Archives 2: Q & A's to Dear Dr. CookieArchives 2: Q & A's to Dear Dr. Cookie
Please enjoy the archives of letters to Dr. Cookie. We hope you will find the questions & answers entertaining, informative, humorous, inspiring, and insightful!
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
I
brought home an 8 week old Shiba Inu today.
I have a 2 and a half year old
Dear
Pat,
Even
cats that have been raised with dogs will resent an unfamiliar intruder.
It is always important to integrate new pets very gradually.
Your puppy should be kept in one safe puppy-proof room unless you are
there to carefully supervise him. Chip is an assertive male and I would assume
that he is not being friendly when he pounces and bites a puppy that is
intruding in his turf! Please
review the details on how to introduce dogs and cats in the handout entitled
‘Introducing New Pets’ on the QuickFix handout page.
Dr. Cookie:
We have a
small cross breed dog who is good in everyway except she barks at anything and
everything. If people come to the house she barks at them entering, whilst they
are here and when they leave. we have tried everything, ignoring her, making a
fuss of her. She is not aggressive with people but will not be quiet when anyone
is here.
Dear Samantha,
Barking IS aggressive.
She may be afraid of strangers but more than likely she is barking as a
territorial behavior, too. Either
way, the thing to do is tell her what you want her to be doing.
It is not enough to just ignore her or to simply say ‘no!’.
You need to give her an alternative and ‘sit/stay’ or ‘down/stay’
are fine! Put a leash on her if you
must! Order my handouts on
Territorial behavior in dogs and Basic Obedience.
You should do well with the tips explained in detail.
Dr. Cookie,
My female
Alaskan Malamute will be 2 yrs old in April.
She has not had many opportunities to socialize with other dogs when she
was younger and she has become quite aggressive when encountering other dogs.
What are the procedures that we can take at this time to help her
socialize with other dogs. Interestingly,
there are two male dogs next door that she is very comfortable with.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Mike
There is a critical phase
between 6 and 13 wks of age during which time socialization to people and other
dogs is optimal. Her problem does
not seem to be restricted to socialization, however, since she is friendly with
‘the boys next door’! She may
defer to them because a) they are extended members of her ‘pack’ and help to
defend ‘their territory’, and b) they are males and not rivals to her.
Malamutes tend to be large dogs and you really should minimize the
chances of her rumbling with other dogs. Work
on her ‘obedience’ to you with daily practice.
Try her at a group obedience class if you feel more in charge.
A basket muzzle will help to prevent injury to other dogs as well as to
adjust her attitude. Introducing
dogs on neutral turf is always invaluable.
Good luck!
Hi Dr. Schwartz -
I have a 1 1/2 year old Aussie Shepard/Yellow Lab Mix who has recently
started getting more and more anxious and aggressive with bicyclists and
runners. I am now working with a trainer (highly recommended by my vet and dog park people) who has identified the dog as exhibiting
predatory behavior and we have very recently started a training regime including taking 90 degree turns on walks,
hand feeding and very focused one
on one play. I can already see a positive effect on her and our relationship. Is predatory behavior something an urban dog and owner can live with and
control? I love this dog unbelievably and would do anything for her.
Hi PoofKenney,
I'm glad the training is going well, however, your dog trainer is wrong about the problem definition. This is typical territorial aggression, not predatroy aggression! There may be an element of fear involved in this as well. The treatment is working, and that's the important thing I suppose...but if you want some clear recommendations, handouts are available on Territorial behavior in dogs, as well as Predatory behavior (the treatment for which is very different!). I have no idea how hand feeding him has any relevance on either problem. Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
12 month Lhasa-poo and he
acts like he is insane a couple of times a day. When he is excited he jumps at
you and can nip at you face, hands, and feet. He is playing, and you cannot
catch him when he starts, because he is too fast. So how do you stop him?
Dear Lynda in Canada,
The best way to stop him is to
not let him start! His play
aggression has serious social consequences because he is learning that behaving
dominantly, and aggressively so, towards people is fun!
You need to enroll in group obedience classes, take him to nearby parks
to play with other doggies, two long walks every day…handouts on Dominance
behavior in dogs, Basic obedience, and Why it is important to walk your dog,
will help.
HI,
We have a
3 yr old male Rottie. Several months ago our female Rottie died mysteriously. Since then,
the male has become very aggressive - barking loudly at everyone and every dog;
charging people; when taken for rides (which he used to love) he barks at
everything we pass and lunges against the windows. We are very concerned by this
new behavior as he used to be a very gentle dog.
Dear Lorraine,
I am sorry to hear your Rottie
girl died. The loss of his mate has
had serious impact on this boy-dog. It
is also possible, however, that it is partly coincident to his age. At 3 yrs, he is an adult and the removal of his companion may
have put him in charge, so to speak. His territorial aggression at home and in the car is intense
and he is probably empowered by his revised status in the pack.
However, was he with her when she died?
When you say she died ‘mysteriously’, do you suspect foul play?
Let us assume that he is simply behaving as a dominant and territorial
male. Order the handouts on these
topics for in-depth discussion. At
the very least, you need to reassert your own leadership over this dog so he
does not feel that everything is entirely his decision or responsibility.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
currently have 2 Pugs, one I have had Woody since he was a puppy and he is now 4
1/2. I adopted Brutus from the
pound about 1 1/2 yrs ago and he is 5 yrs old. Woody and Brutus have been best
friends and keep each other company while my husband and I are at work.
Recently my mother and her dog moved into the basement apartment in our
home. Brutus started to stare down Woody and attack him. The episodes grew worse
and resulted in Woody going to the hospital for a bite on his ear (a bloody mess
that looked worse than is was). I
have been keeping them separated since, they only see each other on walks
outside the house. My mother will
be with me 6 more weeks. Is there anything I can be doing to help this
situation?
Dear Lesley,
This could be redirected
aggression because your Brutus is unable to get to your mother’s dog.
Or, the perception of another dog nearby and on their territory has led
to a destabilization of pack hierarchy and Brutus is challenging Woody to become
top dog. Muzzling Pugfaces is
really not an option since they basically have no face!
