Separation Anxiety in dogs: First Things First

There is a fine line between a dog having an acute case of separation anxiety and an acute case of boredom, especially for puppies. You need to make sure that your dog is getting an adequate amount of exercise before you leave it for a period of time. Consider a 15 to 20 minute walk, fetch session, or playtime as an absolute minimum. Beyond the puppy stage, most dogs will function and behave best with about and hour and a half of physical activity each day.

When you are away, also ensure your puppy has something to do chew toys, rawhide treats, or even their favorite slimy ball. If its at all possible, and your dog does not habitually bark or growl at passing people or dogs, give your dog a view so they can watch the world pass by when they cant be romping around in it.

You also need to rule out any sort of medical condition first; for example, a physical condition may be the main cause of the toilet accidents, and a neurological condition could be the real source of the anxiety, especially if it occurs at times outside of your absences.

Finally, you MUST puppy-proof your home. This means making sure all garbage containers are sealed off and inaccessible. Any food on your kitchen counter is cleared away (youd be surprised at how agile dogs can be when no one is watching). Any household items that are at risk should be put away.

There are items that you cant protect easily, such as doors and carpets. If you do return home to find these damaged, remember that they are repairable and replaceable. You should never punish your dog after the fact. They will not associate the punishment with the crime. And the fact that they may now also fear the one person theyre longing for, it will make their separation anxiety much much worse.

Martin Olliver is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://kingdomofpets.com). For more great articles on dog training, including Separation Anxiety: some Solutions, visit: http://kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/separation_anxiety_in_dogs.php.

A Guide To Proper Nutrition For Puppies

For most dogs, puppy hood lasts for about the first year of life. During this time, the puppy needs higher levels of minerals like calcium and phosphorus, protein, vitamins, and energy (Calories) than it will as an adult. Foods fed to young, growing dogs should contain these higher levels of nutrients.

Pet foods in this group will usually be labeled as puppy food or canine growth to distinguish them from foods designed for more senior dogs. However, you should always keep in mind that overfeeding can be harmful to your pet. Develop a feeding schedule for your breed of dog and stick to it. Puppies will tend to eat everything in sight because of higher activity levels.

Consult your veterinarian for a good brand of dog food and an appropriate feeding schedule. Avoiding giving table food, table scraps, or treats and snacks, these will only unbalance his diet and cause poor digestion and over time, obesity. Puppy hood is the most crucial time in your dogs development. Bad habits now can affect his health down the road.

Always feed your pup a meal. As stated earlier, pups will eat continuously if left alone. It is much better to put down a large amount of food, but only for a limited time, usually 20 30 minutes. Let the pup eat all he wants in that time, and then take the food away until the next meal. This will also discourage finicky eaters, as they will learn to eat when the food is available.

If your puppy starts to become overweight, simply shorten his mealtime, or reduce the number of meals each day, as determined by your vet. Overweight puppies tend to become overweight adult dogs with greatly increased health problems, and usually a shorter life span. Good nutrition and good eating habits are your responsibility, so please give them your best attention.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com