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If you have more than one pet, you might spend a lot of time playing referee-whether it's settling a quarrel over treats, breaking up a fight that started as play, or figuring out how to get two dogs to like each other. If your household includes different species, it's even more difficult to keep the peace.

When there's unrest in your home because the cats don't get along with their canine brother, or the dogs can't resist chasing the bunny, is it possible for them to live under the same roof without someone getting hurt? Well, it depends. Irith Bloom, certified dog behavior consultant, CPDT-KSA, faculty at Victoria Stillwell Dog Training Academy, and director of training at The Sophisticated Dog in Los Angeles, says, "In certain cases, it simply isn't possible to get all the pets in a household to like each other." She explains that when pets are fighting at the slightest provocation, they might need to be separated at all times for everyone's safety, and in extreme cases, one might actually have to be rehomed.

But don't give up just yet on managing your multi-pet family. Bloom adds that, "In many cases, a long-term management and training plan can keep the household calm," although she warns that it may not necessarily be friendly.

How to Get Two Dogs to Like Each Other

The first step toward a doggie truce is to consult a certified professional dog trainer, certified animal behavior consultant, certified applied animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist, advises Bloom. These professionals can help determine if your pups can learn to cohabitate without you having to constantly worry about their safety. They can also create a custom training program to improve their relationship, when appropriate. According to Bloom, "These kinds of training plans will involve gradual introduction (or re-introduction) of the dogs, in circumstances that teach them that life is more fun when the other dog is around."

Dogs who haven't had obedience training can certainly get along, but if you have two dogs that tend to fight, the lack of training makes these tense situations difficult to manage. Bloom points out that part of dog training involves impulse control, which can help dogs keep calm instead of reacting, although it can't always prevent problems.

Are My Dogs Playing or Fighting?

Whether you have obedience trained pups or not, every pet parent should know how to tell the difference between play-fighting and actual fighting that can lead to injury. There have probably been times where you wondered, "Are my dogs playing or fighting?" Bloom helps us out with a steadfast rule: "If one of the dogs gets bitten, the dogs are fighting." Other than this surefire distinction, it can be hard to tell, but Bloom gives us some telltale signs to look for:

It may be fighting if one dog is struggling to get away, and the other keeps pinning the first dog down. Although it may not be technically fighting, it's not good play. "Good" play is balanced, with regular pauses in the action for the pups to catch their breath. To resume play, both will "ask" if the other dog wants to play by doing a play bow. If you don't see pauses or bows, and one dog is yelping or struggling to get away, it can escalate quickly into a fight, says Bloom.

Look for certain dog body language that signals playtime at the start of the action. Bloom says these "meta-signals" tell the other dog that everything that comes after is just intended as play. The most common is the play bow, where you'll see a dog lower their front end and keep the back end high, as if they are bowing. An abbreviated version is "play slaps," where dogs will slap their front paws down, or bark and then run away to say, "Chase me!" If there is no meta-communication, "The dog on the receiving end of the play-growls or play-bites might assume the aggressive behavior is in earnest, so the dogs say in advance, 'Hey, we're just playing here.' These meta-signals will tend to happen after every break in the action during play, too," remarks Bloom.

To answer the question "Are my dogs playing or fighting," you should see dogs that look relaxed, take breaks and reengage in a playful way, with regular meta-signals mixed in. If instead, the dogs look stiff, scared or anxious, and there are no breaks or play bows, it's either already a fight, or will soon become one. Bloom cautions to never get in the middle, but to instead clap your hands, shake a jar full of change, or make some other loud noise to break up the fight.

What to Do When Cats Don't Get Along

What about cats that aren't quite friends? The bad news is that this is more common than with dogs, and some cats will never become friends. Bloom encourages thinking carefully before adding a second adult cat if you already have one adult cat. But if you already have two or more, and your cats don't get along, there are a couple of options. The first is to consider rehoming one or more of the cats so each can have the space and attention they need. And the other is to separate them and go through a careful, slow introduction or re-introduction process. This method involves "teaching the cats to be comfortable with each other's scents, to tolerate seeing and hearing each other, and to share space safely," says Bloom. To create a training program for your specific needs, consult a certified animal behavior specialist. Be aware that this process may take weeks or even months, with no guarantees, so you should be prepared to rehome one of the cats, if necessary, for their safety and happiness.

How to Get My Cat to Like My Dog

And, of course, there are households that maintain the cat-dog rivalry, complete with growling, hissing, lunging, swatting, staring, barking, jealousy and food guarding. If you've ever searched, "How to get my cat to like my dog," this advice is for you. Just like with the same-species issues, a reintroduction is in order. The other thing to do is to assess your home for kitty-safe spots. Bloom suggests adding shelves or a tall cat tree to make sure your cat can escape from the dog if they feel unsafe. And even though you feel the urge to yell at either animal for showing aggression or discomfort, this is the opposite of what pet parents should do. "When we yell at or hit an animal, we make the situation tenser and more unpleasant," says Bloom. "What's more, we may also be sending the unintentional message that the human also wants the other animal to go away." This increases stress, making the relationship worse. Again, the best answer here is to consult a certified expert who can help.

Can Cats and Dogs Co-Exist With Small Pets?

