Boston Terrier Jo Jo and Separation Anxiety

JoJo

JoJo Is nearly 6 months old.

I started training with him a few weeks ago.

He is very cute but had a problem: he started to develop separation anxiety towards his Mom.

When Mom left him for first time, he was whining, jumping on the entrance gate for a while before starting to play with other dogs – even though I asked her to keep her departures and arrivals low key and not make JoJo over exited.

JoJo with a friend

After each visit for training Jo Jo is starting to show less and less separation anxiety and is making good progress in obedience training.

JoJo with Mom

The Boston Terrier is a lively and highly intelligent breed.

Boston Terriers are typically small, compactly built, well proportioned dogs with erect ears, short tails, and a short muzzle.  They are characteristically marked with white in proportion to black, brindle, seal, or a combination of the three.

Boston Terriers can range in temperaments from those that are eager to please their master to those that are more stubborn. They can be easily trained. If properly socialized, they get along well with children as well as other canine and non- canine pets.

Separation anxiety is a condition in which the dog experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from people they have a strong emotional attachment –  like their owner.

From day one, it is important for your new dog to learn that he cannot be with you all the time.

Dogs will often follow their owners from room to room, not wanting to be out of sight in case they should be left behind. In the wild, they may sense to stay with other members of their group when life is dangerous – as you have more chance of survival.

A dog with separation anxiety will display the destructive behavior each and every time he is separated from his owner – even if the owner is in another room of the house with the door closed!

The dog will display the behavior such as:

• Panic – showing all the usual symptoms of fear, such as an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, rapid panting and increased activity.
• Vocalization – barking, howling and whining
• Self mutilation – excessive licking or chewing
• Attempts to escape

Treatment is:

a)      To gradually desensitize the dog to being left alone,  the owner should start by leaving the dog for only short periods, then gradually build up to longer and longer intervals.

b)      Obedience training can help a lot towards building a dog’s confidence. The Stay command is  a particularly helpful command to teach.

c)       Anti-anxiety medication may also help speed up the process of getting the dog used to being alone. Contact your vet to learn about medication but the problem must be managed behaviorally.

Dog First Aid

Dog First Aid

As a dog owner, you’re likely to encounter everything from a dog with a broken toenail to one that’s been seriously injured by a car. If you’re familiar with first–aid measures, you can provide the initial care to a dog that’s frightened, in pain, or even in danger of dying.

Injured Dog

The purpose of First aid is to:

• keep the dog alive until it reaches veterinary care
• prevent further injury
• minimize pain and suffering.

Dog at the Vets

Pet First Aid Training by American Red Cross
Whether your pet becomes ill or injured, or needs help in a disaster, the American Red Cross Pet First Aid class teaches you emergency care procedures for cats and dogs, and provides tips for keeping your pet happy and healthy too.
Further information is available at: http://www.redcross.org/
It is very important to have a First Aid Kit and always be prepared to treat your dog in the event of an accident.
Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a pet emergency kit at your home is a good idea. A smaller kit could be used in the car. You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately,, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:

• Bandages( for treating wounds)
• Cotton wool(This can be soaked in water, sterile saline or dilute antiseptic and used to clean open wounds)
• Tweezes ( Tweezes can remove things such as splinters and wasp stings.)
• Sterile dressings( Must be applied to a wound)
• Sterile saline (This is for cleaning wounds, Washing debris away and preventing contamination.)
• Water (charring water means you can give your dog a drink if he is thirsty or needs cooling down. You could sponge him with water if is overheated, also be used to clean wounds.)
• Scissors ( This is can be used for many things such as disentangling your dog if he is caught up in something, cutting hair from around a wound or trimming bandages.)
• Tape( Tape holds bandages firmly in place)
• Magnifying glass(A magnifying glass is useful if a dog has a splinter or a thorn in his foot so you can look at it)

Also you can add:

• Eye dropper or oral syringe & Eye wash solution
• Styptic powder or sticks, Quick Stop
• Disposable gloves
• Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment
• Buffered or canine aspirin

You can buy kits ready-made from:  http://www.firstaid-supply.com/consumer/cons5.html?wcw=overture

Disaster Planning

Major emergencies and natural disasters happen and often require you to leave your home for an extended period of time. Remember your canine family member(s) when this happens. Ensure their safety by making sure to include a kit for your pets too – they should contain:
Recent photographs of your pet, health and vaccination records

• Drinking water in gallon-sized plastic containers
• Dry pet food and dishes
• Torch
• Medication(s)
• Leash
• Crate
• Can opener
• Fleece blanket
• Bottle of antibacterial detergent and washcloth

To find more go:  http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=13061

Treats for dog and puppy training slide show