September has been designated Responsible Dog Ownership Month by the American Kennel Club. What does being a responsible dog owner mean to you, as a pet parent? We’ll bet that it means different things to different pet parents. Being a responsible dog owner is more than a month-long designation -- as all pet parents know -- it’s a lifetime commitment to the dog with whom you’re sharing your life.

What does responsible dog ownership mean to you?

When we think of it, here’s what comes to mind:

1. Feeding them properly
2. Making certain they get exercise so they stay healthy
3. Taking them to the veterinarian when they’re ill and for an annual visit
4. Socializing them with other dogs and humans
5. Caring for their pet separation anxiety if it is something they suffer. Not all dogs do, but if yours does, you want to address that

Pet separation anxiety is real. It has only recently been recognized as a real disorder that our dogs can face when left home alone. Pet separation anxiety can make a pet parent feel guilty, but what can you do? You can’t quit your job, right?

There are a few steps you can take to help ease your dog’s separation anxiety and if you haven’t already tried these steps, we urge you to do so during Responsible Dog Ownership Month. Remember, your dogs can’t talk or tell you what’s wrong. They can’t explain that the reason they’ve chewed your shoes, or scratched the door, chewed the windowsill or barked until it’s driven the neighbors crazy. It’s up to you to uncover the reason for your dog’s anxiety when you’re away from home and help ease it.

Tire him out. There’s nothing better than a tired dog when you have to leave him home alone for the day. Get up an hour earlier and take him for a long walk or play a long game of fetch. You’ll get in good shape and so will your dog!

Turn on the television. DOGTV offers scientifically proven programming to help relax your dog when you can’t be home.

Food puzzle toys. What more could your dog ask for? Something to keep his brain engaged (so he isn’t worrying about being home alone and chewing your shoes because of it) and to fill his belly. There are many varieties of food puzzle toys available and at varying degrees of difficulty.

Protect your home. You may need to accept the fact that your dog is going to scratch and he’s going to chew. Sometimes, no matter if you try to keep him entertained or even if you have a dog walker come over and take him out during the day, he just might still chew and scratch. Because we loved our first rescue, Foster, and we couldn’t break him of destroying our doors, we invented CLAWGUARD. Surrendering Foster was not an option, but he thwarted our attempts to keep him calm while we were away. We knew we needed a solution and we invented one. If your dog chews and claws and scratches, simply use our DIY pet hardware CLAWGUARD shield to protect your home and your door. We like to think that our invention will keep other dogs (and cats) from being surrendered because CLAWGUARD products protect the home from damage.

We’d love for you to #showusyourdoor (use the hashtag) and let us see the damage! We know that if you invest in a CLAWGUARD the next door you show us will be one with no damage!

CLAWGUARD builds shields that help protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tape that protects commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more.  Check us out on Amazon and read our many FIVE STAR reviews!

Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram to see and share pictures. #showusyourdoor

We love our pets, but we don’t love the damage they cause to our home. Unless you are a do-it-yourselfer and can repair or replace entry doors or window sills, you need to find a way to protect your home and stop the damage.

Shelter and rescue operators share that many pets are surrendered simply because the dog chewed shoes or the cat clawed the couch or the dog caused such damage to an interior or exterior door that the door had to be replaced. Imagine losing your rental deposit because your dog is so stricken with separation anxiety that he claws and claws trying to be reunited with you. We’ve been there, done that!

Pet parent anxiety is as real as pet separation anxiety.

Protect Your Home From Pet Damage

We are pet parents, too. We love our pets, but don’t love the damage they cause. Because we love our dogs and cats we knew we needed to find ways to protect the home. Here are our best DIY tips for using pet hardware.