It is possible to have small animals along with cats and dogs in your home, although you have to remember that you're mixing prey animals with those that would be their natural predators in the wild. So before you open the cage and let your bunnies, ferrets and birds run loose, you have to take some precautions. "I would certainly never have small prey animals out of their cages around predator animals such as cats and dogs when they are unsupervised," notes Bloom. "Even with supervision, I would never allow them to be loose together unless I had done a great deal of preparation and testing of all of the animals involved using safety barriers first." An easy way to separate your pets is with a wide safety gate like the MyPet Extra Wide Wire Mesh Gate or the MyPet Windsor Extra Wide Arch Pet Gate. Even after installing you'll need to devote 100% of your attention to supervising all animals, because as Bloom warns, all it takes is one lapse of attention for a tragedy to happen.

Ways to Reduce Stress in Multi-Pet Households

If you sense a lot of tension and anxiety coming from one or more animals in your home, certain products can help. Adaptil Electric Dog Diffuser is a plug-in diffuser that mimics the pheromone released by mother dogs to calm their litter. Feliway MultiCat Diffuser Plug-In + Refill is the feline equivalent. Bloom warns that it may take a few weeks to see results, and these pheromones are more effective with some cats and dogs than others. You should also use the diffusers alongside a training program.

To give small animals and birds a feeling of safety, place their cages in areas where other animals can't stare in. It might be difficult because cats can jump and climb pretty high. Bloom suggests creating a haven in another room for birds and small pets. Otherwise, you will need to creatively arrange the furniture to keep them from being stalked by their siblings. They will also need forms of enrichment, such as bird perches and toys; small pet hideouts, habitat expansions and toys; and clean bedding for burrowing.

Tips for Introducing a New Pet to a Current Pet

When you're looking to add a new furry or feathered family member, is there such a thing as the best dogs for cats, or a way to tell which will do well with small pets or birds? Although Bloom is wary of generalizing about breeds, she says there are certain dog breeds that might have more issues, including Terriers or those that were bred to hunt and kill small animals. Here are some more tips:

1. Get a dog who would do well with your cat. Choose a calm, adult dog who has experience with cats. Puppies might be scary because of their playful nature, but it can work with a careful introduction.

2. Get a cat who would do well with your dog. An adult, dog-savvy cat is best, or a young kitten if you know the dogs will behave appropriately. Maine Coons get along well with dogs, although each cat is different.

3. Be cautious of adding a predator animal to a house with small animals. This is more about evaluating the individual animals, but there are no guarantees here. Consult a certified professional if you need help.

Hopefully these tips can help you keep the peace (or at least establish a truce) in your multi-pet home. If you aren't sure if the animals in your home can live together safely, the best advice is to consult a certified professional dog trainer, certified animal behavior consultant or certified applied animal behaviorist.

Nikki Naser, BeChewy Senior Editor
Instead of owning 30 cats, Nikki has an impressive collection of 30 cat-themed T-shirts, and just 4 pets-a ginger-haired senior cat, a senior Maine Coon, a middle-aged Choodle, and a young kitty who showed up one day on the back steps. A former Orlando resident, Nikki worked on several tourism publications before moving to South Beach. When she's not stopping to take pics of community cats to post on Instagram, Nikki spends her time with the office pets at Chewy, writing for their BeChewy blog.

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When Pets Can't Get Along in a Multi-Pet Household | BeChewy

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If you have more than one pet, you might spend a lot of time playing referee-whether it's settling a quarrel over treats, breaking up a fight that started as play, or figuring out how to get two dogs to like each other. If your household includes different species, it's even more difficult to keep the peace.

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Are you ready to start training your dog or puppy? Proper training and socialization are among your dog's basic needs. It's important to start training your dog as soon as possible to sit, stay, come, go to their crate, and to go potty outside. And believe it or not, it's something you can do yourself as a beginner.

At first, dog training can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if this is your first dog. The truth is that training your dog is a very big project. If you take it step by step, you will find the task to be far less daunting. Here is some information to help get you started:

Start a Dog Obedience Program: Learn how to set a basic foundation before you begin to train your dog.

Train Your Dog Using Games: Training your dog should be fun! Everyone knows it's easier to learn when you are having a good time, so try implementing some games into your dog training regimen.

Six Weeks to a Well-Trained Dog: Using this schedule as a guide, you can teach your dog the basics in about six weeks.

Positive Reinforcement: There are many different ways to train a dog, but most dog professionals agree that the positive way is the best for both the dog and trainer.

Tip

House Training and Crate Training

Unless you plan to keep your dog outdoors-and few of us do because it's not recommended-you'll need to teach your dog where to eliminate. Therefore, house training (also called housebreaking or potty training) is one of the first things you need to work on with your dog. Crate training can be a very helpful part of the training process. This includes house training as well as many other areas of training:

Crate Training Dogs and Puppies: Here are the basics of training your dog or puppy to accept and even enjoy the crate. Not only will it help with housebreaking, but it will also give your dog a place of his own.

How to House Train your Dog: When it comes down to it, house training is not that complicated, but this doesn't mean it's easy. Consistency and diligence are key during the housebreaking process.

Submissive/Excitement Urination in Dogs: If your dog is still having accidents in the house, it may be more than a simple housebreaking issue. Your dog might urinate out of excitement or to express submissive behavior.

