Why use a crate:

When used properly and not abused, crates are the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog’s instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to hold it until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a bedroom where they can relax and escape the hustle and bustle of kids, other pets, and everyday family life. Also, it’s never too late to crate train! A crate can help break bad habits that improperly trained dogs may have developed over the years.

Plastic or metal?

Plastic kennels are good for travel, and are generally the only method of containment permitted by airlines. Metal wire dog crates are ideal for home use, however. They are generally roomier and more open. They’re also sturdier, so they will stand up to your pet’s movement/ activity and be able to last as your dog’s permanent bedroom.

What size?

A crate should only be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down. If the crate is too big, your puppy will have enough room to soil one side and sleep in the other, which defeats the purpose of the crate. Buy a crate large enough to accommodate your dog’s full-grown size and get a divider panel. This way, you can keep the one crate and have it grow along with your dog.

Accessories:

Always be sure to include appropriate toys and treats in the crate. This will keep your dog occupied and prevent your teething puppy from chewing on the crate’s metal bars. It is also important to purchase crate bedding. A crate cover is great for lowering the number of outside distractions your dog sees, which can reduce barking and stress in the crate. A crate pad will be more comfortable than the crate’s plastic pan. Finally, a bumper like the one included in Pet Dreams Cratewear will help protect your puppy from injuries caused by chewing or leaning against the crate’s metal bars.

For more information:

In addition to Cratewear, Pet Dreams provides a wealth of Crate Training Tips, articles, and FAQs to help you crate train your dog. Weve also recently launched Forums where you can discuss all aspects of training with others and get advice from the experts!

Visit http://www.petdreams.com for Dog crates, Cratewear bedding and Sleep-ezz dog beds.

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The family brought Tiger home, but hadnt prepared their house for him. When he saw their dog, he bolted, found a dark place and hid.

His new owner searched the house but couldnt find him. That night he came out of his hiding place and found an open window with a torn screen….

His would-be owner knew there were predators in the area. She called Animal Control and posted signs around the neighborhood, but she knew there wasn’t much chance.

She was right.

PREPARATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS

This situation could have been avoided, and Tiger could have been integrated quickly and easily into his new home if the people who adopted him had made some preparations and taken precautions.

What are some of these preparations? What should you do before you bring a new cat home?

Prepare the house to receive your new cat.

Make sure your new cats medical needs are completely taken care of.

Make sure your other cats are adequately protected from disease.

Make sure you have on hand the things your cat will need.

Know how to introduce your new cat to your live-in companions, children and other pets.

And perhaps most importantly:

Prepare yourself beforehand for a good relationship with your new cat.

People who have never owned cats before dont really realize what a cat is: A highly intelligent, independent animal which needs love and affection daily but is not a dog.

BONDING WITH YOU

Cats will bond with people, just as dogs do, but they dont always bond with the person who has adopted them. They will choose whom they like, much to the consternation of the person who picked them up hoping to have acquired a new friend.

This is one very good reason why the first 24 hours is so important. It is during that period that your cat will decide whom she wants to bond with.

PREPARE YOUR HOME

Adequate preparation of the home is vitally important. If your new cat panics when she is first introduced and finds a way to exit your house, she will do so. Remember, she does not know where she is and has no motivation to return.

MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES

In addition, there may be serious medical consequences to adopting a stray, both to your new kitty and to your existing cats. Inadequate medical examination and vaccination can be tragic for the new addition to your family…and have serious consequences to your existing cats.

Unless you know what you are doing, your attempt to bring home a new kitty could result in tragedy.

EVERY CAT IS DIFFERENT

The bottom line is that no matter how many cats you have adopted, you still may not know what you are doing with THIS one.

In Part 3 well discuss five things you need to consider before you adopt a new cat.

Copyright 2006 John Young

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People love ‘mans best friend’ and they in turn love us back. Dogs become part of our families. They live with us, sleep with us, eat with us, protect us and give us unconditional love. We treat our dogs like children. Just hearing dog owners calling their pets at the park, and the affection they show them make you realize just how devoted they are. Many dog owners have special names for them such as ‘baby’ and call themselves mommy or daddy when talking to their pet. It is amazing how huge the market is for dog food, toys, treats and even clothing and jewelry. Nothing is too good for our dog companions.