1. Crate train. Some pet parents swear by crate training. Their dogs love the safety and security of the crate and happily spend the day there while “mom and dad” are at work. If crate training works for you, great! We recommend starting when your pup is young. Always make certain your puppy or dog associates the crate with happy events; don’t use the crate as a punishment tool. In fact, we only recommend positive reinforcement training methods. What about cats and crates...
2. Offer scratching alternatives. Chances are, you’re not going to crate a cat. Let’s face it, they don’t take kindly to being “caged” so this means you need to find another way to keep them from clawing the furniture LINK HERE. What can you do? Start by training your cat or kitten as soon as you bring them home to use a scratching post. If your cat or kitten starts scratching the couch, pick him up and put his paws on the scratching post. Give him a treat when he starts scratching on it. Positive reinforcement works for cat training as well as it does for dog training. Remember to try out various types of scratching posts. Some cats like scratching on sisal poles, others like corrugated scratching posts or pads, others like carpeted poles, others prefer wooden poles. Try several until you find one your cat likes.
3. Trim their nails. If you trim your dog’s and cat’s nails you can help prevent damage to your home. If you don’t know how to trim them, ask your vet or groomer for advice or take your pet to a local groomer who will usually trim nails on a walk in basis.
4. Provide toys and treats. Keep your dog and cat’s brains engaged by giving them toys and treats they only receive when you’re away. Give a treat puzzle toy or a “snuffle mat” in which your dog or cat can root around and uncover treats. This will keep her busy and entertained.
5. Exercise. Take your dog for a walk, jog or a rousing game of fetch before you leave for the day. A tired dog is a happy (and sleepy) dog. Play fetch with your cat. Grab that laser pointer and give your cat the opportunity to chase it around and tire him out before you leave for the day.

Be prepared for damage to occur. Positive reinforcement training takes a while and you may have to brace for some chewed shoes and clawed doors. While you’re training, you can use CLAWGUARD products to protect the interior doors. Put CLAWGUARD Furniture Shields on the areas where your cat scratches and use that continuously until he learns to only scratch on the scratching post.

We’d love to see photos of any damage your pet has caused. We’d also love to see a CLAWGUARD in “action” in your home! Send us photos or videos and you could be featured on our website and Facebook page!

CLAWGUARD builds shields that help protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tape that protects commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more.  Check us out on Amazon and read our many FIVE STAR reviews!

Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram to see and share pictures. #showusyourdoor

Your dog has gotten accustomed to the children being home this summer and maybe you were home more frequently than you are during the rest of the year. Your dog sees the family every day, he gets more play and snuggle time. Then, all of a sudden everyone is rushing out the door and he's home alone. 

Don't forget, too that dogs sense excitement and anxiety and it makes them anxious. Have you ever wondered if your dog is impacted by back to school? He just may be. 

How Does Back To School Affect Your Dog? 

• Separation anxiety is real. Your dog will be lonely when he is left home alone. He may act out by clawing the doors, chewing the window sills and maybe even barking all day long. When this happens your pet parent anxiety kicks into high gear. You worry about what type damage you will come home to because your pup is acting out. 
• Pet parent anxiety is real. As mentioned, if your dog has acted out once by chewing your shoes or clawing the doors you worry every day what he will do when he's left alone. You don't want to crate him because he doesn't like it and that makes him more anxious. 

What's a pet parent to do? 

1. Hire a pet sitter or dog walker. Having someone visit your dog during the day to give him some playtime and take him for a walk may alleviate his separation anxiety. 
2. Give him a puzzle food toy and let him work his mind, keep him busy and give him treats while you're away. 
3. Leave him with an article of your clothing so he can have your scent when he's home alone. 
4. Get him slowly accustomed to the change that will be happening in your household. Make leaving a non-event. Resist the urge to hug him, kiss him and make a big fuss as you walk out the door. He will pick up on your anxiety when you leave and that will make him more anxious. 
5. Protect your home with CLAWGUARD products. If your pup is scratching the door and causing damage because he wants to get out to find you, using a CLAWGUARD on your door will protect it. Use CLAWGUARD Tape and Shield to protect furniture and window sills. 

Embrace the fun and excitement of a new school year but keep your pup's peace-of-mind front of mind and help alleviate that when you leave home. Give her a lot of love and attention when you return home and your family will enjoy a happy, healthy start to a new school year! 

CLAWGUARD builds shields that help protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tape that protects commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more.  Check us out on Amazon and read our many FIVE STAR reviews!

“Why does my dog chew my shoes?” “Why are our dogs scratching the doors as soon as we leave for work?” Why won’t my cat stop scratching the couch?” If you feel anxious when you leave for work because you simply don’t know what kind of destruction you will come home to, you have pet parent anxiety.

What’s a pet parent to do?

You certainly aren’t going to surrender your beloved pets, but you certainly can’t continue to replace doors, window sills and furniture. Who could? We had pet parent anxiety when we rescued Foster, our first dog. We didn’t know what his level of separation anxiety was until he came home to live with us. Foster caused us to lose a LOT of money in pet deposits in the homes we rented. When we bought a new home, we didn’t want to have to keep replacing doors because he was so nervous when we left him home alone. Because we loved him and because we had a lot of pet parent anxiety we created CLAWGUARD -- because of the love of our rescue dog.

Do You Have Pet Parent Anxiety?

