Avoid Bad Behavior Brought on by Fear, Anxiety
MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - May 14, 2015) - (Family Features) Bad behavior by your four-legged family members can create disruptions that range from a minor nuisance to full-out frustration. In fact, leading veterinary organizations report that behavior problems are the leading cause of pet euthanasia and account for as much as 80 percent of pet abandonment.
Warmer weather fosters many of the activities and situations that can bring out the worst in pets such as family travel, loud noises from increased activity in the neighborhood or fireworks, and ceaseless barking in the yard or on a walk.
Fear and stress are common triggers for behavior problems in pets, so taking steps to reduce the impact of scary and stressful situations can make a big difference.
Travel
While some pets can't wait to hop in the car and take off, others experience stress and fear from travel. For some, it is the motion of the vehicle, and for others it may be the fear of unfamiliar environments. With a grasp of basic commands, as well as a little planning on the part of the owner, your pet can enjoy a more comfortable travel environment.
Loud noise
Loud noises such as thunder or fireworks can create extreme stress and fear that cause not only emotional distress, but also dangerous behaviors like trying to escape or becoming destructive. Avoid forcing your pet to stay with you and "get used to" the loud noises that are terrifying him. Instead, try a few of these recommendations:
Barking incessantly
There are many reasons a dog might bark incessantly, preventing you from enjoying the company of guests, annoying your neighbors and leaving you feeling irritated. While it's unreasonable to expect a dog to never bark again, there are ways to help your dog change behavior and reduce barking.
More tips for addressing common pet behavior problems can be found at www.sentrypetcare.com. Also remember to consult your veterinarian, who can help identify the right combination of training and therapy for your pet's unique needs.
Signs of Stress in Dogs and Cats
Like people, pets respond differently to stressful situations, and circumstances that one pet copes with easily can create extreme duress for another.
Pet care author and blogger Sandy Robins suggests watching for these signs of canine stress:
When it comes to cats, Robins says it can be more difficult to pick up signs of stress because signals such as hiding or sleeping out of sight are normal behaviors. Sometimes the escalating level of feline stress is gradual. Be aware that these situations can cause cats to feel stressed:
In some cases, the fix is simple -- turn down loud music or move pets to a different part of the house when guests visit, for example. Other times, more significant behavior training or tools such as pheromone therapy are necessary to ease your pet's distress.
Animals produce pheromones in response to stress, alarm or danger that change the behavior of another animal of the same species. Pheromone collars, diffusers and calming sprays, such as those made by SENTRY, mimic the pheromone that the mother dog or cat produces to calm and reassure her young and are recognized throughout life. When used by pet owners, pheromones are a safe, efficient and convenient means of behavior management.
About Family Features Editorial Syndicate
This and other food and lifestyle content can be found at http://www.editors.familyfeatures.com. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.
Contact Information:
Vickie Rocco
vrocco@familyfeatures.com
1-888-824-3337
http://editors.familyfeatures.com