Animal Talk – July 2019

Holiday planning

S

o you have found pet-friendly accommodation

and are taking your puppy on holiday with you,

which is fantastic, but there are some things you need

to keep in mind:

• Make sure all his inoculations are up to date and that
  he is being treated with an effective tick and flea control
  product. If you are going to a public place like a beach, he
  needs all three of his puppy vaccinations before he is safe
  in a public area.


• He needs to have identification on his collar/harness and
  also a microchip with your cellphone number linked to it.


• If you are driving make sure he is safe. It is very unsafe
  for the driver, and the puppy, if he is free in the car. The
  best idea is to get him used to a dog crate before you leave
  so that he can travel in his crate. He will also feel much
  safer in his ‘den’.


• You need to plan to take breaks about every two hours
  for water, a snack and toileting. Make sure he is on lead at
  all times. Big trucks can frighten pups and you don’t want
  him taking fright and running off.
  Wendy Wilson, behaviourist

We’re planning a holiday at the end of the year, but

our dog will still be a puppy then. What should I

keep in mind?

Pets must be

properly restrained
in a vehicle.

Turn to page 9 for

car safety.

Separation related distress

M

any dogs become anxious when their owners leave home because their owners are their ‘safe place’

and the world can be a scary place when you’re alone.

You need to start to get your dog used to the idea that you are going out, but you are most importantly,

coming back. Start with putting up some sort of visible signal, like a set of windchimes or a brightly

coloured vase. The trick is that when the signal is up you don’t interact with Fido. Start putting the

signal up for one minute, no interaction, take the signal down and make a fuss of Fido. Slowly

lengthen the time the signal is up to five minutes and then 10 minutes. You should still be in the

same room just doing something else like reading, but not interacting with him. Once he is fine

if you don’t interact with him for over 10 minutes put up the signal and go to another room.

Ideally he should not follow you but if he does that’s in order, just ignore him. Come

back, take the signal down and make a big fuss of him.

Once you can go to another room for 10 minutes with the signal up and without Fido

coming to find you then start putting the signal up and leaving the house. Start with

short periods away and slowly lengthen the time away.

Why does this work? It works because you have reinforced over and over to

Fido that if the signal is up you are going to go away BUT you are always going to

come back – so there is no need for him to be anxious.

You also want to give Fido something to keep him busy while you’re away – like a

stuffed Kong or a flavoured ice brick. Be mindful not to only give him

these treats when you are going out because that can

become a signal for him that you are going, so give

him them when you are at home for the day as well.

Wendy Wilson, behaviourist

My dog suffers from separation related distress. What can I do?