Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety? Dogs are part of our family and they can undergo separation anxiety when we are not around. Dogs view their owners as their pack. When they are separated from their pack they can become very upset. Many dogs who deal with a separation anxiety issue will take their sadness and frustration out on their owner’s property and rip personal possessions apart. Coming home to find your favorite shoes chewed to shreds may be a sign to you that your dog is crying out for help. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiet,y you may also get reports from unhappy neighbors that your dog has been on a barking tangent since you left your home.

Other signs of separation anxiety include:

1. Your dog has decided to be your shadow when you are home. He will follow you wherever you go from room to room and has no interests in anything but you.

2. Your dog acts agitated or mournful when you prepare to leave. He may do things that will draw attention to himself in an attempt to keep you from leaving.

3. Your dog is overly enthusiastic when you come home. Some dogs may even wet the floor upon seeing you.

4. If you place your inside dog outside to potty, he will refuse to leave the door area and will just stand there and bark.

Dogs can develop separation anxiety from the start, or it can be acquired at any time in their lives. Changes in the household, such as the death of another pet or family member can trigger separation anxiety in dogs. Anything that would disrupt your dog’s life, such as a move, new child or even the dog owner working a new schedule, can make a dog go into the doldrums. If your dog has never shown signs of separation anxiety before, you should take a look at your lifestyle. What has changed in your dog’s life that would make him so anxious?

What You Can Do

* Do not lash out at your dog in anger. This only makes your dog think that it is wrong for him to want to be around you and his anxiety will become worse.

* Teach your dog that you always return. Play games with your dog that will show him that you will always return. Teach him to sit and stay. Move to other rooms in your home and then come back. When you do come back, reward your pet for remaining calm. Gradually increase the amount of time you are away in different rooms and then return. Start the process over and start going outside for a few minutes. With time, your dog will come to understand that you will not be gone forever.

* Find something for your dog to do while you are away from home. Purchase new chew toys to occupy your dog while you are away.

* Change up your leaving pattern. If a dog knows your routine, this can bring on his anxiety.

* Don’t pay a ton of attention to your dog the moment you walk in the door. This seems to make separation anxiety worse. Instead, take off your shoes, flip through the mail and then make a fuss over him.

* For a dog with severe separation anxiety, you may want to consder a trip to the vet. There are anti-anxiety drugs that a vet can prescribe your dogs. They work as a calming agent and are good to use when you are training your dog that you will return.

* Talk to your neighbors if you have received barking complaints. Tell them you are working hard to relieve your dog of his anxiety and ask them to bear with you.

When your dog realizes how much he is loved and that you would never leave him forever he will finally start to relax.

Wishing you and your new puppy a long and happy life,
Katelyn

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Suddenly, that adorable new puppy seems more like a baby shark. Your feet, your furniture and even your walls are all falling prey to those razor sharp little teeth. Are you doomed to spend your life covered in bandaids and sitting on the remaining half of your sofa cushion? Well, while you won’t be able to completely stop your puppy from chewing, you can stop him from chewing everything you own.

Teach Your Puppy Proper Chewing Manners
If you leave a chewing puppy to roam at will, it can destroy your home very fast. It is important that pet owners understand that teaching dogs chewing manners is as important as housebreaking them.

Why Do Puppies Chew?
Many people feel that when a puppy is left for a longer period of time with its siblings and mother, it will be less likely to chew on its new owner’s possessions. Studies have shown that puppies that are taken from their mothers and siblings before eight weeks of age do exhibit more aggressive forms of chewing than puppies that were taken from their mothers at 10 weeks of older.
Why? Probably because there is nothing like being scolded by your mother, even if your mother is a dog. When puppies start cutting their teeth and start to chew on their mothers, they are quickly scolded with a painful nip. Mother dogs will not tolerate being a chew toy to their puppies. If nipping the young pup doesn’t curb the pup’s desire to chew, the mother dog will leave the area and force the puppy to be alone. Puppies soon learn that chewing is not tolerated.
When puppies find that their mothers won’t put up with their chewing, they usually start taking their aggression out on their litter mates. When they hear a yelp from their siblings, they are shocked to discover they were the cause of the yelp. When the offending pup is nipped in return, or if its litter mates refuse to play with it, the chewing pup learns again that biting and chewing is not tolerated or acceptable.

Dealing With a Chewing Puppy
If you come home to find your expensive pillows torn to shreds or your nice leather shoes torn apart, it can be very frustrating. If you have a puppy that likes to chew, it usually won’t stop at your possessions. The pup may also try to chew on your toes, fingers and clothing. It is important to understand that all puppies will go through a teething stage, much like human infants. Expecting a puppy to not chew is virtually impossible, especially when it doesn’t see a difference between your nice new belt and a chew toy.

