Most pet owners consider
their four-legged friends as members of the family. Owners tell funny stories
to friends about their pets amusing antics. Some pet owners even celebrate the
birthdays of their feline and canine companions. The reality is that many pets
are subject to boredom, loneliness and separation anxiety just as children are.
Although it is difficult to rationalize the destruction of property, pet owners
should be careful not to anthropomorphize (to ascribe human characteristics to
things not human) pet behavior. Pets enjoy the company of their fellow pack
animals to alleviate loneliness, for example, and an owners patient and
compassionate help in overcoming separation anxiety is critical.
Researchers and
veterinarians are not really sure what causes separation anxiety in some pets
and not in others. Lately, the theory is that some pets have experienced a
traumatic separation experience and/or may be genetically predisposed to
anxious behavior. Pets are creatures of habit, just as humans are.
Cats salivate when tea
is made. A pet that suffers from loneliness, separation anxiety or boredom may
display only one undesirable behavior. Observe your pet for signs of impending
trouble as you go about your morning routine. An pet in the throes of extreme
anxiety will occasionally injure himself or herself as a result of their
behavior. Extreme cases may end with the death of your beloved pet. Many pet
owners are fooled into thinking that cats have no apparent reaction to their
comings and goings. A cat suffering from separation anxiety can also display
noisy protests to his owners departure. While there is a tendency of a pet
within a specific breed to suffer from boredom, loneliness or separation
anxiety - often pure bred dogs and cats, mixed breeds suffer from the same
emotional afflictions. Dogs and cats are social creatures. Pets that form
intense attachments to their masters are the likeliest candidates to suffer
from boredom, loneliness or separation anxiety. Animal experts do not suggest
that you play peek-a-boo with your pets. They do, however, know that pets need
to learn their owners will return. A dog that practically looses his mind with
joy upon the return of his owner is likely suffering from separation anxiety.
Old dogs can learn new tricks! Cats that have learned undesirable behavior are
difficult to retrain. Cats are often immune to behavior modification. Curiously
enough, some pet owners and experts alike swear by the use of punishment to
"break" an animal of an undesirable behavior. In lieu of a pet
sitter, owners should begin their campaign to reform their pet's behavior by
never making a big deal out of leaving their pet alone. Although many owners
themselves experience separation anxiety, especially when a pet is new to a
home, it is important that owners do not reveal guilt for leaving a new pet.
The coming and going of pet owners is simply a fact of life, and a pet cannot
always come along. Leave your pet for short periods of time and increase to
longer periods. When crate training a dog, use the same process. Contrary to
what some pet owners believe, crates are not cruel devices for dogs. Dogs are
den animals. Additionally, upon returning to home or upon removing a pet from
the crate, owners should actually ignore their pet for a short while. In
extreme cases of separation anxiety, the process of desensitizing a pet will
need to be undertaken in very small steps. Using a variation of the process
described above, owners of an anxious pet must approach the desensitizing
procedure carefully. Repeat until your pet becomes comfortable.
Re-enter the house,
reverse your actions and repeat until your pet accepts these actions also.
Research has shown that
pets will often display anxious behavior soon after the departure of owners.
Some dog owners have had success with a "kong". Kongs have been known
to work great for some pet owners. Additionally, know that a sleeping pet is a
well-behaved pet. Unlike dogs, when cats misbehave, you cannot march him off to
obedience class. A bored or lonely cat may display many of the same behaviors
as a cat suffering from separation anxiety. Generally, cats prefer clumping
litter to clay. There certainly are options for pet owners to rid both their
canine and feline companions of undesirable behavior. Changing behaviors in
both cats and dogs takes patience, planning and lots of rewards. The trick is
to make the offensive behavior unpleasant for your dog or cat. Doing so will
make both the pets, and their owners, happier and far more comfortable.
In the final analysis,
while most pets do not suffer from separation anxiety, all pets suffer from
boredom and loneliness. It is an inescapable reality that pets, especially
indoor pets, are alone with little stimulation for 10 to 12 hours at a time. A
pet that is hampered with boredom may become restless and destructive. A pet
that is lonely has a greater chance of suffering from depression.
This in turn will only
benefit you as a pet owner. You will get more satisfaction of having a
healthier and happier pet.
- 5 ways to keep your dog from becoming bored :
A bored dog can be a
recipe for disaster; the dog can chew up your couch, socks, curtains, shoes or
anything to make time pass little faster. Your dog boredom may cause excessive
barking and anxiety. It is really important to keep your dog from becoming bored.
Dogs who exhibit such destructive behavior out of boredom often end up in the
animal shelters. Why Dogs Show Destructive Behavior
Tips To Keep Your Dog
From Becoming Bored
So you should try to
keep your dog entertained and out of boredom. · Give your dog his own toys:
Dogs don't like to have human leftovers, they need appropriate toys. You should
walk your dog at least one time a day. If you have some friends who owns dog
too then ask them to join too, it will make more enjoyable for your dog.
· Engage in dog
activities: Dogs love to do any kind of physical activities like running,
tracking, hunting, playing fetch, Frisbee, jogging with their owners, just
anything. · Visit a nursing home: You should take your dog to a nursing
home where he will meet some well socialized and friendly dogs. Researchers
have proved that such type of visit will inspire your dog and new places and
experience will help your dog to get socialized.
· Take your dog for a
trip: You should teach your dog to ride in the vehicle and take him on a
trip sometime to a dog friendly beach or some place where dogs are allowed.
These tips will
certainly help you to keep your dog from getting bored.
المشاركات
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق