How To Ensure Calm And Balanced Dog
Dog Behaviour Correction Techniques
When we think about getting a dog, most of us have a picture of a balanced and well-behaved dog in our mind. Dog that obeys our commands and we can take with us almost everywhere.
Fortunately, this is achievable dream. Most dogs are calm and balanced enough to fit nicely into our life. But some dogs have issues and it is important to address those issues a.s.a.p. because they won't go away on its own. They are much more likely to get worse with time.
Many dog behaviour problems are easily rectified by following some basic dog training tips. Others may require specialist help, and lots and lots of patience from the dog owner.
This section offers various tips and advice about how to address some of the most common dog behaviour problems.
Check this out....
Separation Anxiety
One of the reason why we love dogs so much is because they love us so much back. And sometimes that is the problem. They love.....
Fear Of Vets
Every dog has to visit the Vet as some point so getting him used to it early on is very important. Fortunetly there are things you can do......
Car Anxiety
Wherever you live, you are likely to have to travel by car with your dog at some point in time. It makes everyone’s life so much easier......
Dog Sitters
Most dog owners have to leave their dogs with someone else at some point. Having good reliable dog sitter makes all the difference.......
Fireworks
Our dogs have very acute hearing. Not only can they hear higher pitched sound than we humans can, they can also hear......
Aggressive Behaviour
Understanding why your dog is behaving aggressively is an important step in working with your dog on his issues.......
Grooming Salons
Your dog may not agree with you, but regular grooming is important for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. You can do it.......
Moving Houses
They say moving houses is one of the most stressful time in people's life. So imagine how stressful it must be for your four-legged......
Thunderstorms
Our dogs have very acute hearing. Not only can they hear higher pitched sound than we humans can, they can also hear.......
Neophobia
If you think about, we do expect lot of our dogs. We bring them into our world and expect them to understand and cope with everything......
Loud Noises
Noise phobia is quite common in dogs and maybe not surprisingly. Because our four-legged friends not only hear better than us......
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is a rare medical condition. It is important not to confuse it with normal dog behaviour, like normal puppy behaviour.....
Flying With Dogs
Flying is understandable very stressful for dogs, even when they are allowed to stay with their owners. There are things you can do.......
Dog Behaviour Training
You really can teach old dog new tricks, but it requires some hard work and lot of patience. However, your reward will make it all worth it.....
How To Train A Dog
There is no one way to raise a balanced dog, but there are some basic principles that will increase your chances of getting it right. The more you know in advance about dogs' behaviour and dog training the better.
Some things that affect dog's behaviour you have no control over. Some dog breeds are by nature calmer than others are. The parents' temperament also plays a role, so do the breeders as the first weeks in your puppy's life are of great importance. If you adopt older dog, then all his previous experiences will affect his behaviour.
Still, you play the most important role in your dog's life. How you treat your dog will affect how your dog behaves. You can teach old dog new tricks… it just takes longer.
The Owners Role
Many dog behaviour problems are indeed the owners' problem. The problem may be lack of socialization when the dog was a puppy. It may because the owner is not consistent with his commands, or the dog has not had basic dog training.
What's more, our behaviour can reflect on our dogs. If we are nervous or scared of something, then our dog may become scared of it as well.
Most dog owners mean well. Most of the mistakes we make are because we don't know better. Sometimes we misunderstand each other. Sometimes we humans think our dogs think as we do. They don't.
There are few, if any, dog owners that would not do something differently if starting again. However, that is not what matters most now. What matters most is to address any behavioural problems as soon as they arise. To seek advice, but more importantly, to take the time to work with the dog to resolve the problem.
Dog Behaviour Modification Training
The best way to deal with any dog behaviour problem is to address the cause of the problem and dog behaviour correction techniques helps you to do exactly that.
Systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning are the most common treatments for canine anxiety, phobias, fear, and aggression, i.e. any behavioural problem that involves arousal or emotional reaction.
Using dog behaviour training techniques requires full commitment from the dog owner. They work by repetition so it takes time and patience… lot of patience. But they address the root of the problem so it is usually time well spent.