Keep both dogs separate and get Woody to go into a ‘down/stay’ at a
safe distance from Brutus (basically, you are helping to redefine their relative
ranks). A step by step description
is given in the handout on Dominance behavior.
Their problems may persist beyond the day your mother and her dog leave
(the damage is done) so it would be important to regain control. Obedience
practice and neutering your dogs, if not already done, would also curb their
aggressiveness. I wonder if
it would not be helpful to introduce these dogs on neutral territory, for
instance at a park that none of them have been to…perhaps if you can build a
‘fun’ relationship between them all, things will fall into place more
peacefully.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I became the owner of a 1.5 yr old Neapolitan Mastiff through a rescue organization about 1 month ago. She is a sweet and obedient girl at home, and has learned to live with us and our 3 cats without incident. The problem is she lunges at strangers when we go out, even when they're quite far away, more than 30 or 40 feet, and if they have dogs, oy vey! I've tried the simple, quiet "No", the loud insistant "NO!" and putting her down on the ground in a totally submissive position while repeating "NO NO NO" by taking her by the harness with both hands and laying her down. I've also tried to keep her focused on being on the leash and keeping in the "Heel" position with limited success, but if she's surprised or stressed she cuts loose.
Dear Barba,
Oy vey is right!
She is way too big a dog to be lunging at unfamiliar people or dogs.
Sounds like territorial aggression to me.
You are doing everything right, down/stay, heel…but also work with her
practicing the commands when things are peaceful and calm at home or in your
yard. Bring doggie treats (they
don’t call me Dr. Cookie for nothing) – tiny broken bits of treats, tidbits
of hotdogs or cheese, yummy stuff – with you on walks and reward her for calm
down/stays. I’d like to see you
try a headhalter collar (I like the Halti-collar’) which will allow you to
enforce a submissive head position and attitude with very little effort.
A short leash (2 ft.) will
also keep her under better control. Let
me know how you do!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Dear Kerry
Well now Kerry. Cats are not dogs you know. Some cats are more dog-like in their social natures, but some cats are traumatized when removed from their safe homes. It is not surprising for her to behave defensively when she is not at home and to behave offensively when strangers enter her home. Most cats tolerate human visitors, but she does not. Leave her at home when you travel. When friends visit, ask them to give her the most delicious treat you can think of to change her attitude. Most cats do not really like to be handled by strangers and your cat should not be forced to do anything she doesn’t like. You may not be able to change her basic temperament, but at least don’t make it worse by going against the grain!
Hi Dr. Cookie,
What do you think of Belly Bands on male dogs. Do they really cure marking? I am getting my male Shih-tzu neutered on Feb 22, and I already bred him once. Now when I go to my friends house he lifts his leg and marks her coffee table. Will this stop if I have him neutered?
Dear Joan,
I am not a big believer in gadgets and gizmos. Common sense is usually the best medicine. Yes, neutering will help, although the fact that he has had sexual experience and surging hormones will influence his thinking beyond neutering. Keep him on a leash when you visit your friends and monitor his every move. Practice sit/stay and down/stay often so that when you make special visits you can expect him to obey you. Order the handouts on Inappropriate elimination in dogs, and Basic Obedience. They will tell you everything you need to know.
Dear Dr Cookie,
I have recently acquired an 8 week old doe called Maise. I have had her for just over a week and since being separated from her mother and brother and sisters she seems anxious with being away from them. Is there anything I can do at all to help the situation and is this a common problem?
Dear Jessica,
Baby bunnies, like other baby critters, can experience anxiety when they transition to a new home. Keep her in a warm and cozy place and cuddle her whenever you can. Play with fun toys and see if a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel doesn’t give her a nice surface to cuddle to when you are not around. She’ll be fine!
Dear Dr. Cookie!
I have a neutered male Maltese Terrier who is 5 yrs old . My parents live with
us upstairs and, during the day when we all go off to work, Nanook spends his
days with mum & dad. My problem is that Nanook has taken to pooing in
certain areas of Mum & Dad's dining room and lounge room areas. It appears
at times that he deliberately runs upstairs just to do it. It is hard to
discipline him for this as most of the time you don't see him do it and there is
no point in going on about it after the fact. He has complete run of the house
and is able to get outside into the yard through his doggie door, which I might
add he is still going to the toilet in the yard as well. He has since been
banned from going upstairs which is a shame as my parents really miss him. He is
such a dear little man who apart from this is generally well behaved.
Dear Jackie from Down Under!
Doggies mark with urine and
with stool. He is marking their
apartment as his own. The other
part of the problem is that he comes and goes through his doggie door. This is quite convenient for many folks but you are never
there to reinforce his desirable toilet activities!
Your ‘little man’ needs to go for walks, on leash, so that you can be
there to praise him for appropriate elimination. This will also help to empty out his bladder and bowel so
that he has less left to mark with! He
needs to mark, he just needs to do it outside!
Until he is back on track, perhaps your parents can visit him in your
place ‘down under’. Or, they
can keep him on a leash until he can be trusted once again! Okie doke?
Aloha Dr.
I have a yellow lab who is 19 months old and was fixed before he was 1 year old. He has recently started to growl and snap at us with no warning. You can be petting him forever and then the next instant he will just snap. I am concerned that he will really bite and hurt my 8 ½ year old or someone visiting. He is very hyper, gets walked regularly, goes to the bark park, sleeps in the house on his own bed, spoiled and loved very much. I am afraid if this behavior can't be stopped I will need to find another home because I just can't take the chance with my little boy.
Dear Debby from Hawaii (you
lucky thing!!!),
Think of him as an obnoxious
teenager. At 19 mos, he is
challenging your authority and would probably be out drinking beer and breaking
windows if he could. Make him work
for everything he wants (a walk, your attention, food…) by a sit/stay or
down/stay. Keep your petting brief
and make him earn more along the way. Order
my handout on Dominance behavior in dogs, and the one on Basic Obedience will
help you to apply training to every day life. Aloha!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Recently, I have noticed that my puppy is generating a lot of saliva while riding in my car. The problem is that he is not swallowing but drooling all over. Could he be getting car-sick? What can be done about this?? Once he gets out of the car, he seems fine and active, it's just when he's riding.
