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Bad Dog Behaviour Could Simply be Anxiety

26 9:32:23
Anxiety is the cause of a lot of the behavior problems dogs have. Anxiety can be shown in many ways, ranging from chewing articles in the house, barking, growling, grunting, pooping and peeing in the house, attacking because of fear, or by becoming hyperactive. There are a wide variety of reasons for such anxiety.

Some dogs react fearfully to thunderstorms or strangers, or have an aversion to people of a certain age, race, or gender. Other dogs show signs of aggression toward other dogs or even toward humans. The simple task of an owner yelling at a dog can turn a normally peaceful dog into an extremely nervous one.

Dogs are creatures of habit, they always tend to lay in a certain spot or play with a specific toy - so if there daily routine is suddenly changed it can make the dog insecure. Good examples of this are when you are sick and cannot take them on their regular walks, or perhaps the arrival of a new baby or even just a houseful of guests. It is very important that in such instances you take some time to make your dog feel secure and calm while they get used to the new routines.

It is important that your dog has their own space where they can relax - it is useful to have a dog bed or blanket in one spot with some toys to keep them occupied and stop them from getting bored. Once you have picked this spot try not to change it very often as this is most upsetting for your dog.

Young dogs ( and even older ones) that are left on their own for long periods of time can feel separation anxiety. As domesticated animals they do attain a very strong bond to their owners. If a dog is suffering from separation anxiety they will generally display the following traits:

* your dog constantly follows you around at home

* the dog tries to stay close to items that have your scent

* they chew your personal items when you leave

* the dog goes mad when he greets you and is clingy

* the dog sleeps with you

* this happens if you are only away for a short period of time

So now we know a lot of our bad dog behaviour and dog biting problems are purely anxiety how should we treat our anxious dogs?

I really do not recommend medication as it is not only expensive it can have nasty side effects. One great way of treating your dogs is aromatherapy, it is a safe and effective way to treat anxiety and nervousness in dogs, whether it be because of a thunderstorm or separation anxiety.

Here is an aromatherapy recipe you can try on your dogs:

Blend the following:

* 1/2 ounce of carrier oil

* 5 drops of lavender

* 3 drops of sweet marjoram

* 3 drops of valerian

* 2 drops of clary sage

Rub 2-3 drops of this blend (up to 6 drops for larger dogs) between your hands and apply it on less hairy areas such as the inner thighs or under the armpits. Do not put the oil near the eyes, nose or genital area.

Make sure you keep this recipe in a dark sealed glass bottle. When trying aromatherapy for the first time on your dog test a small area of skin to ensure there is no skin reaction.

If you do not want to apply the oil directly onto your dogs skin you could use a diffuser that will slowly release the scent into the air. Also do NOT use this recipe on or near cats as some essential oils for dogs can be toxic for cats.