resource away.
While your dog is eating, toss goodies like freeze-dried dog food toppings in his bowl so your dog starts to welcome your approach. If you’re concerned by the intensity of your dog’s reaction when you get too close to his food bowl or bone, reach out to a force-free trainer for help addressing your dog’s resource-guarding behavior.
How to get a holiday at all
As I have four dogs, holidays in hotels and b&b’s – though possible in theory – really were not fun. All this changed when I got a campervan and I’m now able to swan off with my dogs to all sorts of interesting places – beaches, forests, fields, moors – and enjoy the trip thoroughly.
No campervan? You can rent one!
There are also many places – certainly in the UK – where you can rent a holiday cottage in the depths of the countryside, and dogs are welcome. They often have a well-fenced garden and ready access to walking country, though you’d need to check that first. For me that’s definitely the second-best thing to the van (well, first-best thing in the depths of winter!), and I’ve been introduced to some great new places to explore that way.
So holidaying with your dog, even a very reactive one, is definitely possible. And I know that lots of people set off with some misgivings, only to find that the whole family has a wonderful stress-free time – including, sometimes much to their surprise, their dog!
What Causes Separation Anxiety in Puppies and Dogs?
It’s unclear why some puppies are more prone to separation anxiety than others. McConnell theorizes there may be several reasons, including never previously being left alone and traumatic separation, such as would be seen in some abandoned shelter dogs. Even a single traumatic event in the owner’s absence, like the house being robbed, can lead to SA. Finally, she suggests that personality can play a role, with clingy dogs perhaps being more at risk than independent ones.
Other triggers to watch for involve life changes like a sudden switch in schedule, a move to a new house, or the sudden absence of a family member, whether it’s a divorce, a death in the family, or a child leaving for college. Recent research has even pointed to a lack of daily exercise as a possible cause. Because there are so many potential triggers for SA, it’s essential to work on prevention and start treatment at the first sign.
Cesar Explains How To Fix Separation Anxiety With Your Dog
If that’s all you heard, day in and day out, just how low would your spirits sink? We know beyond a reasonable doubt that dogs can feel sorrow and get depressed, and the very essence of who they are as a species is threatened by a very common predator: mankind.
Here are seven things that are guaranteed to destroy your dogs spirit. Read on to see how many you hear about, read about, see or engage in daily, and why you should never do them.