PEORIA, AZ – You come home from work every evening to find something else destroyed, a shoe, or two, a piece of furniture, etc. Your dog has been distraught lately, chewing on anything he can get his teeth on. He can’t tell you what’s wrong so you call your veterinarian for answers. He tells you your dog isn’t sick. He’s lonely, and maybe even depressed.
Other signs of dog depression include: Going to the bathroom in the house, hiding, howling, over grooming, or under grooming. Depression in dogs, especially only dogs, is quite common. Dogs are social creatures, they travel in packs, they enjoy having a companion close by. When you leave your dog alone all day, he becomes lonely. His behavior is reflected in his loneliness. There are solutions, however, that will bring your dog out of his canine funk.
One solution is to add another furry friend, or two, to your family. According to the Humane Society, around 40% of all households in the United States have more than one dog. 28% of all households have two dogs. If you’ve ever considered another dog, now might be the time to do it. Before bringing home another dog, however, remember that this will be a gradual process, one that cannot be rushed.
The number one mistake you make when bringing home another dog, is just that. You bring a dog into the house, and your dog senses an invasion of his territory. Your new dog is clueless, he has no idea how to act around another dog, there are no rules, and there are no boundaries.
To introduce the dogs, enlist the help of a family member or close friend to help walk the dogs in neutral territory. The exercise will wear the dogs out and they will get to know each other in unclaimed territory.
At the start of your walk, let your dog take the lead, have your friend or family member walk behind you with the newest member of the pack. After a while, let your old dog sniff your new dog’s behind. Introducing them face to face could lead to fighting. Continue your walk with your old dog in front and repeat the process with the new dog. If all seems well, gradually bring the dogs together, walking with the dogs on the outside, and the humans on the inside. When all is calm and the dogs are walking without an issue, consider this to be a good match. It is now time to bring your new dog home.
When you bring your new dog home, allow your old dog to enter first. This is an invitation from your current dog that your newest dog is welcome to join the pack at home. Gradually over time your dogs will determine the hierarchy of the home.
Two dogs, however, can mean twice the mess. If you don’t want to scoop poop every day, consider hiring a pet waste removal service. Call Arrowhead Pooper Scoopers today for a free quote. (602) 391-0160. Their service area covers west Phoenix, including Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Waddell, Surprise, and El Mirage, Arizona. See customers reviews at http://www.poopremoval.com.
