Category: Anxiety & Nervousness

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Anxiety & Nervousness

Does Your Dog Have a Thunderstorm Phobia?

Winter usually brings inclement weather, including thunderstorms and rain or snow showers. However, the loud out-of-nowhere sound that thunder makes will often leave a dog feeling very frightened.

Even though your dog may not have experienced anything traumatic in his life that is associated with loud noises, he can still develop a fear of thunder. However, most fear-related issues that your dog may have can be quickly and successfully resolved. If left untreated though, your dog’s behavior may become progressively worse.

Some of the most common fear-related behavior problems are destruction and trying to run away from the sound. This may mean trying to escape the sound of thunder by jumping the fence surrounding the yard, if he is outside, or trying to run into his favorite room in the house, if he is inside. Even worse, some dogs will try to dig a hole through the wall to escape! Because your dog will most probably feel less afraid by escaping, the action is reinforced and the next time your dog hears thunder he will try to do the same thing again.

However such behaviors can cause physical harm to your dog and you should try to provide your dog with another outlet for his fear of thunder.

Some dogs may cower down and tremble, or they may ‘latch on’ to you and want to stay by your side until the storm has passed. A few dogs may even become destructive when they hear thunder booming overhead. They may even have accidents inside the house or their crate, even though they are housetrained. A few dogs have been known to jump through a glass window just to escape the loud noise.

If you believe that your dog may have a phobia of thunderstorms, there are quite a few things that you can do for him:

*Ask your veterinarian for advice or for a referral to an animal behaviorist who may be able to shed some light on your dog’s fears and actions.

*Try desensitizing your dog to loud noises. This helps the dog think that thunder and other loud noises are actually fun sounds instead of something to be afraid of. You could try desensitizing your dog by playing a game with your dog during the thunderstorm, or by playing a recording of thunder while your dog is doing something the likes, such as eating, playing fetch etc. Start the recording at a very low volume and gradually increase it as your dog gets used to the loud sound. If your dog starts to cower or try to run away, reduce the volume and try again in a few days. Make it a game but never continue if you feel that your dog is too afraid.

*If you know beforehand that a thunderstorm is approaching and you know that you will not be home to be with your dog, place him in a room in which he will feel safe once the loud thunder starts booming overhead. Play music or leave the television on to drown out the thunder. Leave your dog with a towel or T-shirt belonging to you or another member of your family. The scent on the towel or shirt will help in keeping your dog calm.

*Give your dog a few drops of Sleepytime Tonic to help him better cope with his fear of thunder. It is a very calming tonic that was formulated using wonderful herbs and Bach flower essences. Best of all, there are no side effects and is safe for long term use! A few drops of Sleepytime Tonic can be given to your dog either directly on his tongue or on a yummy treat and will take approximately 20 minutes to start calming your frightened dog. You can give Sleepytime Tonic to your dog before a thunderstorm arrives or you can give it to him during or after to help calm him down.You can even put the liquid remedy in your dog’s water so he will get a little bit every time he drinks.

*If you are home during a thunderstorm, try not to reassure your dog by saying ‘It’s OK’ or ‘You’re fine’. These phrases will just confirm to your dog that there is indeed something to be afraid of! Instead say “Good Dog”.

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Anxiety & Nervousness Itchy Skin & Allergies

Is Your Dog's Scratching All In His Mind?

Many people believe their dog’s scratching is just a habit, and it’s all in his mind. Is that possible?

Certainly, the reasons for a dog’s scratching can be all in his owner’s mind. Some people believe that their breed has a unique itch that’s just a part of that breed. One example that comes to mind is the so called "Sussex scratch", a stress relieving itch which apparently only occurs in Sussex Spaniels. Veterinarians will tell you that there is in fact no such thing as a breed related itch, and closer examination usually reveals an underlying cause for the scratching, such as an allergy.

All In The Mind

There’s no doubt that dogs can develop an obsessive compulsive disorder, and that it often manifests as self mutilation. These dogs can lick themselves until their skin is raw, or bite their tail until they bleed.

However, many cases of self mutilation are caused by pain or itching that we can’t see, and it can be very difficult to find the cause of this. Dogs will do the strangest things to relieve pain or itching, including excessive biting, chewing and scratching.

Dogs with anxiety can also self mutilate as a form of stress relief. Dogs also seem to experience phantom pain, and tail docking as a pup can hurt later in life.