Special treats

Dog treats are a great way to show our dogs how much we love them. We use treats to reward our pet for doing something special. Many dogs are like children and behave better because they want a treat.

Dog treats are available at pet stores, grocery stores, department stores and specialty shops just to name a few. There are dog treats flavored like beef, chicken, pizza, chocolate and almost any other food you can think of. They come in the shape of people, sausages, bacon and steak bones plus hundreds of other shapes. There are dog Christmas stockings and birthday baskets stuffed with dog treats. People take pictures of their pooches and put them on their Christmas cards. People love their dogs and in turn, their dogs love them back.

Gourmet dog treats have become very popular. Some people make their own while others buy them. Some of the reasons people are now turning to gourmet dog treats are:

Overweight dogs – Making your own gourmet dog treats lets you control the ingredients in the product. For overweight dogs, making low calorie treats helps the dog stay healthy while shedding a few excess pounds. Instead of commercial dog cookies with sugar and salt added, making or buying gourmet cookies and treats means you can choose a treat with no sugar or salt added, or sweeten a cookie with just a touch of honey.

Dog Allergies – Just like humans, many dogs have allergies to certain foods and ingredients. Some vets carry gourmet dog treats that are great for dogs with allergies or you can get a recipe to make gourmet treats without using the ingredients your pet is allergic.

Sickness- Some dogs have diabetes or other health problems so they are not able to eat regular dog treats and cookies. There are dog treats available for dogs with health problems.

Natural Treats – Many people, when they read what is in commercial dog treats, are not happy about the fillers and preservatives used so they choose to make or buy gourmet dog treats with only natural ingredients.

People nowadays are very health conscious and feel the same way about their pet’s diet. They want them to live long, healthy lives and providing gourmet dog treats is one way to help.

Love your dog with treats today! Learn how to make dog treats at home and find out more about dog treats at Home-made Dog Treats

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Shadow had been the cat in our house for over seven years when we moved from the country into town. His usual lifestyle including roaming our five acres whenever he wished. Moving to town required him to be a house cat, and he managed for two months. Then one Friday morning as I left for work, he streaked out the door. I called him, but he was gone.

Oh, well, I thought, hell be back, probably waiting for me when I get home.

When I arrived home, I asked my husband if he had seen Shadow, and he hadnt. I wasnt really worried, though, until Saturday came but Shadow didnt. By Monday, I began to worried in earnest. I couldnt call the animal control office until they opened at nine, and my planning period began at 8:55. Needless to say I was calling when the clock showed nine oclock.

Hello, have you found a large black cat with yellow eyes? I asked.

Maam, we have four black cats. Can you give any distinguishing marks?

Hes a male, weighs nearly twenty pounds, but he isnt fat at all. His undercoat is a dark brown, but he looks solid black.

I think we may have him. Come by, pay the fine, get his shots, and hes yours. The man sounded disgusted. All he does is sit in the corner of his cage and glare. He was one of the cats brought in that had been trapped by one of the landlords in that neighborhood. Doesnt like cats.

On the way home, I stopped by the animal shelter. Shadow still hunkered in a corner of the cage, glaring. When I called his name, he stood and sauntered to the front of the enclosure, tilted his head and squinted his eyes. He allowed me to pick him up, oomph, heavy cat. When we got into the car, he sat in the passenger seat ignoring me until we were nearly to the house. Then with one bound, he pressed up against the side of my leg, his head on my arm. I held him the rest of the way home, driving with one hand.

I knew we had to find a way that the cat could go outside but wouldnt leave the yard. Shadow was smart, almost human, but he didnt get the concept of staying in the yard. The job became leashing a cat. A collar wouldnt work because if he climbed and became caught, he could strangle. I bought the largest cat harness the store had and two long leashes that could be hooked together. Bringing them home, I put the harness on the cat. Lets revise that last statement; I tried to put the harness on the cat. It was too small. I kept the leashes and returned the harness.

The next day, I gathered Shadow in my arms, and we drove to a local pet store. I carried him into the shop, where we looked at harnesses in the dog department. I took the cat and one harness over to a counter. I sat Shadow on the top while I readied the harness.

