August 12, 2005

Ask the Animal Behavorist

By Maureen Strenfel
Special to the Times

Q: My three children have been home all summer, spending much more time with our dog than they usually do during the school year. What can we do to help our dog adjust to them going back in school?

A: Help your dog overcome separation anxiety by weaning him off constant attention. Try to put him on a normal schedule—the one you would use when the kids are not home—of feeding, walks and training about 10 days before the kids have to fly the nest.

Exercise always helps with an anxious pet, so make it part of your pet’s daily routine. Do let your dog spend time alone in another room in the house. Give him something to do, like playing with a stuffed Kong or special bone. Cats can have a meal fed out of a roll-a-treat ball.

Dogs can be taken to doggie day care once or twice a week to help with exercise and mental needs or try hiring a pet walker several times a week to fill in the social gap resulting from absentee kids.

Above all, be patient and remember to reward your pet for appropriate behavior, such as settling calmly in the house.

Q: We have three cats, ages 9 to 13, and I would like to get a dog. Would it be better to get a puppy, teenager or adult dog? Also, we live on two acres with woods. Would it be OK for the dog if we fenced an area 15 feet by 50 feet? Can you recommend any particular kind of fencing? We’re new at being dog owners, and we want a mutt. Can you recommend breeds to look at or breeds to avoid?

A: The age of your new dog depends upon several factors. First, puppies require constant supervision and training/socialization in their first year of life. Do you have that kind of time?

If the answer is no, then look for an older dog that has successfully lived with cats and has a LOW desire to chase anything. Ask your local shelter or rescue group to test the animal around cats to get an idea of what may happen at home.

As far as fencing goes, if you are near a busy area, then solid fencing is preferable to block out stimulation. Locate the animal to the back of your property in a calm, quiet area. Chain link will not rot nor break if chewed on, so that may be a preference, but may be an eyesore for you.

Redwood fencing looks better but can be chewed. The fencing should be 6 feet tall and even taller if you are getting a large-breed dog. Avoid herding breeds because they have a higher energy and will chase unless thoroughly trained. Look for calm, quiet breeds, not working breeds.

Try visiting the AKC Web site to get descriptions of breeds: www.akc.org.

For guidelines on living with dogs and cats, go to: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/ PDF/Behavior/dog_to_cat.pdf.

If you have any questions, problems or concerns, please call Humane Society Silicon Valley’s free Animal Behavior Helpline at (408) 727-3383, ext. 753, or e-mail: animalexpert@hssv.org.