The Guide To Safely Leaving Your Pets at Home

When we close the door on our pet and leave the home, sometimes it’s hard to know what we’ll come back to. Bored, anxious, or even just curious pets can find themselves in a lot of trouble that could ultimately result in destruction, vet bills and frustration. If you’re leaving your pets alone for the first time or have a pet who likes to get into mischief, here are the first few steps to take to help ease the process and important things to know before you close the door behind you.
First of all, it’s important to know that some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety than others. When choosing a dog, if separation anxiety is a concern, try to steer away from breeds such as labrador retrievers, german shepherds, and australian shepherds. Dogs that can be left alone and don’t suffer as seriously from separation anxiety include french bulldogs, chihuahuas, and basset hounds.
It’s also vital to consider your dog’s age when talking about leaving them home alone. Young puppies under 5 months of age shouldn’t be left home alone for extended periods. Dogs that can be left alone should be over 18 months of age, and even then should ideally only be left for about four hours a day. When leaving a puppy home alone, be sure to leave them with a puppy pee pad as they begin to learn about potty training.
All of the solutions below should just be considered supplement to a dog getting plenty of outside time to run around. If you find yourself too busy with work or travel, you may want to consider getting additional help such as a dog walker or boarding facility.
Try on your pet’s perspective
That’s right, get down on all fours and try to look around your home from the point of view of your pet. Things that we may miss from a standing position are right at eye level for our pets, and it’s easy for us to miss potential trouble spots. For cats, ajar cabinets, blinds and curtains, or easily tipped shelves, are all potential dangers. When you’re leaving a dog home alone, look at what items can be easily grabbed off of couches or tables. When your pet turns destructive, it’s not just an annoyance, it can actually result in injury like broken teeth, cuts, or choking. If your pet is tearing up the house, make sure you’re providing them with appropriate outlets. We’ll talk about busy toys for pups later, but other solutions can be complicated snacks like frozen carrots or tough toys that can take long amounts of time to tear apart. For cats, every couch or chair looks like a place to scratch, so make sure you position scratching posts in places that are natural and convenient for them.
Provide comfort
If your dog simply can’t be trusted to roam on its own, a crate is a reasonable way to keep it out of trouble. Make sure you have a crate that’s a reasonable size for your pet, that it’s comfy, and that they aren’t left in for excessive time. The confined space not only keeps your dog out of harm’s way, but also can provide them a sense of comfort and control. Another option when leaving a dog home alone is swaddling. There are products on the market that can do this for you, but it’s as simple as gently but firmly wrapping an ace bandage around your dog’s chest and abdomen. Finally, calming white noise is a great way to keep your pet from being agitated by outside noise and to keep a soothing background sound. You can do this simply by leaving on a TV or radio at a medium volume. Young kittens can also benefit from a similar technique where you simulate their mother by providing a heating pad and a metronome or a steady beat that replicates their mom’s heartbeat.
Check in
Without opposable thumbs, it’s hard for our pets to get in touch with us during the day, but a pet cam lets you peek in on your pet and even interact with them from afar. Pet cameras are a high tech solution to separation anxiety and boredom, and they’re just as fun for pet parents as they are for pets. The Petcube pet camera even incorporates a laser pointer that lets you remotely play with your pet. Look for a camera that has night vision since many pets are nocturnal, as well as movement and sound alerts so you can stay on top of your pet’s activity.
Although technology is great, it’s no substitute for a real person, but the good news is that technology has even made finding a walker or pet sitter easier. Apps like Rover and Wag make it easier than ever to find an experienced pet tender who understands everything from health issues to playtime.
Entertain them
Our pets aren’t acting out because they are bad, it’s usually because they are bored. When leaving your pets alone, keep them engaged with busy toys. The best toys for dogs home alone are ones that challenge them mentally and physically and require them to solve puzzles in order to earn treats or food. There are off-the-shelf products you can buy for this, but you can create your own simple version by filling an empty soda bottle with treats, cutting a small hole in the bottle, and making your pet roll and push the bottle to get the treats. Some cat and dog owners also like to hide treats around the house and create a fun scavenger hunt that gets their pet back in touch with its wild hunting ways.
Give them freedom
If you have a yard space, install a doggie door so that your pet can go outside and get occasional exercise. Even for multi-pet households where they may be pets that shouldn’t be outside, there are special collar and door pairs that allow only certain pets out. If you have a cat, consider a catio that might safely let your cat explore the outdoors but within a confined space. A catio can be as simple as a large cage or fabric pen, or it can be as fancy as a fully enclosed patio. When you leave a cat alone, a catio is a great way to give your cat the joy of the outdoor while keeping it safely inside.
It’s important to remember that our pets are animals who evolved to be hunters and pack animals. Their life may look cushy to us, but it can be frustrating and boring for them. Try to inject your pet’s life with a little bit of their wild activities while keeping their home space safe and secure.
The owner’s behavior is also just as important. When leaving a dog home alone, know that the dog feeds off of your behavior and if you make a big ordeal of leaving, your pet is going to feed off that behavior. Try to leave calmly, occupy your dog before you go, and don’t make an over emotional scene of saying goodbye to your pet.
Leaving your pets alone can be a trying experience, dogs are pack animals that can naturally suffer when they owner or “alpha dog” is away. Even though cats may be quieter about their suffering, leaving a cat alone can still cause it to have depression, obesity and boredom. Following these simple tips will not only keep your pet happier, it will keep them healthier.