1. When you leave for work do you hear your dog barking and scratching at the door and worry about the damage he will cause?
2. Do you feel guilty for having to leave him home alone?
3. When you pull into the driveway do you have to take a deep breath before you open the door because you’re not certain what type of damage or mess you will see?
4. Do your neighbors complain about the constant barking when you’re gone?
5. Have you ever wondered, “How much longer can we put up with this?”

If you’ve thought any of these -- you do have pet parent anxiety.

It is stressful -- for you and your dog.

How can you alleviate your pet parent stress?

1. Get your dog a friend -- another dog or a cat.
2. Hire a pet sitter or dog walker to stop by and visit and take your dog for a walk.
3. Protect your home with CLAWGUARD products.
4. Tire your dog out before you leave for work. A tired dog is a happy dog.
5. Give him food puzzle treats.
6. Turn on the television or the radio so he won’t be in a silent house all day.
7. Crate train him. Some dogs absolutely love their crate.

Living with, and loving a dog, means you will have times when your shoes get chewed and your dog barks a lot, but the good times always outweigh the bad. And who can resist the lure of a snuggle with your dog after a long, hard day at work? We know we can’t!

CLAWGUARD builds shields that help protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tape that protects commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more.  Check us out on Amazon and read our many FIVE STAR reviews!

Ssshhh don’t tell your cats that International Cat Day is August 8; cats think every day should be International Cats Day! If you’re a cat parent or considering adopting a cat there are many things to think about, but one thing you won’t have to think about is the love your furry new companion will give!

If you’re new to cats, here are a few items you may not have thought about:

1. Cats DO like their people. Contrary to popular belief, cats thrive when they are with their people or other cats or dogs in the house. A cat may be more solitary than a dog, but cats get lonely.
2. Cats can be trained. If you don’t want your cat to scratch the couch or the door frame then offer them an alternative. Put a scratch post next to the area they’re scratching. Try out different scratch post types -- carpet, sisal rope, cardboard, sandpaper-type. If you have a motivated scratcher, use CLAWGUARD products to protect your furniture and home; This may help train the cat to not scratch those particular items -- it’s a win-win.
3. Cats love to play. Yes, cats love to sleep -- a LOT, but they also need and require exercise. Invest in some catnip toys, feather on a string toys, interactive food puzzles and even a paper bag or box. Play with your cat to make certain they’re getting exercise and are healthy.

To more fully celebrate International Cat Day here are a few suggestions

• Volunteer at a local shelter
• Adopt a cat or kitten
• Buy your cat a new toy
• Make a donation to a local shelter or rescue
• Visit a cat cafe
• Take your cat to the vet for his or her annual check-up
• Brush your cat to eliminate hairballs
• Get a safety release collar for your cat along with his name and your contact information in case he escapes
• Have a Cat Day party and invite your friends to bring their cats and let them have a play date!

How will you celebrate International Cat Day and cats every day?

CLAWGUARD builds shields that help protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tape that protects commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more.  

July is National Pet Hydration Month and with good reason -- it's been hot, humid and unbearable for humans and that means if it's uncomfortable for you, it's uncomfortable for your pets.

Did you know that your dog should drink one ounce of water for each pound of his body weight? This means your five pound poodle should drink five ounces a day and your seventy pound lab should drink seventy ounces of water daily. That is a lot of water and it might be hard for a human to drink seventy ounces of water daily so how do you get your dog to drink enough water to keep him hydrated during the hot summer months?

Here are some ways in which to keep your pet hydrated.

1. Offer flavored water. There are water flavorings on the market that boast beef, chicken and liver flavors. You put in the number of recommended drops into your dog’s water bowl and he may be more inclined to drink enough water because it has a flavor.
2. Serve their water in a fountain bowl. Many dogs and cats prefer to drink “moving” water instead of “stagnant” water in their usual water bowl. In the wild, dogs would look for moving bodies of water rather than drink out of a puddle, if possible.
3. Freeze their favorite treat in an ice cube or a bowl. If your dog loves watermelon or has a favorite treat, freeze those in a large bowl or ice cube tray. Once frozen, give it to your dog and he will have to lick the ice cube or frozen bowl to get to the treat. He’ll be getting more water in the process.
4. Freeze his water bowl. If you’re sitting outside with your dog or are at a picnic or on a road trip, a frozen water bowl will assure he has access to cold water while you’re out and about. If you’re at work and your dog is home alone, a frozen water bowl will provide him with access to cold water all day long.
5. Make sure, no matter where you are that your dog has constant access to water. If your dog is home alone you need to make sure he has fresh water available all day long. You will also want to give him toys to keep him entertained so he doesn’t scratch or claw your doors or window sills while you’re away!

