As unforgettably portrayed to American audiences in the classic movie, Home Alone, waking up to find that you are on your own can be entirely thrilling at times and utterly terrifying at others. Just like little Kevin in the movie, our fur babies tend to fall in one of two camps. They either grab the independent life by the horns, digging in the trash cans, chewing up the couch, and sleeping on our pillows or they take cover, burying themselves … Read more
Anxiety is a condition that presents itself on a long continuum, both in humans and our furry companions. It can rear its worrisome head in reaction to a specific event, like a thunderstorm, or it can be a more general condition, almost always lurking beneath the surface. Anxiety can express itself in a severe way with aggression, depression, and destructive behavior or it can present with sometimes misunderstood behaviors like accidents in the house, excessive barking, or drooling. Whatever the … Read more
Taking in a rescue dog is one of the most generous and rewarding choices you will ever make. Whether you find a stray, take in a dog directly from a previous owner, or work with a rescue organization to become a foster or adoptive pawrent, the transition period can be quite stressful for your new pet. With patience, consistency and compassion, rescue dogs can overcome incredible odds to become loving, well-adjusted companions. Related Post: How To Help Your Dog Regain … Read more
When something is wrong, our beloved canine companions don’t have the luxury of being able to tell us what’s bothering them. Not using words at least. There are several ways our pups secretly tell us they’re stressed. They communicate with us nonverbally through their body language and actions. Think about the last time you took your pup to…dare I say it…the V-E-T. Here are 7 ways to tell if your pup is stressed. 1. They Shiver I’m a proud … Read more
If you think your dog understands your feelings, research shows you’re on to something. A study from the journal Learning & Behavior found that on average, dogs moved faster to open a door and reach their human when their human made crying noises than when they hummed “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” So if your pup has some understanding of your mood, does your stress impact your dog? Scientific indicators point to yes. Think about the different ways you show stress: … Read more
Whether you have two legs or four, anxiety can be a miserable experience. Sadly, our fur kids are not immune to anxiety. Many dogs suffer from anxiety, whether it’s only during thunderstorms or a low level of continuous anxiety. How can you tell if your dog has anxiety? What can you do to help your dog if he is dealing with anxiety? Here are signs your dog has anxiety and ways you can help. Signs of anxiety in dogs -Aggression … Read more
Dogs aren’t the only ones who get anxious – you may already be feeling the heat as a pup parent with a dog who can’t stand fireworks. Fourth of July comes only once a year, and along with the flags, hot dogs and pool parties come the earth-shaking booms that send our dogs into a frenzy. There are tons of tips online about keeping your dog safe and calm when the Fourth comes, but not all dogs will respond the … Read more
If you know anything about separation anxiety, you know how upsetting it can be for the dog and how frustrating it can be for the owner. But what causes it? Does knowing what may have caused your dog’s separation anxiety help you treat it? Are there certain dog breeds that are more likely to develop separation anxiety? There are a wide variety of factors that can lead to a dog developing separation anxiety. Scientists may not understand all the factors … Read more
First off, if you’re reading this, you’re probably going through the excruciating process of dealing with canine separation anxiety. I know how hard this is. And I want you to know one thing: you can beat it. The process I am going to share here contains pieces of advice you will hear other places, but also few very unique things that I stumbled upon that finally beat separation anxiety for good. In fact, I’ve shared this story with both dog … Read more
Even though more and more stores, restaurants, and workplaces are becoming dog-friendly, sometimes leaving your dog home alone is unavoidable. How long is it OK to leave your dog home alone for? There is actually no easy answer. It depends on a lot of factors such as your dog’s age, breed, health, and whether or not he has separation anxiety. Puppies In general, puppies need to pee one hour for every month of their age. That means your two-month-old puppy … Read more
You’ve probably felt some negative physical effects from stress or anxiety in your life. You start to have stomach problems or headaches; maybe you start chewing on your nails. Could your dog’s anxiety be causing some of his chronic health problems the same way stress and anxiety cause you to suffer from health problems? Dogs aren’t all that different from humans in the way that they process stress. And just like us, many of their health problems can be tied … Read more
Separation anxiety is common in dogs, and can develop or worsen as they age. Pup parents may be especially surprised if their once-calm companion starts stressing out in their senior years, even if they never seemed to have a problem before. Older dogs may become more dependent on their owners as their joints stiffen and their senses start to dull, leading to nervousness while they’re all alone. They may also become more sensitive to changes in schedule or begin showing … Read more
Some dogs are happy-go-lucky with every pooch they meet. They have never encountered a furry face they didn’t want to befriend. Unfortunately, these social butterflies are the minority in the dog world. Most only enjoy spending time with certain pups and some seem to have no use for their own kind at all. The reasons behind your dog’s choice in companions often comes down to basic canine communication. “Dogs communicate with each other in ways that we don’t get, that … Read more
Can dogs suffer from PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was not added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders until 1980. Even then, it remained a controversial and poorly understood diagnosis for decades to come. One question that is asked more and more frequently from individuals rescuing pups from shelters or abusive conditions is – is my dog suffering from PTSD or some kind of lingering trauma from past abuse or neglect? It is no … Read more
Dogs thrive on routine. A happy dog is one who knows exactly what to expect from his life: what time he will be fed, what time he will be walked, and how much time he will get to spend with his favorite human. So when their routine is suddenly changed by a life-altering event, such as a child going off to college or the addition of a new spouse, baby, or fur child, they can become stressed out and start … Read more