In fact, if your puppy is feeling lonely when you are gone, the scent of your personal possessions will probably be more intriguing to it than a bone or chew toy. Understanding that all puppies will go through a teething and chewing process is important. However, you must teach your dog chewing manners. If you do not, it will never learn boundaries and everything in your home will be up for grabs.

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM and Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers )

To wrap up the main portion of the course, we are going to leave you with some advice from our experts. We asked them for their top five tips for new puppy owners and here they are:

Bernadine Cruz, DVM says:

1. Feed a well balance food appropriate for its age and breed. When in doubt, ask your vet for a diet that will suit your dog’s growth profile.

2. Keep your puppy slim. Studies have shown that a pet that maintains its ideal weight throughout its life can expect to live 15% longer than its chubby littermate.

3. The number one reason why dogs are relinquished by their owners to a shelter is unacceptable behaviors. Train your dog. Set compassionate rules that are reinforced by all members of the family.

4. Follow your veterinarian’s advice. What you read on the internet or learn from your breeder or friend may be stated with the best of intentions but not necessarily correct. Your veterinarian is trained to provide the best medical advice for your particular pet.

5. Before adopting a pet, do your homework. Just because you see a particular breed on TV or a movie that is just too cute, it may not be the most appropriate pet for you. Be sure you have the time, finances and desire to devote to your dog. When you adopt a pet, it is for life, their life.

Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM had six important tips to leave with new puppy owners:
1. Nutrition is key - If you choose not to cook for your pet (and there are a myriad of great books with home made pet food recipes), then make sure the pet food you buy is made of wholesome, human quality ingredients.

2. Proper medical care - I stress the improtance of finding a progressive, preferably holistic, veterinarian who will treat your pet’s mind, body and soul.

3. Training - find a positive trainer to help you teach your puppy what is expected. Do not wait for behavioral problems to develop; take your puppy to a puppy class asap.

4. Talk to your puppy - We’ve been conditioned to think that animals do not understand our language, but new research shows that dogs, cats and parrots are more capable of understanding complex sentences than we ever thought before. Talk to your pet - tell him or her that you are happy, excited about a new opportunity, or hungry or tired, that you have to go work and will be back in 9 hours, that you’ll miss them while you’re gone. You’ll be amazed to see that in a short time your puppy is able to understand seemingly complex sentences. And you will cherish the bond that talking to your pet fosters.

5. Play together - dogs living in packs play together to show that they share a friendship and feel safe and comfortable with each other. Cats who like each other play, too. Play is a way of letting your guard down.

6. Smile - Animals gravitate towards people who are joyful, calm and centered, not negative, scattered and anxious. Since animals pick up on our emotions and often internalize them, they much prefer healthy emotions.

Wishing you and your new puppy a long and happy life,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from AKC expert Lisa Peterson)

New puppies need to eat more frequently than adult dogs, just as baby humans do. Since their digestive systems are still maturing, they also need to stay on a consistent diet. Feeding your puppy properly can help him settle in to his new home more easily.

Before you bring your new puppy home, make sure you know what he has been eating so that you can buy the same food. If you can’t find that food in your local stores, be sure to ask the breeder for a three to four day supply so that you can gradually mix it with the puppy food you are going to be using. This way, there is no abrupt change in diet.

If you do change the puppy’s food and he develops diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately to be sure it is really the change in food that has caused the diarrhea. (If his diarrhea is bloody, he could have a medical problem, such as coccidia.) If it is the change of diet, your veterinarian will probably recommend feeding him rice with broth or chicken baby food mixed with it until he returns to normal and then gradually reintroducing the puppy chow.

So, is that commercial puppy food ok for your dog? According to AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “The BARF diet is hard to administer because the owner is left to decide if the dogs are getting the proper ingredients. A good commercial food has all the necessary nutrients. Ask your veterinarian or breeder for a recommendation. If the dog’s coat is glossy and healthy, the food is good.”

Once you decide on the proper diet for your new puppy, you will need to decide how many times a day to serve his meals. Ms. Peterson says, “Puppies have smaller tummies and a higher metabolism. They need to eat three to four times a day until they are six months and then two times a day until they are one year.”

After your puppy is one year of age, you can switch to one meal a day. However, I know I’d have a hard time eating once a day, so you may want to feed your dog most of his meal in the morning and offer the remainder of the meal in the evening.

Ms. Peterson mentions another important feeding concern for owners of smaller dogs. “Toy dogs can suffer from hypoglycemia.” This means that small dogs should eat several small meals throughout the day to avoid low blood sugar problems.