Dear Cho-Kee
Hypersalivation (drooling) is a sign of nausea and fear. Yes, he could be getting car sick. Sit with him in the car and go nowhere. Give him a special treat that he gets only in the car. Pet him to reassure him, then take him for a walk around the block. Next, repeat the procedure but go for a short car ride instead. A step by step program is described in the handout on ‘Phobias’, and ‘Travel with your pet’ would also be helpful to you. Enjoy your puppy!
Dear Dr Cookie,
We have a Shiba Inu 10 mos. old; we have had him since he was 8 wks old. We love him but he is so destructive! He has chewed the corners of my sofa, digs up my grass in the yard chews on anything plastic or rubber. We buy many chew things for him weekly but he always chews. We play with him all the time and he has gone to puppy school . He is a love he has been raised with six children and is so gentle with the children but eats all their toys!!?
Dear Marilyn
Your little guy needs doggy
friends, not just kids. You also
need to make sure that your kids are not encouraging him to play roughly (chase,
nip, jump…). He needs to play
with other dogs, go for long walks at least twice a day…and he needs to chew
on rawhide bones. Puppy proof your
home. Your children must put their
toys away or they are fair game to the puppy!
They could also be dangerous if swallowed, so take good care of your
SEVEN kids! (Handouts: Pets & Kids; Destructive behavior; Play
behavior...)
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My
husband and I have a wonderful and very hyper 8 month old neutered male kitten.
He has so much energy and though we try and give him all our attention
when we are home, he is bored and lonely by himself in the house for a large
part of the day. Last week we
introduced a new kitten (about 6 months at least) into our home from the
shelter. She had her shots and was
spayed before coming home with us, and we did our homework on keeping the cats
separate and introducing them slowly and with association to food and play to
prevent aggression.
At first we were concerned that the male was attacking her.
He follows her around with his nose stuck to her rear, and is constantly
pulling her to the floor by biting her neck.
She doesn't seem to be threatened by this behavior and instead runs right
to him. We are concerned that this
behavior is sexual, but are confused as to why they would be acting this way if
they are both fixed. We could be
wrong, but since we felt they were being aggressive at first, we have been
sprinkling water on him to leave her alone, but it hasn't helped.
Dear Heather,
Sexual behavior (such as the
neck grasping you describe) is not entirely due to hormones and can persist in
some males even following neutering. Persistent sexual behaviors are not uncommon, and are usually
seen in males that have been neutered after puberty (but not always).
Sounds like they’re getting along just fine.
He is simply relating to her sexually and she is behaving submissively to
him. To discourage his mounting her, keep him occupied with
regular play time. Don’t be
afraid to sternly say ‘no, bad cat!’ when he mounts her, but immediately
direct him toward a more acceptable game with you!
Don’t be too concerned, it is normal after all and spring is in the
air!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
Up until
4 wks ago we had a really lovely and well behaved Scottish Terrier.
One evening in her sleep she urinated on the furniture, it happened again
the next day and has continued on a regular basis.
She no longer barks to ask to go in the garden to do her business. She
also walks around in a clockwise circle, not chasing her tail and never
anticlockwise, she even does it in her bed or on cushions in small spaces.
Our vet said he has come to a dead end with her
treatment and said it may be behaviour problems but he is not sure,
please help.
Dear Lynne,
The picture you have painted of your dog’s behavior is: urinary incontinence, compulsive circling, and regression in house training. It is really important to make certain there is no underlying physical problem: complete urinary analysis, urine culture, complete blood work. She may have an unresolved urinary tract infection and the circling could be a sign of discomfort. She may be having seizures in the form of circling behavior and the incontinence is part of this. It is difficult for me to say what is going on. However, if your veterinarian doesn’t know, it is time for a second opinion. If no medical reason can be found, please contact me again and we will set up a telephone or email consult. If these tests have already been done, I can review them and use them to diagnose and treat her behavior problems. Her behavior is, indeed, worrisome and I am available to help you if you need me.
Dr.
Cookie;
I
have a 12 yr old Lab who will not quit licking his front foreleg. He
Dear
Scott,
Please
accept my condolences on the loss of your young dog. In my opinion, grief is a form of separation anxiety.
Many would argue that dogs have no cognitive understanding of death,
however, at the very least they are eminently capable of understanding the
absence of a favorite companion. Self-mutilation, an advanced form of psychogenic grooming, is
one of the symptoms of separation anxiety.
Once a neurotic habit is triggered, it can sometimes continue
indefinitely even beyond resolution of the emotions that prompted it.
Please contact me so that we can provide your friend with appropriate
help.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
9 mo old cat. When she eats, she
scratches the kitchen floor, and all
round the bowl or the cabinet like how she scratches in the litter box.
Sometimes she would just scratch uncontrollably for almost a half hour. Then
after scratching she'll eat a little. Then scratch some more then eat and so
forth. I asked my vet about this
behavior but he does not have any conclusions to this.
Dear Tbirsim1,
There are a number of
explanations for this unusual behavior. A
‘displacement activity’ is one that occurs out of context, usually when an
animal is in conflict about something. The
scratching seems out of context when a cat is fed and so the scratching is a
‘displaced’ behavior. Does your
cat have any dental or gum disease that might hurt when she eats?
Does she really like the food you give her?
Another possibility is that it is a mild form of compulsive behavior.
On the other hand, it could just be a quirky thing she does that makes
her special!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have 2
kittens, one male who is 10 months old and a 4 mo old female
Dear Sharon from Down Under,
Your boy is 10 months old.
Think of him as a rowdy teenager looking for things to do.
Yes, you have reinforced his attention-seeking calls by picking him up
and petting him. BUT, try playing
with him before he starts to pace around. He
wants to expand his territory and explore the world, like any healthy teenager.
So give him more activity and reasons to be happy staying at home so he
won't want to leave on a 'walk about'!