Solve The Riddle

It can be difficult to manage these cases of apparent psychological scratching.

The first step is to look for a physical reason for the scratching. This may not be obvious, and it can take a great deal of investigation to either diagnose, or rule out, a cause for the self mutilation. Dogs are limited in how they can respond to pain; their response commonly includes scratching and chewing. Your dog would be miserable if there was in fact a physical cause of pain or irritation, and it wasn’t treated.

If, after a thorough investigation, your vet feels that your dog’s itch is in fact psychological, you will need to relieve anything that’s bothering your dog while you redirect his self mutilating behavior. There are several things you can do to help him.

1. Every time he scratches, interrupt him and divert his attention. Watch him constantly so as soon as he does scratch, you can give him an alternative behavior, such as chewing a Kong.

2. Physically stop him scratching and biting – bandage the affected area (or put on tshirt on him if it covers the area), use an Elizabethan collar (or a Comfy Cone), or use a medicated spray to numb the area and make it taste bitter.

3. Mental stimulation and some exercise has been shown to reduce the likelihood of these behaviors developing. Also, early obedience training will give him a good repertoire of acceptable behaviors, so he’s less likely to develop compulsive behaviors.

4. If your vet feels your dog has an anxiety problem, she may prescribe a course of anti anxiety treatment. This can make it easier for him to learn new behaviors without the added burden of feeling stressed. You can get an all natural herbal product like Sleepytime Tonic without a prescription and it works wonders. Helps to calm your dog so you can both get some rest.

5. Treat any irritation in the skin that has developed from his constant scratching. Wash him in Comfy Dog Shampoo ; its colloidal oatmeal will ease his itch and reduce inflammation. You can, if you wish, follow it up with Fur Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment for an enhanced effect. If he has small patches where he constantly itches, a spray with will soothe his irritated skin.

Psychological scratching can be difficult to diagnose, and difficult to manage. It’s important that it’s diagnosed early; the sooner you start treatment, the better the chance for a happy outcome for you and your dog.

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Anxiety & Nervousness

Why does my dog sleep so much?


Why does my dog sleep so much and how much is normal?
You may find it hard to believe, but adult dogs can sleep for as much as 12 hours out of 24! This does vary with the breed of the dog; the larger breeds tend to need a bit more sleep than other breeds. You’ll also find that growing pups also need more nap time, and over the course of a day and night, they’ll snooze for anything up to 16 hours. Although dogs sleep more than we do, they also wake more frequently, so they tend not to get a long period of unbroken sleep.
These figures vary – a dog with an active lifestyle will obviously sleep more than a couch potato. Also, if you’re out at work all day, there may be nothing for your dog to do, and he may sleep just because he’s bored.
Dogs can have rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, just as we do. They may twitch, yelp and move their legs as if they’re running. They can look quite funny. Most vets will agree that dogs do dream during these REM phases.
Sleeping Like A Baby
You can expect your baby puppy to sleep a lot, but there are some pups that seem to sleep way more than they should. These pups may be unwell. If you’re concerned about how much your pup is sleeping, it would be a good idea to have him checked by your vet. He may have a simple infection, or he may have a congenital defect such as a liver shunt, which can make him very ill.
On the other hand, some pups are like naughty children, and just will not go to sleep at bedtime! These pups need to learn what bedtime is all about. It’s a good idea to teach them to go to bed in a warm cozy crate, so when they go into the crate, they know it’s sleep time. If they’re noisy, don’t pat them or talk to them, that only gives them attention when they do the wrong thing. If they’re particularly raucous, you may need to put their crate in another part of your house. A gentle tonic such as Sleepytime Tonic will help relax your restless pup, and allow both of you to have a good night’s rest.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
As they age, dogs can naturally sleep more, but again, if they’re sleeping excessively, it can be an indication that they have a health problem. These dogs may have an underactive thyroid gland which can slow down their metabolism. They will usually gain weight and will generally act more sluggish. A simple blood test will tell you if your dog has a thyroid problem, and giving him thyroid hormone in tablet form can have him back to normal in no time.
Another cause of excessive sleepiness in an elderly dog is heart disease. If his heart isn’t pumping blood around his body efficiently, he’ll tire very quickly, and you’ll notice he’s not as active as usual. Again, have your vet examine him; the appropriate medication will make a big difference to his well being.
When older dogs don’t settle at night, it can be a nightmare for their owners. Some elderly dogs pace the floor, and are anxious and just can’t get comfortable. It can be very hard to get up to go to work the next day, if your old dog has kept you awake all night!
There are few possible causes for this behavior, but unfortunately it’s not always easy to figure out what’s going on. Your first step is to have some blood tests done to make sure there aren’t any health issues that aren’t obvious from the outside.
In many cases, vets can’t find a reason for this behavior, and all you can do is try a range of treatments to see if any of them bring relief.
There is a condition in elderly dogs known as geriatric cognitive dysfunction. It basically means they are going a little senile with age. They tend to have abnormal sleep/wake cycles, which may cause night waking, restlessness, anxiety and barking. Treatment for your dog can include anti-anxiety medication, sedatives or natural calming tonics such as Sleepytime Tonic to help you both get some sleep.
Some old dogs can be unsettled because of arthritis. If their joints are sore, they may find it very hard to get comfortable when they lie down. Pain relief can make a big difference to these dogs, and vets will usually suggest a trial of anti-arthritis medication to see if it makes any difference.
Unfortunately some of these old dogs are very wakeful and restless because they have a brain tumor. Your vet can advise you best on how to manage this, but there may not be much you can do for these old souls.
Help Me Make It Through The Night
There are steps you can take to help dogs of any age have a restful night, so you’re both recharged and ready for the next day. Crate training is a great idea to teach your dog that when he’s in his crate, it’s sleep time. A good walk in the afternoon can help him expend any excess energy, and he’ll sleep better in a quiet environment without distractions.
Sleepytime Tonic is a relaxing elixir which will help to relax your dog, ready for bedtime. Its gentle combination of herbs and homeopathic medicines are completely safe, and work gently to relax even the most restless dog. It’s a valuable addition to your doggy tool kit, no matter how old your dog.