Leash Training Dogs and Puppies

Every dog needs to learn to walk on a leash. Besides the fact that most areas have leash laws, there will be times when keeping your dog on a leash is for his own safety. Learn how to introduce your dog or puppy to the leash, then teach him how to walk properly on the leash, even beside you on a bike. A loose leash walk teaches your dog not to pull or lunge when on ​the leash, making the experience more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

How To Socialize Dogs and Puppies

Socialization means training your puppy or adult dog to accept new people, animals, and various places by exposing him to these things. Socialized dogs are less likely to develop behavior problems and are generally more welcomed by others. Socialization can also help prevent the development of fears and phobias.

The bottom line is that socializing your dog or puppy will make him a happier, more well-behaved dog.

Clicker Training for Dogs

Clicker training, a common form of positive reinforcement, is a simple and effective dog training method. Although it is still fine to train your dog without clicker training, many people find it helpful. With clicker training, you can easily and effectively teach your dog all kinds of basic and advanced commands and tricks. It's fast and easy to learn how to clicker train your dog

Basic Commands and Fun Tricks

There are some basic dog training commands and dog tricks that every dog should know like come, speak, drop it, stay, back up, etc. Basic commands give your dog structure. In addition, they can help you overcome common dog behavior problems and will help keep your dog safe.

What's more fun than showing off your dog's cool tricks?! Dog tricks are a great way to take your dog training to the next level and give your dog some mental stimulation.

Proofing Behaviors and Troubleshooting

Proofing is the last step in training your dog to do any new behavior. Learn how to proof behaviors so your dog will be as obedient at the park or a friend's house is he is in your own living room.

Remember, just because you have reached the final stages of training, it doesn't mean that behavior problems won't crop up. Learn about the most common dog behavior problems and how to deal with them. These guides will help you navigate this part of the training process:

Proofing Behaviors: Practice behaviors in a variety of situations with different levels of distraction. Without proofing, your dog may behave well in your living room, but seem to forget all his training when he is outside the house.

Teach Your Dog Self-Control: This method teaches your dog that nothing in life is free, but that he needs to earn things like food and attention through obedience.

Common Dog Behavior Problems: Understanding potential behavior issues can help you detect and address them before things get out of control.

Dog Behavior Management Versus Dog Training: While dog behavior management and dog training are two different things, they are not mutually exclusive. Behavior management is an important part of any dog training program.

Advanced Dog Training

Once your dog has mastered all the basics, you can consider moving on to more advanced tricks. These activities will help keep your dog active, fit and mentally stimulated. Plus, they will help strengthen the bond you share with your canine companion.

Remember that training is an ongoing process. You will never be completely finished. It is important to keep working on obedience training throughout the life of your dog. People who learn a language at a young age but stop speaking that language may forget much of it as they grow older. The same goes for your dog: use it or lose it. Running through even the most basic tricks and commands will help them stay fresh in your dog's mind. Plus, it's a great way to spend time with your dog.

How do you train your dog to ignore other dogs?

While your dog should always be leashed when out, there are other ways to train them to be unbothered by other dogs while on walks. Keep a distance from other dogs while out and call your dog's name whenever they notice another dog, rewarding them with a treat. You can continue this process, gradually getting a little closer to dogs while encouraging your pup to ignore them and rewarding them with a treat.

How do you train your dog not to run away?

Many experts believe that chasing a dog that is running away will only encourage it to run further because the dog thinks this is a game. Start training your dog to stay with you by slowly walking away from it, then calling its name and rewarding it with a treat when it comes to you. You can even add to this training by spending time with friends, having them call your dog, and giving it a treat when it comes to them.

How do you train your dog not to jump on people?

Start by asking your dog to "sit," and asking people not to approach. If your dog is approached and obeys this command, offer it a treat. Reinforcement is key!

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Dog Training 101: How to Completely Train Your Dog

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Are you ready to start training your dog or puppy? Proper training and socialization are among your dog's basic needs. It's important to start training your dog as soon as possible to sit, stay, come, go to their crate, and to go potty outside.

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Our dogs are extremely important parts of our daily lives . They follow our commands, work with us in various capacities, and act as faithful companions . Studies have shown that dogs provide Service dogs have these abilities, combined with training to perform specific tasks fo r individuals health benefits. with disabilities.

During the last decade , th e use of as rapidly service dogs h expanded . However, more problems have arisen, and these may be caused by a lack of understanding of service dog training, working functions, and access to public facilities. In response, is working with members of Congress, regulatory agencies, leading service dog trainers and providers, and transportation and hospitality industry groups to find ways to address these issues. AKC Government Relations

The benefits service dogs can provide also continue to expand. In the 1920s, a service dog was typically a guide dog, assisting an individual with a visual or hearing disability. German Shepherd Dogs were commonly used as guide dogs. Today, service dogs belonging to many different breeds are trained. They perform a variety of tasks to assist disabled individuals.

What Is a Service Dog?

A  service dog  helps a person with a disability to lead a more independent life. According to the  Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA), a service dog is "a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability."

"Disabilit y" is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including people with history of such an impairment, and people perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.

A service dog is trained to take a specific action that helps an individual with a disability participate in daily life more fully. T he task the dog performs is directly related to the person's disability. For example, help blind and visually impaired individuals navigate their environments. guide dogs

Hearing dogs help alert deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to important sounds. Mobility dogs assist individuals who use wheelchairs or walking devices or who have balance issues . signal th e onset of a medical issue such as a seizure or low blood sugar Medical alert dogs might also , alert the user to the presence of allergens, and serve many other other functions.