Now that you know how to provide basic care for your new puppy, you are ready for the final lesson of the course, which includes some great quick tips about new puppy ownership from our experts.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson and Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers )

Now that your puppy is healthy, it is time to consider puppy behavior and training. Although some people feel that puppies should not be trained at a young age, many breeders and other pet professionals say that puppies can learn some basics by the age of eight weeks.

In fact, according to AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “You can begin training your puppy the day you bring him home. Up to the age of four months, puppies pick up new behaviors at lightning speed. After four months of age, they learn more slowly.”

While you can train your puppy on your own, you may want to consider going to puppy classes once he has been vaccinated. These classes teach basic obedience, but Ms. Peterson says they also provide important socialization skills. You will need to decide if you want to teach your puppy using traditional methods or if you’d prefer clicker training and then look for a trainer who uses the method you choose. Frankly, my dogs and I love clicker training. It is a lot of fun and they learn quickly. However, traditional methods usually work just fine for basic obedience.

Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers has some great training advice for new puppy owners. “The biggest mistake new puppy owners make is that they are inconsistent. Puppies learn best when you teach using consistent, positive training techniques. Plan a routine for meals, naps and playtime. Reward good behavior and distract him from the things you don’t want him to do or touch.”

Ms. Redford also talks about the first command you should teach your new puppy. “Teach him to come when called. It is probably the most important thing he will ever learn and it could save his life. Keep your voice happy and reward him every time he comes. If he doesn’t come immediately, go to him, show him the treat and run backward so he comes to you. Be effusive with your praise and affection.”

Once you master puppy classes, you don’t have to stop training your puppy. Dogs can learn new things throughout their lives, just as people can. In fact, many dogs really love to learn and they and their owners enter obedience and agility competitions.

In Lesson 6, you will learn about feeding your new puppy.
Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM and AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson)

While most people understand the importance of vaccinating a new puppy, not everyone realizes that preventative medications are also extremely important, especially in areas that have a high rate of Lyme or heartworm disease. These diseases can be fatal and dogs that survive do so after costly treatment, so it makes sense to use preventative medications.

According to Dr. Cruz, “A pup is often dewormed each time that it is vaccinated. Starting the pet on monthly heartworm medication is an excellent idea. The most commonly administered heartworm preventatives will protect against not only heartworm infection but the most common internal parasites.”

Another important preventative medication is a flea and tick treatment. There are several popular ones at the moment, including Advantix(TM) and Frontline(TM). Ask your veterinarian to recommend the right treatment for your dog. These medications can prevent you from having a home infested with fleas, but they can also prevent some types of worms and make it less likely for your dog to catch Lyme disease by killing fleas and ticks before they can do any damage.

According to American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “Flea and tick preventatives are very important in the North Eastern United States and the Rocky Mountain region.”

If you aren’t convinced that preventative medications are important for your puppy, you may want to consider another concern that Dr Cruz mentions. “These internal parasites are a potential zoonotic threat. Children can be infected by hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms that they can contract from their dogs. People who are immune suppressed are also at risk.”

In Lesson 5, you will learn about obedience training for puppies.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, American Kennel Club Spokesperson Lisa Peterson and Kevin Michalowski, dog trainer and author of 15 Minutes to a Great Puppy)

Immunizations are one the most important ways to protect your new puppy. Shots keep your puppy from developing common diseases and can even save your puppy’s life. However, veterinarians have several different philosophies about shots schedules. Some vets feel that your puppy should be immunized once every two weeks with a combination shot that protects your puppy from seven different diseases. Others feel that puppy should be immunized every four weeks. Still other veterinarians believe that puppies should not be given combination shots.

Dr Bernadine Cruz, DVM, says, “Which vaccines are needed by a puppy depends on their life style and the part of the United States in which they live. A puppy that is going to be very sheltered and not travel with the owner will need different vaccines than the one that goes hiking and biking with the owner. Vaccines are normally started around 6 to 8 weeks of age. They are usually repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the pet is 4 months of age. There can be exceptions, so the final vaccine schedule should be determined by the attending veterinarian on a case by case basis.”

American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson has very similar advice for new puppy owners. “There are three major boosters, given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Based on where you live, your puppy may also need Lyme disease or corona vaccines. This is especially important in the northeast region of the United States . Your puppy will also need a Rabies shot after 16 weeks and before six months.”

Kevin Michalowski, author of the new book 15 MINUTES TO A GREAT PUPPY, explains why vaccines are so important. “While nursing, puppies receive valuable antibodies from their mother’s milk, but that natural immunity begins to disappear early on and may be completely gone by weaning. Consequently, by 8 to 10 weeks of age, puppies are susceptible to a number of diseases. It’s vital to take young dogs to the vet early for check-ups and initial shots.