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Anxiety & Nervousness Grooming

Grooming an Anxious Dog? Try These Tips

Grooming an anxious dog? Try these tips

Whether it’s trimming nails or trying to bathe a dog, if you’re a dog groomer then you probably see anxious dogs on a daily basis and if you have an anxious dog then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about! No matter how experienced you are, how good at your job, and how much effort you put into keeping a dog calm, there are some dogs that simply don’t like to be groomed. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience. Or perhaps the sound of clippers makes them nervous. It could be a lot of things. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help calm nervous dogs.

A little bribe never hurts

Bribery may be illegal with humans but, when it comes to dogs, a little bribery will often get you what you want and there are no laws against it. Many dogs are very food-motivated. If you’re grooming a dog who is only slightly anxious then you can frequently help him overcome his nervousness by giving him a treat reward for being a good boy (or girl). This is a great way to help a puppy when he’s getting his first “big boy” hair cut or having his nails trimmed. If he’s never had a bad experience and he’s simply a little uncertain you can ease him through the entire grooming process by giving him a treat at each step. Clip a nail — give a treat. Clip another nail — another treat. And so on. Many puppies can’t wait to jump up on the grooming table if you practice this method.

Music soothes the savage…

If you’re bathing a dog who is seriously afraid, such as a dog who freezes up as soon as the water hits him, singing and crooning to him can help. Playing music in the grooming salon is often relaxing to dogs. Some groomers find that dogs enjoy having a television with nature programming on in the shop. This may not take away all of their anxiousness but it can help relax some dogs. Grooming products with soothing natural scents, such as lavender, can also help calm a nervous dog. You may want to try something like a lavender between bath spritz. The pure essential oil will help to soothe your dog.

An all-natural solution

You may also wish to try an all-natural solution such as Sleepytime Tonic to help an anxious dog. Sleepytime Tonic is a relaxing tonic that is perfect to help calm a nervous dog. It’s a herbal and a Flower Essence-based formula that can ease your dog into a calmer more relaxed state. It contains valerian and scullcap, two herbs that have been used for centuries in Europe to encourage relaxation and sleep. If you’re using it for a dog that you’re going to groom you can put a couple of drops on a treat or place a few drops directly into the dog’s mouth. Sleepytime Tonic works in about 20 minutes so you can give a dog a treat with a few drops on it when he first arrives and he will be ready for a bath or grooming in just a few minutes.

Grooming can be very stressful for some dogs and Sleepytime Tonic can help relax the dog so he won’t be so distressed about the whole process. You will be able to trim the dog’s nails, clean his ears, bathe him and finish his grooming without causing him the kind of upset that disturbs some dogs so much. Sleepytime Tonic is perfectly safe and completely non-toxic. But of course, get permission from the dog’s owner first.

