Here are some tips for helping to prevent stress in your pet:
(1) Expose your pet to other animals in a safe environment, such as puppy kindergarten classes or a walking group
(2) Give your dog enough sleep through the night and a good nutritional diet
(3) Take your dog for walks to different places every day to expose him to new smells and sights and sounds
(4) Build your dog’s confidence by teaching him basic obedience and having him experience success early in life
(5) Have your dog visit the vet, groomer, boarding facility, daycare for a brief introductory visit before you have to leave him there for a lengthy period of time
(6) Provide enough exercise for your dog to be relaxed in new situations
(7) Expose your dog to many different people to experience various smells and have people pet your dog in a gentle, non-threatening manner
(8) Teach your dog to go to a quiet, private area (a safe “place”) to avoid stress escalating
(9) Learn to recognize your dog’s stress signals so you can react and handle the situation and put your dog at ease
(10) Give your dog proper toys to entertain him and relieve boredom and stress
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