Youre just going to leave the cat there without any restraint? one of the clerks asked.

Sure. He wont move until I tell him he can, I answered as I slipped the harness on the calm, miniature panther.

The cat sniffed the harness before yowling softly. He then lay down to clean his paws as I paid for the harness, one for a medium sized dog.

I gave Shadow a few days to become used to his harness before attaching the leash, first just one as I held the other end. He didnt like coming to the end of the leash confused him at first, but after a few lessons, he learned that the leash limited his activity space. We would have a time on the leash three times a day for thirty minutes.

After a week of times on the one leash in the house, I snapped both leashes together and one end on Shadows harness. We went to the front yard for fifteen minutes to start the next step in preparing the cat for leash life. Each day we lengthened the time outside until we stayed for an hour. The next day, I connected one end of the connected leashes to a post and left Shadow by himself. He did well for the two hours I left him on his own. The next outing was in the back yard. On a Saturday morning, when I could be home, I placed him on the leash in the backyard, and I left him while I did housework. I checked him periodically through the window, but everything appeared fine. Then one time I looked out and couldnt see Shadow. I hurried to the back yard to find him hanging from the top of the fence. He never tried to go over a fence while hooked to the leash again. I was glad I hadnt tried a collar around his neck.

Leashing a cat is possible, rewarding, and successful for both cat and owner if certain steps are taken:

1. Use a harness that fits the cat snugly but not too tightly.
2. Allow the cat to become familiar and comfortable wearing the harness.
3. Start lessons with a single leash hooked to the harness and the other end in your hand while you and the cat are in the house. Begin with fifteen minutes and lengthen time up to thirty minutes.
4. When the cat appears comfortable with the leash being used in the house, add the other leash to the end of the first and move outside. Stay with the cat each trip to the yard until he is comfortable.
5. Once the cat is left outside alone on the leash, check periodically to be sure he hasnt gotten into trouble.
6. Never leave a cat on a leash outside if no one will be home to check on him.

After Shadow was leash-broken, we could take him anywhere with us, including trips, and not worry about him. Travel became much easier for him and us.

Shadow also never spent any more time in a cage.

Vivian Gilbert Zabel taught composition for twenty-five years. Her portfolo is http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel. Her books, Hidden Lies and Other Stories and Walking the Earth, can be found through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Cats have been a part of my household for over forty years; no, not the same cats, but various ones over the years. Many have been protective of their kittens or litter mates or even of their human family members to some extent, but none have been attack cats like Funny Face.

Funny Face choose me; I did not choose him. We had a spayed female named G.G. when my husband brought two kittens home from an auction as a favor for a friend. A brother and sister left from a litter of twelve kittens needed homes. My husband offered help. Funny Face decided that he had found a home and a person of his own.

The first time Funny Face showed protective tendencies, my husband was gone overnight, and the cat, who slept by my feet, jumped from the bed, growling. He ran to the front door, still growling. He rushed to the kitchen and followed the path inside that someone took around the outside of the house, growling constantly. He stood at the back door listening for a couple of minutes, and we both heard someone climb over the back fence. Funny Face ran back to the bed, hopped in his regular spot, and immediately went to sleep. After that, anytime my husband wasnt home, Funny Face became the protector. When my husband was home, guess the cat decided protection was the mans job.

One night, we heard Funny Face yowling outside. Thinking he was hurt, I ran to the door, switching on the light before going out on the porch. I called Funny Face, and he sped to me, his fur and tail literally standing on end. He stopped in front of me and turned to face the blackness beyond the light. My husband joined me before we saw the dog, a broken chain dangling from his collar. Robert sat on the bench on the porch and called the dog to him, hoping to find a phone number or something on the tag which also hung from the collar. Funny Face pressed against my legs as I told him everything was okay.

My husband grasped the dogs collar, trying to read the tag, but he couldnt hold dog and tag. He asked me to see if I could read it. I moved toward the dog, and Funny Face leaped toward the dog, growling and spitting. I scooped the cat into my arms, but he didnt calm down until I moved back into the house. The dog took off, never to be seen by us again.

One time I was in the back yard, and a dog on the other side of the solid wood fence started barking. Funny Face took a defensive stance, once again putting himself between me and the perceived danger, growling and ready to attack.