The finishing touch

Remember, too, that simple brushing is often relaxing for many dogs. Try to begin grooming with brushing and let the dog relax a little so he feels more comfortable before you spring something on him that could cause him to become anxious, such as trimming his nails. Finish up with treats and lots of petting. Don’t forget to tell your client dog what a good boy he’s been and how great he looks. He’ll be happy to see you next time.

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Anxiety & Nervousness Itchy Skin & Allergies

Are Flower Essences Good For My Dog?

Flower Essence Essentials

One of my dogs, Beau, has a terrible fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. I don’t know why he’s scared of them. He wasn’t scared when he was a puppy and my other dogs aren’t afraid. But, as he’s gotten older he’s become more and more spooked by loud noises associated with storms and fireworks. One loud BOOM and he comes running to me and wants to climb up in my lap. You should probably know that Beau weighs almost 100 pounds, so when he tries to get in your lap, you know it! I feel so sorry for him.

We’ve tried different things to help Beau including flower essences such as rescue remedy. When we give Beau a few drops of one of the flower essences he’s able to calm down and relax enough to get through his fear until the storm passes or the fireworks are over. Sometimes he’ll relax enough to take a nap.

You may have heard of flower essences — you may have even used one for yourself or your dog — but most people don’t really know what they are or how they work they’re just happy because for many, they work.

What are flower essences?

Flower essences are the diluted essences of various types of flowers and plants. They’re often used in homeopathy and are a little similar to herbal remedies but there are some major differences.

When were flower essences invented?

Dr. Edward Bach, a famed British physician, first developed flower essences in the 1930s. He gave his name to his 38 Bach Flower Remedies.

How do flower essences work?

Dr. Bach believed that illness of the mind and body was the result of imbalances in the spirit. Flower essences work holistically to heal and repair these imbalances.

Flowers are gathered at the right time, immersed in water and exposed to sunlight or moonlight in order to infuse the water with their essence. Then the water is added to a substance such as glycerin so it can be bottled.

Dr. Bach identified flower essences to calm anger, ease anxiety (and fears, such as thunderstorm phobias), and give confidence, among other things. Today there are many more than the original 38 flower essences thanks to other people who have continued Dr. Bach’s research.

Should you give flower essences to your dog?

By all means, yes. Animals seem to respond just as well to the effects of flower essences as people do. They have many of the same kinds of emotional imbalances as people — anger, anxiety, fear — and can benefit just as much from the use of flower essences.

There are no side effects from using flower essences. There are no actual plant extracts or materials in a flower essence remedy so there is nothing to ingest that would interfere with other medication or cause you harm. If you take the wrong flower essence you won’t see any effects at all. When you or your pet take the correct flower essence you will see a subtle, gentle improvement in your condition.

Flower essences work holistically. They bring healing to the spirit so your body and mind can heal and they do the same for your pets.

How do you use flower essences?

Flower essences are very easy to use. You can give them to your pet with a dropper or by spraying them. You can put several drops (it doesn’t take many) in your pet’s mouth or put a few drops on a treat or in your pet’s food or water. You can also spray it on your pet’s paws where he will lick it off, or put a couple of drops on your finger and apply it to his gums or inside his ears, where it will be easily absorbed.

Which flower essences should I use for my dog?

Choosing the right flower essence depends on your dog’s problem. Is he anxious? Is he fearful because of things that have happened in the past? Is he in shock? There are many good flower essences for treating different kinds of fear and anxiety as well as the general purpose rescue remedy. Rescue remedy has helped many dogs overcome fear and anxiety. However, when you can blend flower essences with herbal extracts, you’ll achieve a synergy making the combination stronger. One such example is  Sleepytime Tonic .

Sleepytime Tonic

Sleepytime Tonic is a Bach Flower-based remedy but it also contains an herbal formulation created by Robert McDowell, the world’s leading authority on applying Western herbal medicines to canine health problems. The formulation in Sleepytime Tonic combines herbs and homeopathic medicine so that the metabolic and nervous system imbalances are all addressed together. The flower essences and the herbal mix work together synergistically to help your dog’s anxiety.

According to McDowell, “The herbal mixes are not toxic in any way, are free from side effects and are simple and safe to administer at home.”