What to Do When Your Cat Refuses to Use the Litter Box

For cats, who prefer things neat and tidy, litter box training isn’t difficult. In fact, some cats seem to be born knowing where to potty! So why is it that your cat won’t poo in the litter box?

Cats Can’t Talk

If your cat starts peeing or pooing outside her box, the first thing you should do is take her to the vet for a full checkup, including blood, urine and fecal exams. Your cat can’t speak human or use a keyboard, so she can have a hard time telling you if something is wrong.
Changes in behavior, especially elimination, can be a strong warning signal that your cat is feeling under the weather. To be safe, make sure there isn’t a medical reason for her new behavior.

Cats are Fussy

Unlike dogs, who enjoy rolling in all sorts of unpleasant things, cats are fussy and fastidious, especially about their bathroom habits. If they don’t like the litter you’re using, they’ll let you know by refusing to potty on it.
If you don’t keep the litter box clean enough for their liking, they won’t use it. If you’ve recently changed the kind of litter you buy, change it back. Scoop at least once a day, preferably twice.

Cats Don’t Like to Share

Even though your cute kittens may have shared everything since you adopted them, they might be at the age when they need their own space.
Your Pretty Princess could be letting you know that her big brother doesn’t keep the bathroom clean enough for her. (For people like Glen who have multi-cat households, read the very good primer from Dr. Deb on keeping the peace in the house.)
So Glen, get another litter box. Although some cat behaviorists recommend two boxes per cat, I have found that one per cat suffices. Let’s hope your kitten’s sibling will stay out!

Cats Love Revenge

If you can’t resolve the problem with any of the above solutions, you probably have a behavioral problem on your hand.
In other words, your cat is ticked off at you and getting her revenge by pooping where she’s not supposed to.

• Did you serve dinner too late?
• Work too many hours that day?
• Have a new baby, adopt a new pet, move the furniture, change the cat litter, change the brand of food you give her?

Any these slights could be the cause of your cat’s naughty behavior. Finding the cause can be tricky, so start by correcting any easy changes. Move the furniture back, return to the former cat litter or food and do anything else — short of giving away the baby — to return your pet’s environment to how it used to be.
The most likely cause, however, is that your cat wants more attention from you. If she feels like you’re ignoring her, she’ll punish you by exacting revenge. Thwart her vengeance by setting aside time during the day to pet her, play with her and give her treats.

Cats Are Mystifying

If you’ve eliminated the possibility of medical, environmental or simple behavioral issues, you’re one lucky dog. If not, welcome to my life.
I adopted my cat Annie when she was only a few weeks old. At the time, I had another female cat and was a dozen years away from becoming a dog person. All that changed after I got married and adopted my first dog, and then my second, and third, and fourth… Although the kitties were safely ensconced in our sunny guest room, which was plenty large for two 16-year-old cats.
But then Lucy, Annie’s longtime companion, died of kidney disease, and I began boarding dogs in earnest. Although I found it annoying, it was no surprise when Annie started to pee on the bed. After going through the checklist, I accepted that the only way she’d stop was for me to get rid of all the dogs, and that wasn’t going to happen.
I wasn’t able to heal the wound, but I found an excellent Band-Aid: a waterproof mattress pad with the sides cut off, spread over the made-up bed. Yeah, it’s not a solution, but it keeps the bed dry and clean.

