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Help Children Grieve Over a Loss Pet
This article is provided courtesy of https://dogtime.com. To read the original article, Click Here.
The death of a pet is the first loss that many of us can remember. A relationship is forever. A dog’s death will be always remembered by kids. That’s why you so often see the online security question, “What was the name of your first pet?”
As a mother, knowing the best way to assist your child in this loss can be overwhelming, especially when you are also trying to deal with your own grief. For many matriarchs, they feel that they have a responsibility to their child to be strong, to hide emotion and never let them see you cry, as that may upset the child even more.
On the contrary, children are absolutely fabulous when it comes to the rituals of mourning. In fact, they are organic 
mourners and instinctively just know how to deal with loss. For adults, we place too many societal rules on the process and try to conform to what it SHOULD look like or what they hear from others as to the protocols on mourning the loss. Children, they do it right.
So our role is to let them do it right. Children will grieve in short, intense doses and will then distract themselves to ease the pain. They will let in just a bit of their emotion at one time, will turn to a distraction such as play, and then will allow a bit more of the emotion. Therefore, many parents will watch this process and assume that they child is “fine” because they did not take the entire emotion in at one time, like adults do. Or they will describe the child as “aloof” because they kept finding the distractions.
This is why children will many times be referred to as “forgotten mourners” because their process of dealing with death is done through the dosing. However, children need to be given a safe environment and the safety of expression to be fully brought into a healthy mourning process.
Let’s talk about a variety of ways to help the child through the loss of a pet. First of all, allow the child the opportunity to say good-bye to the deceased pet friend. This is one of the first steps in the healthy aspect of dealing with the loss. As humans, we process most information through our eyes, so seeing a deceased being confirms that the death is real…and, of course, the child is going to cry. Don’t be scared of the outward showing of this emotion. Your role as a parent is to give the child the permission to show this emotion and to provide a safe place (including a warm hug and in your arms) to do this.
Help them with the proper words to use also. It’s okay to say “die” or “dead.” Use the right words and as hard as it is, make this a teachable moment that they will forever remember.
On a side note, you know the maturity of your child better than anyone. Therefore, the topic of children being a part of euthanasia is one that has to be unique to the child, his or her age, and maturity level. Being a part of euthanasia and having the opportunity to say a final good-bye are two separate events. Don’t confuse the two and ALWAYS allow the child the opportunity for their good-byes. It should be your call as the parent in determining if your child can handle the event of the euthanasia.
Next, as a caring parent, there are a variety of rituals that you can do with your child to encourage their mourning and to honor their memories of the beloved pet. Consider these activities:
- Writing a letter to the pet.
- Writing a letter about the pet.
- Planting a flower in the pet’s memory.
- Setting up a Tribute Table at home that will showcase all of the things that were important to that pet as a part of the family.
- Consider having a Celebration of Life ceremony where the child is allowed to talk about the pet, what he/she will always remember, what lessons the pet taught the child, and what they will miss most.
- Help them with a donation drive to support a local shelter or rescue group.
- Make a scrapbook.
- Make a stepping stone to place outside in the flower beds to forever honor where that pet liked to lie during those sunny days.
- Make a clay paw print of the pet so that they child can keep this in the safety of his own room.
- Allow them to assist with the choosing of an urn or burial place. Get them actively involved in this process so they truly feel included.
Children do want the education and information on what’s just happened with the death of their pet. Be open. Be honest. And allow them to do what naturally comes to them in their emotions and in their requests to pay tribute to a pet they loved dearly too.
To schedule doggy daycare, overnight dog boarding, grooming or canine massage, pre-register online at https://www.dakotahsdoggydaycare.com or call us today at 763-777-9590.
Help Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
This article is provided courtesy of https://dogtime.com. To read the original article, Click Here.
It’s so hard to spend time away from our dogs. Perhaps most—if not all—pet owners would probably say that they would bring their dogs with them everywhere if they could.
Some dogs don’t take well to being left alone. Maybe your dog becomes extremely nervous or acts out when you leave. This may no longer be a case of your pup missing you—it might be separation anxiety.