Hi Dr. Cookie,
I adopted
Toby, a 35 lb mixed breed from an animal shelter 5 years ago. He was 1 yr old,
then, and had obviously been abused or mistreated.
I take him to the park often for long hikes and runs, and when I feel
it's safe, I let him off his leash and he has a ball. Every Saturday morning for
the past year, I've been getting together, at a secluded school playground, with
a group of dog owners in the neighborhood. We let our dogs off their leashes and
they play and run. We stand around and watch them and laugh at their antics.
They are mainly black and yellow Labs, Ridgebacks, and a Collie.
Last Saturday, Toby and I went to the dog park as usual and found
Dear Martha in Maryland,
Well, I can say for a fact that
I have been peed upon by some of the nicest dogs from the best families!
One of them was a 150 lb Rottweiler and all I could think was ‘Gee,
I’m so glad he likes me!’. Why
didn’t this woman advise you he had done this the 1st time?
You do need to be vigilant with boy dogs that can get all excited in the
park and start to mark people this way. It
sure can dampen the mood (sorry, couldn’t resist). Ask your parkie friends to
be vigilant and to tell him to sit when he approaches them.
Of course, it is really up to you to supervise your own puppy but in case
you are distracted, they will be prepared.
Teach him to ‘sit’ instead of ‘going with the flow’!
Dear Dr Cookie
We have a
4 yr old Jack Russell Terrier who is mostly very obedient
Dear Peter (PW of London, UK),
Some doggies can become very
pumped up in the car. The whining
(sometimes persistent barking) is a sign of excitement.
You need to control his energies or at least redirect them.
Teach him to down/stay in and around your home, then in your stationary
vehicle, then with the motor running, then around the block.
Give a firm yank on his lead if he misbehaves, and reward him for a calm
down/stay with a special tidbit. You
can also offer him a rawhide bone to chew on as you drive. Good luck!
Dear Dr Cookie:
Our 1 year old
Pug, Maggie, is basically a good dog but one thing she does which drives us
crazy is she is always chewing on small plastic things and getting things out of
the garbage (she prefers tissues and such) to chew on. She's been reprimanded
for this MANY times, and seems to know it's wrong, yet does it anyway.
Today, she ate my plastic shaver.
Dear Laurie
Your Pug puppy needs to chew,
so provide her with alternative chew toys.
Rawhide bones of all shapes and sizes (find what she likes best) offer
them the most satisfaction. If you
don’t find something to put in her mouth, she will, and you already know you
don’t approve of her choices! An
extra walk will also burn off some of that extra energy! You also need to puppy proof your home (e.g. secure the trash
cans and razors) until she settles down…
Dear Dr. Cookie:
My 5 yr
old male cat has been pulling the hair off of
Dear Lynette,
I don’t think the addition of
the second kitty has any relation to this.
What you describe is psychogenic grooming. Separation anxiety exists in cats too and there is a clear
pattern that he does this more in your absence. Like fingernail biting, a bad habit can continue once it’s
acquired, even when you no longer remember why you started nibbling at your
nails. We should arrange a
telephone or email consult to discuss the details of your kitty’s history and
devise a treatment plan to make everyone more comfortable!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I own a 3
years old Keeshund his name is Duke, everything
Dear Luis,
Duke’s regression in house
training may be territorial marking as he identifies his scent with this new
addition to his territory. The
familiar scents trapped in your old carpet must have been very reassuring to
him. Keep him out of the room for a few weeks, unless he is on a
leash and with you. Go back to
basics of house training (frequent walks, longer walks after a meal and a nap!).
He’ll settle down if you prevent him from getting into a bad habit and
remind him of his manners!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
beautiful little 11 1/2 month old female Poodle,
Dear Lee,
I agree, it’s her pacifier
toy. My parent’s dog Joey (I
guess that makes him my little brother) is a Golden Retriever and he has a teddy
bear that he confides in (he sucks on him).
It’s not really a problem, just an individual idiosyncrasy.
You might want to get a duplicate toy in case something happens to this
one. Get her a sister if YOU want
another dog, she’ll adapt either way!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
My cat is
plucking her fur. What can I do? She is 3 yr old tabby point Siamese. Neutered
female, living indoors in my apartment in Copenhagen.
Dear Heikki from Copenhagen,
Denmark,
Well, this is not strictly a
Siamese problem. Some cat lovers
insist that the so called ‘hot blooded cats’ such as the Siamese,
Abyssinians, etc. tend to be a bit more neurotic but I don’t think they can
claim excessive grooming as their own special vice.
Psychogenic grooming can be licking, plucking, or licking and plucking.
It can be an obsessive compulsive disorder that occurs spontaneously, or
it can be triggered by separation anxiety.
In any case, you need to deal with the symptom (plucking, in your case)
and what causes it to begin or to persist.
I’d love to set up an email consult to help you both!
Meanwhile, please say hello to the Little Mermaid in your harbor (I have
a mermaid collection and love my Royal Copenhagen mermaid dishes!)…
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My wife
and I adopted a 2 yr old male Blue Tick Coonhound from our local humane society
on Dec. 30, 2000. He was brought to
the shelter by someone who found him running loose.
As a result, we do not know his past history. Cooper was severely
malnourished when we adopted him and has about 10 more pounds to go before we
level him off.
Dear Errol,
I think Cooper’s deal is that
he is bonding to you. Separation
anxiety did not set in until he felt like a member of your family.
Inappropriate elimination and vocalization are 2 of the most common
symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a common problem but it is
even more common in rescue dogs. Crate training is not for every dog, although
it works well for many. Nonetheless, he needs to be really ready to sleep for a while
before he goes in. Please order my
handouts on the following topics to get all the details to help you and Cooper:
Separation Anxiety, How to House train your dog (includes discussion on
crate training), Why it is important to walk your dog.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I rescued
my 2.5 yr old Doberman in Aug. 1999. She
was a complete nut case when I first got her.
I'm assuming she was abused and neglected. She was diagnosed with
Separation Anxiety by my vet. This
came after she ate my kitchen cabinets and escaped her metal crate.
