Leaving your dogs at home can be heartbreaking, especially when they’ve never been left alone all their lives. However, it is impossible to be with your dogs every minute. The best thing that you can do is to teach them how to be calm and comfortable when you leave. But just how can you do that?

Knowing Your Dogs

First off, you have to know how long you can leave your dogs without affecting their well-being. For instance, it is recommended for puppies to be left alone for only two hours a day as they can develop separation anxiety.

Meanwhile, adult dogs aged over eighteen months, who are more accustomed to being home alone, can be left all by themselves for about four to six hours a day. Elderly dogs are another thing. Depending on whether they have certain health issues, old dogs can be left alone for two to six hours a day.

It’s best to train your dogs to keep calm when you leave; otherwise, they may develop bad behaviors such as biting, chewing on clothes and furniture, binge eating, scratching, barking at random objects, and getting lost more often—none of which you’d want to happen to your furry buddies!

The Location Matters

You get three options where to leave your dogs: inside crated, inside roaming free, and outside roaming free. In deciding the location, there are several factors that you must consider, including the amount of time you will be away, the dog’s bladder capacity, the available space in your home, and whether the dog has destructive behavior.

There are pros and cons to all three locations, and it’s up to you do decide which situation should work best for your pets.

Getting Them Used to “Me Time”

Since you are leaving your dogs alone, it’s best to get them used to spending some quality time by themselves. Be patient, though, as this may not happen overnight and will require some training.

Ease them into this habit by gradually increasing their “me times” in your preferred location. You can either leave them alone while you’re in another part of the house or just leave them entirely for a few minutes. A simple trick to keep them busy is to leave a treat before going your way. Chew toys or long lasting dog chews are also great at keeping them distracted and preventing them from nibbling away your socks and furniture.

When you leave, avoid rushing to them when they start whining or barking; this will only reinforce their behavior and will make it harder for both of you to separate. Don’t worry; they will be able to work their emotions out on their own. You get find great ways to positively reinforce their good behavior when you are gone.

Getting Active with Your Dog

Generally, dogs don’t like being alone as they are very social animals. To make up for the time you spend apart, it is advisable to bond with your furry pals when you get home—and what better way than some physical activity to release all that suppressed energy?

Usually, dogs tend to be active at dusk and dawn. To keep this from happening, make sure to take your dogs for some exercise before leaving in the morning and when you arrive home in the afternoon. A good walk around the neighborhood or a game of fetch in the park should best make up for their times alone.

Of course, don’t forget to give them their daily dose of belly rubs and cuddles. A whole day without them can make them lonely!

Your heart may crumble every time you step out your door in the morning, worried that your dogs may not be able to cope well, but dogs are more resilient than you think. With the right tips and tricks—and a healthy amount of quality time together—your dogs will get by just fine.

Is there ever a good time to adopt a dog? There are a few cues you can look for in your family if you’re trying to work out whether now is a good time to introduce a new member of the family. GetYourPet.com is the online pet adoption community where people who want to adopt a pet connect with people who need to rehome a dog (or cat).

Adopting a pet is certainly one of the most rewarding experiences. Beyond the belly rubs, kisses, and cuddles, adopting a dog is essentially giving that dog a second chance at life, love, and happiness. One breed who knows the trials and tribulations of adoption better than any other breed is the pit bull. Also known as the American Bully, American pit bull terrier, or American Staffordshire terrier, these powerful dogs boast a troublesome yet inspiring past however, as a former ‘Bully Mom’ I can tell you that they are some of the sweetest and most gentle animals you will ever meet. GetYourPet.com can help you find the perfect Pitbull for your family!

When You Feel Like There’s Something Missing

Do you feel like there’s something missing? You don’t necessarily need to decide to have another baby to complete your family. Many people believe that a family isn’t complete without a canine companion to top it off. Just watch films like Marley And Me, and you’re bound to see why dogs are so loved and make a real part of the family. Sure, you wouldn’t want a dog that behaves like Marley, but it isn’t difficult to see how much they still loved him. If you’ve never watched this film, make sure you have tissues stockpiled.

When You Feel Your Kids Could Benefit

Your kids can always benefit from a dog, providing you choose a breed that suits your budget, lifestyle, space, and other factors. Here are just a few benefits your kids can enjoy from a dog:

• A companion and best friend
• Support
• Stress relief by petting a dog
• Stay active and get outdoors more
• Teach responsibility
• Be more compassionate and empathetic

These are just a few benefits your kids could enjoy when you decide to get a dog. Studies show that families with dogs are also much healthier in general! If your kids get bored, don’t do much outside, are short on friends, or don’t really like getting outside, a dog could potentially change all of that.

When You Want to Encourage Your Kid’s Development

Whether your child is developing at a regular pace or a fairly slow pace, getting a dog could encourage their development like never before. Allowing them to be the one in charge of making sure their new dog has food and water when needed, they’ll also feel like they are needed! Dogs can encourage children’s development in so many ways.

You Want To Get Out Of The House More

If you don’t get out of the house much right now, be warned: a dog won’t necessary change that. You might get one with good intentions, but it could easily be a false start. You get the dog and think that this will make you a more active family, but alas, the dog just gets under-exercised. It’s a good idea to get outside a bit more first, and then get the dog to encourage your new lifestyle. Some dogs don’t need as much exercise as others, so make sure you get a breed that will suit your activity levels.

