Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey professional recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new pet mother or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may maintain your furry buddy blissful and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! My Canine is a Afraid of My Home!
“We had a repairman at our home yesterday and since then our canine is afraid to stroll via rooms the place the person was. My husband was there the entire time and Arlo was not on the rooms with the person. The realm the place the person labored had been closed off to the canine so there was no contact.” – Michelle
Hello Michelle,
That is uncommon until Arlo just isn’t used to seeing unknown visitors in your home. One chance is that Arlo was afraid of loud or unusual noises from hammers or equipment used within the repairs. Arlo may additionally be reacting to particular scents utilized in completely different chemical substances equivalent to glues, oils, or paint. You didn’t point out Arlo’s historical past however there is perhaps a unfavourable affiliation with these smells and since canine depend on their sense of scent to navigate the world, scents can set off worry responses.
No matter it, one of the best recommendation is to offer him a while, and hopefully, it will cross. You’ll then must strive to determine the precise set off and begin actively desensitizing Arlo so he can study that novel stimuli (individuals, noises, scents, and many others) are nothing to be afraid of. If the restore man is to ever return, take this as a chance and get him to supply Arlo a few treats whereas coming into your property. You can too anticipate days with new guests and use some calming techniques beforehand.
Finest needs!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Rescue Canine Is Terrified of Everybody!
“When Rosco, our one-year-old rescue, sees new individuals he shakes. With males, he runs away. The opposite day my nephew was let him out, and when he went to let him again in, Rosco jumped the 4ft fence. The canine is not going to come to anybody however me and my niece. We obtained him for her to assist together with her nervousness. We’ve one cat that won’t are available the home any extra as a result of Rosco chases that cat, however not the opposite. He’s getting together with my 4 different canine. Considering of giving he again to rescue, although we don’t need to. We’ve fallen in love with Rosco, however this conduct wants to alter if potential. Ready for assist.” – Diane
Hello Diane, rescue canine is usually a problem as their previous may need scarred their notion of the world. The large problem with these pups is to teach them to trust, and relying on the historical past of abuse, a few of them would possibly by no means be completely open to strangers, whereas others will finally study to tolerate them whereas being cautious. Your benefit is you’ve recognized the triggers, strangers, and males. You can begin to slowly work on altering Rosco’s notion of males by making a historical past of constructive associations with males. Discover methods to get a person to be conversant in and supply Rosco constructive experiences, for instance, you may have your nephew serve them dinner from a distance. This is able to be an incredible and simple start line. Give him time to know that this man means excellent news earlier than you attempt to push extra proximity.
You will need to notice {that a} rescue canine wants assist along with his personal worry and nervousness and it’s not really useful as an emotional support or therapy dog. These canine should be emotionally steady themselves.
Chasing one cat away is a distinct drawback. However studying that he got here to a family with different 4 canine and a couple of cats, I believe he’s doing very properly for a rescue canine. You’ll have to concentrate on one drawback at a time. And do not forget that rescues take some time to settle in.
Better of Luck!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Received’t Cease Chasing His Tail!
“My canine has this hilarious but considerably regarding behavior of chasing his personal tail, particularly when now we have friends over. It’s cute at first, however he’ll spin round in circles for minutes on finish, and typically he even barks at his tail and will get so intense about it now we have to take away him from the room to snap him out of it. I can’t inform if he’s simply bored, consideration looking for, or if he’s making an attempt to entertain himself. Is there one thing behind this ‘tail-chasing mania,’ and will I be nervous, or is it innocent?” – Dale, dad to Border Collie Hal
Hello Dale! By the way in which you describe this as hilarious first, I believe there’s a chance that Hal obtained bolstered for chasing his tail previously. If you concentrate on it from his perspective, guests are available and take away his human’s consideration from him. Tail chasing could have began as a solution to take care of the nervousness, after which Hal realized that if he chases his tail, he can have his human and his guests’ consideration and laughs.
It’s potential that guests are his cue. It’s best to begin to use positive reinforcement techniques to show Hal tips on how to be calm with or with out guests. In case you are prepared to chances are you’ll even teach him a few tricks to impress your guests in a extra constructive method. In spite of everything, it appears like he likes to be the star of the present!
Finest needs!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