The ADA considers service dogs to be primarily working animals that are not considered pets.

Common Service Dog Breeds

Service dogs can range from very small to very large. The dog must be the right size to comfortably and effectively perform the tasks needed. For example, a wouldn't be an appropriate choice to pull a wheelchair, but they could make an excellent hearing dog . On the other hand, larger breeds like , have the height and strength necessary to Great Danes provide mobility assistance. Saint Bernards, and

maintains a breeding program for Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. The predictability of dogs in a breeding program yields improved results. According to Canine Companions, "Our breeding program staff checks each dog's temperament, trainability, health, physical attributes, littermate trends and the production history of the dam and sire. Only then are the ' best of the best ' chosen."

NEADS World Class Service Dogs maintains a breeding program and also obtains puppies that are sold or donated by purebred breeders. Using primarily Labrador Retrievers, NEADS " works closely with reputable breeders to determine whether their puppies are appropriate for our program based on the temperament, health and behavioral history of both the dam and the sire . " NEADS also selects alert, high-energy dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups as candidates for training as h earing d og s .

Regardless of breed or mix, the best service dogs are handler-focused, desensitized to distractions, and highly trained to reliably perform specific tasks. They aren't easily diverted from their tasks at home or in public, and they remain attentive and responsive to their owner s wh ile working.

Is a Dog in a Vest a Service Dog?

For example, Emotional Support Animals (E SA s ) are animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. But b ecause the se dogs are not trained to perform a specific job or task for a person with a disability , they do not qualify as service dogs under the ADA.

The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals. For example, according to the ADA, "If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog's mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA."

Owners of ESAs may be eligible for access to housing that is not otherwise available to pet dog owners. Access to housing and other public spaces for ESAs can vary by location and destination, and these rules are subject to change. ESAs are not eligible for special accommodation in air travel.

Therapy dogs provide opportunities for petting , affection , and interaction in a variety of settings on a volunteer basis. The rapy dogs and their owners bring cheer and comfort to hospital patients, assisted living center residents , stressed travelers in airports , college students during exams, and in other situation where friendly, well-trained dogs are welcome .

Courthouse dogs are another category of dogs that sometimes wear vests or may display other forms of identification. However, courthouse dogs are not service dogs. Several states have enacted measures that allow a child or vulnerable person to be accompanied by a court house , facility, or t herapy dog during trial proceedings. The rules and requirements for use of courthouse dogs vary from state to state , and ad ditional states are considering enacting similar laws .

Where to Find a Service Dog

How to Train Your Own Service Dog

A service dog candidate should:

I ndividuals who wish to train their own service dog s should f irst work with their candidate dog on f oundation skills . Start with which should include eliminating waste on command in different locations. Socialize the dog with the objective of having them house training, remain on task in the presence of unfamiliar people, places, sights, sounds, scents, and other animals. Teach the dog to focus on the handler and ignore distractions.

The Another good source for learning foundational puppy raising skills for working dogs is the "In addition to socialization and AKC Canine Good Citizen program can provide guidelines and benchmarks for foundation skills. Confident Puppy" e-learning course. must be trained to basic obedience perform training, a service dog work or specific tasks to assist with a disability .

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

The reply to the second question must affirm that the service dog has be en trained to take specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.

The Epidemic of Fake Service Dogs

F ederal laws provide special acco mmodations to the disabled and limit the questions that may be asked about disabilities. Unfortunately, some people may fraudulently misrepresent their dogs as service animals.

Many state and local governments share this concern and have introduced laws that make it an offense to misrepresent a service animal. As of May 2022, the AKC Government Relations team has been tracking more than 150 laws related to this matter since 2016.

In 2016, the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans created "CGC Plus," a minimum standard for training and behavior for the service dogs their members provide to veterans. CGC Plus mandates that dogs pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen , Community Canine , and tests , plus demonstrate proficiency in performing three randomly selected specific services for a disabled person. The 2016 federal PAWS bill incorporated the AKC CGC into service dog requirements for Veterans' Administration-funded dog.

S tate and local governments continue to introduce and pass law s that make it an offense to In 2018, 48 measures were introduced to address fake service animals. misrepresent a service animal.

The AKC also work s with the rised of m American Service Dog Access Coalition, a charitable not-for-profit organization comp ajor service dog groups, service dog access providers, advocates for the disabled , service dog trainers, and policymakers seeking to improve access for legitimate service dog teams while incentivizing high-quality behavioral standards for all service dogs, and educating the public about the crime of service dog fraud.

ASDAC is building an "opt-in" service dog credentialing system, Service Dog Pass (SDP), that will streamline the air travel process for service dog teams while also reducing the challenges faced by gatekeepers when working to accommodate them. SDP will provide airlines with relevant information to easily identify valid, well-trained service dogs while also providing service dog teams with increased comfort and confidence to travel by plane.

Service dogs are more than pets and more than companions. The important work they do enhances independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities, and improves the everyday lives of thousands of people across the country.

