Dogs are wonderful, affectionate and loving, but sometimes they just won’t let you have a moment’s peace. Any dog owner knows that there are just times and places where you don’t want your dog to follow you, either out of a desire for privacy, space or safety. The simplest solution is to install a dog gate.
Dog gates are designed to allow you, the dog owner, an area free of your pet. Whether you choose to use a gate all the time for some areas of your home, or to use a gate to keep your dog safely out of the kitchen when you cook, a gate is a useful tool. Every dog needs to accept some boundaries, and dog gates are a great way to introduce this concept. For nervous dogs picking a gate that can be seen through can reduce the anxiety of being separated physically. For most dogs a simple slat fence is perfect; adaptable and expandable, these gates can span most areas but may need to be hardware mounted for larger spaces. Be sure to make the enclosed area more comfortable if they are gonna be in there for long periods of time. For instance put his elevated dog bowls and his dog bed. That way he can eat, drink and sleep whenever he wants.
Tension mounted gates are best for small areas, and with smaller pets. Tension mounts can damage walls but are easiest to take up and down. Hardware mounted gates are more stable and can cross larger areas, but require permanent changes to the home. Both these gate styles can have swing doors that allow you to go back and forth easily as part of the design. Make sure you measure your space and view your options so you pick the right gate for your needs.
Licking is a comforting behavior that a puppy learns from his mom as she cleaned him and weaned him and most dogs will carry this behavior long into adulthood. Let’s face it, dogs lick things. Sometimes this behavior can become a bit excessive even bordering on compulsive so it is up to us as owners to control this behavior before it becomes damaging. In most dogs a little excessive licking is not a problem to the dog himself, but can annoy you and your guests.
It is important to understand why dog slick in the first place. They lick you because they are trying to show you affection, gain attention and get approval. They will also lick because it has a calming effect that they remember from puppyhood. Other dogs simply lick you because it tastes good. Humans are salty and dogs like the taste. They can also lick out of habit. When they were puppies you thought it was cute and gave them attention for it so now they like to do it and think you like it too. As they grow up people stop thinking it is cute, but the dog is the last to know. Some dogs have a dietary imbalance or other underlying medical condition so always get your Veterinarian involved to rule out medical problems. The worst case lickers do so obcessively and can lick their legs, paws and tails until the fur comes off and sores appear. This is a worst case licking scenario those and these dogs often have severe separation anxiety. Regardless of the level of excessive licking your dog engages in; there are steps you can take to reduce this behavior.
The first step in shaping canine behavior is to never give any type of attention to your dog when he exhibits an unwanted behavior. Often people have reactions to behavior that are negative; however, they still provide attention to the dog and any attention is good attention to most dogs and reinforces the very behavior you wish to eliminate. You can practice getting your dog not to lick you directly from your living room sofa. Simply sit down and wait for him to start licking.
When he licks, do not push him away because he will think it is a game and try again. All you need to do in this instance is calmly and quietly get up and leave the room. While pushing him away is more convenient for you it provides attention. If you walk away and ignore your dog he will eventually learn that his licking makes you leave and when he doesn’t lick you stay. When you come back in the room and sit down you can praise him with a soft pet or a good boy if he does not lick when you sit down. Do not make eye contact with him at this point because it will likely encourage him to lick you again.
If you have a dog of the smaller variety who tends to sit on your lap you will need a different strategy. As you calmly and quietly hold your dog on your lap he might choose to begin licking. In this case you can not simply stand up and leave the room because your dog is on your lap. Instead, quietly pick up your dog and place him on the ground before quietly leaving the room. If your dog is particularly excitable when sitting on your lap you will have to repeat this process many times before it is effective. If done properly he will learn that he does not get to sit on your lap if he licks excitably.
Another trick in discouraging this behavior is to think like a dog. If your dog continues to lick you try channeling your inner puppy and squeal or yelp in pain. Dogs will remember their mothers discouraging snap or growl when they made her yelp in pain and will be less likely to repeat the behavior. Remember, dogs want your approval and love so show them what you do not want by rewarding what you do. Your dog will eventually learn that he is welcome amongst his people when he is not licking them incessantly.