Researching has not helped me discover if Funny Faces behavior is common. I cannot find any information about a cat acting as he does. Perhaps no one has told him that he is a cat, not a dog. Aggression that others write about concerns cat versus cat or cat aggression toward a person, even its owner, but no word about a protectiveness toward its person.

Funny Face, though, is my attack cat, and anything or anyone who might try to harm me would have to go through him. Here, pretty kitty. Thats a good boy.

To gain the friendship of a cat is a difficult thing. The cat is a philosophical, methodical, quiet animal, tenacious of its own habits, fond of order and cleanliness, and it does not lightly confer its friendship. If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend, but never your slave. He keeps his free will, though he loves, and he will not do for you what he thinks is unreasonable. But if he once gives himself to you it is with absolute confidence and affection! Theophile Gautier, 1850

After teaching for years, Vivian Gilbert Zabel became an author on Writing.Com, http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel, and with books, Hidden Lies and Other Stories and Walking the Earth found through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Whether or not animals are smart or just react according to instinct has been debated for many years. A German shepherd grabs the back of a three-year-olds pants as she tries to climb over the backyard fence: Is that herding instinct or the intelligence of a pet knowing the child was not supposed to be climbing over the fence.? I am one of the people who say some animals, especially some pets, understand us and show intelligence.

The German shepherd mentioned previously grew up with our daughter. When both were nearly three-months old, I sat the baby in an infant seat just inside the back screen door, where I could see her, while I hung up clothes on the line. Pepper ran around the fenced yard, coming by for attention before taking off again. My daughter, who had been happily playing with her hands, started crying. I put the diaper in my hands back in the basket of clothes and started toward the door. Pepper rushed by me, hopped up the steps, and gave a soft woof at the baby. The baby stopped mid-sob, stared wide-eyed at the dog, and burst into giggles, her first laugh.

I returned to my task while Pepper remained outside the screen door for a few minutes. Then she jumped down to run over to me. I petted her head. Good girl. You are the best babysitter, Pepper.

A few minutes later, the baby cried again. Pepper ran to the screen and woofed at her again. My daughter laughed. That became the procedure for the rest of the time I hung clothes.

This dog could be shown the limits of our yard, and she would not cross that imaginary line unless my husband or I gave her permission, no matter what the temptation provided.

But Pepper wasnt the only pet who understood. Shadow, a miniature black panther (he looked like one and moved like one), definitely understood what people said and acted more human than many people. When we lived in the country, we had a mouse problem, but Shadow would not lower himself to catch any of them. We got another cat who was an excellent mouser. One day the other cat caught a mouse, and I told Shadow, See, Tabby knows her job.

The male cat glared at me and stalked to the door, demanding to be let out. I opened the door for him, and he streaked outside. A few minutes later, he scratched at the door. I opened it to find him on the porch, a rat under one foot. He looked at me a few seconds before slapping the rat off the porch. Guess he showed me what he could do if he wanted.

Sometime later, we were given a Siamese kitten, one supposedly a female. The kitten was so scared that its tail curled up between its hind legs. We never checked its sex because we were told it was a she, and most tomcats wont tolerate another one. Shadow sniffed at Taffy and walked away. That night we put her in a box in the bathroom next to our bedroom. Shadow slept in the top stacking basket on the bookshelf headboard above my head. When the kitten started yowling, before I could crawl out of bed, Shadow leaped to the floor and ran to the bathroom (he could open the door). When I arrived, the huge male was cleaning and comforting the tiny kitten.

When Taffy no longer had to stay in the bathroom, he followed Shadow everywhere. But the night we went to bed, Shadow and my husband with me, and found Taffy in Shadows bed, I had to leave the room to laugh. Shadow jumped up, booted the kitten out, and pushed him into the second basket down before jumping into his own bed. He hung his head down to stare at Taffy, said a few choice words in catanese, and went to sleep. Taffy slept in the lower bunk from then on.

As we prepared to moved to town, my daughter helped me pack. We took a break in the living room. Shadow lay in the middle of the carpet, sleeping. My daughter asked me what we were going to do with all the cats. I told her that all but Shadow had new homes.

Then since youre going to be in town, youll need to have him fixed, wont you? she asked.