A note of caution, though, don’t let your dog drink swimming pool water or salt water (from an ocean or sea); the chemicals and salt can sicken him. If your dog loves to play in the water, fill a kiddie pool with clean, fresh water and let him splash in that and drink the water from there to his heart’s content.

What is your favorite trick to get your dog to drink enough water? We’d love to hear it!

CLAWGUARD builds shields that protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tapes that protect commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more. Our products relieve pet owner anxiety! Look for us in the pet hardware section of your local retail store.

No one should live through the fear and suffering if his or her dog goes missing. Whether your dog escapes through an open door, bolts through a screen window, gets out of a fenced-in yard or gets stolen, pet parents need to do all that they can to make their home escape proof and keep their beloved dogs and cats safe.

As July is Pet Loss Prevention Month, an awareness campaign spearheaded by PetHub, we want to provide you with tips to keep your dog and cat safe, make your home escape proof and how to find a lost pet.

Tips to keep your dogs and cats safe and make your home escape proof:

1. Microchip your dog or cat.
2. Collar your pets and make certain their collars feature a tag with your contact information on it.
3. Teach them to stay away from open doors. This training needs to start when the pet is young so prevent their bolting out an open door.
4. If your dog is in a fenced-in yard, inspect it regularly for any areas from which your dog could get loose.
5. Close windows when you leave your dog or cat home alone so they don’t fall out or jump out a screened window to get to something that catches their attention out the window.
6. Turn on the television or radio or tune to DOGTV to entertain your dog when you’re away. This is especially helpful if your dog gets anxious or nervous when left home alone.
7. Give them food puzzle or other toys to play with to keep them busy while you’re gone.
8. Take a long walk before you leave. Tiring them out may make them sleep the day away and make them less likely to be scratching to get out while you’re gone. Play with your cats to tire them out, too.
9. If you’re having a party, put your pets in their crates or put them in a room where they can’t escape when guests are in and out of the house. Not everyone will pay as much attention to your dogs and cats as you will and they may not know your pets are not allowed out-of-doors.

How to find a pet who has escaped or has been taken:

1. Call local shelters and animal control agencies to let them know your dog or cat is missing
2. Put up fliers in your neighborhood
3. Put notices on Facebook and ask your friends and family to share
4. Put a notice in the local newspaper
5. Go searching where you last saw your dog or cat. Search in the early morning or early evening hours when it’s quiet and your pet might not be as afraid
6. If your cat is missing, leave his litter box outside the door -- they can smell it and it may lure them home
7. Call local veterinarian’s offices and report your dog missing

Protect your pet. Keep him safe from harm by applying these tips and by doing all you can to bring him back home if he manages to get out of your house or yard.

CLAWGUARD builds shields that protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tapes that protect commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more. Our products relieve pet owner anxiety! Look for us in the pet hardware section of your local retail store.

Pet Anxiety Awareness Week is in full swing. This is a week to raise awareness of anxiety in our pets and was spearheaded by Kristen Levine Pet Living as a way to bring awareness to the “fear, anxiety and stress” (FAS) our pets feel.

Our dogs and cats can experience FAS for many reasons including:

1. Separation anxiety
2. Changes in the family dynamic -- a new pet being brought home, for example
3. A move

There are many signs that indicate your pet may be suffering pet anxiety.

Chewing items. If your dog never chewed shoes or destroyed your furniture, and has recently started doing so, this change in behavior can mean he is stressed or anxious.

Inappropriate barking. This means, that your dog is barking uncontrollably or for many hours of the day when she is left home. If this happens, your neighbors will probably let you know.

Velcro dog. This happens when your dog is frantic when you leave him home alone and when you return he refuses to leave your side even for a moment.

Not eating. If your dog suddenly stops eating it could indicate stress or he could have another underlying health issue.

Licking or chewing himself. If you notice your dog continually licking his paw or other body part, it could also be a sign of stress, especially if he hasn’t done that previously.

Litter box avoidance. This is a very real and very frustrating way in which a cat will show you that she’s just not happy with something that is happening in the house right now. If you haven’t changed the type of litter you use or made other changes to the litter box area, it could be a sign of stress.

Scratching doors or furniture. If your dog has started scratching at the door or window sills or if your cat has begun clawing the furniture or window sills, it can be another sign of stress.