When You’re Not Expecting Changes Any Time Soon

It isn’t fair to get a dog right now if you’re moving soon, or if you might lose your job, take a pay cut, or something like that. You should be pretty stable before you decide to get a dog, as changes like this can be hard on them. Plus, you’d hate to have to give them away to another family if you can’t afford them anymore. Not only is it heartbreaking for the family, it’s heartbreaking for them too.

Are you a cat person or a dog person? It’s always seemed like such an odd dichotomy to me. It’s like when someone asks if you’re a Beatles or an Elvis person. They say that Elvis people are allowed to like The Beatles and Beatles people are allowed to like Elvis but apparently nobody likes them both equally. So it is with dogs and cats. Although many dog owners may have a fondness for cats and vice versa, popular myth would have us believe that absolutely nobody can like both equally. While you may have a natural affinity for dogs, when your son or daughter starts pestering for a pet, it behooves you to consider the potential advantages of a fluffy feline over a cuddly canine, especially when you have young kids…

Cats smell nicer and are generally neater

Okay, so this is more a consideration for Mom and Dad, but it’s hard enough keeping the home clean when accommodating small children. Dogs are wonderful companions but they’re also inherently smelly and messy creatures who need regular grooming to keep your home free of that infamous “doggy” smell. Cats on the other hand are famously neat and tidy creatures. So long as you keep on top of their litter tray and use an odor neutralizing cat litter cats can make for a cleaner, tidier and nicer smelling household.  

They invite less stress

Many are put off the idea of getting cats because unless you keep them as house cats there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll go missing and stay missing. This is something of a false flag as both cats and dogs have natural roaming instincts and both can be microchipped. If you’ve done this it’s far easier to find a lost cat. Not only do dogs slip their leashes and go on adventures of their own, they are also prone to fits of excited or territorial barking which can upset sensitive children or those of a nervous disposition.

Cats are less likely to maul visitors

Dogs are naturally excitable and inquisitive creatures. It’s part of why we love ‘em. But your visitors may not appreciate being pounced upon and covered in saliva and muddy paw prints as soon as they walk through your door. Cats on the other hand will keep a respectful distance and assess newcomers from a safe vantagepoint before sauntering over to receive their adoration.

It’s much easier to integrate a dog into a cat home

If you intend one day to keep cats and dogs, this is far easier to do when bringing a dog into a cat home. In order for a successful integration the cat needs to be inconvenienced as little as possible, and it’s far easier to manage a controlled introduction between a cat and a dog when it’s on the cats home turf where they are allowed to feel safe and in charge.

So the next time your kids start to ask you for a dog, talk with them about the advantages of a loyal feline friend.

You love your dog. Your dog loves you. But some dogs don’t love when strangers come to the door. Sometimes, this uncomfortable situation can lead to your dog biting another person. This is a worst case scenario for every dog owner. Suddenly, the dog you love and trust is portrayed as a danger. Here’s what to do if your dog bites a visitor.

Remove the Dog

The first thing to do if your dog bites a visitor is to move the animal to another part of the house. It doesn’t matter if they tear up your bed or go to the bathroom inside. You need to quickly act to make the victim feel as safe as possible. It’s not enough to just put yourself between the dog and the other person. They need to be completely separated. While unlikely, it’s possible that the dog will attack again—causing further distress to the injured individual. 

Don’t Freak Out

As with all situations, losing your cool isn’t going to help anything. If your dog bites someone, you need to keep a clear head in order to deescalate the situation. After you’ve put away the dog, take an objective assessment of the scene. This can be difficult when your adrenaline is pumping; but it’s necessary in order to give the visitor adequate aid. If they’re bleeding, get some antiseptic and something to cover the wound. Once you have collected yourself, you’ll be better able to determine next steps.

It’s also important to note that being gruff with the person won’t help anything. When your dog bites someone, you’re in the wrong. It doesn’t matter if you think they did something to trigger the dog. There’s no way they could have known that might happen, and you allowed the situation. In fact, the victim has every right to pursue legal action if they are bitten by your dog. Even with homeowners insurance, you can be held liable if you don’t act appropriately following the bite. However, if you show genuine remorse, it’s more likely that the other person will show you some empathy.

Get Necessary Medical Aid

If the bite is bad enough, the visitor may need to be transported to the hospital. Offer to bring the person yourself. Should they not feel comfortable with this, suggest calling an ambulance. Unless there was absolutely no damage done from the bite, it’s usually safest to seek medical attention for the victim. Not only is this beneficial to their health, you might be accountable should the bite develop into another malady. It’s also essential that you have all your dog’s medical records readily available. You will need to show that they have gotten appropriate vaccinations for things such as rabies.

Check in with the Victim

This is one of the most important things to do following a dog bite. You probably want to put the event as far out of your mind as possible. However, this isn’t really the best idea. Even if you’ve moved on from the event, it’s unlikely the victim feels the same way. This is especially true if they were traumatized by the attack. Make sure you call to see how the person is doing a few days and weeks after the bite took place. They’ll be more likely to see that you’re regretful of what happened, and will hopefully not want to press charges. Remember to respect the wishes of the victim. Keep calling if it seems like they’re okay with it. But leave them alone if they express that wish.

There’s nothing good about a dog bite. It stinks for everyone involved—including the animal. However, these things occasionally happen, even with well-trained pets. These instructions may come in handy if your dog ever bites a visitor.