Like in people, dogs can experience distress when they’re in unfamiliar situations. Known as acute anxiety, some
dogs can appear on edge around strangers and may appear unfriendly or unsociable. What people don’t know is that some dog breeds may be genetically predisposed to this condition.
According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lisa Radosta, up to 40 percent of dogs may suffer from separation anxiety. That’s why some owners resort to behaviorists to slowly rid their dogs of the condition.
Some behaviorists use touch therapy to let the dog open up to their environment. It can help foster their comfort and sense of well-being.
If your dog has separation anxiety, it may not be your fault as the owner, so don’t let that get in the way of your bonding.
“A lot of dogs are born just like this. People blame themselves. They really blame themselves, like they must have done something wrong,” said Radosta in an interview.
Behavior training may not always be enough. Love and affection for your pooch adds another layer of therapy. The bond between dog and owner can be the difference in alleviating the stress they feel with this anxiety.
If your dog suffers from mild separation anxiety, try counter-conditioning. It’s an old trick in the behavioral book wherein you associate a bad situation–such as your leaving the house–with a good outcome–like getting a treat. This technique usually works for mild cases of separation anxiety.
More severe anxiety requires more training, such as weaning your dog off your presence slowly. Try simple tricks, such as appearing to leave by getting your coat or bag and heading to the door but not stepping out of the house. These tricks usually require a slow progression, so when they become accustomed to one of your behaviors, it may be time to move forward to a new one.
Does your dog have separation anxiety? Do you think they need a pet behaviorist to help them out? Share your experience in the comments below!
To schedule doggy daycare, overnight dog boarding, dog grooming or canine massage, pre-register online at https://www.dakotahsdoggydaycare.com or call us today at 763-777-9590.
Book a Time for Canine Massage
In addition to grooming, we now offer massage therapy for dogs. Believe it or not, dogs get sore muscles too. Madisann Bradford, B.S. Animal Science, 
Woof Da Canine Massage is available at Dakotah’s by appointment Tuesday & Fridays 4 to 7 PM and Sundays 9 AM to 12 PM. To schedule grooming or massage, pre-register online at https://www.dakotahsdoggydaycare.com/requirements/ or call us today at 763-777-9590.
April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
April is national pet first aid awareness month. Although many dog owners have a basic knowledge of how to control bleeding or perform CPR on a human, very few dog owners are knowledgeable about what to do if an accident occurs and your dog needs immediate medical care. Could you get your beloved dog to the vet in time? Increase your pet’s chances of surviving an accident by learning basic pet first aid.
If you’re new to pet first aid, or afraid you’ll not be able to recall what to do should an actual pet emergency occur, The American Red Cross has put 
together a Pet First Aid App you can keep on your phone for reference.
In general, it’s always a good idea to see your veterinarian if your dog gets hurt or sick. However, you may need to give your furry family member first aid until you can make it to the vet. Or you may find yourself in a situation where you’re far from the nearest vet’s office and need to give your dog emergency treatment.
This is especially true if you and your dog are out camping or boating, you’re hiking in a remote area, or you happen to live on a farm or ranch where the nearest town is many miles away.
Even if you spend most of your time at home and live near the vet, you should still always prepare for an emergency. You’ll rest a bit easier knowing you can give your pet first aid when it counts.
What Should Dog Owners Know About First Aid
The first thing all dog owners should understand is that prevention is the best medicine.
While you can’t stop all accidents from happening, you can take steps to reduce the dangers and risks your dog faces every day.
All dog owners should be familiar with household items that could cause choking, injuries, or accidental poisonings. These are some of the most common causes of emergency vet visits every year.
Of course, you should also have a dog first-aid kit stocked and ready, just in case. If you haven’t checked your kit in a while, you may want to make sure that the supplies inside haven’t expired. If we don’t use first-aid kits for a while, sometimes we forget to restock them or replace expired items. This month is a good reminder to do that.
You should also know how to use the items in your first-aid kit, as well as emergency procedures like the Heimlich maneuver and CPR. There are plenty of tutorials online, but the best resource for this information might be your veterinarian. Ask them for instructions. They’re usually happy to educate and help.