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🐶 Making Home A Pawty Pad for Pups 🐶

Although some pups love being home alone, a lot of pups suffer from separation anxiety. We might not know the exact statistic, but it’s estimated that at least 20% of dogs struggle with that regularly.

It’s already hard enough to say goodbye to our pups even for a few hours — let alone knowing they might be sad.

That’s why we’ve rounded up some positively fangtastic tips for keeping your pups content even when they’re home alone.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — Positive Associations

A key to making your home a positive environment for your pup, especially if they have separation anxiety, is to make their alone time special. There are several ways to do this, though a big key is to be consistent. When you build up your pup’s confidence, it can make them less hesitant.

One major first step is to slowly introduce alone time. Start by leaving your pup home alone in very short bursts of time. Make sure you reward them with a tasty treat afterward to reinforce that being alone can be a good thing! (And a tasty thing!)

Here are some other tips to help your pup positively associate their quality alone time:

• Provide special toys they only get when they’re alone. For instance, a chew toy they don’t always have access to.

• Create a cozy, safe space for them to relax in while you’re away. Like a favorite blanket of theirs to sleep on or a comfy crate pad if they’re crate-trained.

• If your pup enjoys treat puzzle games or snuffle mats, try providing one of those to keep their brains busy.

• Take your pup on a nice, long walk before you leave. This can help tire them out for some zzz’s while you’re away.

• Give them some calming treats to help them relax when you leave.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• ANSWERS - All beef and chicken dog foods for potential listeria and salmonella.

Got a Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, or German Shepherd? Get expert tips from real handlers with K9 Bites.

The Smile Section

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendation — Don’t Leave Pups Too Long

Generally, dogs shouldn’t be left alone for more than 6-8 hours at a time without a potty break. If you are going to be gone for that long (or longer) be sure you arrange a walker to come by for a walk.

Help offset rising pet care costs

• Veterinary costs are up 60% over the past decade.

• Pet insurance could provide up to 90% reimbursement.

• View Money’s top pet insurance picks here.

SEE PLANS

Treats

• 🐶 Dog Science News: Scientists are discussing why dogs shake to dry themselves off in this new article from Nature.

• ✍️ Curated dog content: I Love Every Dog creates adorable, heartwarming, and real (not AI) daily content about dogs like this post about things we wish for our dogs.

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Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!