Shadows head flew up. He stared at my daughter and then shuddered all over.

We both laughed as he glared. (Yes, cats can certainly glare.)

Several months later, one of my former students wanted to practice his vacuum cleaner presentation, so we agreed. He sat in the middle of the living room visiting after he had given his spiel. I was on the couch, Shadow beside me.

Thats one big cat, Jack remarked, but I like dogs better because theyll roll over and let me rub their stomachs.

Shadow jumped down, walked in front of Jack, flopped down, and rolled over. Jack sat staring at the cat.

Go ahead, rub his stomach, I said.

Jack did as he laughingly remarked, I think he really understood me.

I have given only a short list of the anecdotic examples I have just from my own pets. I firmly believe that animals can and do understand, that they have more than instinct to guide them. Yes, some are not as intelligent as others, but those who live and interact with people can and do understand. Too bad we cant understand them as well.

A retired English and composition teacher, Vivian Gilbert Zabel now concentrates on writing, with books Hidden Lies … and Walking the Earth… found on Amazon.com and a portfolio on http://www.writing.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Buying a horse is a big commitment in both time and money. The emotional energy spent is a large factor as well. With so many horses for sale, how do you choose?

If you buy a horse before you lay the correct groundwork, you run the risk of coming home with one that isn’t suitable for you. At the worst, he could be dangerous and at best, you could easily spend a thousand dollars or more to get professional trainer to correct the problems.

Make a plan before you look at horses for sale and do these 10 basic steps first.

1. Take riding lessons for at least six months.

Horse riding lessons will teach you the basics of control and the foundation for correct horsemanship. In addition to learning to ride a horse, youll also learn how to safely groom and handle one. You’ll establish a relationship with a professional horse person in your area who knows you and who you can turn to for help if you need it.

2. Decide on the type of riding you want to do.

There are many types of horse riding styles. The most basic are Western or English. Then you can break down those two styles into many subcategories. You don’t have to make one choice exclusive of all others. Many people enjoy riding both styles and compete in both.

Decide if you want a horse to trail ride and just enjoy having him or if you want to be competitive and show.

3. Horse’s personality

The type of personality you want for your horse depends a lot on the type of riding you want to do and also your personality. Some riders want a horse with a big engine and a lot of fire. Others like a horse to be quiet and laid back.

Its usually easier to get the laid back one to rev his engine than to get a hot horse to relax.

4. Decide on what breed of horse you most want.

Once youve decided on the type of riding youre interested in and the type of personality you want your horse to have, the breed choice will become easier. Some breeds are associated with certain types of riding. For instance, a Thoroughbred or Warmblood breed are usually thought of for the Hunter/Jumper circuit or dressage. In the past, the Quarter Horse, Appaloosas and Paints were thought of for Western riding. Today, these breeds can successfully compete at all levels with the more traditional hunter type horse.

If you want a very smooth ride, look at the gaited breeds such as Missouri Foxtrotters, Tennessee Walkers or Paso Finos.

5. Decide on how big a horse you need.

If youre looking for a horse for a child, buy a pony that your child can groom and handle now. A too big horse is intimidating for a young child to deal with.

If youre looking for one for yourself, consider the type of riding you want to do. Western styles of riding do not require a large horse and most of the stock type horses can carry a large adult even if the horse is 15 hands or smaller.

If you want to show in hunter/jumper classes, a 16 hand horse is necessary to be competitive. However, if your plans are to learn to jump and go to small local shows, youll save money by buying a smaller horse.

6. Decide on the gender of the horse.

A gelding or a mare should be your only consideration. A stallion is difficult to handle and can be downright dangerous even if you are a very experienced rider. He isnt suitable unless youre in the breeding business.

Geldings make great riding horses and companions. Preferably he was gelded before his second birthday so that he never learned stallion behavior.

Mares sometimes get a bad rap for being difficult every time she comes into heat. Perhaps some are, but there are many wonderful mares with very stable personalities.

7. Decide where you will keep your horse.

If you plan to board, check out several boarding stables. Your first choice is probably the barn where youve been taking riding lessons. Look at some others to have for back-up choices and as a general comparison.

If you plan to keep your horse on your own property, be sure to have safe fencing, a solid barn and know your time schedule will allow you to feed your horse at least twice a day every day rain or shine. Find out any local and state liability laws for a horse property before you bring your new horse home.

