PETS
Licking lips and side-eye show levels of stress in dogs.
cats wag their tails, they’re showing signs of stress.” To reduce stress between cats, there are pheromone diffusers you can get from veterinarians. They can promote a calm, relaxed environment. “Giving space and practising calm behaviour is really important,” Fisher says. But if these recommendations don’t work within three weeks, get a trainer, she advises. Prevention of fighting between new pets is key. Owners who interfere may get bitten themselves, Fisher says. And if they get punished for bad behaviour, they might blame the other pet. Audrey McPhaden has been introducing new dogs to resident dogs in her home for years. “We have always introduced them on neutral ground and once they have sniffed each other, they basically ignored each other, which is the ideal outcome,” says the retired nurse, who has adopted older, sicker dogs to give them a better life during their twilight years. “The dogs will figure out their positions and I’ve tried not to interfere with that process.” Because she has adopted dogs with cancer or other terminal diseases, McPhaden and her husband have said goodbye to a number of them over the years, but they almost always have two. “They are inherent pack creatures and we feel, by having two, it provides companionship when we are not home,” says McPhaden, who currently has a female (Charlie) and male (Rojo). “If this translates to security and less stress, it has done what we intended.” So, there could be a bright future in store for the owners once the pets get along with each other.
MATURE 19
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