Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone?  Separation anxiety in dogs is often the reason dogs chew up furniture and clothing, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone.   By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem. 

You have two goals with this training.  The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.

Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training

It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order.  The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top.  Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family.  Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.

Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you.  We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap.  It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast.  It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you.  He needs to learn that he doesn’t have to be in constant contact with you to be happy.

Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you.  If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed.  Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom.  This teaches him to become more independent of you.

Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has.  A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.

This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home.  Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there.  It’s best to ignore your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, and again when you return.

Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone

Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands.  He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.

Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv.  Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave.  At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you.  Gradually increase the time that you’re gone.  Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back.  He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded. 

You’ll also want to find a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy anything.  Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself.  Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you.  Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat.  Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. Be sure to put his toys up when you’re done.

What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return.  This is teaching him that being away from you isn’t so bad after all.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it.  You’ll want to look for a good dog training course, so you can avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your dog behavior problems.

Darlene Norris
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-use-dog-separation-anxiety-training-to-help-dogs-with-separation-anxiety-740728.html

The following testimonials are from loving dog owners who wished they had learned about collar safety sooner. I lost my beautiful Great Pyrenees “Razz” to a collar strangulation incident today. I am so devastated and feel guilty for not doing something to prevent such a tragedy. She was in her kennel and caught her collar on a small bolt facing outward. I will never understand how such a horrible and tragic thing happened but have since removed collars from both of my other dogs and will be immediately replacing them with KeepSafe collars. I urge anyone who has a dog to do the same to avoid such a needless and horrifying tragedy. Maureen O., Halifax, PA “I had no idea of the dangers of a dog collar. I lost my beautiful one and a half year old Golden Retriever, Hannah, when she strangled to death on her training collar. She was wrestling with another Golden Retriever indoors with adult supervision. The other dog’s lower jaw became twisted up in Hannah’s training collar. The collar twisted so quickly and tightly that no one could pull it off in time and Hannah died instantly. Please make every dog lover and owner aware of this danger. I wish that I would have known about break-away collars before it happened.” Rachel I., Chicago, IL “Two days ago, I found my precious Shih Tzu hanging from the grill of the screen door. Apparently, her nametag got caught in the grill as she was jumping up on it. Unfortunately, it was too late and she was dead. This was the most horrific death and I will never get over it, nor will that image ever leave my mind. I wish I had known about this risk and also about break-away collars for dogs.” Jeanne B., Mt. Laurel, NJ “My husband and I adopted Oscar into our home. Oscar, was ten years young, when we decided to visit with the neighbors across the street. My husband put Oscar in his crate to protect him since he was just getting used to the other dogs named Beans and Bailey. We were only gone for a few minutes. When we

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If your canine friend is showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs, there are several dog behavior modification techniques you can use to change his behavior.  

How To Handle Mild Cases Of Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing to do is to keep your comings and goings low-key.  If your dog is overly excited when you come home, and jumps around in happiness at your return for more than a minute, this isn’t a good thing.  

Many dog owners make the mistake of encouraging their dogs to get worked up when they come home.  It seems harmless, but what you’re really doing is reinforcing his belief that your coming home is the highest point of the day.  The problem is that when you need to leave again, it makes it even harder for him to see you go.

Try leaving your dog with a piece of clothing that has your scent on it.  Dogs with separation anxiety often find it reassuring to sleep on an old sweatshirt or t-shirt that you’ve worn recently.

Without knowing it, you’ve already established “safety cues” for your dog.  A safety cue is an action you take upon leaving that tells your dog you’ll be back soon.  For example, when your dog sees you going out with the trash, he knows you’ll be right back, and he doesn’t get upset.

A good technique is to use safety cues with your dog.  If you know you’re going to be gone for a short time, you can leave the radio or tv on, or give him a certain toy to play with.  Use these safety cues when you’re practicing with your dog so he gets to know what they are.  

