EnvironMental Monday: Is Your House Making You (and Your Dog) Crazy?

When you think about caring for your canine companion, the first things that likely come to mind are the basics: Food, water, the daily walk... But what about where you hang your hat? We all know that, as humans, we are sensitive to things like limited sunlight, cramped spaces, and clutter. But do the same things have an effect on our pets?

The answer is a resounding yes, for a couple of reasons - the first of which has to do with the physiological make-up of animals themselves, while the second reason has more to do with something scientists are still trying to understand: The human-animal bond. To make things simple, we'll start with the most concrete answer first -the physical.

The canine sense of smell is thousands of times stronger than that of human beings. This is no surprise - dogs are now regularly employed in the task of sniffing out drugs, bodies, tumors, stress... The list goes on. Likewise, dogs can hear significantly higher frequencies than we can, and may actually feel physical pain at certain decibel levels. While their taste buds are less sophisticated than ours and their eyesight is typically not as keen, their extraordinary olfactory and auditory capabilities make it clear: Dogs are sensitive animals. If you use strong perfumes or detergents, or live in a neighborhood where sirens are sounding on a regular basis or there is ongoing construction, your pooch may be paying the price.

The second reason your environment may be adversely affecting your pup is not quite so widely understood, but may also have something to do with that extraordinary sense of smell I spoke of earlier. Dogs can actually smell changes in your mood, as a result of the pheromones naturally released when a body is under stress. Even a subtle shift can make your sensitive pal lift his muzzle in your direction. So, if you're coming home to a place that you don't like - the color doesn't appeal, the place is a mess, or you just plain don't feel right there... Well, chances are good that your canine companion is tuning into your discontent.

So, what's the answer? Do you sound-proof his crate, stop using deodorant, move to a low-crime area and hope no one has to re-pave the streets below in the near future? Or, go deep into debt making it the place of your dreams, just to make sure you aren't stressing poochie? Not at all. In the coming weeks, I'll devote each Monday to exploring simple, affordable ways that you can make your house a place both you and your dog love to come home to. In the meantime... Start looking at the place you call home. How do you feel about it? How does your dog react to it? Are you coming home to chewed furniture, accidents on the carpet, a pup that bowls you over in a frantic, out-of-control reception? If so, it may be time to take on a little subtle interior dog-design!