Most pet owners consider their four-legged
friends as members of the family. Owners tell funny stories to friends about
their pets amusing antics. Some pet owners even celebrate the birthdays of
their feline and canine companions. Like other family members, owners cuddle
with pets, talk to them, nurse them when they are sick, and punish them when
they do things that are against the rules. Yet, while most pets are
well-behaved, many owners have come home to find things ripped to shreds by
their dog or that their cat soiled a favorite comforter. As much as owners may
react harshly by yelling at or otherwise punishing their furry friends,
consider the likelihood that these pets are reacting out of boredom,
loneliness, and separation anxiety.
The reality is that many pets are subject to
boredom, loneliness and separation anxiety just as children are. Although it is
difficult to rationalize the destruction of property, pet owners should be
careful not to anthropomorphize (to ascribe human characteristics to things not
human) pet behavior. It is essential to realize that animals need mental and
physical stimulation to prevent boredom and loneliness. Pets enjoy the company
of their fellow pack animals to alleviate loneliness, for example, and an owners
patient and compassionate help in overcoming separation anxiety is critical.
Researchers and veterinarians are not really
sure what causes separation anxiety in some pets and not in others. Lately, the
theory is that some pets have experienced a traumatic separation experience
and/or may be genetically predisposed to anxious behavior. Animals that are
separated from their mothers too early, or have been in and out of animal
shelters, appear to be prone to anxious behavior. It is easy to understand why
these experiences may dispose pets to continuing anxiety about becoming
separated from those to whom they have formed attachments. Pets are creatures
of habit, just as humans are.
Many dogs know that it's time for a walk when
they see owners grab the leash. Cats salivate when tea is made. They react to
the sound of the spoon hitting the side of the cup, expecting a dab of milk as
a treat. And, most importantly to this discussion, pets know that they will soon
be left alone when you begin to wrap up your morning routine and prepare to
leave for the day.
You may have noticed that your happy go lucky
dog or cool as a cucumber cat become agitated or tense as you brush your teeth
or put your shoes on. This agitation becomes near panic as you reach for your
keys and grab your coat. And the panic becomes aggravated when you leave the
house. Perhaps the tension doesn't begin until you open the closet door and
reach for your coat. "How cute," you think, "Rex wants to go
outside." Yet, candidly, dogs and cats know the difference between going
for a walk and their owners abandoning them for the day. Your pet is asking to
go with you; and, when you appear to be ignoring his needs, he becomes anxious
at the thought that you are leaving and may never return. You can solve 34 most common behavioral issues.
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com
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