Pets & Animals
Animal Care and Behavior
Cheryl Alderson
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Questions 11-20 of 249:
- Hello, and thanks for all the good advice you give. Here is my question? I adopted a dog 1 year ago, he is now 3. He is half Alaskan husky and half Australian shepherd. I have finally built the trust bond between us,which I feel this dog had lacked(maybe due to abuse in first two years of life) My question is I must leave him for the first time for 1 week and was wondering is it best to have him in my house with my friend coming in to visit or put him in a kennel or my company would let me fly him with me(however I am afraid to let him fly in cargo because I have recently heard bad things about the airlines with pets) my dog is medium size and weighs 56 pounds. Oscar is a pleasant dog, but gets along better with people rather than other dogs. Please advise me on what would be best for Oscar.
Sincerely, Sid Smith
- Sid
from cornelius, nc 28031
We suggest having a friend drop in to your house several times per day to care for the dog. Make sure the dog knows this person well BEFORE you take y » moreWe suggest having a friend drop in to your house several times per day to care for the dog. Make sure the dog knows this person well BEFORE you take your trip so have four or five practice visits. « less
- I have an very energized 20 month old male Pom unaltered (he'll be neutered soon)he gets plenty of exercise in our large home but has developed the bad habit in recent months of going down the stairs to the front door landing when he hears the key in the door or the door bell rings and sometimes running out the door, he never use to do this so how can I train him not to do this?
- Wehop
from California
Teach the dog to stay at the top of the landing by targeting a towel or rug. Use treats tossed up to him for doing a down or sit/stay on the rug. Prac » moreTeach the dog to stay at the top of the landing by targeting a towel or rug. Use treats tossed up to him for doing a down or sit/stay on the rug. Practice WITHOUT the door being opened until he is able to remain there for 2 to 3 mintues. Also teach him that you will not open the door unless he is in his place. « less
- My dog, a maltese, is 11 months old and is, for the most part, very well behaved. However, he has recently started urinating when on the furniture or on people when he is being held.
This behavior seems quite strange in light of the fact that he appears very happy and normal
otherwise. Can you give me some possible cause for the urinating.
- Anonymous
Do check with your vet about a bladder problem first. Next, alter/neuter the dog in case it is a social behavior (marking) and also ready submissive u » moreDo check with your vet about a bladder problem first. Next, alter/neuter the dog in case it is a social behavior (marking) and also ready submissive urination in dogs at: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/piddles.pdf « less
- Our 4 yr. old German Shepherd has recently started to chew on the wood on our house, doors and door jams. She has no previous chewing behavior.
- Anonymous
Sounds like the dog may be suffering from separation anxiety or noise phobia: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/SeparationAnxiety.pdf In any » moreSounds like the dog may be suffering from separation anxiety or noise phobia: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/SeparationAnxiety.pdf In any case the dog would benefit from daily exercise, twice daily, 20 minutes per session: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/playandexercise.pdf And also feed the dog from a KONG instead of a bowl. « less
- Thanks for your help:
I must leave my dog for 5 days on business. My neighbor will be coming in 3 times a day. I think this is more comforting to leave coco in my house rather than board him. Is there any thing I can do to prepare coco for my absence? I'm afraid he will get depressed and think I'm not coming home. I rescued him when he was 2 and he is now 3. I don't want him to think he's being abandoned again. Any suggestions to help ease coco's mind when I'm away. Thank you, Sue
- suzy
from phillipsburg nj 08865
Make sure the pet does not get fed from a bowl but gets his meals stuffed in a KONG toy that is given just as the sitter leaves. Also make sure the pe » moreMake sure the pet does not get fed from a bowl but gets his meals stuffed in a KONG toy that is given just as the sitter leaves. Also make sure the pet gets a extra amount of exercise daily. A tired dog is not a worried dog. Keep all hellos and goodbyes unemotional. Please read: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/SeparationAnxiety.pdf « less
- We received a 7 month old neutered male Golden Retreiver from family members who's child was alergic to him. We have had him only 5 days and loved him instantly. He was an indoor dog until 3 weeks ago when his other owners put him in a kennel outdoors to deal with their allergy problem. We keep him indoors with us except for about 7 hours while we are at work. He seems to have adapted to living with us very well but needs to go out to pee every 2-3 hours during the night or he pees on our bed while sleeping. He also pees in his igloo while outside when we are at work amd lays in it because I have to wash him off every day when I get home. Other owners didn't have this problem. Is it stress from this huge change or what?