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Service Dog 101: Everything You Need to Know About Service Dogs

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What is a service dog? Can my dog be a service dog? There are many misconceptions about service dog laws and training. Here's everything you need to know.

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There are pet owners, and then there are those of us who just can't settle for having only a dog as a pet. Take my friend for example; she's not happy unless she has a miniature zoo at home. After all that one dog might find themselves lonely or bored, right? Or at least that's what we tell ourselves and our spouses. But what if our idea of the 'perfect addition' terrorizes the dog or worse yet - is eatenby the dog?

Simply choosing the first bundle of cuteness you come across can spell disaster if you're not careful. You should always take due diligence to find the right animal addition to your home for the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved. Not to mention your sanity! Which brings us to the challenging question of what type of animals will get along with dogs?

When pairing up pets of different species, you must first pay mind to the predatory nature of the beast. For example rabbits are a natural prey animal for a canine hunting breed much like mice are prey to a cat. Exercise a little common sense.

When we say "common sense," we mean don't try pairing up a greyhound with rabbit. That is a bloodbath waiting to happen. Retired racing greyhounds were originally trained to chase an electronic rabbit when they race. I don't care how old, gentle and decrepit your retired greyhound is - putting a rabbit near them is the equivalent to putting a fresh steak in front of a hungry lion. It's most likely going to get chased and eaten!

Breed Matters

Dog breeds can greatly influence a dog's ability to get along with other animals. Breeds that are natural born hunters possess a prey drive leading to them to eat, chase or terrorize the animal rather than being a snuggle buddy. We see this in the aforementioned Greyhound. For this reason, small animals are generally best avoided. There are four breed groups that possess the prey drive which are hounds, terriers, herders and sporters.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Your Australian Shepherd might adore the ferret. But his herding instincts might cause him to herd the ferret straight through your displayed fine china collection.

A common animal sidekick for dogs is quite often a cat. But that's not to say all cats and dogs will get along. While dogs and cats can certainly become the bosom buddies depicted in the epic Hollywood film 'Milo and Otis', try to understand there can be a vast difference between the fantasy of film... and reality. Is there any truth to the age-old belief that dogs and cats are mortal enemies? The answer might surprise you. The reality is dogs and cats are actually not enemies at all, but rather tend to have frequent communication and temperament problems.

Communication Gone Awry

Personalities and temperaments can differ greatly between individual dogs and cats. But where reactions tend to get squirrely is when one of them starts feeling frisky. This is where communications and intentions are frequently misunderstood. The very nature of a dog is that of a social creature. They love to run, chase, jump and play. Cats on the other hand, are independent creatures that often act a bit snooty, serious and jumpy. It's here that the communication between the two gets sketchy because the cat takes the dog's playfulness as a threat. Before you know it, the fur begins to fly.

Dogs and cats can become the best of friends, and sometimes even snuggle buddies. We see this a lot when dogs and cats are raised together from a young age with personalities and temperaments seemingly syncing together. On the flip-side, animals of all types have temperaments and personalities that will not always mesh together. Occasionally, you will come across dogs and/or cats that are mortal enemies. For these, it's best not to push a bad situation but rather opt for a different sidekick for your canine friend.

Pairing up Fido with the wrong sidekick can bring forth a nightmarish fiasco if you're not careful. Alternatively, they can become unsuspecting BFFs. Knowing your dog's personality, a little common sense, coupled with thorough research goes a long way. To help you with that, we're going take a closer look at what you need to know. If cats are not a compatible option, you might possibly consider a small animal alternative. The most popular small critters folks are likely to choose are:

The aforementioned animals are generally kept in cages and accepted in many rental properties. Occasionally, a few are left to roam the house and use litter boxes much like a cat would. But even caged animals can be a temptation to the wrong companion if boundaries aren't established from the start and strictly upheld.

Risks Associated with Small Animal Pet Companions for Your Dog

These small animals are generally dog friendly and very manageable. Although you should exercise extreme caution with reptiles - as many reptile species can be a bit temperamental. Iguanas, monitors and snakes are just such animals. While exotic and impressive, large snakes like boa constrictors and reticulated pythons can pose a serious threat to a small or medium sized dog causing injury or death when the reptile feels threatened. For this reason, large reptiles should be kept in a secure cage rather than left to wander the house freely.

Selecting a new pet to go along with a dog should never be a snap decision. It requires careful planning and consideration of the needs for both animals. As with all pets, if you are a renter you should ask your landlord which animals are accepted in your rental lease or contract prior to bringing home a new pet.

Furthermore, ask yourself what type of habitat will the animal be expected to coexist in with your dog such as whether they will be caged or roam free. Equally as important is will they have adequate space to dwell in? Space is one of those frequently overlooked factors. You - as well as your pets - should always have their own individual living space for play, sleep, and meals to avoid stressful and confrontational situations between animals.

Speaking of space... how is your dog's behavior with food and toy aggression when other animals are nearby? If this question just made you cringe, you might want to give serious consideration to enrolling in dog obedience and behavior training before introducing a new face to your happy home. Simply contact us for ongoing classes today.

What are the age and activity requirements for both your dog and another animal that you are considering? Keep in mind that senior dogs much like us, tend to slow down and become a little less patient with age. The same can be said for other animals.