And, Sleepytime Tonic works in just 20 minutes to calm your dog. It’s a wonderful herbal elixir for dogs who have problems with travel or who are anxious about trips to the vet or fireworks and thunderstorms.

Healthy Skin Shiny Coat

You can use another flower essence-based remedy to detoxify your dog’s system and save him from itchy skin.

Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an all-natural detoxifier that works with your dog’s liver, kidneys and lymphatic system to eliminate toxins.

If your dog has a dull coat or itchy skin it’s often because his body has an accumulation of toxins. This can be from dog foods or other sources. Anti-itch shampoos and conditioners (and changing dog foods) are helpful, but Healthy Skin Shiny coat is a great way to help remove the toxins from your dog’s body.

After giving your dog Healthy Skin Shiny Coat for a little while you will see a reduction in skin problems, less itching and a general improvement in your dog’s overall health.

The holistic approach

Flower essences are a safe and effective way to address many of your dog’s problems, from behavioral issues to anxiety and itching skin. Naturally you should consult with your veterinarian for any acute or ongoing health problems. But, for problems that can be treated holistically, flower essences and herbal mixes such as Sleepytime Tonic and Healthy Skin Shiny Coat can do wonders.

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Anxiety & Nervousness

Home Alone Solutions for the Stay-at-Home Dog

Easing Your Dog’s Anxiety

For lots of us who work there is a painful moment every morning when we leave the house. You’re in the car, ready to back out of the driveway, when you look back at the house and you see your dog staring mournfully at you from the window. He looks at you like you’re abandoning him forever. At that moment you feel enough guilt to sink into the earth and die. You’re leaving your poor dog home alone all day. You’re his best friend and all you can imagine is how sad and lonely he’s going to be without you.

Wherever you live, or however many pets you have, you probably experience some version of this guilt when you leave your home. (My dogs used to stare at me out the living room window when we lived in town. Now that we live in the country they gather at the back gate and watch me as I get in the car.) In actuality, many pets are well-adjusted and cope very well to their owners’ daily absences. However, they all seem to have the sad, guilt-inducing look down pat. And, quite a few pets do seem to become lonely and bored during the day. Some even suffer from separation anxiety .

Your pet can show his loneliness and boredom in a lot of different ways. I once had an Irish Setter who took out her frustration at being left alone in the house by “redecorating.” Unfortunately, her idea of redecorating the house included things like digging holes in sofa cushions and strewing books all over the living room. She even unwound cassette tapes and ran around the room with them. When I came home it looked like she’d had a party.

Other pets can chew on your things, claw and scratch at doors, or potty in the house from anxiety. Dogs are very social animals and it’s not usually part of their nature to be alone. Whether they are fearful for themselves when left alone or fearful for you out in the big, bad world, they can become nervous if they are alone with nothing to do.

Fortunately, there are some good ways to combat loneliness and boredom. Here are my top 10 ways:

1. Herbal Remedies – Sleepytime Tonic is very helpful at soothing and calming dogs who are stressed at being left alone. It’s a natural herbal product that can help your dog relax while you’re away from home. Sleepytime Tonic contains herbs such as valerian, passion flower and Skullcap and Back Flower Essences to help your dog relax when he’s anxious. These herbs have been used for centuries for relaxation and calming purposes. You can give the tonic to your dog orally or put it in your dog’s water supply so he can get a little several times a day to help him stay calm while you’re away from home. Sleepytime Tonic works well for dogs with all kinds of anxiety — whether it’s separation anxiety, nervousness from fireworks, or anxiety about traveling.

2. Training- You can work on desensitizing your dog to your absences. Go through all the motions for leaving the house — take your keys, your purse, your briefcase — whatever. Leave the house for just a couple of minutes and come back. Let your dog see that you don’t always leave the house for long periods of time. Start the car and come back inside. Let your dog get used to seeing you come and go for these brief periods until they start to feel better about seeing you leave.

When you leave the house keep things very low-key. Don’t have emotional scenes with your dog or your dog will think there is something to worry about. Likewise, when you come home, keep things quiet and calm. Let your dog know that coming and going are not a big deal. Don’t act like leaving your dog is the end of the world.