Over
Destructiveness is another
major symptom of separation anxiety. Your
Dobie’s history of abandonment and abuse certainly increase her risk of
developing separation related issues. The
intensity of her distress, risk of injury, and property damage definitely
warrant immediate attention. You
say that she had been adjusting until she was separated from you and her
housemate. I think it would be important to teach them to walk together, with
you. This takes some practice with
‘heel’, perhaps a coupler on a single leash for both dogs will help.
This setback may be simply that. Remember
that a walk is a territorial pack patrol, and she should not be separated from
the pack in this activity! I do not know of any veterinary behaviorist in your
area but I invite you to consider setting up a consult with me if things
continue to crumble. I’d love to
help you both!
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
Our
Sunday is a 2 year old female cat. She is a very important part of our family
and she is very affectionate. Two weeks ago,
she went out and she was in heat. We have been
Dear
Alice,
Well,
if you’ve been reading my column for some time, you’d know how strongly I
feel about NOT letting cats roam outdoors, especially before they are
neutered!!! Sunday is not coming
home because the ‘call of the wild’ is stronger than your calls to her.
What did you expect? If you
do manage to get her back, she should be spayed and kept indoors. Place
posters around your neighborhood, contact your local veterinary clinics, animal
control officers, and let them know you at least care enough to find her.
I suppose she did not have any identification on her, which is another
no-no, so anyone seeing her will think she is just another unwanted unloved
stray. Best of luck, I do hope you
find her and that she is not harmed before you do.
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have a
Beagle mix (spayed female) who needs a lot of exercise.
I have a fenced yard, but she always finds a way out. Worse, my son's best friend has ADD, and has trouble
remembering to keep the front door closed, etc. The result is that our little
Houdini gets loose on the street nearly every day.
She comes home when she's tired. We've taken her to obedience class, and
it has helped. Unfortunately, my
health is not good, and I can't give her the kind of time, training and
attention she needs. We would give her to a good home, but, frankly, her
manners are so bad, and she can be so destructive, that I
would be afraid. To keep her
safe, and to let her get out into the yard more.
I am considering getting an electronic fence which would keep her from
escaping to the street once she gets out the front door.
It would also allow me to give her a doggie door to the back yard where
she (and my other dog) could play
safely.
Hi Sarah,
Once a dog figures out how to
‘escape’, the reward of roaming free is overwhelmingly attractive.
As you know from reading my replies to many other dog owners, a back yard
is a luxury but it is just not enough to keep a dog in good physical condition
or from going stir crazy! Many dogs
that are determined to break away will take the punishment of an electronic zap
from a concealed barrier and keep on going.
These fences also do not prevent any unwelcome intruders (people, other
dogs/cats, wild animals) from entering your yard.
Put your money in an enclosed pen within your yard, or reinforce your
fencing. This young dog sounds like
she needs more exercise. Perhaps
your son is old enough to walk her if you are not…If you really think you
can’t handle her, it would be kind to take the time to find a new home that
has the experience and time to make her into the civilized dog that we all know
she can be! Handouts you might be interested in trying first are:
Roaming and Escaping; Why it’s important to walk your dog; Territorial
behavior in dogs, Basic obedience… Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a male (7 months) and a female (1 yr) cat. She has just come into season but my male has no interest in her. Is he too young or is there something wrong with him?
Dear Bryan,
First of all, if you are not a serious breeder and just playing around
with breeding for fun, don’t. Have
both your pets neutered. There are
way too many folks still not taking responsibility for their contributions to
the pet over population. If you
think I’m kidding, just spend some time in an animal shelter and talk to the
staff about how many beautiful animals are destroyed every day. Your male may be too young, or the female may be rejecting
him. Dogs and cats are not as promiscuous
as you might think and can be selective about their mates. Also,
the female may be intimidating to him if she is clearly dominant over him.
Either way, get them neutered. That’s
the best advice.
Dear Dr.
I have a
5 year old Pug who is so darn picky about going #2.
I can be outside with him for at least a half hour and there are so many
times when it looks like he is going to go but he changes his mind.
When he does go he is rewarded with praise and treats so you would think
he would look forward to that and just go!
Unfortunately he has to hold it in until I get home which I know is not
good for him but at this point in time I don't work that close to go home for
lunch and I know if I did he wouldn't go anyway.
Dear Danielle and Milo,
Walking your dog is not just so
he can empty his bladder and bowel. He needs to sniff around, mark his
territory, spend time with you, practice obedience, all the good stuff.
He may need longer walks to stimulate his bowel (some of us are more
sluggish than others when it comes to that!) or he may simply have a preference
for defecating closer to home. My
parent’s dog (my brother) Joey won’t defecate in their yard at all!
That’s just his way. You
are stressing yourself, and your dog, for no reason.
Order my handout on House training your dog.
Relax! Be happy!
Hello, Dr. Cookie,
I have 3
nervous cats. In 2 wks, we shall be
moving to France and I have several possible options.
1) Drive the 12 hours with the cats sedated; 2) Leave them with my
in-laws for about 3 wks while we look for a house; 3) Fly them direct to Nice (
I used to handle livestock for the airlines so I am very dubious about them
flying); The cats would then be taken to live in our flat in France but they
would have no outdoor access, and I worry that this would be cruel…at least
they would be with us.
Dear Collette,
Change, by definition, is
stressful. All your options are
stressful to the cats, so it’s really a question of choosing the least
stressful one that is also convenient for you.
Obviously, I would not recommend that they go outside but it is even more
important to keep them indoors in a strange and temporary home!
That is very stressful, and accentuates the danger of losing them and
other risks of injury. Sedation is
no longer recommended (over here in North America) for traveling pets because
even though they are frightened, they do not have to cope with additional health
risks. Besides, no sedative lasts
for 12 hrs without additional administration on the way. Can you not find an airline that will allow you to fly with
the cats under your seat in the passenger cabin?
That would be the quickest and least painful way for everyone.
Otherwise, perhaps you could drive 6 hrs to your in-laws, and drive the
remaining 6 hrs the following day? Try
to keep it simple, that’s the best way. (Recommended QuickFix Handouts:
'Traveling with your pets", 'Moving to a new home'...). Bon voyage et
bonne chance!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
6 year old cat I adopted from a local Humane Society as a kitten after a park
ranger found her and her other 3 week old siblings taped in a box to die.
