Have you ever heard about pet jealousy? This may sound weird to you but pet jealousy is actually something that any pet owner should be aware of. Pets actually have the tendency to not like to share their food, their home or even their human companions. So if you have a new addition in your family, your pet might get jealous. To avoid any hassles later on, you must understand and know how to properly deal with it.
The first thing that you must do is to determine the reason for your pet’s jealousy. By knowing the reason for your pet’s jealousy will help you know how to handle it. In any case, give your pet plenty of time to adjust to the change. It would also help if you keep your routine with your pet as regular as possible. This is to make your pet feel that he is still important to you even if you have someone new in your life. Although this can be difficult especially if the “new” person in your life is a baby, just try to keep pet activities such as your daily walks right on schedule. Never fail to give your pet lots of love and attention. Doing this will surely make him feel that he is not an outcast because of the new person in your household. It is recommended that you continue to have play activities with your pet to help ease the tension.
After doing this, you can let your pet bond with the new person in your life gradually, but never force the situation right away. Everything would just fall into place as long as you patiently exert an effort to make things more okay for both your pet and the new addition in your household. Just keep in mind that your pet will accept the new friendship when he is ready.
How do you deal with pet jealousy? Share us your story. 
January 29th, 2010 - 1:28 pm
Dealing with a jealous pet is a real concern and slow introductions may not always work.
If you have a toddler and a dog that is not happy around the toddler it is not worth the risk. Invest in a play pen and alternate the child and the dog in the play pen so both can be safe from the other, fly wire or shade cloth around the play pen allows the two parties to see each other but finger won’t get bitten.
Take the time to muzzle train the dog, there are some comfortable soft muzzles on the market and if training is done slowly with rewards for wearing the muzzle the dog becomes use to it. look up muzzle training on your computer. Muzzles should not be on your dog for a prolonged time but are ideal if taking the jealous dog out with you and the toddler, also keeps other little children safe.
Jealous dogs with adult humans, first DO NOT GIVE EYE CONTACT. if warned off by a dog. Do not try to make friends, trust has to be earnt and the easiest way is not to be a threat to the dog. let the dog make friends with you not the other way around.
Jealous dogs with other dogs, some house holds just have to have one dog in one part of the house and another in a different part of the house. This is a complicated senario and needs a proffesional trainer.
Compliments of the Dog Behaviour Saviour dog.behave@hotmail.com
January 31st, 2010 - 6:09 am
Hi, I put out a magazine that I send to several dachie lovers all around the world by email (at no cost to the recipient). I am always looking for articles I can put in it and saw this article about pet jealousy and was wondering if you would give me permission to do so.