Introductions should be done slowly, with patience and in a neutral location with supervision. Your dog might handle it cool as a cucumber. However, most frequently he will be excited and intrigued leading to smelling and nuzzling, tail wagging and drooling, and even pawing. This proves intimidating and scary to the other animal. Even if this introduction goes smoothly, remain astute with supervision for a long time to come.

It is important to remember this article is designed to be a general informational guide. While some dogs wouldn't hurt a flea if they were basted with gravy and squeaked when you squeeze them, caution and supervision is always recommended.

Original Source: https://www.bedandbiscuitaustin.com/dog-health/animals-get-along-dogs-2/

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Which Animals Get Along With Dogs? - Bed and Biscuit Austin

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There are pet owners, and then there are those of us who just can't settle for having only a dog as a pet. Take my friend for example; she's not happy unless she has a miniature zoo at home. After all that one dog might find themselves lonely or bored, right?

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Dog-owners often feel that their pooches are good at picking up on their emotions. This isn't a figment of their imaginations. New studies show how behavioral and chemical cues from humans can affect dogs in ways that enable them to not only discriminate between their owners' fear, excitement, or anger, but also to "catch" these feelings from their human companions.

Just as human toddlers look to their parents for cues about how to react to the people and world around them, dogs often look to humans for similar signs. When their people project feelings of calm and confidence, dogs tend to view their surroundings as safe and secure.

"The emotional connection between humans and dogs is the essence of the relationship," says Clive Wynne, a professor of psychology and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. "Dogs are amazingly social beings, so they are easily infected with our warmth and joy." But the converse is true as well, which means their owner's stress and anxiety can also become the dog's stress and anxiety.

This interspecies emotional contagion, as psychologists call it, has a psychological, a physiological, and a behavioral basis. In the last few years, multiple studies have shown that the transmission of emotions depends on the release of certain hormones (such as oxytocin), body odor changes in humans, the firing of key neurons in the pooches and their people, and other physiological factors.

Recent research also shows that the extent to which people and their pups catch their owner's emotions depends on the duration of their relationship. That's an especially noteworthy phenomenon right now, as people and their canine companions continue to spend more time together during the pandemic.

A primitive form of empathy

There is a spectrum of emotional connection between people and their dogs, ranging from being able to detect and understand each other's feelings to actually sharing the same emotions.

Studies have shown that dogs can catch our yawns, experience an increase in cortisol levels when they hear a baby crying -just as humans do-and respond to the emotional tone of our voices. While interacting with each other or even just looking into each other's eyes, research has found that people and their dogs experience the release of oxytocin, often called the "love hormone" or the "cuddle hormone"-though the hormone's effects are more complicated than that, given that it can foster trust and generosity in some situations and envy in others.

When it comes to bonding, "oxytocin release is stimulated by eye contact or social touch such as petting, and it works both ways-from dog to human and from human to dog; it's like a feedback loop," explains Larry Young, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition at Emory University. "In order to have emotional contagion, dogs need to be able to recognize the emotions of their owner-that requires attention, which oxytocin facilitates. It causes the brain to focus on social cues."

Dogs also have "affective empathy"-which is defined as the ability to understand someone else's feelings-toward people who are important to them. Emotional contagion is a primitive form of affective empathy that reflects the ability to actually share those feelings. For example, in a 2020 study published in the Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers examined how dogs reacted when their owner or a stranger in their home pretended to laugh or cry. The dog bestowed more attention on the person who appeared to be crying, both through visual or physical contact. And, when the stranger cried, the dogs showed higher stress responses, explains study co-author Julia Meyers-Manor, an associate professor of psychology at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin.

"All of empathy has some component of contagious emotions," explains Meyers-Manor. "In some ways, recognizing another [creature's] emotion is more complex cognitively speaking, whereas feeling what another animal feels is simpler."

When someone ends up sharing another person's feelings, it's often because during conversation humans naturally tend to mimic their companion's facial expressions, posture, and body language, without being consciously aware of it. The incremental muscle movements that are involved in this phenomenon trigger the actual feeling in the brain by causing mirror neurons-brain cells that react both when a particular action, like smiling, is performed and when it is observed-to fire, conjuring up the emotion as if you were experiencing it naturally. It turns out that this rapid mimicry also occurs in dogs when they interact or play with each other, and it may be activated when pooches interact with people, too.

After all, when dogs and humans are angry, Meyers-Manor points out, their facial muscles are often tightened, their teeth may be clenched, and their body tenses up. This means that when you're in the presence of an angry dog or when you're enraged, each of you may unconsciously mirror the other's facial expressions or body language and end up feeling the same way. "Because of our close connection with dogs, we have co-evolved to detect each other's [emotional] signals in ways that are different from other species," Meyers-Manor says.

For many years, researchers assumed that when dogs became domesticated, the possibility of emotional contagion served as a survival mechanism-if dogs were able to read and share their owner's emotions, they would be better cared for. More recently, that thinking has shifted. A recent study in Scientific Reports found that it's the bond and life experiences between dogs and their owners that account for the release of oxytocin during interactions. Also, a study in a 2019 issue of Frontiers in Psychologyfound that the extent to which emotional contagion occurs between humans and their canine companions increases along with the time spent sharing the same environment.