She used to be a bit timid and quiet (but friendly!) but recently things
have changed. A couple years ago, I left home to go to college.
Soon afterwards i began hearing that she was acting strangely.
She craves constant attention. If
someone enters the room, the cat immediately meows and watches them.
She sometimes bites hands in order to get her ears scratched. I recently
returned for break and her behavior became stranger.
She tore up some tissue paper for the Christmas wrapping, and climbs on
my mother's piano (not something she usually does).
The cat follows me everywhere if she isn't asleep; even as I type she has
settled herself on my desk. If she
can't see anyone around when she wakes up, she begins to walk around the house
meowing at the top of her lungs until she sees someone, and continues until they
pet her or pick her up. I don't
know what to do to get her to stop being so high stung all the time...most
cats seem to be ok on their own, but she can't stand it.
Dear Danielle,
Separation anxiety does, indeed, exist in cats. Some cats, more than others, become very attached to their owners or to particular family members. Once they begin to act out for attention, they can continue the pattern even though they may have adjusted to their favorite person’s absence (or have they?). Anyway, she does sound anxious to me. Can you take her to college with you? Can your folks get another kitty as a companion (read my handout on Selecting a Pet, and Introducing New Pets beforehand!). She needs more attention in the form of play, petting, brushing whatever satisfies her. That way, she won’t have to ‘meow’ for it so much!
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have 2 cats, littermates, that are 9 years old. It appears one dominates the upstairs and the other the downstairs. We have 3 litter boxes downstairs because that's the only place there is room for them. The upstairs cat likes to sleep in a little cat bed. The downstairs cat likes to sleep in one of the beds, under the blankets. Recently, the downstairs cat comes upstairs at night and urinates in the other cats bed. We've tried separating the food and water dishes, but that doesn't seem to help. I have gotten new beds and thoroughly cleaned the area.
Dear Jane,
I’m a bit confused from your
description (never having seen your home), but can’t you just confine the
misbehaving cat to her bedroom overnight? Close
the door to the little cat bed during the day so the other cat can’t make up
for it in daylight! Seems like the
downstairs cat is challenging the upstairs cat’s territory.
See how things go with this simple solution. You can always order the handouts or schedule a consult if necessary.
Dear Dr Cookie -
Dear Chris (LaisOK),
Take a deep breath! These puppies DON’T “KNOW BETTER” or they wouldn’t be doing it. They are simply behaving fearfully and submissively because they see you are anticipating their ‘accidents’. Sounds to me like you never really had them house trained reliably (at least not the male) and that he marked his new territory when you moved home and then they both regressed! You need to start from scratch, but at least this will give you the opportunity to do it right this time. Order my handout on House Training your Dog, and Why it’s important to walk your dog! These will tell you everything you need to know!
Hi Dr Cookie,
I have a
problem with my Tenterfield Terrier. Just last week she gave birth to
her first litter and unfortunately the pups were stillborn. As you might expect,
she was quite distressed when we took them away, and she spent the whole night
crying and looking around the house for her pups. The next day, she had seemed
to forget about looking for the pups, but she still cries quite a bit,
especially during the night. She has now taken to carrying her toys around. The
day after the births, she took all her favorite toys from the lounge room and
hid them under the bed, one of her favorite places to hide.
She now carries them from room to room throughout the day, to be with her
wherever she chooses to sleep. She seems quite distant, preferring to sleep
alone under the bed, and she will not eat. Can you suggest anything that we
might do to make her a little happier, and help her get through this. It breaks
my heart every time I hear her cry.
Dear Samantha,
Poor baby! She sounds quite depressed and confused. I hope you have taken her to your veterinarian to make sure there is no medical reason for her lack of appetite and for all the pups to have died (e.g. uterine infection…). She may also be uncomfortable because the milk she has produced has nowhere to go…cool compresses will help as the lactation resolves on its own. Take her for an extra little walk in the evening, spend time with her, she should come out of this in a few days. As long as there is no medical problem underlying this sad time, let me know if she is not better in a few days. We may need to set up an email consult to discuss possible options to help her ‘snap out of this’.
Dear
Cookie:
I
am very concerned that my two kittens (5 1/2 months) are already
Dear
Shelly,
Domestic
cats are quite precocious. Females
reach sexual maturity on average by 6 mos., so kittens can and do produce more
kittens. This is a good reason to
have your females spayed before they can contribute to their overpopulation.
Males generally are not fertile before the age of 6 or 7 months but
sexual play, sexual aggression, and attempts to mate certainly start much
sooner. I’m glad they will be
neutered soon!
Dear Dr.,
My 7 month
old male German Shepherd has an awful habit of urinating when played with or
when getting excited about anything (playing, walking etc) and even urinates on
people he meets...help, what can we do?
Dear Annya,
Puppy sphincters take time to strengthen but part of what you describe is behavioral. Submissive urination is normal in young pups and they usually outgrow this as they mature and gain confidence. However, urinating ON people is something different. If you mean that he accidentally piddles on their shoes, this is part of a submissive greeting. Keep the excitement down by keeping your voices calm. If you mean that he is actually urinating intentionally on people, this marking behavior is easily curtailed by teaching him (gently) to sit and stay when greeting or meeting people.
Hi Dr. Cookie
My
girlfriend and I are thinking of living together but are a bit concerned about
our pets. I have a 3 yr old
Miniature Schnauzer and she has two 3 year old cats. My Schnauzer is playful and
loves to instigate play while the cats are in their own world. The cats have
never seen a dog let alone something so full of energy. All my Schnauzer wants to do is play, play, play !
What do we do ??
Dear Michael,
The cats should be able to
fend for themselves as long as they have their claws and the doggy is not
seriously aggressive toward them. It
is important to realize that in most cases a dog can do more damage to a cat
than vice versa! You will need to
train your dog to respect them (i.e. keep him on leash even indoors until you
are certain the cats will not be harmed) and also take your dog for very long
walks to keep her tired and less apt to tormenting the cats even in play.
