Pet Stress and Pet Behavior Problems

Do you remember Norman, the English bulldog? He was one half of the tired duo who won our October Photo Contest!  Just like all the rest of us, he is looking to keep it simple and eat healthier in the new year!

Check out this funny post on his magazine reading habits from owners, Eunice and Dave.

Exercising with your best friend is a great way to relax at the end of a work day. If you and your dog have been inside all day, take the time to reconnect outside.

Go out and get some fresh air and exercise with your dog.

These nice autumn days are the best for taking a walk, chasing a ball and getting a deep breath of the crisp autumn air. You’ll both benefit from exercise and spending time together.

You can read more about autumn exercise ideas for your pets at:

http://www.petstress.com/answers/articles/archive/11-2008/exercise.php

Hundreds of invisible dog walkers were unleashed on New York City during an event organized by Improv Everywhere, a group that stages random acts of public fun. The excuse for the public mischief was the anniversary celebration of the invisible dog leash. You can see their video at:

Of course, I think a real pet is always better than an invisible one, but this is a fun video of a clever stunt. I’m still laughing about the imaginative improv skills of the dog walkers and the looks on the bystanders’ faces. Enjoy!

At PetStress.com, we’re enjoying the great pet photos entered in our first monthly photo contest. You can enter your best pet photos to win a $50 gift certificate. Here’s the link:

http://www.petstress.com/play/contest/index.php

The most popular pet photo will win. Vote and invite your friends and family to vote too! Don’t forget to share the contest with friends so they can enter their pet photos.

Enter today; this month’s contest ends on October 31, 2009.

We’re looking forward to seeing your pet photos!

September can be a sad time for pets that have enjoyed the companionship of kids who were home for the summer. Is your pet sad and lonely at home now that your kids have returned to school? A regular predictable schedule for play, petting, attention, grooming and exercise and providing fun activities for pets while you’re out can all alleviate a pet’s stress from separation anxiety, loneliness and boredom.

Kids can:

• Pet, walk or play with pets before school.
• Avoid long sad good byes with pets when they leave for school.
• Provide afterschool petting, extra exercise and playtime.
• Hang out with pets while doing homework and reading.

Adults can reduce pets’ loneliness and boredom:

• Provide lots of extra exercise, a long walk and play time before or after work, or during the day if possible. A well-exercised pet will have less stress and might be grateful for quiet sleeping time after morning exercise.
• Hang out with your pets while you do houses chores, read, watch TV, or work on computers. Take dogs on errands.
• Change the pets’ environment to make it more fun and entertaining:
  • Great toys such as chew toys, and treat toys for dogs, hanging mouse or feather toys, clawing posts and treat toys for cats, and an ever-changing assortment toys and treats for birds.
  • Hide treats inside toys, boxes, old shoes for pets to find.
  • Hang bird cages near windows and install wide shelves or ledges for dogs and cats to sit and watch the world outside their windows.
  • Pet furniture is commercially available and includes ramps, houses and comfortable pet beds.
  • Some pets like to watch other animals on TV so let you pet tune into Animal Planet or a nature channel, or watch nature DVD’s.
  • Hire a dog walker or pet companion, a neighbor, or a part-time student to visit your pet and provide companionship and exercise.
  • Daycare centers are available for dogs and might be just what your dog needs for socialization and training as well as companionship.
  • A creative work situation might work for you and your pet. Some pet owners are now permitted to take dogs to “pet-friendly” businesses and offices. Other pet owners are working and telecommuting from home.
  • Consider getting a companion animal for your pet. Dogs tend to be highly social and get along with other dogs as well as cats. Dogs, cats and birds can enjoy watching aquarium or caged pets such as hamsters, gerbils or guinea pigs. Cats love watching safely caged birds and birds are stimulated by keeping an eye on natural predators.

You can read more about pet separation anxiety at:

http://www.petstress.com/environment/anxiety.php