If you notice any unusual behavior in your dog or cat, you will want to check with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health issue. Talk with your vet about any changes in your routine or your cat or dog’s routine or lifestyle that may be prompting the unusual behavior.

Determining the underlying cause of the stress and anxiety your dog is under will help alleviate his stress. Your dogs and cats rely on you for their companionship and that you will do what you can to keep them safe. In many cases when a pet exhibits a change in behavior, pet parents can pinpoint when it started and then can determine what caused it. Until you figure it out, though use CLAWGUARD products to protect your home.

CLAWGUARD builds shields that protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tapes that protect commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more. Our products relieve pet owner anxiety! Look for us in the pet hardware section of your local retail store.

Paws up if you know that June 22 is National Take Your Dog To Work Day. If your place of employment will open its doors to your dog and you want to take your dog to work. Will it be a success? Is your dog “office ready”?

We’re not talking about whether he can pull off wearing a suit and tie (lol), but instead:

1. Will he get along with your co-workers?
2. Will he play nicely with the other dogs in the workplace?
3. Will you be able to concentrate on your work or will you be trying to entertain Fido all day?
4. Will he “stress poo” in the elevator?
5. Is he a stress-barker who will give the other dogs anxiety?

If your dog is accustomed to spending his days on the couch with his other fur siblings watching the world from the comfort and safety of the house, he may not appreciate heading off to spend a day with you in the office. You need to know your dog’s temperament and his ability to adjust to change. Some dogs simply are better off at home in a familiar surrounding rather than being at the office place with other dogs who are stressed out.

A stressed dog, surrounded by other dogs who are nervous can lead to barking and fightings as well as “marking their territory.”

Here are some tips for Take Your Dog To Work Day success:

Ask if your workplace is participating. There could be office policy against dogs in the workplace -- even on Take Your Dog To Work Day. If you can bring your dog to work, ask your co-workers if they mind if you bring your dog. You may have co-workers who are allergic to dogs or who are afraid of dogs. Find that out first.

Don’t force your dog on your co-workers. Sure, you love your dog more than you can explain, but that doesn’t mean your co-workers will want your St. Bernard to slobber on their keyboard or their shoes. Let your co-workers know you will be bringing Fido with you and they can stop by your cubicle to meet him if they’re so inclined.

Know your dog’s personality. If your dog is not accustomed to other dogs, it could be problematic. A dog who is not socialized is one who may bark, mark his territory or lunge at another dog. If your dog is nervous when she’s not in her familiar location at home, she may be better served to stay there. Just plan to show off photos of her, but let her spend a quiet day at home. If you know your dog doesn’t play well with others, that will not change just because you’re in the office -- in fact, being in close quarters with other dogs can lead to fights and potential injuries. If you know your dog isn’t fond of other dogs, please for his sake, leave him home.

Know where you will take your dog so he can relieve himself. If your office space is on an upper level of an office building and you will need to ride an elevator to get outside, do you know where your dog can relieve himself once you get out there? Have a plan before you bring him to work.

Bring toys and a water dish. If your dog doesn’t typically eat during the day time, don’t bring him food; keep him on his regular schedule. Do bring a water dish and keep it by your desk. Bring a toy or blanket from home so your dog can play and so he can lay down on a familiar surface.

Have an exit strategy. If you have never taken your dog to work and aren’t at all certain how she will behave, you need to have an exit strategy if it’s not working out. In many instances, bosses maybe flexible and let you take your dog home if it’s not working out. If this isn’t the case or if it simply doesn’t make sense to leave work and make that trip, you need to have someone you can call to come and pick her up. Or, better yet, make certain you socialize her before Take Your Dog To Work Day rolls around; this way you can know whether she will enjoy her day at the office.

Know yourself. We know pet owner anxiety can be higher when your dog is stressed. If you are worried about how your dog will react at work, he will sense your stress and that will lead to his having anxiety. If you’re worried it will be a stressful situation for you, please leave your dog at home. Spend a little extra time when you get home giving him belly rubs and tell him about your day at the office. Sure, he may smell other dogs on you, but that’s okay -- it’s only one day!

Are you taking your dog to work? Share a photo of the two of you at the office on our Facebook page!

CLAWGUARD builds shields that protect homes from damage caused by dogs and cats. Products include door shields, couch guards, and universal protective tapes that protect commonly scratched areas like window sills, furniture, banisters, weatherstripping and more. Our products relieve pet owner anxiety! Look for us in the pet hardware section of your local retail store.