Dress For Success

Thanks for joining me as we explore the ways we can help our favorite pets get over their fears and anxieties. Training, treats, lots of exercise, and medications can all help your pup stay happy and healthy. For some dogs, one simple plan is all you need. For others, a combination of techniques will be required. And for some, nothing seems to help when faced with loud, scary noises.

Thunderstorms and fireworks are a huge problem for lots of dogs and their owners. I've seen dogs that are normally confident and sassy be reduced to shivering, drooling, frightened pups at the first flash of lightening. The Fourth of July can be a nightmare for these poor dogs, and most of them only get worse as they get older.

As we said before, it's possible to train your dog to expect good things when the thunder booms, and there are pills that can ease his anxiety as well. But there's another option you might want to consider - the Thundershirt
The Thundershirt works by wrapping your dog in a tightly fitted vest. The constant pressure is said to relieve anxiety in much the same way swaddling helps to soothe a crying baby, or a weighted vest can help a nervous child to relax and focus.

Thundershirts are available in sizes to fit nearly every dog from tiny toys to extra large breeds like Rottweillers. They come in three colors, so the fashion-conscious pooch can coordinate her wardrobe. And they offer a 100% money back guarantee. If the Thundershirt doesn't help your dog get over his fears, simply return it within 45 days for a full refund.

I hope you have found these tips helpful. After all, we have our pet as companions and want they to lead happy lives. Look for my next series coming soon.

Who's The Boss

Thanks for joining me as we explore the ways we can help our favorite pets get over their fears and anxieties. Last time we talked about teaching your dog a few tricks to help him gain confidence and to relieve his fears. There's an even bigger benefit to good training, though: It teaches your dog who is boss.

Dogs are pack animals, and in every pack there is a dominant dog who is in charge. That dog provides the meals for the pack, decides where they live, and ensures the safety of all the pack members. To your dog, you and your family are his pack, and if you don't take charge of the pack, he may feel the need to step up and become the leader.

And this can lead to serious anxiety issues for your pet.

Imagine if you're in charge of the safety and health of a group, but every day that group locks you up and goes away. You don't know where they're going or when they'll return, and you have no way to follow them. You'd be a worried mess all day, too.

In order to avoid doing this to your pet, you need to make it clear to him that you are in charge, and that he can relax. In short, you need to establish yourself as the boss. There are books that recommend scary-sounding tricks like the alpha roll, but that's a good way to scare your dog even more. Instead, consistent training is the key.

Never give your dog a command you can't enforce. In other words, unless you're prepared to make your dog sit if she doesn't comply, then don't give the command. Allowing her to disobey you reinforces the idea that you're not the boss - the exact opposite of what you're trying to accomplish. If you tell your dog to come and he doesn't, then go and get him. Not in an angry or upset way, but firmly.

The same goes for repeating a command. Don't do it. When you repeat a command what you're really teaching your dog is that he or she only needs to obey you sometimes, because other times you don't mean what you say. That's a sure fire way to confuse your dog and escalate his anxiety rather than alleviate it.

So give your pup the training he needs and wants, but do it consistently and firmly, so there is never any doubt in his mind just who's in charge.

A Home Of Her Own

You know how sometimes the kids and the dog and the spouse and the job all just seem to gang up on you and all you want is to go lie down and relax? Sometimes that's all your dog wants, too. Just a quiet place he won't be disturbed for a while.

For dogs prone to anxiety attacks, this can be especially important. In fact, you'll often find anxious dogs hiding under the bed, behind the sofa, or even in the bathtub - all places that are small and confined and offer a sense of security. Why not give your dog just such a place he or she can call her own?

Safe places come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most common option is a crate, which can serve double-duty as a place where your pooch can hang out when you're not home, potentially saving your living room rug from certain doggy disasters. Choose a crate that's large enough for your dog to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around in, but not so large that you could put several dogs in it. Think cozy, not palatial.

You'll probably need to experiment with crate placement. Some dogs are unhappy if they're left out of the action, so tucking a crate away in a corner of the basement might just make your pup even more anxious.   If that's the case with your pooch, try setting up her crate in a bedroom, or opt for a decorative crate that serves as a small table as well. Alternately, you might choose a crate that folds up, so you can set it up only when you need it, and tuck it away in the closet when it's not in use.

Another way to make your pup feel safe is to give her a bed or pillow that is her's alone. This is her safe spot, and the place you ask her to go when, for example, company is over. Make sure the family respects her bed, and that no one bothers her when she's in it, otherwise it will fail to provide the sense of security your dog needs.

Also, be sure you never punish your dog by making her get in her crate or her bed. Doing so will associate her home with anxious feelings, and only make her more nervous when it's time to be crated. Her bed and her crate should be a happy place where she can spend time alone, just as your bedroom is your sanctuary when you need some peace and quiet in your day.

For more information on dogs and other pets please visit http://familypetinfo.theteacherscabinet.com