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for at what age you should vaccinate against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza, bordatella, Lyme disease and rabies. In some cases the vaccinations will require more than one visit to the vet.”

Finally, before you selected immunization schedule for your puppy, talk to your vet about the pros and cons of all the different immunization schedules. Some dog breeds are more sensitive to vaccinations than other dog breeds. You also may want to discuss leaving your puppy with your vet for a few hours when he receives his first immunizations in case he has a reaction.

In Lesson 4, you will learn about preventative medications that puppies should take.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, American Kennel Club Spokesperson Lisa Peterson and Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM )

I asked our dog care experts what the first thing new owners should do when it comes to veterinary care. Surprisingly enough, they didn’t say “Get your puppy vaccinated.” Although puppy immunizations are incredibly important, there are a few things you should consider before getting those puppy shots.

Dr. Bernadine D. Cruz, a companion animal veterinarian at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital , in California , said, “Establish a partnership with your veterinarian. Both of you are responsible for ensuring that the pet experiences the best quality of life. The veterinarian is the family’s ‘puppi-atrician’. The pet parent needs to be comfortable with this person. They need to feel that they can speak freely with the doctor and that the doctor understands their needs and those of the pet. Pet parents may need to interview several vets before they find the one that they click with.

The cost of maintaining a healthy life for a puppy can be unexpectedly more than a person has budgeted for. I always recommend that people invest in veterinary medical insurance, especially one that offers a rider for ‘wellness.’ These riders can help to offset the fees incurred for vaccines, deworming, heartworm medications, neutering and other routine medical costs.”

American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson has a different concern. She said that people need to be sure that the new puppy is healthy before they become attached. She recommends taking the new puppy, whether it is purchased from a breeder or adopted from a local animal shelter, to the veterinarian within 72 hours of purchase.

Lisa Peterson said, “Do not go to the vet recommended by your puppy store. You need an independent opinion to make sure the puppy is as healthy as the seller says it is. This way, if there is a problem, you can take it back before you are emotionally attached.”

While most veterinarians are concerned about the overall health of a dog, Dr Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM is especially concerned with treating the whole dog, including mind, body and soul as a holistic veterinarian. Dr. Van Volkenburgh said, “It is essential to choose a progressive veterinarian who is willing to provide cutting edge, state of the art medical care, from puppy vaccines to geriatric patient care. Old school vaccine protocols have no place in modern veterinary medicine.”

Now that you know what to do to make your first trip to the veterinarian a success, it is time to find out how to keep your puppy strong and healthy. In Lesson 3, you will learn about puppy immunizations and preventative medications that are important for the new puppy.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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With expert advice from AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson & obedience instructor Maralyn Redford

Many people think that crate training a puppy is mean. However, crate training your puppy is a fast and effective way to housebreak him and the kennel will keep him safe when you aren’t able to supervise him. In fact, according to American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “The biggest mistake a new puppy owner can make is not using a crate. People who don’t know better think its cruel, but its the best way to build confidence in the puppy.”

You should purchase your kennel before your puppy arrives. Don’t buy the biggest crate you can find. Your puppy will feel more secure in a crate that is just big enough for him to stand up and turn around. Also, a crate that is too big makes your puppy more prone to having accidents in the crate, since he can choose a potty corner and still stay clean.

Follow these simple steps to quickly crate train your new puppy:

* Put a fleece pad or a towel in the crate.
* Add a favorite toy so the puppy can amuse himself.
* Take your puppy for a walk.
* Place your puppy in the crate and praise him. Give him a treat.
* Leave him in the crate and ignore him if he fusses.
* Take him out after fifteen or twenty minutes, but do not make a big deal about it.
* Immediately, take him for a walk and praise him. Play with him for fifteen minutes to a half hour.
* Put him back in the crate and make a big fuss over him.
* Leave him in the crate a few minutes longer than the last time.
* Repeat these steps, gradually increasing the time he spends inside the crate.
* Eventually, you will be able to leave your puppy in the crate for several hours.

Remember not to make a fuss over your little guy when you let him out, but do make a big deal about him going into the crate. This keeps him from crying and whining when he is crated.

Finally, if you aren’t convinced you should crate train your puppy, there is another important reason for crate training - travel. According to obedience trainer Maralyn Redford, “A crate can become a puppy’s portable home and keep him safe when you can’t watch him. A dog that is comfortable in a crate has a portable home, and you can take him anywhere safely.”

In lesson two, we will cover taking your new puppy to the veterinarian.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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