According to the American Psychiatric Association 91% of Americans are willing to seek counseling for themselves or a close friend in response to a crisis. In fact, Americans spent more than $100 billion on their anxieties. Anti-depressant medications and others like them are prescribed more often than any other type of medication in the country over the last several years. With so many humans advocating psychotherapy and prescription antidepressants it is no surprise that people are increasingly advocating the same therapies for their dogs.
Some people are quick to project human emotions on their canines because, in some cases, they view them as human beings and not dogs. They see their dog napping and moping all day and they feel that he has a case of depression. Advocates of dog psychology argue that if there are anti-depressant medications that alleviate separation anxiety or destructive behavior then it is better for the dog to take them than end up in a shelter because the owner looses patience in their behavior. Supporters believe that medication helps eliminate biting, destructive behavior and depression. With the number of supporters growing it is apparent that many people believe in the positive effects of psychotherapy.
Others; however, believe that while dogs are extremely perceptive to human emotions, they do not experience them in the same ways that humans do. Many proponents argue that prescribing human medications designed to regulate human dogs is a terrible idea because it ignores the natural relationship between people and dogs in the first place. Dogs were originally wild animals who traveled in packs, social groups with a leader and a pack hierarchy. Humans domesticated them to serve as guardians, companions, hunters and to perform other work related tasks. By doing so humans took on the role of pack leader and dogs received the benefit of shelter, food and eventually love. As this love has grown the original purpose has shifted from worker to family pet and along with it comes a lack of adequate pack leadership. This lack of leadership and stimulation has dramatically increased behavior problems once uncommon amongst dogs.
While these naysayers admit that dogs do have phobias and behavior problems they feel that humans can reduce or eliminate these problems through methods other than medications. Some believe that walking your dog is the single best thing you can do to improve their mood. Physical activity provides an outlet for dogs and a way to get out their anxious energy in a healthy way. Once your dog has had some exercise they recommend basic obedience training. Give your dog a job by making his sit, stay and lie down. As the dog gets better at his commands you can get involved in agility work or simply take him on a run while you bike beside him. Dogs are eager to please you and love to do work for their people.
If your dog still seems depressed try introducing him to some other dogs. Local municipalities across the country are building off leas dog parks for the socialization of people and their dogs. A well adjusted dog will enjoy the play time with other canines. You could also try scheduling play dates with neighbors and their dogs. You enjoy a social life and anti-psychotherapy people think your dog will too. They also maintain that proper socialization will help eliminate behavior problems as it boosts your canine companion’s confidence. If all else fails they suggest checking with your Veterinarian to make sure that your dog is eating the proper types and quantities of food. Dogs with nutritional deficits can exhibit lethargy that might be interpreted as depression. Remember that the care of your dog is ultimately your decision and you should seek recommendations and do some research before you make a hasty one.
Q. Why does my cat have to knead everything like dough before lying down?
A. Because it is a habit or a comforting habit that they picked up from their mom. When kittens are nursing they knead their mother with their paws in attempts to get more milk or to keep it flowing. Cats continue this behavior because it is either a habit or it comforts them.
Q. Why does my cat rub his head all over my feet, ankles and pants legs?
A. Simply put, your cat is marking you with her scent. Cats have numerous scent glands in their face and rubbing them along you and your clothes releases pheromones from those glands that mark you with her scent. While your cat is showing affection, she is also staking her claim to you with her scent.
Q. Why does my cat wake up in the middle of the night ready to play?
A. Cats in the wild hunt prey at night so your cat is likely genetically programmed to be her most active during night time hours. They have also been asleep for so long during the day that they wake up ready to pounce on you or shadows in the night. This behavior is perfectly natural, but it can be a tad on the annoying side if you are a light sleeper. Try getting some interactive toys and encouraging your cat to play a bit before bedtime to get rid of some of that extra energy.
Q. Why does my cat run around the living room several times in a row?
A. Cats will often create a series of moves and jumps as she travels around the perimeter of the room. Sometimes they will repeat this behavior several times in a row and then run it backwards before stopping suddenly for a nap. Cats do this because they are honing their predatory skills. They are enjoying the thrill of the hunt during these moments. Interestingly enough, cats are creatures of routine and will engage in repetitive behaviors while stalking their territory, whether it is the plains or prairies or your living room!