Dogs depend on a reliable routine in order to feel secure. Unfortunately, chaos tends to rule when the holidays roll around, leaving many pups feeling anxious and confused. We spend our spare seasonal hours cooking, cleaning, entertaining guests, wrapping gifts and decorating the home with strange objects (including a baffling indoor tree). All that holiday hullabaloo is enough to put any pooch into an emotional tailspin! Unfortunately, with the extra demands on our time, it can be easy to overlook … Read more
A fresh haircut and a relaxing mani-pedi is a welcome change from the stresses of our day-to-day lives, but grooming services can have the opposite effect on our dogs. There are several reasons why a dog may experience fear and anxiety during grooming. The pet salon is full of strange sights, sounds, and smells, not to mention other animals giving off their own auras of stress. Some dogs may have had a negative experience in the past such as a … Read more
Most dogs don’t like being left home alone, but sometimes they make leaving the house unbearable for their humans – but what’s even worse is knowing that they’re suffering. Luckily, there are things we can do to help. We at iHeartDogs asked Dr. Michel Selmer, DVM, CTCVMP, about some ways to help out pups with separation anxiety. Also known as “The Caring Vet,” Dr. Selmer is a Certified Veterinary Food Therapist (CVFT) who uses principles from Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) … Read more
Somewhere between 10 and 40 percent of dogs suffer from some degree of separation anxiety. If you’re the owner of one of these dogs, you understand how heartbreaking and frustrating it can be to try to keep your dog calm when you leave the house. Even if you’re at home most of the time, you have to leave the house occasionally to run errands and socialize, and you don’t want your fur child panicking and possibly hurting themselves or destroying your house in … Read more
Are you currently stuck in the mental black hole that is depression? Do you worry that your life is never going to get better and that you will never feel normal again? Maybe the words “happy” and “fun” have lost all meaning in your life. Perhaps your life has become a charade of pretending to the world that you’re okay when you actually feel empty inside. The good news is that it is possible to feel normal again. The better … Read more
Anxiety associated with separation from loved ones, storms, car rides, etc. plagues many of our furry friends. Solutions like desensitization therapy, soothing pheromones, and prescription drugs can help provide relief, but there is another technique that is catching on with pet parents. Not only is it simple and safe, it is also highly effective and totally free! The calming technique is known as the “half wrap” and all you need to pull it off is a scarf or an Ace … Read more
Some dogs just can’t seem to hold their “licker”! Whether they are licking you, your furniture, the floors, themselves, or just flapping their tongues, there is usually a medical or behavioral explanation. Read on to find out why your pooch is licking and what you should do to remedy it. 1. Affection When your dog showers you with joyful licks after a long day apart, it really does mean he’s happy to see you! Affectionate licking starts at birth. Mother … Read more
This article is brought to you by the wonderful folks at Wag! The Dog Walking App One of the most stressful aspects of dog ownership is ensuring that they stay happy and healthy during the times you cannot be together. Whether you are saddled with a demanding work schedule, planning a vacation, or dealing with an unexpected emergency, you want to know that your dog is safe and content in your absence. Many dogs experience some level of separation anxiety … Read more
Anxiety is one of the single most common behavior problem pup parents enquire about. Why does my dog cry/bark/dig/pace/house soil/destroy property when I leave her home alone? Separation anxiety in dogs can manifest itself in many different ways, from mildly inconvenient behaviors to activities that threaten their very health and safety. Luckily, there are answers to your questions and resources to help your pup through this frightening and frustrating issue! We sat down with one of our favorite pet … Read more
We all deal with stress from time to time, and our pets are no different. While some dogs are more anxious than others, most dogs will have at least one thing that causes them stress, whether it’s a car ride, fireworks, a thunderstorm, or moving to a new house. There are medications that can help, but you might want to start with something a little milder first. Here are 6 natural ingredients known to help dogs who are scared of car rides. … Read more
We all deal with stress from time to time, and our pets are no different. While some dogs are more anxious than others, most dogs will have at least one thing that causes them stress, whether it’s a thunderstorm, fireworks, a trip to the vet, or moving to a new house. There are prescription medications that can help, but you might want to start with something less prone to negative side effects first. Here are 7 natural ingredients known to … Read more
The 4th of July is no celebration for most dogs! We all deal with stress from time to time, and our pets are no different. While some dogs are more anxious than others, most dogs will have at least one thing that causes them stress, whether it’s a fireworks, a trip to the vet, or moving to a new house. There are medications that can help, but you might want to start with something a little milder first. Here are 7 … Read more
We all deal with stress from time to time, and our pets are no different. While some dogs are more anxious than others, most dogs will have at least one thing that causes them stress, whether it’s a trip to the vet, fireworks, or moving to a new house. There are medications that can help, but you might want to start with something a little milder first. Here are 6 natural ingredients known to help calm anxious dogs. (As always, consult … Read more
Independence Day is coming, and although it should be a day of celebration, it’s one of the most dreaded holidays for pet owners. Even where fireworks are illegal, there always seems to be someone setting them off near home. The loud bangs and heavy vibrations can be frightening for our dogs, making it difficult to calm them down during the chaos. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help ease their stress. #1 – Stay With Your Dog … Read more
When it comes to anxious and excitable dogs, we often don’t know the direct cause. Just like people, some dogs suffer from anxiety disorders. Unlike people, dogs can’t really go to talk therapy or try many different medications. Since we often don’t know what causes the issues, however irrational it may seem, we sometimes have to get creative when it comes to helping our dogs find relief. Whether your dog is afraid of fireworks, has separation anxiety, or is just … Read more