Be careful though.  If you try using a safety cue like leaving the radio on for longer than your dog is used too, it won’t work any more.  These cues are useful for shorter absences.  

Dog Behavior Modification For More Severe Cases

If your buddy has a severe case of separation anxiety in dogs, you may want to try these dog behavior modification techniques.  Keep these sessions short, but do them several times a day.

Start by putting on your coat and grabbing your car keys like you usually do when you leave, but then sit down.  Repeat this until your dog isn’t bothered by it.  Next, you’ll do these things and go to the door and open it, and then sit back down.  Again, keep doing it until your dog shows no interest.

Next, go out through the door, leaving it open, and then come back in.  The next step is to go though the door, and close it behind you.  Immediately come back in.  Progress to staying outside for a few minutes and coming back.  

Remember to keep your exits and returns very low-key.  You don’t want your dog to get excited that you’re back.  His attitude should be, “ho-hum, it’s you again.”  If your dog gets upset at any point, you’re going too fast.  Go back to any earlier step, and start again.

You can see how you’re desensitizing your dog by teaching him that you can go away for longer and longer periods of time and still return safely.

Avoid Teaching Your Dog The Wrong Things

In conclusion, now you understand how easy it is to unknowingly train your dog to do what you don’t want him to do.  Avoid these mistakes by finding a dog training course that shows you how your dog’s mind works.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can deal with separation anxiety in dogs once you understand how your canine friend thinks.

Darlene Norris
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-use-dog-behavior-modification-techniques-for-separation-anxiety-in-dogs-736292.html

We just put in a Dog Door. One of my dogs will go through if you hold the flap open. The other one is scared to death and freaks out if I get him near it or try to help him through.

When we got the doggie door put in our back door, the vet told me the best thing to do was leave the dog on the inside and then go outside and open the flap and stick your head thru and try to coax the dog thru…..I did it a few times and held the door open for him and he did well, but when i left the flap down and called him he wouldn’t go near it. I then lifted the flap a little and called him thru and he got used to the feeling of the "flap" on his body as he went thru….it took awhile, but don’t give up! And i also agree with other users, treats help!…..

If your canine friend is showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs, there are several dog behavior modification techniques you can use to change his behavior.  

How To Handle Mild Cases Of Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing to do is to keep your comings and goings low-key.  If your dog is overly excited when you come home, and jumps around in happiness at your return for more than a minute, this isn’t a good thing.  

Many dog owners make the mistake of encouraging their dogs to get worked up when they come home.  It seems harmless, but what you’re really doing is reinforcing his belief that your coming home is the highest point of the day.  The problem is that when you need to leave again, it makes it even harder for him to see you go.

Try leaving your dog with a piece of clothing that has your scent on it.  Dogs with separation anxiety often find it reassuring to sleep on an old sweatshirt or t-shirt that you’ve worn recently.

Without knowing it, you’ve already established “safety cues” for your dog.  A safety cue is an action you take upon leaving that tells your dog you’ll be back soon.  For example, when your dog sees you going out with the trash, he knows you’ll be right back, and he doesn’t get upset.

A good technique is to use safety cues with your dog.  If you know you’re going to be gone for a short time, you can leave the radio or tv on, or give him a certain toy to play with.  Use these safety cues when you’re practicing with your dog so he gets to know what they are.  

Be careful though.  If you try using a safety cue like leaving the radio on for longer than your dog is used too, it won’t work any more.  These cues are useful for shorter absences.  

Dog Behavior Modification For More Severe Cases

If your buddy has a severe case of separation anxiety in dogs, you may want to try these dog behavior modification techniques.  Keep these sessions short, but do them several times a day.

Start by putting on your coat and grabbing your car keys like you usually do when you leave, but then sit down.  Repeat this until your dog isn’t bothered by it.  Next, you’ll do these things and go to the door and open it, and then sit back down.  Again, keep doing it until your dog shows no interest.