Q. Why does my cat put her toys in her food bowl?
A. In the wild cats typically bring trophies or possessions back to their nesting areas to keep them safe. Your cat is probably taking her favorite toys to the safest place she knows of within the house. Often, this ends up being her food and water containers. Your cat finds comfort and security in obtaining food from her bowls and likely views them as safe.
Q. Why does my cat flatten her ears and hiss when I am petting her?
A. Your cat is simply letting you know that she has become uncomfortable. Perhaps she initially enjoys petting, but grows tired of it after a certain period of time? Perhaps she is trying to let you know that you are petting her too vigorously and need to be gentle? Perhaps she is telling you that she simply is not in the mood for petting at the moment? Each of these options are possibilities, but owners should try not to read too much into this behavior. Your cat still loves you; she is just setting a boundary.
With the economy in decline some of us might be taking a second look at our dogs. They lounge about the house all day without a care in the world while we go to work to put food in their bowls. Some of us might be thinking about ways that we could send them to work while we lounged on the couch in their place. While this is an entertaining thought, it is unlikely that our adult dogs have what it takes to perform as modern working dogs. Today’s working dog performs difficult tasks that require significant training and in some cases, a hefty financial investment. Working dogs of the past herded cattle, retrieved game and hunted small game on their own. While these were valuable tasks in their day, today’s dogs are more high tech than their hunter ancestors. Here is a list of the top 5 modern occupations for man’s best friend:
1. Service dogs are dogs who are trained to assist handicapped persons complete everyday tasks. Service dogs live and work with individuals who have experienced a loss of hearing, sight or mobility. These dogs guide the blind, signal to the deaf and retrieve objects and pull wheelchairs for those confined to them. These dogs start training at a young age and it can take over a year to fully train and place them with individuals in need. There are several avenues to take when training service dog; private companies which are the most expensive; prison inmate programs which sometimes have long waiting lists and self training where an owner trains his own dog to be of service.
2. Police dogs are dogs who are trained to work with police officers and are often referred to as K9 officers. These K9 officers perform a variety of tasks including chasing and detaining fleeing suspects, detecting illicit substances such as narcotics and searching for cadavers. Dogs have a sense of smell almost 50 times more sensitive than a human’s and they are well equipped to perform tracking tasks when armed with the proper training. The most popular police dogs are German Shepherds, but other breeds who do well in this role include Rottweilers, Dobermans and American Pit Bull Terriers.
3. Detection dogs are an offshoot of police dogs. They do not work with suspects and are concerned only with sniffing out various substances. These “sniffer” dogs are trained to detect drugs, explosives and other contraband in airports across the country. These detection dogs work on the borders to detect the same substances, but they are also able to detect certain agricultural products not allowed across borders. These amazing dogs can detect mold, termites, money, blood, guns, cellular phones and even cancer. Dogs such as beagles, spaniels and hounds are well suited for this canine occupation.
4. Search and rescue dogs are specially trained to find disaster victims or their remains and alert their handlers to the source. They are often called in after earthquakes, tornadoes, building collapses, hurricanes or bomb blasts. These dogs work in extremely dangerous conditions and serve as a comfort to rescue workers and families searching for their loved ones. There are very few teams of search and rescue dogs out there, but the most popular breeds include German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers and Blood Hounds.
5. Dogs as actors are extremely popular and have been for years. While this job is less strenuous and does not carry as much risk as some of the others it does provide entertainment relief in various forms. Dog acting is so popular that there is an actor’s guild designed specifically for dogs. Some of the factors that are considered when casting dogs for commercial or film roles include breed, size and level of training. All aspiring canine thespians should be trained in advanced obedience to increase their chance of finding roles. Dog actors can range from mutts found in shelters like Benji to purebreds with documented lineages so do not despair if your talented little guy isn’t of pure pedigree.
Always remember to make training a fun and rewarding experience for you and your dog. He might just be able to be of service in your home if you make training a game for him. Reward his good behaviors and he will be more likely to repeat them. Whether he will get off the couch and get a job is another story!
