Problem: Article: It's natural to want to comfort your dog, stroke his head, and speak soothingly to him. You may even be worried if you're both dealing with a stressful event, like an operation at the vet's. Unfortunately, your dog can pick up on your anxiety, making him feel like the situation is out of control, amplifying his anxiety. Don't give your dog treats or respond with hugging or petting. These reward your dog's anxious behavior, which means that he learns to repeat it. Since your dog will be paying close attention to how you respond to stressful situations, signal to him that everything is fine. If you act as if nothing has changed, your dog will have no cause for alarm. If your dog is showing signs of anxiety, like trembling, shaking, or whining, then ignore his behavior. Speak to your dog in a firm but kind voice telling him not to be silly. He'll recognize the disapproval in your tone of voice and understand that you aren't concerned so neither should he be. Your dog may be feeling out of control and fearful. Focus his attention on you and distract him by doing a simple training session, even if it's in the vet's waiting room. Do simple training commands like "Sit", "Down", or "Stay." This tells him you are in control, you are not worried, and that everything is normal. With his attention elsewhere, the hormones that make him feel anxious subside so he'll relax. Practicing these commands when your dog is anxious can also help you deal with any separation anxiety your dog might have. Create a place that your dog associates with safety and can retreat to. Plan ahead and train your dog to accept a crate as a safe place. At times of exceptional anxiety, cover part of the crate with a blanket to make it even more den-like. Being in a calming environment will stabilize his anxiety levels. Casually place toys in your dog's crate but continue to act normally and avoid eye contact. This way, you won't be reinforcing any fearful behavior. Your dog is anxious because his body produces hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, in fearful or stressful situations. These prepare his body to fight or flee and create actual physical changes in the heart (making it pump harder), the muscles (supplies them with extra blood), and the lungs (take in more oxygen). These changes mean your dog can become anxious out of habit, so that whenever your dog gets cues that he should be anxious, hormones are released causing the anxiety episode. For example, if your dog sees you reacting to his fear, then his body releases chemicals and hormones to respond to the anxiety. That is why it's important to watch how you react to your dog's anxiety.
Summary: Avoid reinforcing your dog's anxiety. Act as normally as possible. Show your dog you're still in control. Offer a safe haven or crate. Try to understand your dog's anxiety.

Problem: Article: Find a flat, dry area that is several yards from any open water. Self-supporting nets are like tents, so you can find a spot that you would feel comfortable setting up a tent on. If you're inside, find a spot where you will feel the most comfortable and that has enough room for the net. Remove the net, as well as any rods, strings, and stakes, from its bag. Separate the net from the other parts. Spread the net over the area you have chosen. Pull the stake loops on the ends of the tent out to the corners of your sleeping area. If your net has a base, it will be easy to tell if you have it right-side up. If not, check to make sure any zippers are on top of the net. The poles will be broken into small sections that are connected with an elastic rope. Connect the sections together to form the full length of the pole. If you have polls of different lengths, separate them so you don't accidentally start to use a short poll where a long poll is needed. Depending on the particular net you have, there will either be fabric sleeves or clips that hold the polls in place. The polls will extend from one stake loop, over the top of the tent, and connect to the stake loop on the opposite side of the net. If you have a rectangular net, you will most likely have two long polls that cross each other in an X shape at the top of the net. On more elaborate nets, there may be a space for a smaller poll that holds the entryway of the net up. Using the included stakes, or sticks if no stakes are included with the net, stake the tent to the ground by hammering the stakes into each corner of the net. There will be loops on the corner of the tent that the stakes pass through. If you're inside, you don't need to stake the net to the ground. Keep it away from the edges of the net since mosquitoes can bite through the net if your skin is touching the edges. Make sure every zipper is closed completely. Otherwise, smaller mosquitoes may be able to get through.
Summary: Locate a suitable area for your net. Unpack the net. Lay out the net. Connect the poles. Insert the polls into the net. Stake the net to the ground. Place your sleeping bag or mattress inside the net. Close all of the zippers.

Problem: Article: Instead of wallowing in sadness, insecurity, discomfort, or anxiety, get proactive in solving your problems. Acknowledge how you feel, then get moving on finding a solution. For example, if you have many things to accomplish, you might want to put them off or focus on your anxiety. Instead, write a to-do list and cross off a few items each day so they don't feel so overwhelming. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, or depressed. Just don't dwell on these feelings. Find ways to face your fears and create less resistance to things. If you tend to avoid certain tasks, set a deadline. For example, if you put off paying bills because money makes you anxious, set one day out of every month to pay bills and get it over with. If you tend to expect the worst or anticipate problems in many situations, start coming up with positive things to anticipate. The same goes for memories: if you tend to look back on events and pick out the worst things about them, start coming up with positive counters. If you're stressed about a test, the positive will be when it's over and it won't stress you any more. If you focus on a negative event, create a positive experience around it, too. For example, if your plane was late and you missed your connection, the positive can be that you were able to find a different flight without any fees. Neuroticism can affect relationships deeply. For example, if you have rigid expectations for your partner or family members, they might feel like they cannot please you or that they have to earn your love. If you have a hard time getting along with others, learn to be flexible and not hold others such very high standards. If someone lets you down, don't hold it against them forever. Recognize that everyone makes mistakes and be forgiving. Don't let things like chores ruin your family relationships. If you like chores to be done a certain way, make your expectations known clearly.
Summary:
Be practical with your problems. Create positive alternatives. Be flexible in relationships.