Next, go out through the door, leaving it open, and then come back in.  The next step is to go though the door, and close it behind you.  Immediately come back in.  Progress to staying outside for a few minutes and coming back.  

Remember to keep your exits and returns very low-key.  You don’t want your dog to get excited that you’re back.  His attitude should be, “ho-hum, it’s you again.”  If your dog gets upset at any point, you’re going too fast.  Go back to any earlier step, and start again.

You can see how you’re desensitizing your dog by teaching him that you can go away for longer and longer periods of time and still return safely.

Avoid Teaching Your Dog The Wrong Things

In conclusion, now you understand how easy it is to unknowingly train your dog to do what you don’t want him to do.  Avoid these mistakes by finding a dog training course that shows you how your dog’s mind works.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can deal with separation anxiety in dogs once you understand how your canine friend thinks.

Darlene Norris
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-use-dog-behavior-modification-techniques-for-separation-anxiety-in-dogs-736292.html

The first thing you must have when attempting to house train your dog is “patience.” Keep in mind that when we were young, we too had to learn where and when we could go. Bad news is, we don’t have doggie diapers, but the good news is we don’t have to get our dogs on a toilet seat! Also, dogs are instinctively clean animals, they would prefer to not to mess themselves or their usual eating and sleeping areas. Depending on the age of your dog, they naturally develop tendencies to go on certain surfaces like grass or dirt, use this as a stepping stone to a quicker and more successful training cycle.

Establish the Living Area with Your Dog

Help your dog establish their living area in a small confined space, maybe a bathroom, part of the kitchen or garage. Please make sure that if you plan to have your dog in a crate, make it an open environment. Some people think that putting the dog in a crate and shutting the door helps them get used to their surroundings, but it doesn’t. Using a crate is OK if you let your dog live comfortably by letting them have some freedom to go in and out as they please, unless you have to leave the house for a short period of time. Keeping them locked up for long periods of time is when you should ask yourself if you are really ready to own a dog.

Take the time to work with your dog to establish their living area. Spend time playing with them in their “room” as well as let them eat and sleep here. Do your best to make their room comfortable, maybe give them a comfortable dog bed, blanket and give them a bowl of water in, or close to their space. It’s possible they might still wet their space in the beginning but once they realize that their room is designated for their comfort they will do their best to avoid going in their space as long as they have regular opportunities to go to the toilet on the paper or outside.

When your dog has had the time to get comfortable with their room, you’ll be able to move it around and they will follow it to wherever you decide to place it. It’s important to find a place that makes them part of the family surroundings but is equally convenient for you so you don’t feel they’re “in the way” a dog will become part of the family in no time, trust me!

Once your dog gets to the point of sleeping in their bed feel free to confine them there by leashing them or shutting the crate door to keep them in their room, just be aware of them and ensure you can keep an eye on them. Keeping your dog on a leash unattended is not recommended anytime. Also, if you feel that you want to keep an eye on them when there awake, just keep their leash attached to your belt during your daily routine to help you identify any tendencies and help monitor their behavior.

Establish the Toilet Area with Your Dog

Help your dog establish their toilet area, at first it will probably be inside the house on some news paper, just make sure they that they have access to this area when they need it. If they do not have access to this area they will go in other places and establish their own areas, the problem being this might not be ideal for you and your family. Until they are comfortable going in the designated area, it is important that you accompany your dog every time.

The best way to gauge when your dog has to go to the toilet is to keep them on a regular eating schedule. You will start to see that when they eat at a certain time they will need to go to they toilet after an approximate amount of time, this will give you a better understanding of when they have to go. A regular eating schedule means a regular toilet schedule this will help you to plan out your day without having messy accidents everywhere. If your dog is confined too long and has to go, they will potentially go in there space and it will get increasingly more difficult to house train them.

