Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Are you helping or hurting your pet by providing comfort? You may have heard that comforting a pet when he’s frightened is the wrong thing to do because it “reinforces” that he’s right to be fearful. I’m here to share the good news with you that this concept isn’t correct. Here’s what to know about […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sound-sensitive dogs benefit from training that conditions a calmer response to perceived noises outside their natural comfort zone. Here’s how to get started. Prep your pooch with positive exposure to sounds. Exposure for exposure’s sake can backfire and increase fear in the future, especially if the dog is forced to face the scary sound scenario […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cats are more adaptable than you might think, and quite a few of them will tolerate a few minutes in a fun collar or costume for you to post on Facebook or Instagram.
Reading Time: 3 minutes For many pets, there is no escaping Halloween. Each year, people dole out more than $370 million in pet costumes so that their four-leggers can join them in celebrating this bewitching holiday, according to the National Retail Federation. This begs the question: do dogs and cats view donning costumes as a welcoming treat or a […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Walking one’s dog is extolled as a wonderful social opportunity; it’s fun to spend time with your canine best friend while talking to other dog owners. Plus, you can get some exercise, smell the flowers, and appreciate the sunset. While this is often true, the enjoyment will quickly evaporate if your dog suffers from leash […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes When your pet is fearful, anxious, stressed, or just plain needs extra space, you don’t always have time to figure out how to deal with it. Having an action plan in place is a preventive step you can take to help your pet feel safe, one that can stand alone or be used in tandem […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes I hope you aren’t in pain as you read this. But if you are, you probably know that pain is one of the most common reasons we go to our doctors. Pain in humans is such a major problem that in the U.S. alone, billions of dollars are spent treating pain and compensating for lost […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes From a pet’s perspective, ear handling and care can be unsettling and downright scary unless it’s conducted in a way that allows the pet to feel safe and comfortable. But why do pets fear ear cleaning and care? For an animal with fear, anxiety, or stress (FAS), ear care may seem threatening, especially if sensitive […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes With the fall season, the family dog may suddenly be reduced from full-time companionship with his favorite person or people to being home alone for at least part of the day. Our family went through this with my kids’ personal dogs both for regular school and then when they went off to college. This may […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Hurricane Harvey has swamped Texas. Hurricane Irma is threatening Florida. The West is on fire from the Mexican border to Canada. And one thing is certain: Floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards will keep happening, and they will keep displacing and injuring humans and our animals. And with that displacement comes fear, anxiety, and […]