How do I choose a trainer and/or behaviorist?
Talk to your friends, folks at the beach, dog park or vet's office. DO NOT pull a
trainer out of the phone book. They don't seem to be regulated, so skills and
techniques are at different levels. Read these disturbing Chicago Reader articles on
the subject... Article 1 and Article 2
Hmmm... this is also how you should choose a pet sitter! :O)
Is there any specific trainer, published author on the subject or technique
you recommend?
NO. Like kids, every dog/cat/horse is different and learns differently. Know your
pet.
For example, one golden retriever pup client of mine is very rambunctious and gets
distracted easily. The way to get him to listen and behave is to first say BAD DOG in
a firm voice. Once he's doing the right thing, tell him what a GOOD DOG he is....
he understands English and he will do ANYTHING to be a "Good Dog." He seems
shamed and crushed to be called a "Bad Dog," and wants to avoid that. If i used a
popular technique, i would have a prong collar pulled up high on his neck, trying to
MAKE this dog walk beside me. There is no need for that. In fact, it would be
devastating to him, may make him a nervous wreck, and we'd all be unhappy!
Do you have any specific tips for training my new pet?
* Talk to your pet. They will pick up your language and be very responsive. Cats,
dogs and horses all pick up our spoken as well as body language.
* NEVER, ever hit your pet. EVER!! They may obey you, but you will damage their
spirits and foster aggressive behavior. If you have a bad dog, you will need to be
firm with him, but do NOT hit.
* Related to this is treat your pet with respect and dignity. Understand they have
emotions and feelings, and that abusive language is also detrimental to them.
* Be the alpha. This idea has been around a long time. Canines and felines
understand pack behavior, and you and your spouse or partner MUST be the alphas.
How? It's easier with dogs. Make your pet sit and wait for attention. Make him sit
and wait for food. Don't feed him at the table, let him on the furniture or have
attention first. This doesn't mean you don't love your pet! But you must maintain
control in your home for a happy home. Ever seen "IT'S ME OR THE DOG" on
Animal Planet? Great show!! Most of the episodes dealing with naughty dogs seem
to follow this pattern, too.
* Be consistent. Like kids, pets need consistent behavior from you. If something is
not allowed, be firm in always not allowing the behavior!
What do you think of prong collars?
Sometimes they are necessary, but usually not a long term solution. If you have a
dog who pulls, try using a harness that exerts pressure on his shoulders, which will
usually make it hard for him to walk much less pull. The more he pulls, the less he
can walk. He soon gets the idea. There are usually two loops (you put his fore legs
in the loops) with a slipping binding/buckle that sits on the top of the shoulders that
binds and releases in response to the dog's pulling behavior.
However, if you have a dog who walks comfortably, but will lunge at people, dogs,
whatever, a prong collar kept high on the neck can bring the attention back to you
from another source (dog, person, squirrel) IN AN EMERGENCY situation.
I have a pitt mix client who is like the above paragraph. Very sweet and loving, but
aggressive with anyone not already in his pack. Usually, if he starts to fixate on
something and starts his aggressive pattern, i just gently pull and release the collar
while tickling his back saying "leave it." This breaks his aggressive pattern with
something pleasing (back tickle), reminds him of his training, and is less scary for
all! I've been walking him regularly for a couple years now, and it's gotten to where
if he is starting his aggressive pattern, i can just tickle his back and he will turn and
give me a doggie smile as if to say, "i remember!"
If you have to use a prong collar and your dog is still constantly pulling, find another
solution for him. He's probably developed muscle "callouses" around the neck.
My dog sometimes lunges at some people, but not others. Why?
Dogs are aware of the smallest change in body language. Skin tightening around
the eyes, an eyebrow twitch, tensing of muscles.... things we often don't and CAN'T
see. They also can smell subtle changes in hormones. So your pup may be reacting
to the fear in the person -- taking these subtle changes as an immediate threat to
your and/or his safety. It's his job to protect you!
Sometimes a person who is afraid of a dog (or dogs in general) will react in anger,
either at themselves or the situation -- sometimes they are not aware of doing this!
Anger produces adrenaline and testosterone. Sometimes the smell of these
hormones is a trigger for a dog.
How do you train a cat?
The best method of "training" for a cat :O) is to make whatever you don't want them
to do, the most difficult, least pleasant for them. For example. I trained my cats to
stay off the kitchen counters by placing cookie sheets at the edge of the counters,
hanging over a little. The sheets make it difficult to jump up there, and if they try,
the cookie sheets make a clatter, which is scary, but they won't hurt the cat (use the
cheap ones, not your heavy good ones!) It took a few months, but now they never
are on the counters (or at least not when i am home!)
Use Sticky Paws or double sided tape to discourage scratching of furniture.
Should i declaw my cat?
NO NO NO NO!! When a cat is declawed, the ends of his fingers are chopped off.
Use Sticky Paws as mentioned above or get nail caps, or clip his nails regularly. If
you let your cat outside, do not declaw, trim or cap his nails. He needs them for
defense and could be injured or killed without them.
Provide plenty of scratching posts, sprinkled with catnip to encourage use.
Worried about your furniture? Don't get a cat. Seriously.
---Tyra :O)
Talk to your friends, folks at the beach, dog park or vet's office. DO NOT pull a
trainer out of the phone book. They don't seem to be regulated, so skills and
techniques are at different levels. Read these disturbing Chicago Reader articles on
the subject... Article 1 and Article 2
Hmmm... this is also how you should choose a pet sitter! :O)
Is there any specific trainer, published author on the subject or technique
you recommend?