If you have a new puppy they have a harder time controlling their bladder so you might have to take them a little more frequently, but healthy adult dogs should be able to control their bladder and bowels for about eight hours. Also, keep in mind that when new puppies get excited they might make little mistakes, make sure you don’t scold them in this instance, just let them know they did it and show them the regular toilet area. Every time they go in the right place make sure you let them know they did good, this will reinforce what you’re training.

As you are training your dog in the house you should be working with them outside as this is where your dog will end up going. You have to read little signs to know when they’re ready to go and if convenient take them outside right away. Don’t expect a puppy to bark when they need to go, they’re not there yet! You will know something’s up when your dog starts to get restless or starts sniffing around, they’re actually looking for a spot to go. Just pick them up and take them outside, they’ll do the rest, you can urge them a bit with the command that you want them to go. Again, once they go it’s important to acknowledge them in a positive way so they know that this is where they must go. When they get comfortable with this they will start to ask to go out.

Some Tips

* If you follow the instructions as outlined above, your dog will be house trained in a short period of time. One way to speed up the process is to praise and reward your dog each and every time they go successfully in their toilet area. It is just as important not to scold your dog for accidents and mistakes. Reprimanding your dog usually confuses the dog and slows down the house training process.

* If you find that your dog continues to go in their allotted space, make note of how long they were there. You might find they were in there too long or they’re space is a bit too big for them, giving them the room to go in the corner of they’re space. You can remedy this by not leaving them there too long, establish a smaller sleep area and take them to the toilet more often.

* If you find that your dog continues to go in their bed, this might be due to being confined there too long and they couldn’t help themselves, or they are still trying to understand that this is their sleep and comfort space. Again, try not to leave your dog in their space too long and try to take them to the toilet more often.

* If you find the bed wetting continuing longer than you feel is right, you might want to look at their water intake. A lot of dogs will drink water out of boredom or habit, ensure you’re limiting their intake and take them out more often if possible. Also, try and keep your dog active to ensure good health and limited boredom, get them into good habits. Also, be aware that continued messing can be due to unknown medical issues like urinary tract problems for instance, try the tips above first, it’s usually something simple that you might be missing.

* If your dog doesn’t feel comfortable in their space and/or surroundings you might notice signs of them barking, chewing, some anxiety or whining a lot. If you feel this is happening go back over your method and ensure you’re making them as comfortable and welcomed as a family member.

Remember, love, due diligence and patience on your part will make it a smooth and “clean” transition.

Thomas Cash
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-for-house-training-your-dog-98559.html

Once your dog is used with the crate, you should lock the dog inside. You can go away for a bit and watch from a distance to see how he calms down. If you see him protest, keep him inside until he calms down. Let him go only when he does. If you do this for a few days, he should be learning to enter and exit the crate on his own.

Some people don’t like crate training because they think that it resembles solitary confinement. But, if you read some of the benefits listed here, and those that are not mentioned and you might find on your own, you can easily reach the same conclusion I did, that a crate is good both for the dog and his owner.

If you train dogs or puppies enough, you can make them love it, and not consider it a place that they want to avoid. If they’re not trained, they can feel lonely and unsafe in this environment.

Crate or den training is done because dogs need a feeling of security, a place of nesting, where there aren’t any distractions. Such a home can be a den. If the right techniques are used and it’s introduced properly, crate training can be OK for dogs, and they will not consider it a punishment.

1. Benefits of using a crate.

a) When you want to be sure that your dog isn’t running around on his own, and you need him to stay put, you can use a crate to control him.
b) If they’re in a place where they feel vulnerable, a crate will provide them a safe haven.
c) A crate can be a place to rest and relax for the dog, where he can’t be distracted or bothered.
d) You can use the crate to make sure that dogs with behavioral problems are kept under control.
e) If your dog is untrained, you can keep him under control, so he doesn’t bite your guests or cause any accidents.
f) If your dog has separation anxiety a crate can help him.
g) If you need to take the dog out, a crate can keep him secure.
h) His confidence is boosted because he is more secure.
i) Can help the dog with their training, since it can be a direction for their activities.