8. Figure how much you can afford for the initial price of a horse.

The original purchase price of a horse is a large upfront expense. Obviously, the more you can afford to spend on a horse, the more choices youll have to look at when shopping. If you have this money saved up in advance, youll have better leverage with a seller. If you have to buy your horse on payments, youll limit your bargaining power and choices because many sellers wont want to take payments.

9. Figure out your monthly expenses.

Monthly expenses include board, lessons and supplements if you keep your horse at a boarding stable. If you keep your horse at home, youll be buying feed, hay and stall bedding instead of a board bill.

There are reoccurring expenses that dont come every month but still need to be added up for a years cost and averaged as a monthly expense. These include farrier visits, worming, vaccinations and vet care such as floating teeth and a yearly Coggins test.

10. Tack and Supplies

Purchase the basic supplies before you get your horse so that youll be all set when you bring him home. Brushes, shampoo, liniment, leg wraps, buckets and a first aid kit are a good start on supplies to have ready.

An all purpose headstall and a few bits, saddle pads, a saddle, halter and a long lead rope with a stout snap are your basic tack supplies.

If you follow these 10 steps before you begin horse shopping, youll have a clear idea of the horse that will be the best choice for you when you do begin your search.

Carol Bertrand has been a horse lover since she was a little girl. She raised and trained Quarter Horses and Paint Horses for 25 years. Her riding students have won many USDF regional titles on horses she helped them purchase. For her free horse shopping blueprint, go to http://BuyaHorse101.com/download-blueprint.html.

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When people talk about their pets, they give the cats, dogs, even fish human characteristics. People without pets may think pet owners have lost touch with reality, especially if the pets take on aspects of beloved children. Animal lovers, on the other hand, cannot comprehend those without pets.

Which leads us to the situation when an author includes a pet or pets in a story or novel, the possible problem of alienating some readers while entrancing others. Does that mean that a writer must choose between cat lovers and I-prefer-to-leave-cats-aloners? Or that an author has to decide whether to appeal to dog owners and not to those who see no need for dogs? No, a creative writer can manage to keep both types of readers dangling on her every word.

How can one make pets a viable part of a story or book? A few suggestions may help.

Dont say the same thing over and over. In fact, thats good advice for any writing project. Readers, at least most, are not morons. If an author mentions something once, twice at the most, readers will get the idea.

Keep the animal likable, not boring or hateful, not boring. As with any other character in a story, a pet needs to have a personality that makes it real. Perhaps it has one personality when around one person but a different one around another. Work that into the story. Make the reader see the animal. Make the reader like or hate the pet.

Dont make the animal one dimensional. Creating a pet that becomes a rounded character rather than one that is flat, or one dimensional, may be more difficult than with a human. However, a good writer can accomplish that goal by incorporating different traits the animal possesses into the story. A short list of possible traits would include the following:

1. Physical description
2. Way it moves
3. Sounds it makes
4. Actions and reactions under different conditions
5. Likes and dislikes

Whether the pet is a major character of minor one, make the animal character believable. That doesnt mean what the author writes has to be real, but that by suspending reality, the reader can see it in his imagination. Motivation for actions and reactions is the key to believability.

Actually, all Ive said in all these words is, Authors, write about a pet, an animal, in fiction as you would about any other character. The pet should live in the writers mind as any character would. The author should be able to describe the animals physical appearance as well as its personality and actions.

Readers should never exclaim, as they read, Pets do what? They should nod as they can see what is being shown in the writing.

Vivian Gilbert Zabel, an author with a portfolio on http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel, has two books: Walking the Earth:Lifes Perspectives in Poetry and Hidden Lies and Other Stories. This article was submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Separation anxiety is a behavioral problem that manifests itself in a number of different ways. When left alone some dogs will whine, bark, or destroy your stuff. Separation anxiety, at its root, is caused by stress. When your dog is not able to be near you it is a source of such stress that is causes these irritating behaviors. It is important, though, to understand the cause of this dog behavior problem so that you can attack it effectively.