The cats will be under more stress if the dog is invading their home turf
(you move into your girlfriend’s place) but it will be stressful if they move
in with you or into an entirely new place.
Details are explained in my handout on ‘Introducing New Pets’ and
‘Moving to a New Home with Your Pet’.
Hi there Dr. Cookie!
I
adopted a 3 year old Shiba Inu/Pomeranian female. She is friendly but sometimes
is protective of me and snaps at people she even knows and that scares me. I do not want to muzzle her. What do you suggest?
Dear Linda,
Many toy or small dogs are
overly protected as pups and are not well socialized when they are young.
This antisocial tendency is amplified by their understandable fear in a
world of what must seem to them to be ‘giants and ogres’!
On the other hand, some of these little doggies become very dominant, and
these little Napoleans think they own the world.
Take an obedience class so that you can learn to communicate with her and
establish leadership. Socialize her
to other people and dogs in a nearby park.
Take things slowly and you may be able to extend her comfort zone!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 6 month old Yorkshire terrier, who has come along well with his house training. Our problem is that every time he sees the kids for the first time or if has been in the other room & we call him he becomes excited & urinates anywhere from a few drops to a little puddle. Is there anything that we can do to curtail this problem? He has not been neutered yet, & does this make a difference?
Dear Di1021,
Neutering would be a good
idea to prevent other problems but what you describe is not related to hormones.
You may be dealing with both submissive urination and a house training
problem. Check out the QuickFix
page and order these handouts: ‘How to House Train Your Puppy or Dog’, and
‘Inappropriate Elimination in Dogs’. Both
problems are explained in detail and are sure to help
Hi Dr.Cookie,
I have
recently purchased 2 cockapoos (Cocker Spaniels x Min. Poodles) but have to have
them shipped and I am a little worried because they will be coming in the
winter. Do you think shipping is traumatizing to puppies?
Dear Vicki,
I assume that you mean that
the pups will be sent by air freight? I
don’t know much about them but I hope that the breeder has taken care to have
them vaccinated, and to select an air carrier with a protective attitude toward
shipping live animals and 'climate controlled' compartments.
Many pets are flown all over the world and most do just fine, if
precautions are taken to ensure their safety.
They are certainly terrified (some world travelers seem to endure without
a wrinkle) but recover quickly when they arrive safely and are delivered into
the arms of a loving new Mom or Dad!
Dr. Cookie,
We
own a 16 month old male Cairn Terrier who recently has had several episodes of
aggressive behavior with my 26 year old nephew and my husband. We bought our dog
when he was 10 months old and have never experienced this type of behavior
before with this dog. Our previous
Cairn Terrier (who passed away in May at the age of 16 1/2 years of age), was a
female and never exhibited this type of behavior.
Our dog is loving and affectionate with me and follows me everywhere I
go. We are quite worried and want
to do whatever we can to rectify this problem.
Dear Cheryl,
Dominance aggression is
more common in male dogs and emerges when the dog approaches maturity.
He is still a teenager, but he is flexing his muscles at his
‘rivals’. Don’t let him! Take some obedience classes so you can learn the vocabulary
of commands necessary to reestablish leadership over your little tyrant!
(Suggested handouts: Dominance behavior in dogs, Basic Obedience for your
dog…).
Hello Dr. Cookie:
We
have a wonderful cat. She is 18
months old, neutered and declawed. We have had her over a year. She doesn't give me any
grief except she is extremely opinionated.
She meows constantly. It is
not a whine...it is more like a Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom...all the time. We do not
believe in smacking the cat...she is rarely bad anyways...but when
you give a smack on the rear and say "quiet" or "no"
she meows again, another smack, "no" another meow... We have no
kids, she lives alone in a large apartment and we go to work for 8 hours.
Dear Andrea,
First of all, you say you don’t ‘believe in smacking the cat’, but you’re doing it anyway. Don’t. Enough said. Secondly, you are gone all day and she has been alone and well-behaved. Why don’t you play with her? Vocalizing is often attention-seeking behavior. So give her some happy times! Play with her, pet her, brush her…give her what she needs so she can stop begging you for it!
Dear Doctor Cookie:
I have a 10 year old female yellow Lab mix who was the perfect pet up to 2 years ago. Now I am at my wits end with her. I was always able to leave Dabny (and Dusty our husky malamute mix) in the house when we weren't home. Now Dabs has become very destructive. After she ate the cushions on the couch we started keeping them in the garage when away. Then Dabs ate and clawed her way thru the wall and gouged my car door until she opened it and ate the interior of my car. Now she is crated in the garage when we aren't home. She hates it and tries to claw her way out. Her latest bad behavior is peeing in the house (when I am home). We have just bought a new mattress set and she keeps peeing on it. My husband said I either keep her crated all day, or we will get rid of her. (She has also peed on the couch and on both or our kids beds).
Dear
Tammie,
Dabny’s behavior has obviously worsened since confining her to a crate for long periods. She needed more, not less, exercise and attention prior to being crated. Separation related behaviors can occur in dogs of all ages but in older dogs it is essential to do blood and urine tests to make certain there is nothing going on (a physical exam is not enough). Once you have determined that she truly is healthy, I recommend a behavior consult. At the very least, please visit the QuickFix handout page for information on Separation Anxiety, Inappropriate Elimination in Dogs, and Why it is important to walk your dog. She needs a LONG walk (45 min. or more) at least once a day, preferably in the morning; a shorter one in the late after noon should be ok at her age. No dog should be left alone unless s/he is tired enough to have a nice long nap!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We
have a 5 year old yellow Lab Neelix, that we have had since he was a puppy
and he has always been a perfect dog. He has had
free reign of the house since he was
housebroken and we have never had any accidents.
Two weeks ago we moved into a new
house (much larger then the last one) and the dog has not adjusted
well at all. He is fine when we are
home but when we leave the house, he uses
our home as his personal bathroom. We
have tried to confine him in the laundry
room while we are away but he has managed to chew through almost
all of the door. Should we go back
to crating him like we did when he was a puppy??