Facial expressions and body odor

Sensory factors also can influence emotional contagion between people and their canine companions. For one thing, dogs have a remarkable ability to read the facial expressions and body cues of human beings, experts say. While some research has found that dogs focus more on bodily expressions of emotion than on facial cues in both humans and other dogs, other studies have shown that dogs process human facial expressions similarly to the way people do. A study in a 2018 issue of the journal Learning & Behavior found that dogs respond to human faces that express six basic emotions- anger, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and disgust-with changes in their gaze and heart rate.

"We know that dogs and humans synchronize their behavior-dogs often match the natural movements of their owners-so the fact that they synchronize their emotions isn't surprising," says Monique Udell, an animal behaviorist and associate professor of animal sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis. "Dogs are watching us very closely-some of this is based on our gaze and body language but also on the sounds we make and the scents we give off."

On the auditory front, research has found that when dogs hear expressions of distress, like crying, or positive sounds like laughing, they respond differently than they do to other vocalizations or non-human sounds. When they're exposed to these human sounds, dogs are more likely to look at or approach their owner or the source of the sound.

When it comes to olfaction, "dogs are very sensitive to body odor-it's how they can detect diabetes and possibly epilepsy [in people]," Wynne says. In a study in a 2018 issue of Animal Cognition, researchers set up an experiment in which Labradors and Golden Retrievers were exposed to samples of three human body odors-representing fear, happiness, and a neutral emotion: The researchers induced these particular emotions in the male participants then took odor samples from their armpits. These odors were then aerosolized through a special dispenser in a space where the dogs could move freely in the presence of their owners or strangers: When the dogs were exposed to the scent of fear, they exhibited more stressful behaviors and higher heart rates than they did in the presence of "happy" odors; the dogs were also more interested in the strangers when the happy odors were present.

When they pick up on human emotions, "a lot of times dogs use composite signals, which includes information coming in from a cocktail of their senses, including sight, hearing, olfaction, and maybe through touch if someone is nervous," says Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and author of A Dog's World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a World Without Humans. "

But it's important to remember, he adds, that not all dogs are exactly alike, psychologically, physiologically, or socially. "Dogs are individuals, and you need to know who they are," Bekoff says. "I always tell people: You've got to be fluent in dog." Bekoff says that dog-owners should tune in to what their dogs are trying to tell them with their barking, other vocalizations, facial and body language.

A bidirectional effect?

In general, the range of emotions that dogs experience is probably more limited than what most humans experience. "I don't think dogs' emotions are very complex," says Wynne. "They experience primal emotions including warms ones like happiness and excitement, and cold ones like fear and anxiety." Beyond that, there are many unknowns, and one of the challenges with doing this kind of research is that dogs can't say exactly how they're feeling at any given moment.

It also isn't clear whether humans can catch emotions from their dogs because studies haven't looked at this question, though some experts believe it's highly possible. "I certainly feel that my dog's happiness can lift my mood," says Wynne, author of Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You. Bekoff agrees: "I do think we pick up their emotions, too. Sometimes it's easier to pick up their fear and stress. However, happy dogs are also easy to read if they run up to you with their tails wagging and their ears are forward, not tucked back."

Whether they're dog owners or not, people are highly adept at identifying both positive and negative emotions in dogs' facial expressions, partly because shifts in facial expressions that express specific emotional states are shared across both species, research has found.

One instance that suggests stress and tension can be contagious in both directions involves leash reactivity: If your dog barks, growls, or lunges at other dogs, people, or cars while you're walking him or her on a leash, you might feel embarrassed or stressed out, which can cause you to tense up and exacerbate your dog's fear and anxiety. This in turn "can be a trigger for the dog doing it again," Udell says, which can lead to an unfortunate cycle.

Still, sharing each other's emotional ups and downs tends to be mostly beneficial because it helps us connect on a deeper level, and it has survival value, too. "If you think back to our ancestors, it was a life-or-death proposition that your dog could alert you to something so you could act quickly," Wynne says. "The two-way street on the alarm side is mutually advantageous for both [species]."

Sharing a home, a life, a family, and activities contribute to the quality of the human-canine connection. Sharing each other's feelings "helps us understand each other better, and it facilitates the bond that develops and how it's maintained over time," says Bekoff. "When dogs and humans share emotions, it's like social glue." It acts like a strong adhesive that binds us together-often for life.

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Yes, dogs can 'catch' their owners' emotions

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Dog-owners often feel that their pooches are good at picking up on their emotions. This isn't a figment of their imaginations. New studies show how behavioral and chemical cues from humans can affect dogs in ways that enable them to not only discriminate between their owners' fear, excitement, or anger, but also to "catch" these feelings from their human companions.

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Every day when I wake up to my sweet pups' faces I wonder: How do people not have dogs? How do they handle stresses of everyday life without a pair of puppy dog eyes to gaze into as their heart melts?

And that's not just me being mushy about my guys (even though they are pretty special!). While "dogs have been a part of peoples' lives for thousands of years," says Rebecca A. Johnson, Ph.D, director of the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction at University of Missouri, they've evolved from working and living outside to living indoors as part of the family.

We didn't let other working animals move into the house and sleep on our beds - why dogs?

"Over time the relationship has gotten closer and closer," Johnson says. "Some would relate that to advancements in industrialization and technology. We live in a high-tech, low-touch world and people have a longing for a bond with nature." Companion animals like dogs can be that bond.