5 steps to correct inappropriate dog chewing

Here are the five steps you should take to correct inappropriate dog chewing before it becomes a problem:
1. Rule out medical problems. The first step is to make sure that your puppy does not have any serious medical problems. Nutritional deficiencies caused by poor diet and/or intestinal parasitism can lead to pica which may be misconstrued as inappropriate chewing. Gastrointestinal problems may cause nausea which can trigger chewing as a coping mechanism. Therefore it is important to make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out an underlying medical condition that may be causing or contributing to the dog chewing.
2. Puppy proofing. Look around your environment for possible dangers to your inquisitive puppy. Place household cleaners and chemicals out of reach along with potentially toxic plants. Electrical cords should be covered or made inaccessible to prevent chewing on them resulting in electrocution. Remove objects of curiosity that might appeal to your puppy such as shoes and socks, children’s toys and the like. Block access to rooms that have not been puppy proofed and consider crate training your dog for the times when he cannot be supervised.
3. Encourage appropriate chewing. Provide appropriate chew toys for your dog to enjoy. Each dog will have their own personal preference as to what they prefer to chew and play with. Be careful with rawhide and beef bones as determined chewers can whittle them down to smaller pieces that can be swallowed. They can end up becoming lodged in the esophagus or small intestine so supervision is recommended when giving these treats and be sure to take away any small pieces that might be swallowed. Avoid chicken bones since they splinter easily creating sharp fragments that can easily puncture your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. I prefer nylabones, greenies and dental chewsticks since they encourage appropriate chewing while combating dental disease. Dog toys such as balls and kongs may appeal to your dog, just be sure to select a size that is appropriate for your dog. They should be able to pick it up and carry it but it should be of sufficient bulk that it cannot be swallowed. If you buy your dog a kong type toy check, make sure the hole in the toy is not so big that the dog can get his lower jaw stuck in it.I have seen several emergency cases where a dog comes in with a toy stuck in his mouth. Do not give toys that resemble inappropriate items; for example do not give your dog an old shoe to chew on because he will not know the difference between the old chew shoe and a brand new pair.
4. Discourage inappropriate chewing. By following step two you will have already minimized the amount of mischief your young dog can get into. If you do find your dog chewing on something inappropriate correct the dog by taking the object away and scolding him. Direct his attentions to an appropriate chew object and give praise when he chews on said object. Gradually, your dog will learn what objects are his and which are not. Sometimes it can be difficult to discourage chewing if the pattern is already established. Taste deterrents such as bitter apple can applied to the object, the noxious taste will hopefully deter the determined chewer and he will learn to leave the object alone.
5. Engage in playtime with your dog. A tired dog is a good dog! Spend time playing and exercising with your dog on a regular basis. This not only reinforces the human-animal bond but expends energy that your dog might be otherwise directed to inappropriate chewing and behaviors.

House-Training Your Puppy

Patience is key when it comes to housebreaking because every pup will pick up the process at his own pace. And unless a dog is taught where to eliminate, he'll look for any spot that's convenient and safe, which often ends up being the carpeting! Unfortunately, dogs aren't born with the moral reasoning to understand that going to the bathroom inside the house is wrong.

Since dogs innately want to keep their personal area clean, they will venture away from their own territory to use the bathroom. But many owners make the mistake of giving a puppy too much space too fast. In this case, the dog has little incentive to wait to go outside, since his personal roaming space only makes up a small portion of the home.

Get a Crate
It's best to use confinement to teach your dog that he has to wait to go to the bathroom outside the house. You can do this by purchasing a crate, so the puppy has just enough space to turn around and lie down. Another alternative, if possible, is to keep the puppy by your side at all times while clipped to a four- to six-foot leash.

Honor the 15-Minute Rule
Puppies are most likely to use the bathroom within 15 minutes of eating, drinking, playing, exercising or waking up from a nap. After any of these activities, your puppy should be given an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

A general rule of thumb for how long puppies can hold their bladders: one hour for every month of age, plus one. So if a puppy is two months old, he can wait up to three hours. However, this varies from dog to dog, and a puppy should be taken out more often than his maximum hold time. I train owners to take puppies out to the bathroom every one to two hours or after any activity that stimulates elimination.

Reward a Job Well Done
When it’s time for a bathroom break, take your puppy outside to the same proper elimination area each time. If he goes to the bathroom within five minutes, praise him and offer treats as soon as he does his business.

Don’t take your puppy immediately back to his confinement area, which can actually read as punishment to him. Instead, opt for a 10-minute block of supervised play in a bigger area before putting him back in the confined space. However, if your puppy does not eliminate outside, calmly place him back in his confinement area, wait 15 minutes and then try again outdoors.

Accidents Happen
Never punish your puppy if he has an accident in the house. This only teaches the dog to fear the idea of going to the bathroom when people are around, and he will likely still go in the house — just not when his owner is looking. Instead, if you catch your puppy in the act, you can interrupt him with an “oops,” and immediately take him to his proper elimination area outside.

Introduce Space Gradually
As your puppy stays accident-free in the confined area, you can gradually expand his space privileges by introducing him to a new room. After one week of success without accidents, open up yet another area of your home.

However, if accidents start happening, confine him back to the previous level of success. And keep to his regular schedule of bathroom breaks, rewarding for proper elimination, throughout the entire training process.

Get Out of Bed
During the night, you may need to take your puppy outside multiple times. Don’t push your puppy to hold his bladder past the limit for his age or individual ability. If accidents happen at night, it’s critical that you take him out more often — the more a dog messes in his personal space, the more comfortable he will become with lying in his filth, making housebreaking difficult.

Don't Rely on Puppy Pads or Newspapers
Although dogs can be transitioned away from them, it makes the house-training process more complicated. Dogs who are trained to go on pads as puppies, but then they're not allowed to do so as adults, only leads to confusion and accidents in the home.