3. Activities Galore! Make sure that your dog has lots of things to do while you’re away at work. There are plenty of great interactive toys on the market these days. There are toys that:

  • challenge your dog to find the treat and test his IQ
  • toys within toys
  • talking toys
  • toys that let you record a message for your dog.
  • light up and flash laser lights
  • There’s even an ice lick toy that your dog has to lick to get to the toys and treats inside (probably best as an outside toy). One fun toy has bacon, chicken and peanut butter-scented bubbles!

These great interactive toys can entertain even the sulkiest dogs. Check around and you may find something that will interest your dog. You don’t have to limit yourself to bones and chew toys.

  • Don’t forget the old favorite Kongs — they’re still great for keeping a dog busy trying to get the treat out!

4. Virtual Pet Barriers – If your dog tends to destroy things while you’re away from home you may want to consider setting up a dog room. You could confine him to one room or one part of the house where he can’t cause much damage. It’s easy to do this if you use dog gates (or baby gates). You can also use virtual pet barriers. A virtual pet barrier is a training system for your dog. You plug a transmitter dish into a wall socket. Your dog wears a spray receiver collar. When your dog approaches a designated off-limit area the dish emits a low frequency signal. If your dog ignores the signal his collar will release a spray to let him know that he’s gone past his boundary. Your dog learns quickly to respond to the signal and doesn’t get sprayed. This way you can teach your dog to stay out of rooms where you don’t want him to go. You can also teach him to stay away from other things he shouldn’t bother, such as garbage, Christmas trees, and so on. There are similar virtual pet barriers for outdoor use.

5. Clean Water – You can also look into self-dispensing water and food bowls. Maybe your dog hates to drink old water? Maybe he would be happier if he had some fresh food to eat while you’re away from home? There are some good self-dispensers on the market that could keep your dog happy while you’re away.

6. Catch some zzzzzs in style – Don’t forget to provide your dog with a nice bed while you’re away from home. There are plenty available. Your dog may prefer your expensive sofa or even your bed, but it’s nice if he has his own bed available, too.

I know that it sounds like you’re providing your dog with food and provisions for weeks instead of eight hours, but if you can make him happy while you’re at work you’ll both be a lot happier.

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Anxiety & Nervousness bad breath

Why Do Dog's Lick?

I’ve Been Kissed By A Dog!

I have, possibly, the world’s cuddliest dog. Her name is Pearl and she is a lovebug. She wants to be petted all the time. She may weigh 50 pounds but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to climb up in my lap and give me kisses. She likes to lick my nose and my ears. I love petting Pearl and giving her hugs but I have to say that sometimes her kisses are a less-than-pleasant experience. It’s the doggy breath . She likes to lick everything! She licks me, she licks and grooms herself, she licks the other dogs. She licks the kitchen counter. Then there’s everything outside. I don’t even want to think about the things she finds to lick in the yard!

Dogs can lick for several different reasons and some of them may surprise you.

  • Dogs lick for cleaning purposes. They use their tongues to clean themselves. Maybe Pearl is trying to clean me when she licks my face. Maybe she’s trying to clean the other dogs when she licks them. I think she’s very maternal so she may be indulging her mothering instincts and treating us all like puppies.

    Pearl may be cleaning my ears when she licks them. I know that she likes to lick the ears of my other dogs. She will take a paw and hold their head down so she can really get their ears clean. They don’t seem to mind. Cleaning ears and washing faces seems to be her designated role. I guess she thinks my ears need cleaning, too. After all, ears are a dark, warm place — just perfect for a dog’s tongue to dart in and feel around. Pearl may think she’s doing her job.

    • Licking can also be a way of showing affection. Mothers do this with puppies. Mothers lick puppies not just to clean them but to help their circulation and digestion. Some of this licking behavior in the whelping box is the result of the hormones that are being stimulated by birth and by the puppies nursing, but a lot of it is simply instinct. If you ever watch a mother dog with her puppies she will wash them (lick them) almost like she’s counting them, one at a time, then tuck them next to her and go to sleep. This same behavior may go on with a dog who doesn’t have puppies but who is feeling maternal or feeling affection for someone or something. Your dog may lick you and then curl up asleep next to you, satisfied that all is well.


    • Puppies also lick their mothers and older dogs. This is a way of showing respect or submission for a superior member of the pack. You hold that same position for your dog.

    • Licking around the mouth can also be a way to try to induce their mother (or other adult) to regurgitate food for them to eat. I sure hope Pearl doesn’t think I’m going to do that for her!

