Subscriber Archive
Is this possible? Can you choose the great feline friend who will be the faithful excellent companion you have always wanted? I think you can but there are many “ifs” involved. This is an issue that is both simple and rather complicated all at once. I’d like to start by asking whether you are a cat person, a dog person, or a pet person. People with a strong preference for one species know why they feel that way. For these folks it’s pretty straightforward. You relate to that species largely because of who you are. You have clear expectations because you’ve had a connection with the dogs or cats in your life and it’s been felt on both sides of those relationships. I understand this because I know so many dogs and dog people and so many cats and cat people. But I’m not one of them. Instead I am…
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So what can you do if the dog who’s stolen your heart damages your house while you’re away-often? If you have a dog like this you can feel desperate. Dogs with separation anxiety can actually look forward to their alone time because that will be their chance to engage their innate survival instincts. I hope you find this information useful. You’re welcome to share this video with any of your pet-loving friends. If their dog is miserable when home alone or if they arrive to find their house damaged they’ll be glad for the advice. Each week I share a short video, a podcast, or a blog to help bring out the best in pets. You can sign up at no charge on my website, drjeffnichol.com. And when you do, I’ll send you my free at-home pet first aid and CPR guide. Thanks for watching. I’m Dr. Jeff Nichol
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What can you do if the dog who has stolen your heart damages your house while you’re away-often? More than frustrating, separation anxiety can damage the bond that makes these special pets our best friends. This disorder is nobody’s fault. And it’s common. Many affected dogs, beside themselves with angst house soil, dig, scratch, chew, and howl. After returning home to daily disasters many frustrated dog parents protect their homes by confining their demolition dogs to a crate or a run. This almost always goes badly. Science has discovered a genetic predisposition for many dogs with separation anxiety, a severe problem that has to be taken seriously because it represents a significant neurochemical imbalance in the brain. We can and do adjust the neurotransmitters at the root of this dysfunction with no side effects. Behavior modification, of the scientific variety, is another essential component of treatment. There is much more.…
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Why it Happens; What to Do Dogs are our best friends for some really strong reasons. They’re always delighted to see us, they’ll follow us anywhere, and they’ll never run off with somebody else. Those traits are hard to find in another human. Most everybody I know does their best but, in some ways, dogs are the most special friends. They’ll never leak a secret. So what can you do if the dog who has stolen your heart damages your house while you’re away-often? How is this possible? This dog loves you beyond words. More than frustrating, separation anxiety can damage the bond that makes these special pets our best friends. I’ve dealt with hundreds of these cases. These pet parents are desperate. They struggle with the daily angst of coming home to face…, well, sometimes hundreds of dollars of damage. Your mind can go wild with why a dog…
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It would seem logical to correct or punish a destructive cat but these apparently nefarious acts are actually part of the normal feline behavioral repertoire. Feliscratch is a synthetic analogue of the scratching pheromone that cats feel compelled to spread around their territories. Applying liquid Feliscratch, where you want your cat to scratch, will communicate in cat-speak that you actually want scratching and this is where you want it. Making it easy for a kitty to succeed is good pet-parenting and better for the spirit than angst and frustration.
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Declawing is so ‘90s (actually ‘60s) I was recently contacted by a 72 year old man who explained that he’d had cats his entire life. He and his wife had recently lost their cat and, as he put it, he felt lost without another companion. But – his wife insisted that any new cat in their home be declawed. He told me that he just couldn’t agree to that. There are those who insist that cats be spared a painful procedure on one hand and there are proponents of a non-shredded house on the other. You want to do something about this, don’t you? It would seem logical to correct or punish or declaw a home-wrecking cat. Feliscratch is a synthetic analogue of the scratching pheromone that cats feel compelled to spread around their territories. Applying liquid Feliscratch, where you want your cat to scratch, will make you the top…
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Declawing is so ‘90s (actually ‘60s) There is a definite calming influence that comes with having a cat sharing my home. They are delightful creatures but even the best-behaved kitty isn’t perfect, though, is she? When I list the reasons for this love affair, like companionship, affection, entertainment, and a great example of living in the moment, I recall the sacrifices that the cat-crazy among us conveniently forget – like our shredded house. There are aspects of cat-parenting that we must accept but modern science can make things better. The Nichol family has 2 cats who don’t damage their people and who have been, sort of, pretty good with our furniture. We’ve set them up for success by providing appropriate outlets for their destructive proclivities. They have fireplace logs along with scratching posts built into their tall climbing tree. But sadly, the chair I’m parked in as I write this…
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Teach her that good things come from the man in her life Some dogs are genetically programmed with low-status personalities. They can lose the heebie jeebies if a man ignores them as he drops a few small bits of tasty food. After he repeats this dozens of times he can reach down with a tender morsel-while completely ignoring the bunny at his feet. When she’s relaxed eating from his hand he can steal a glance at his little cupcake. Only when his new admirer confidently gazes up at him should he try slowly crouching next to her. I hope you find this information useful. You’re welcome to share this blog with any of your pet-loving friends. If their dogs are nervous or aggressive toward men, well, they’ll be glad for the advice. Each week I share a short video, a podcast, or a blog to help bring out the best…
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Here’s a subject that a whole lot of committed pet owners feel strongly about – and with good reason. If you think sterilization of dogs and cats is the right thing to do, well, I would never argue. On the other hand, if you did not subject your dog to surgical removal of the testicles, ovaries, and uterus, procedures I have done thousands of times in my career, I wouldn’t challenge you to a duel. Either decision can constitute responsible pet ownership. I believe that taking the time to listen to this podcast qualifies you as a committed dog parent. I encourage you to make your decision based on scientific evidence instead of emotion. Here, I’m going to share the results of research that can reduce some risks. This may help guide your decision on when or even if to spay or neuter your next dog. I hope you find…
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