2. Size of the crate.

You should choose a crate that allows the dog to stand up on all fours, where he can lie down or turn around without the walls being in the way. If you also want to use the crate to travel with your dog, you should pick a larger one.

If training is the only reason why you use the crate, you should still pick one that follows the rules I talked about before. Using a big crate will allow the dog to do things that are unwanted in an area of the crate where they don’t have to sit.

3. How to introduce the crate to the dog.

Introducing the crate to the dog should be done when you’re comfortable with the idea. First, choose a crate that is appropriate. Second, put it in the house, in a place where the dog can notice it. In the beginning, remove the door from the crate, so the dog can explore it for a week or so.

If he doesn’t seem interested in the crate, you can leave some food inside, to get his attention. After a few days pass, you can try giving him food inside. This way, he will learn that the crate is his and he can enter it safely.

Sam Nichols
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-on-how-to-crate-train-your-dog-the-right-way-729562.html

Seals with magnetic closure Silent action and see-through design 4-way locking system Fits most doors, windows, and screensWhite pet door features 4-way magnetic closure: in only, out only, completely open, or completely locked. Larger opening fits pets with shoulder heights up to 14″.Please click on “More Information” for size chart.

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If you have a dog and if you are a frequent traveler within the country or internationally and would want to carry your dog with you then what you really need are dog carriers. You can purchase fabricated dog cages or made to order.

the country or internationally and would want to carry your dog with you then what you really need are dog carriers. You can purchase fabricated dog cages or made to order.

There are several different types of dog carriers available in the market and choosing the right one for your dog can be quite difficult. Here are some shopping tips that will help you choose or find the right dog cages for your favorite companion:

1. Check the design: The first thing to check is the design of the dog carriers. Start from the front door and check if it is spring loaded or not. Some of the dog carriers have doors that can snap shut on your dog’s tail or paw and injure him. The next thing to look out for is the latches. You need to ensure that the latches for the dog cages are in place and should be secure. It is recommended to choose the metal pin latches over the plastic latches as the former are more durable and stronger. Another type of latch is the dial latch, which is also strong enough although they might be a little tricky to work with and at times might just get stuck.

2. There are certain types of dog carriers that can open from the top, the front as well as from the sides. There are times when the moment you arrive at your new destination, your dog might want to get out of his carrier. At that point using the front door to take him out can be challenging and hence a top side flap or a side door can be extremely handy.

3. Material: Most of the dog carriers are made of plastic and hence they are easy to clean and last longer. Most of the plastic dog carriers available in top pet stores have been approved by various airlines and will have a label reinforcing the fact.

4. Soft carriers: There are different types of dog carriers and meant for short travels. These dog cages are not approved by the airlines and hence it will not be a good idea to carry your dog in it if you are traveling by air.

5. Cardboard carriers: There are certain dog carriers that are made from card board and are much less sturdy and durable than the plastic ones. If these dog cages become wet then they can easily get destroyed or broken. It is recommended that you refrain from using them.

6. One of the good quality dog cages include the collapsible dog carriers, which are good to work with and are durable too.

7. Ensure that the dog carriers have enough ventilation for your dog and he should not feel uncomfortable or get suffocated within it.

8. You need to also ensure that the dog carriers can hold food and water bowls as attachments.

The most important thing is that your dog should feel secure and comfortable during the ride or flight and hence choosing top-of-the-line dog carriers is important.

Mark Stimpson
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-a-dog-carrier-for-your-canine-friend-689532.html

we have a sliding patio door without a screen is it possible to put a Dog Door in it somehow?

Yes, we have one. We bought it at home depot for around a $100. Its a piece of glass that connects to the other side of where your door opens at. You install it and it has the latch for your door to lock into it. It already has the doggie door in it. The have 3 different sizes small, medium and large.