There are many different traits that can be seen in a dog due to separation anxiety.

When we leave home for work each day, most people are unaware of what their dog is experiencing, and for many of them it is separation anxiety.

We assume that because the dog appears to be happy when we arrive home at the end of the day, that it has been happy all day long. In many instances, the dog could have had quite a traumatic day.

Many dogs are concerned that when their owner leaves, they might not be coming back. They have no way of knowing that we will be back in eight or nine hours.

The stress that this causes for a dog can lead to destructive behavior where they will chew everything in sight. Other dogs might express their stress by soiling the house.

Either way, if you come home from work and find that your well-trained dog has done something out of the ordinary you need to consider whether it has had a stressful day or not, and certainly not reprimand it until you know what the circumstances have been.

If you sense your dog has been stressed during the day, you might like to consider giving it more toys to stop it from becoming bored, or better still, have somebody call in and visit at some stage throughout the day so it knows that it is not alone.

Exercising your dog in the morning before you leave is a good idea because it is more likely to sleep during the day.

Another method to reassure your dog that you will be coming back when you leave, is to do several smaller trips in the course of a few days or weeks, where the dog becomes more and more accustomed to you leaving and returning at different intervals.

By slowly extending these hours of separation, your dog will become accustomed to it, thereby eliminating separation anxiety.

Sincerely,
Velita Livingston

Living near a road is a major concern for any cat owner, as cats love to wander around the neighborhood in search of other cats or
company from other people.

It is not uncommon for cats to wander a long distance particularly at night, and the best bet is probably to keep it confined inside at
night so you know where it is.

This might require that you keep it locked inside the house or have an external area that is fenced, in such a manner that the cat can’t
climb out remembering that cats are extremely good at climbing and escaping from any enclosure.

They also need to be protected from other animals, and in particular dogs that can become quite vicious in the pursuit of a cat.

You really need to use your common sense and look about the environment that your cat is living in to determine any areas that
could be a danger to it.

Having a cat door that will provide your cat with unrestricted access to the house is essential for any cat that prefers to spend
some of its time outside during the day or night.

Cats can pick up infections from other animals, or from the feces that has been left about by other animals, so you need to know where
your cat is wandering and whether those places could be endangering its health in any way.

By having your cat neutered there is less chance that it will wander about the neighborhood looking for other cats.

If your cat isn’t kept within a confined area then you will need some form of identification on it should it ever get lost.

Sincerely,
Velita Livingston

It’s definitely more enjoyable to own an obedient and well trained dog.  Not only that, but a well trained dog, is a much happier dog. They’re prone to getting into quarrels with other animals and will have a tendency to get along better with other dogs they encounter.

It is particularly important to have a well-trained dog if you have young members of the family or children in the neighborhood. Just like having well-behaved children, a well-trained dog makes for a happier household.

The time that you spend training your puppy initially will impact on the pleasure you can get from your dog for the many years of its life.

Taking the time to train your dog will strengthen the bond you have together and this will ensure a long and happy friendship where both you and your dog benefit. Considering the amount of time that you will be with your dog the time involved in training is minimal and well worthwhile.

There are a few basic commands that need to be mastered and they are all relatively simple. These commands are…

Down: this is where you teach your dog to lay down on command, and is one of the main aspects of any successful training program.

Heel: this is where you teach your dog to walk beside you at the same pace without pulling on the lead.

Learning the ‘No’ word: this is a particularly important word for your dog to know and can save you a lot of trouble. In fact it is probably one of the most important aspects of training, if you can get your dog to understand and respond to the word no.

It can certainly save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Sit: sit is one of the most basic of all dog training commands and is one that you’ll want to teach from the outset to maintain control of your dog’s behavior.

Stay: and finally ‘stay’ – this is important to ensure that no matter where you are, you’ll know that your dog will stay precisely where you want it.

If there is nothing else that you train your dog to do beyond these basic commands, it will certainly improve the relationship you have with your dog and the enjoyment and happiness that you and your dog will have together.

It is well worth the time while still a puppy, as it will improve the quality of life for many years to come.

Training will also let your dog know that you’re the boss and in doing so eliminate many behavior problems.

Dogs that are untrained can often get depressed, despondent, and unhappy and display symptoms of anxiety and confusion.

You are actually giving your dog a purpose in life, where they will get pleasure out of the fact that they are pleasing you.

Sincerely,
Velita Livingston