Understand that correcting your dog, yelling, or other such traditional forms of discipline may backfire with separation anxiety. As I mentioned earlier, separation anxiety is caused by stress. Actions that add more stress will not help but hinder your progress in dealing with this dog behavior problem.

Take a sensitive approach to correcting this problem. Understand that fixing this dog behavior problem will require a shift in your dogs perception of the world. Right now his perception tells him that not being near you is a cause of fear, panic, and worry. Proper training for separation anxiety will show your dog that being without you is not something to fear.

The best way to approach this problem is by doing proper crate training. You need to show your dog that it is possible to be alone and to not feel stress.

Start out by putting your dog in the crate, closing the door, and sitting in front of the crate. Your dog may whine, cry, and bark. Do not pay attention! If you pander to his whining you will succeed not in fixing his separation anxiety problem, but will train him to whine uncontrollably. Just wait him out. As soon as he has calmed down sufficiently, let him out of the crate.

Lets examine this process from your dogs point of view. He knows that being separated from you causes huge amounts of stress, yet you put him in his crate and cause him stress. Invariably he feels stressed and manifests it by whining and crying. He feels that these actions will alleviate his stress. They dont, however. His screaming does nothing to help his situation because you dont pay attention to him. Eventually, he tires of this. When he spends a few moments in the crate being calm you are actually training him. You are showing him that there are other ways to deal with stress. Before he only believed that he could deal with stress in one way, now, being calm is an alternative. If you persist in this course of training you will create a new pattern or new behavior. You will slowly train him to be calm and to accept not being near you.

When you have accomplished your dog being calm in the crate while you are at home, start venturing outside. Leave the house and wait for only a few minutes. Gradually increase the time until you can leave for hours and your dog is fine in his crate. When you have accomplished this, you have trained him to know that being without you doesnt cause stress.

When you have arrived at this point, you can gradually wean your dog off the use of the crate. Allow him more freedom when you are home and when you are gone. I would recommend that you always keep the crate handy and use it a few times a week, even when your dog is cured of his separation anxiety. This will help to maintain the training you have done.

Separation anxiety is a dog behavior problem that can take time to fix, but is definitely within the scope of your capabilities.

Author Ty Brown is a renowned dog trainer whose training adventures and clients have taken him to 18 states and 5 countries to teach others how to properly train their dogs. Go to dogbehavioronline.com for more dog training articles, advice, tips, and answers from a professional dog trainer.

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Are you a serious dog lover? Do you want to make a career out of taking care of pets? Perhaps you’d like to be a certified pet first aid expert, or the manager of a dog day camp or kennel. How else should you start on your dream, but to check out the dog training schools in your home town? Dog training schools are always in great demand. In fact, the most popular ones are always fully booked! Sometimes the students are merely pet enthusiasts, eager to learn how to take care of the dogs they already have, and would like to have in the future. But sometimes, the students are serious-minded academicians, ready and willing to plunge into the world of pet psychology.

But these schools are in demand precisely because pet care experts are needed everywhere. Licensed and qualified dog trainers are indispensable to dog owners who breed pedigree dogs, intent on raising them to become champion performers. Dog training schools are also great launch pads for those who are seriously thinking of a career in veterinary science. What can you get in dog training schools that you won’t be able to get all by yourself, off the Internet, and for free? Well, the biggest thing waiting for you in schools is the privilege of getting hands-on experience. You get practical training in things that would remain theoretical, otherwise. Practical training gives you the experience you need, so you are never caught short-handed in case of emergencies on the job. You are able to exercise all your senses and learn how it feels to put your back into your work.

Another thing is, you get to mingle with certified professionals, as well as other pet enthusiasts. Nothing beats being able to see pet care professionals in action, getting to talk to them and sometimes even participating in their basic and advanced exercises. This interaction is the best way to supplement your stock knowledge. Plus, you are able to network with other pet care professionals who may be able to help you get jobs, or further your pet care education.

There may be schools offering distance certification in pet care, via the Internet, which allows you to study from home and just submit proof of your achievements online. But this does not come with the benefits of enrolling in dog training schools and attending classes. If you really want to be an expert, spend time and money on your training: it’s worth it!

Puppy-train.com provides you with information on dog barking, dog training collars, dog training schools, dog grooming supplies and homemade dog treats. Go to http://www.puppy-train.com/

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