And these bonds "help us to feel good," she says. "When we see, touch, hear or talk to our companion animals," beneficial neurohormones "are released and that induces a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness." At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol is suppressed. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate can all decrease, leaving us more relaxed "and able to manage stress in ways that aren't harmful to our health," she explains.

"The bond between man and dog is something that can really cure a lot of emptiness," says Stephen Knight of Dallas, Texas. "I'm a recovering addict, six years clean and sober," Knight tells NBC News BETTER. "I did work in non-profits and social services but went into addiction hard core and ended up homeless, living out of my car, and lost everything in life that matters."

Getting a dog eight months into recovery "changed my life," Knight says. "There's a lot of voids that you fill with drinking and drugs. Dogs can replace that with their love."

Having a dog "taught me how to trust again and how to build a relationship," he adds.

Knight's first dog was a 10-pounder named Jayde he took in when a friend went to a rehabilitation center and couldn't take her dog. It was either a shelter where the Maltese-Daschund mix would likely be euthanized, or live with him, Knight says. After experiencing what it meant to have a dog, "I had this vision," he says, "an aha moment: If this is so good for me, this, how many other people could it help?"

Indeed, dogs can play an important role in recovery, Johnson says. "We need to have unconditional love and acceptance that we get from animals. Nobody gets enough of that."

Knight returned to school to get a license to practice substance abuse counseling, he says. And he launched an organization that would make sure that concern for a dog wouldn't be a barrier to seeking help. Most sobriety houses don't allow dogs, and "I couldn't imagine, saying 'you're making this huge decision to work on your life but in order to do that you have to give up that one lasting relationship you have, your dog,'" he says. "I was amazed how many people would not give up their dogs and they end up getting worse."

Dogs Matter steps in to place dogs who need a temporary home with foster families, and provides resources to care for the pet. Knowing their dog is ok allows people to focus on their recovery, Knight says. They're reunited when they're able to provide the care the dog needs, but it's the care the dog gives their person that makes the lasting impact.

Three years into the program, "we've seen a difference," Knight says. "We're finding about 70 percent of clients are clean and sober now ... most made it through the [most difficult] first year because they had their dog back. I think we have something very special."

What's more, the dogs are doing good even as they're in foster care - they most often go to homes of others in recovery. "When we get to a point that [the clients] are pretty solid and thinking about getting a dog, they foster for people going into rehab," Knight says. "We encourage them to experience what it is to have a dog."

And what is that experience? "That first year can be very lonely," Knight says. "Most people are not going to be in relationships and they shouldn't be. A dog can provide so many positive elements to what the human experience is about: purpose, responsibility, trust, unconditional love." In his own first year, Knight says, "I was depressed and having to face the reality of my consequences. You don't want to get out of bed but if you have a dog sitting on top of you ... it gives you that motivation and that responsibility."

Dogs can teach an important lesson, too, he says. "Dogs stay present in the moment. That's important for people in recovery, we try to not worry about the future as much. And dogs don't let their past define them."

Knight is working to launch Dogs Matter programs across the country. But there's a whole world of other opportunity for dogs to make a difference.

Another population that sees great benefit from dog companionship is older adults, says Johnson. Yet this is another group that often isn't able to keep their pets at a time they need them most.

If an older person is struggling to take care of a pet, "the unfortunate thing that happens is family members say the pet has to go. Sometimes even primary caregivers say that," Johnson says. "It's inhumane to the animal and the adult. Often the animal is the reason adult gets up in the morning. It may be the only individual they communicate with for days."

Many senior living facilities don't allow pets, and "if you think of the stress of having to move to a new place, and on top of it to have to give [their pet] up, it's unthinkable," Johnson says. "So we started Tiger Place, where people move in with their pets and my team provides pet care assistance." Residents get help with dog walking, grooming, and medication for their companion. "We need more places like this that promote this kind of interaction," she says.

Dogs also provide a communication bridge between older and younger generations, Johnson says.

"Children can grow up without much contact with older relatives," she says. "and they think there's nothing to talk about with their grandparents. Having a companion animal to talk about, to text about, share pictures of ... it enables children to talk to their grandparents."

In fact, dogs in many social situations make for easier conversation, Johnson says, calling it a social lubricant effect. "People are likely to respond more positively to someone who has an animal with them. Animals give us permission to engage in ways we wouldn't otherwise, less formal ways, silly ways. But at a minimum animals provide a topic of conversation that's not stressful." And that's helpful in settings ranging from workplaces - which are more and more allowing dogs - to hospitals and other settings where trained therapy dogs work.

Dogs are even starting to pop up in court, of all places. "There's a growing movement to have courthouse dogs," Knight says, "a specially trained therapy animal to preside and be with children and people who have suffered domestic violence who have to testify. Children undergoing forensic interviews for child abuse, who may be in foster care can benefit from interacting with a service while going through interviews."

For anyone interested in doing therapy work with their dog, it's important that people don't think they "have a nice dog" and can just jump right in, Knight says. "A reputable program like PetPartners.org is the gold standard for helping people and their dogs train and register to be visitation or therapy animals."
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Every day when I wake up to my sweet pups' faces I wonder: How do people not have dogs? How do they handle stresses of everyday life without a pair of puppy dog eyes to gaze into as their heart melts? And that's not just me being mushy about my guys (even though they are pretty special!).

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