Do you have a question about your pet? Leading pet expert Dr Katrina Warren answers Woman’s Day reader’s questions about their problem pets.
Question: How do I get my dog to stop barking while I’m not at home?
Katrina says:
I would try a citronella anti-barking collar. These collars have a little box that squirts citronella each time a dog barks. It doesn’t hurt the dog at all, but most dogs do not like the smell, and so they quickly learn to stop barking to avoid the citronella. They are not suitable for very small dogs.
I would also increase the amount of exercise that you give your dog, so that he/she is tired and more likely to sleep in your absence. Consider hiring a dog walker to take him/her out for an hour. Give your dog lots of things to do while you are gone, such as safe toys to chew on. An idea is a hollow Kong toy that you can stuff with food and freeze.
Question: I’ve got a really large dog and I’m finding it hard to walk him as he’s really strong and tends to drag me as soon as we leave the house, he goes a little crazy and is super excited but after walking down the street he calms down. What can I do to calm him down at the start of walks and get him to walk beside me?
Katrina says:
You and your dog would benefit greatly from joining a dog training club and doing regular obedience lessons. I also recommend that you use a product like a Gentle Leader or Halti — which you can easily find online. These are similar to head collars that are used with horses and they give you much more control when walking your dog. They need to be fitted properly and take a little while for dogs to get used to, but they are well worth it.
Question: How do you know which breed of dog is right for you and your family?
Katrina says:
It really depends on your individual circumstances but it is important to look at your lifestyle and figure out how much time you have to spend on exercise, training and grooming. Consider the breed over the size of the dog. For example, some of the smaller dogs like Jack Russells or Fox Terriers are extremely active and need a lot of exercise.
Here is a link to a website that allows you to put in your criteria and it will give you some suggestions on how to choose the perfect dog for you: www.pawclub.com.au
Question: I have a dog who gets jealous when I give attention to other animals. He jumps up on me reminding me that he needs attention too. How can I stop him being so jealous?
Katrina says:
The best thing would to be to get a professional trainer to come to your house and help you with some simple tips. I would also go back to the very basics of training and work on teaching your dog the commands of sit, stay and drop. You need to be constantly rewarding him with treats for doing the right thing, and practise over and over so that he knows there are treats up for grabs all the time. When he jumps up, he must be asked to sit or drop and then he needs to get a treat. He must not get any attention or treats until he sits or lies down. You could also look at teaching him to go to a mat or bed in return for a treat or something yummy to chew on.
Make sure all your pets get individual time with you and if it is easier, you may want to put him outside with something else to do (such as chew on a raw bone), during the time you want to interact with your other pets.
Question: My pup is a really fussy eater and refuses to eat dog food. Is there something I can cook up for him myself?
Katrina says:
It can be difficult, but not impossible to cook up a completely balanced diet for your dog. Remember, dogs are omnivores and require a mixture of proteins and carbohydrates. I am not sure how old your dog is, but it would be best to discuss the nutritional requirements for the life stage of your dog with your vet, before you do all the cooking yourself.
Your dog will still need some hard food in the diet to help look after his teeth and gums— raw bones and dry food are good for this. If you would like to try to get him to eat some dog food, I recommend the premium brands of dry food. You could try mixing the dry food with some warm chicken broth or juice from cooked mince, as this will add some flavour.
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