    • Licking behavior can also become obsessive-compulsive. In these cases it usually occurs when your dog is feeling anxious about something. The behavior may be long term or short term. If your dog develops obsessive licking behavior suddenly you should try to assess whether there have been any changes in your household or in your dog’s routine. Is there something bothering him or her? Is there something upsetting your dog? Have you introduced a new person or another pet into the home? Is your dog suffering from a form of separation anxiety and compulsively licking himself while you are away from home during the day?

      Compulsive licking and grooming can lead to self-injury in the form of lick granuloma, an ulcerous lesion which can become infected. The more the dog licks, the worse the itching and the worse the lesion, and so on. Dogs can also become compulsive about licking things besides themselves. They can compulsively lick furniture, the floor, the walls, or even you.

      The best thing to do is to find what it is that is making your dog anxious and try to address the problem. Sometimes you can’t remove the person or thing making your dog anxious but you can find ways to help your dog adjust. For instance, there are ways to help your dog cope with separation anxiety. However, it may be necessary to consult with a veterinarian. He or she may need to temporarily prescribe some medication to help with your dog’s problem.

      Ordinary licking to show affection is perfectly normal. It’s also normal for a dog to lick other dogs and to lick objects to find out how they taste. Your dog may be looking for food crumbs or trying to find out if there’s anything left on the object worth tasting. Licking isn’t usually a behavior that most people discourage too much. If you don’t want your dog to lick you, your dog will usually pick up on your signals (Eeewww! Yuck!) and cut back on the behavior, but it comes very naturally to some dogs. I doubt that I could make Pearl stop doing it if I tried.

      If your dog has bad doggy breath, however, there is something you can do about that. Dog Smog Remedy can do away with bad dog breath. It’s an all-natural breath freshener. It contains peppermint and fennel to improve your dog’s breath — which really helps when your dog has been licking all kinds of things and then wants to give you a kiss! If your dog is going to lick, they should definitely have fresh breath. You can either spray Dog Smog Remedy in your dog’s mouth or add a couple of drops to your dog’s food or water. Dog Smog Remedy helps dogs who eat bad things outside, too. Do you have a poop eater? I know — disgusting. That’s a whole different problem, but your dog definitely needs Dog Smog Remedy.

      One other thing. If your dog does have very bad breath you should check their teeth and gums. It could be a sign that they have dental problems. I had one dog that we jokingly called “Breath of Death” because her breath was so bad, but it turned out that she had some tooth decay that needed vet attention. So, do check your dog’s teeth if you notice that their breath gets much worse than usual.

      Categories
      Anxiety & Nervousness

      Dealing with Canine Anxiety

      Keeping Your Anxious Dog Calm

      Having an anxious dog can be very stressful for a dog owner. I’ve had two: a neurotic Border Collie, and a Beagle/Boston Terrier mix that just never stopped going. Anxious dogs get their anxiety from a variety of reasons, and they can act out in surprising and destructive ways. What do you need to know about keeping your anxious dog calm?hyper dog

      Causes for Canine Anxiety

      My Border Collie paces the floors when he’s feeling anxious, barks at the neighbors every time they walk by, and every little thing startles him when we’re out for a walk. What causes this anxiety? Some canine anxiety has its root in a medical issue. Anything from hyperthyroidism, encephalitis, thyrotoxicosis or even pre-diabetes can cause symptoms of anxiety in your dogs. Consult your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for anxiety.

      If the cause isn’t medical, there are still a number of reasons your dog could suffer anxiety . Some of the most popular causes of anxiety include: thunderstorms, loud noises, fireworks and separation anxiety. My Border Collie is a rescue, and he was poorly socialized as a puppy. A poorly socialized dog reacts to all new stimuli with anxiety, as the dog hasn’t been given the tools to understand how to process new experiences. De-conditioning is one of the most popular tools to treat canine anxiety caused by thunderstorms, loud noises and fireworks – stimuli that a dog may not understand or may not have been exposed to as a puppy.

      How to Treat Canine Anxiety

      Depending on the root, you can treat canine anxiety in different ways. If it’s caused by an underlying medical problem, treating the medical problem often reduces or ends the anxiety. In the case of poor socialization, building your dog’s confidence and working with a trainer to help improve your dog’s coping skills can help reduce his anxiety levels.

      In the case of a phobia, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, gradually introducing your dog to the stimuli at a distance or in small doses and then increasing his tolerance level can go a long way toward eliminating his anxiety. For separation anxiety, you can practice leaving your dog alone in the next room for small periods of time and slowly build up his tolerance.

