Separation Anxiety

Is your dog predisposed to separation anxiety?

Will your dog likely develop Anxiety when home alone?
If you suspect your dog is suffering from a form of Separation Anxiety, contact your vet, as many of the symptoms can also be medical in nature. Your vet may include a complete blood cell count, biochemistry, thyroid test, and urinalysis to gather more information on what may be causing some of your dogs behavior changes.

So, what are the signs you should look for?
Is your dog slightly environmentally insecure or worried in new places? Does your dog hesitate when walking down some streets or new parks? Do her eyes become enlarged as she scans the area often?  Maybe her body looks compressed, or she moves slower then normal with stiff leg movement. Maybe she sits and refuses to move forward, yet if you turn around, she quickly moves in the direction of home.

Is your dog predisposed to separation anxiety? Read More »

What Does Stress Look Like?

When I think of unwanted behavior, I think of stress as the two are often related. My goal here is to help you identify your dogs stress signals so you can get them help before this stress causes unwanted behavior. Science clearly states that stress leads to health problems, negatively affect relationships with others and

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Conference Day 2 – Reactivity in Dogs

Impulse control, hyperactivity, reactivity and arousal are all topics discussed in today’s symposium on “Living on the edge.” If you have attended any of my reactive dog classes you would have heard me use these terms and how they effect your dogs emotional state. Today’s topics included many practical methods of incorporating daily routines and

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Separation Anxiety or Distress….which is it?

Because not all dogs that are left alone experience anxiety, animal behaviorists are beginning to use other terms including separation behaviors. Separation Distress Distress is simply an animal’s inability to adapt to stress (or the  conditions that are causing stress). In humans or animals, the result  of distress is often demonstrated by poor coping skills

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