NO. Like kids, every dog/cat/horse is different and learns differently. Know your
pet.
For example, one golden retriever pup client of mine is very rambunctious and gets
distracted easily. The way to get him to listen and behave is to first say BAD DOG in
a firm voice. Once he's doing the right thing, tell him what a GOOD DOG he is....
he understands English and he will do ANYTHING to be a "Good Dog." He seems
shamed and crushed to be called a "Bad Dog," and wants to avoid that. If i used a
popular technique, i would have a prong collar pulled up high on his neck, trying to
MAKE this dog walk beside me. There is no need for that. In fact, it would be
devastating to him, may make him a nervous wreck, and we'd all be unhappy!
Do you have any specific tips for training my new pet?
* Talk to your pet. They will pick up your language and be very responsive. Cats,
dogs and horses all pick up our spoken as well as body language.
* NEVER, ever hit your pet. EVER!! They may obey you, but you will damage their
spirits and foster aggressive behavior. If you have a bad dog, you will need to be
firm with him, but do NOT hit.
* Related to this is treat your pet with respect and dignity. Understand they have
emotions and feelings, and that abusive language is also detrimental to them.
* Be the alpha. This idea has been around a long time. Canines and felines
understand pack behavior, and you and your spouse or partner MUST be the alphas.
How? It's easier with dogs. Make your pet sit and wait for attention. Make him sit
and wait for food. Don't feed him at the table, let him on the furniture or have
attention first. This doesn't mean you don't love your pet! But you must maintain
control in your home for a happy home. Ever seen "IT'S ME OR THE DOG" on
Animal Planet? Great show!! Most of the episodes dealing with naughty dogs seem
to follow this pattern, too.
* Be consistent. Like kids, pets need consistent behavior from you. If something is
not allowed, be firm in always not allowing the behavior!
What do you think of prong collars?
Sometimes they are necessary, but usually not a long term solution. If you have a
dog who pulls, try using a harness that exerts pressure on his shoulders, which will
usually make it hard for him to walk much less pull. The more he pulls, the less he
can walk. He soon gets the idea. There are usually two loops (you put his fore legs
in the loops) with a slipping binding/buckle that sits on the top of the shoulders that
binds and releases in response to the dog's pulling behavior.
However, if you have a dog who walks comfortably, but will lunge at people, dogs,
whatever, a prong collar kept high on the neck can bring the attention back to you
from another source (dog, person, squirrel) IN AN EMERGENCY situation.
I have a pitt mix client who is like the above paragraph. Very sweet and loving, but
aggressive with anyone not already in his pack. Usually, if he starts to fixate on
something and starts his aggressive pattern, i just gently pull and release the collar
while tickling his back saying "leave it." This breaks his aggressive pattern with
something pleasing (back tickle), reminds him of his training, and is less scary for
all! I've been walking him regularly for a couple years now, and it's gotten to where
if he is starting his aggressive pattern, i can just tickle his back and he will turn and
give me a doggie smile as if to say, "i remember!"
If you have to use a prong collar and your dog is still constantly pulling, find another
solution for him. He's probably developed muscle "callouses" around the neck.
My dog sometimes lunges at some people, but not others. Why?
Dogs are aware of the smallest change in body language. Skin tightening around
the eyes, an eyebrow twitch, tensing of muscles.... things we often don't and CAN'T
see. They also can smell subtle changes in hormones. So your pup may be reacting
to the fear in the person -- taking these subtle changes as an immediate threat to
your and/or his safety. It's his job to protect you!
Sometimes a person who is afraid of a dog (or dogs in general) will react in anger,
either at themselves or the situation -- sometimes they are not aware of doing this!
Anger produces adrenaline and testosterone. Sometimes the smell of these
hormones is a trigger for a dog.
How do you train a cat?
The best method of "training" for a cat :O) is to make whatever you don't want them
to do, the most difficult, least pleasant for them. For example. I trained my cats to
stay off the kitchen counters by placing cookie sheets at the edge of the counters,
hanging over a little. The sheets make it difficult to jump up there, and if they try,
the cookie sheets make a clatter, which is scary, but they won't hurt the cat (use the
cheap ones, not your heavy good ones!) It took a few months, but now they never
are on the counters (or at least not when i am home!)
Use Sticky Paws or double sided tape to discourage scratching of furniture.
Should i declaw my cat?
NO NO NO NO!! When a cat is declawed, the ends of his fingers are chopped off.
Use Sticky Paws as mentioned above or get nail caps, or clip his nails regularly. If
you let your cat outside, do not declaw, trim or cap his nails. He needs them for
defense and could be injured or killed without them.
Provide plenty of scratching posts, sprinkled with catnip to encourage use.
Worried about your furniture? Don't get a cat. Seriously.
---Tyra :O)
Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man.
There is no difference there between a cat
or a man. The idea of difference is a human
conception for man's own advantage.
~ Sri Aurobindo
There is no difference there between a cat
or a man. The idea of difference is a human
conception for man's own advantage.
~ Sri Aurobindo
Behavior Questions
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DISCLAIMER !! I am NOT a certified behaviorist. These are my opinions only, ideas and thoughts gleaned from my
years working with animals. Every pet and every person is different. This is not meant to direct YOU and your
animals..... simply shared thoughts. Please also see the FAQ page.
years working with animals. Every pet and every person is different. This is not meant to direct YOU and your
animals..... simply shared thoughts. Please also see the FAQ page.