      Herbal Products Help Reduce Anxiety

      Some herbal products, such as Sleepytime Tonic , can help calm your dog. You can use Sleepytime Tonic as a supplement to help reduce your dog’s anxiety while you address the underlying causes for it, or you can use it as part of a long-term management system when you haven’t had any luck reducing anxiety through training or de-conditioning scenarios.

      Herbal products make a great supplement to any anxiety-reduction program because they contain non-toxic ingredients and aren’t at all harmful for your dog. Sleepytime Tonic is great to help your dog calm down if confronted with a typically frightening stimulus, including general anxiety-boosters such as thunderstorms or fireworks, or phobias unique to your dog.

      You can Manage Canine Anxiety!

      Your dog’s anxiety doesn’t have to rule your life. By embarking on a routine of management and training, you can eliminate destructive separation anxiety , reduce the need to clean up anxious potty accidents and help you and your dog live a better life! Say NO to destroyed remote controls and a dog that climbs the walls at the first sign of thunder, and say “yes” to your new future living in harmony with your well-adjusted dog!

      Categories
      Activities & Fun Anxiety & Nervousness

      Does Sleeping with your Dog Keep You Up at Night?

      As cozy as having our cute cuddly dogs snuggle in with us for the night may sound, sharing the bed with two humans & two dogs takes a toll on our quality of sleep and sadly no one slumbers as well as we used to.

      The dogs crowd us in so it’s hard to turn over, not to mention the occasional jolt out of bed when the dogs start barking at some imaginary sound! I didn’t even think that my tiredness could be due to the dogs until I read an article from the Mayo Clinic about how pets do, in fact, interrupt your sleep.

      We started giving our Maltese, RiQui, an all-natural herbal remedy called Sleepytime Tonic to help calm her down. She used to get up every night for a ‘walk about’ and to have a pee, bark at birds, bugs and shadows. While our sleep still isn’t 100%, RiQui isn’t as excitable and does tend to have a more restful sleep when we give her Sleepytime Tonic . Both humans are very happy for more reasons than one!

      (By the way, that really is a photo of my husband, and one of our dogs…not staged!)

      Here is the article from the Mayo Clinic:

      Dog Tired? It Could Be Your Pooch

      ScienceDaily (Feb. 15, 2002) — ROCHESTER, MINN. — You’ve heard that your spouse’s snoring can cause you to lose sleep, but what about your pet’s? John Shepard, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, recently asked that question to 300 patients who came to the center for a routine consultation. He found that many people with sleep problems were sharing their bedrooms with their cats and dogs.

      “The results indicate that 22 percent of our patients are likely to have pets sleeping on the bed with them,” Dr. Shepard says. “That’s a significant number.”

      Dr. Shepard notes that many common things in daily life affect sleep. The sleeping environment — especially sound, movement, light, temperature and humidity in the bedroom — plays a significant role in the quality of people’s sleep. Dr. Shepard became interested in how pets can disrupt people’s sleep after one patient reported that she frequently got up in the middle of the night to let the dog out and waited up to 15 minutes before returning to bed with her pet.

      “After hearing that anecdote, I began to wonder how many of my patients were sleeping with pets and how much the pet interrupted sleep,” he says.

      Between February and September 2001, Dr. Shepard surveyed 300 patients seen at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center to determine the frequency and severity of sleep disruption that may result from family pets. He found the following:

      * 157 of 300 patients (52 percent) had one or more pets, primarily cats and dogs.

      * Nearly 60 percent of the patients with pets slept with their pets in the bedroom. When a dog was permitted to sleep in the bedroom, it had a 57 percent chance of being allowed to sleep on the bed.

      * Of the pet owners, 53 percent considered their sleep to be disrupted to some extent every night, but only one percent felt that their sleep was disrupted for more than 20 minutes per night on average.

      * Snoring was reported in 21 percent of dogs and seven percent of cats.

      * Cats were more likely to be allowed in the bedroom and on the bed.

      “I suspect that the degree of sleep disruption experienced may be significantly greater than the owners admit, but I have no objective data,” says Dr. Shepard. “Every patient has to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping with pets and make a personal decision about the sleeping arrangements in the household. Some people are very attached to their pets and will tolerate poorer sleep in order to be near them at night.”

      June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2002/02/020215070932.htm>