Separation Anciety - a common Insecurity in Canines

A few days ago a friend who fosters rescue dogs called to ask me what she could do about a dog with separation anxiety.

This dog has settled into her household nicely, but it goes into panic mode when it can't find any of the resident humans.

Dog trainers will tell you that one important step is to be very casual about leaving and coming back. Don't make a big deal about telling the dog you won't be gone long or telling it to behave while you're away. And don't make a fuss over it when you get back.

That's good advice to show the dog that it's no big deal. But when a panicked dog is clawing holes in your doors and walls to try to get to you, you need a little more help.

I knew a dog once who, when locked in a room for safety while his person left for an hour, completely destroyed the bottom 2 feet of a hollow core door... Seriously, the bottom of the door was no longer there.

So the problem is not trivial.

If you are caring for a dog like this, use FeelBach's "Home Alone" remedy.

Begin giving it to the dog 3 or 4 times a day - and then, of course, do as the trainers suggest. Leave for only a few minutes at a time at first to reassure the dog that yes, you WILL be coming back. Never call attention to the fact that you're leaving or returning.

Then gradually be gone for longer periods until that poor frightened pup realizes that he or she has not been abandoned forever.

Plan Ahead for Happy Pets this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and all the other holidays can be stressful times for your pets.

You're busier than ever, possibly not giving them the attention they crave. You're also likely to be a little bit wound up from the extra tasks you've assigned yourself. Since pets do pick up on their human's anxieties, they may be upset just because you're becoming frazzled.

On top of that, two other stressful events can upset their lives:

*Too many strangers in the house, some of whom aren't very smart around pets, and

*Being displaced from home to either accompany you on a holiday visit or to be left in a kennel.

To get ready for these events, now is a good time to make sure you have two important pet remedies on your shelf: "Feel5ive for Pets," and "Home Alone."

The Feel5ive will help them remain calm while they deal with strangers and the hubub that occurs when the house is filled with extra people. It will also help them stay calm in the car while you're traveling.

To alleviate depression and anxiety if you're leaving your pets in a kennel, you need Home Alone. Start giving it a day or two before you leave, and give the kennel operators specific instructions to put it in your pet's water dish every day until you return.

Home Alone is also good to use if shopping and visiting are keeping you away from home for longer periods than normal during the day or evening. (If you have a dog or cat who always suffers from separation anxiety, this should be a part of his or her routine every day.)

FeelBach's other pet product - Thunder Storms - may also be needed, depending upon where you live. Some communities do like to shoot fireworks, especially for New Year's Eve. If your dog will panic when that happens, plan ahead with this Bach Flower Essence blend in the water dish all day.

At only $7.95 each, these products can assure your pets of a happy holiday season - and if you're a pet lover, you know what that's worth to you, as well as to them.

One more thing - don't forget about yourself!

Thanks to Dr. Bach, there's no reason for you to go through this holiday season under stress. Feel5ive may be all you need to stay calm, but if you have other old issues that mar the holidays, do take the FeelBach! questionnaire and get help.