- Marshal
from Catawba, Virginia
We suggest a full medical workup immediately. A 7 month old dog should NOT be needing to urinate at all during a normal 8 hour sleep at night.We suggest a full medical workup immediately. A 7 month old dog should NOT be needing to urinate at all during a normal 8 hour sleep at night.
- I have a 2 year old German Shepherd Mix dog and we adopted her from a shelter at 8 weeks old. She is a wonderful dog and the only behavior problem we have is that she urinates in the house. We have used the crate but she does not like it and scratches and barks the whole time she is in it. We have not caught her urinating on the carpet but she still goes in the same area of the carpet from time to time. How can we stop this behavior?
- Anonymous
Try using a tie down in place of the crate or an exercise pen. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/tie_down.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/ » moreTry using a tie down in place of the crate or an exercise pen. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/tie_down.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/housetraining.pdf http://www.doghouses.com/crates-kennels/exercise-pens/products.cfm?action=view&key=SN024 « less
- We have a female chihuahua mix, we believe it is mixed with doberman pincher. She is approx. She is probably about 4 months old. She is a destroyer, she literally tore out all the sponge from a dog bed. Everything she gets a hold of, she tears it up. She chews on the wood of a chair. Please I need your help.
- Pat
from Seguin, TExas
This is normal puppy behavior to chew. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/faq_chewing.pdf You need to: Supervise the pup 100% of the time wh » moreThis is normal puppy behavior to chew. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/faq_chewing.pdf You need to: Supervise the pup 100% of the time when loose and give appropriate chew items such as stuffed KONGS, natural bones and nylabones. When unable to supervise, crate the dog or use a tie down. hhttp://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/crate_training.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/tie_down.pdf Get the pup into a training class ASAP: http://www.hssv.org/BEHAVIOR/train_nation.htm « less
- I have a 9 week old pompoo that is 2 1/2 lbs that frequently urinates up to 6 times every half hour. Could you please tell me what could be the cause of this or is it normal?
- Vickie
from Pittsburgh, PA
Do have a vet look at the puppy to assess for any bladder or kidney problems first. If nothing is found, the pet just has a small bladder and only gro » moreDo have a vet look at the puppy to assess for any bladder or kidney problems first. If nothing is found, the pet just has a small bladder and only growing up will remedy it. « less
- I have a neutered male dog, almost six years old. I've had him since he was about 16 weeks old (he was a foundling). I've had difficulty with him wetting in the house since he was a puppy, but it was only occasionally. Lately, he has taken to wetting in the house every night. I thought at first it was just that he needed a break during the night, so started taking him out about 2 AM. This has not corrected the problem. Now, he is marking the furniture. I'm at my wits end because I have been unable to break this behavior. Can you give me any ideas how to stop him from wetting in the house?
- Rose
from Memphis, TN
We recommend crating the dog at night or put him on a tie down as well as having a medical check up done by your vet. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF » moreWe recommend crating the dog at night or put him on a tie down as well as having a medical check up done by your vet. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/crate_training.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/tie_down.pdf Keep a close eye on the pet when he is loose in the house or you can try a belly band: http://www.kennelkomforts.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=3001&Category_Code=BB2&OVRAW=belly%20band%20for%20dogs&OVKEY=belly%20band%20for%20dog&OVMTC=standard « less
Questions 11-20 of 249:
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