The Dogs Environment
Sometimes simple changes in the dogs' environment can make all the difference and help anxious dogs to cope better with their fears. This can be creating a safe haven for your dog to retire to when he feels stressed, e.g. during thunderstorms, or when left home alone. Or by giving him extra exercise before facing situations he finds stressful, e.g. before visiting the Vet, or going on a long car journey.
We look at what changes may be helpful in the following circumstances:
Many of the changes made in above circumstances can be easily adjusted to fit other situations your dog may find stressful.
Dog Anxiety Medication
If your dog's anxiety is very severe, then your Vet may recommend dog anxiety medication. They may be required for specific events only, e.g. during New Years firework displays. In other cases, they may be prescribed for longer period, e.g. for the whole thunderstorm season.
Commonly used drugs for treating anxiety and fear in dogs are: Alprazolam, Amitriptyline, Buspirone, Diazepam (Valium) and Fluoxetine (Prozac). These are all drugs commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. Some medication may take few weeks to work (Amitriptyline, Fluoxetine, Buspirone), while others work within 30 minutes (Alprazolam).
Most anxiety drugs for dogs have unpleasant side effects so most dog owners consider them as the last resort.
Potential side effects from dog anxiety medication include sedation, lethargy, change in appetite, weight changes, runny nose, dry mouth, drowsiness, weakness, sore throat, nausea, and diarrhea. Behavioural side effects can include aggression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, paradoxic excitement, irritability, agitation, hostility, restlessness, hyperactivity, or increased depression… ironically some of the problems you are trying to overcome.
Calming Aid For Dogs
Natural calming aid supplements, like maxxicalm, and pheromone diffusers have become increasingly popular, as they do not have the same side effects as anxiety medication for dogs.
Like dog anxiety medication, calming aid for dogs does not cure any dog behaviour problems. They can however help your dog to cope better with situations he finds stressful. They can also help you to get quicker results with your dog behaviour correction training.
For maximum results, you should give your dog his calming aid for few weeks prior to the "big event", whatever it is firework display, flying, moving houses, or attending a dog behaviour modification training course.
Balance your dog’s behavior from the inside
As dog owners, we know which situations upset our dogs. For some it’s being left alone, for others it’s trips to the vet, thunderstorms, or unexpected visitors. Whether it’s part of their nature or an understandable reaction to difficult life circumstances, such as rescue dogs that were previously abused, maxxicalm can be an integral part of helping you create more balanced behavior in your dog.
Benefits
- Helps anxious and nervous dogs relax during stressful situations
- Integral part of a behavior modification program to create balance
- Relaxation without drowsiness
Our maxxicalm eBook
maxxicalm comes with a FREE eBook containing practical dog behaviour advice. Following them will increase your chances of getting the situation permanently under control.
The most effective way to deal with any dog behavioural problem is to use dog behaviour correction techniques. Desensitization and counter-conditioning are the most common treatments for canine anxiety, phobias, fear, and aggression, i.e. any behavioural problem that involves arousal or emotional reaction.
Simple changes in the dogs' environment can also make a lot of difference and help anxious dogs to cope better with stressful situations.
The eBook recommends changes that can be helpful to deal with various situations, e.g. fear of new things, noise phobia, fear of fireworks and thunderstorms, anxiety when visiting the Vet or groomers, moving houses, going to the dog sitters, fear of travelling (by car or flying), separation anxiety, aggression, and hyper dog behaviour.
Most of the changes recommended can easily be adjusted to fit other situations that your dog may find stressful.
We also look at the role of the owner, because let's face it, we are the most important person in our dog’s life and our behaviour affects our dogs.
FREE
maxxicalm eBook
maxxicalm comes with an eBook that contains practical dog behaviour advice. Following them will increase your chances of getting the situation permanently under control.
The eBook recommends changes that can be helpful to deal with various situations that your dog may find stressful, like separation anxiety, travel anxiety, aggression, hyper behaviour, fear of fireworks and thunderstorms, etc.
We also look at the role of the owner, because let's face it, we are the most important person in our dog’s life and our behaviour affects our dogs.