Dear Sheryl,
Moving is traumatic for
everyone in the family, including and perhaps especially the family pet!
Get him used to short absences, take him for long walks so he is tired
(and has an empty bowel/bladder), give him a special treat before you leave, and
order the handouts on Separation Anxiety, Moving to a New Home, and House
Training your Dog, for more detailed explanation and suggestions! Crate Training
could make him worse, or it may control damage to your home but will not help
him emotionally either…(sort of like putting a bandage over a laceration that
really needs stitches!).
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I
have a 1 yr old Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu. He
is very loved and spoiled. Recently
he he has started whining for no apparent reason. Why does he whine and how can
we stop it?
Dear Renee,
I really don’t have
enough details to tell you exactly why he started to whine but I can tell you
that whining is generally an attention-seeking or distress call.
You may think he is spoiled, but by doggy standards he may not be having
his needs met. Try long walks, play
time with other puppies, and obedience training as a fun and constructive way to
interact!
Dear Dr.,
On several occasions my dog, Abby, has been running in the field behind my
home and when I command her to come back to me
to go on leash, she "runs away"
so to speak. This happened recently at 5 p.m. and we finally "trapped"
her on the front porch at 4 a.m. after she had been outside in subzero
temperatures for over 8 hours (and on
Christmas eve, too!)! Why does Abby
behave this way? We our older pet
owners, and she is just 2 years old. Her breed is black lab/Australian Shepherd
so she has very strong herding instincts. We
love her dearly. I walk her and our
Rottie/Husky mix EVERY morning for a mile.
Then I try and let her run the field twice more each day.
Every so often so goes "pycho" on me and pulls this stunt.
I am totally stumped and have
resigned myself to never letting her run the field behind our house again.
Dear Nancy,
Abby is running away because she can. She has the opportunity, the curiosity, the intelligence, and the stamina! Any dog that is not under reliable voice command should not be left off leash. Once dogs discover that they can run free and have a great time in the process, they will try to do it at any opportunity. So, you need to prevent the opportunity (keep on leash, fence your property), decrease her desire to roam (longer and/or more frequent walks, dog walker, agility training, more play time with other doggies) and improve your control over her in general (obedience training every day!). Handouts on Escaping and Basic Obedience training are available on the QuickFix page.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 2 yr. old female Pointer/Lab cross likes to chase cats. The chase is all she's interested in regards to cats. I think it's her nature to track and hunt. She usually gives an indication she sees or smells one which gives me time to give verbal commands. However she will bolt at times which concerns me. I can't trust her around the street yet. Most of the chases take place in a greenbelt behind my home. She will come back to me on her own or at my 'come ' command. Overall she's very obedient and well behaved. Will she outgrow this behavior or do I need to be more diligent in my training techniques.
Dear David,
As long as she has the
opportunity to bolt, and enjoys the chase, she will.
I would not leave her off leash, especially with cars nearby.
Try keeping her on a 6 ft. leash and do obedience training with her in
the field as you walk. If you
decide to give her some freedom, let the leash drag…you have a better chance
of grabbing or stepping on the trailing leash if she bolts! Give her more play time with other dogs too, sounds like she
could use more diversity in her playmates!
Dr. Cookie,
I
have a male Lab/Chow and a male Rottweiler, both 1 year old.
They were introduced to one another as puppies. I've
never had any problems with them. About 3 to 4 weeks ago I got a roommate who
brought a female Australian Shepherd into the house.
The first 2 weeks went fine, but
these last 2 weeks have been terrible. My
Lab gets aggressive towards the Rottie,
they have had two big fight. The
Rottie shows more of submissive behavior,
but after awhile he gets tired and turns aggressive. Today
the Lab is getting neutered. They all have kennels.
Dear Jaime,
The addition of new pets
necessarily changes the dynamics between all the pets in the house hold.
New dogs should be introduced gradually, on neutral territory, like a
nearby park. Chances are, however,
that the Aussie’s appearance on the scene instigated an almost inevitable
showdown, although it would likely have been less intense. The two males are entering young adulthood and are working
out their social ranks, i.e. who is dominant.
BUT, the fact that one or both is not neutered also triggers sexual
aggression, which is extremely intense between males. All these dogs should be neutered. The Rottie is apparently unwilling to concede to his
‘brother’, so you need to take some serious measures here to prevent tragic
consequences. Details on all these
topics are available in the following QuickFix handouts: Introducing New Pets
and Dominance Behavior in Dogs (includes tips on how to restore the peace) … It might be necessary to ask your room mate to find another
place,- his dog is part of what makes the problem complicated, unfortunately,
and you have enough to deal with right now.
Dear Dr. Cookie;
Our
cat was diagnosed as diabetic a number of months ago.
Twice a day, we give her shots of
insulin and she seems fine. The
problem is, we now have problems taking
trips and leaving her for more than overnight.
We tried having people
"shoot" her but she does not do well with strangers doing
it and freaks out, hissing & relieving herself all over.
To be honest, she doesn't really
like strangers in general. We then tried leaving her at the vet for the weekend.
Although they could give her the shots, she came home with a virus. She'd
never been sick before that. So,
now what do we do? We're nervous
about leaving her at the vet again and don't want to risk the lives of our kind
neighbors.
Dear Danna,
It is generally a good idea
to introduce a pet, especially one that is not very sociable, to a pet sitter
long before an intended trip. In
general, pets with health problems need to be cared for by trained
professionals. Why don’t you
contact your veterinarian (or another in your area) and ask if any of their
technicians do pet-sitting? Your
designated pet sitter should come over at least several times a day, so that
s/he becomes a part of the normal environment.
Take things very slowly. Then
when your cat seems relaxed, teach them how to do the injections (if they
don’t already know how…). It
may take many weeks to reach this point, and the pet-sitter should be paid for
their time, but in the end, it will be worth the effort!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I
have 2 West Highland White Terriers aged 12 years and 2 years.
Recently they have begun fighting.
They have not drawn blood but sound very vicious.
The 12 year old has always been
great with the 2 year old, but the two year old definitely
runs the show. The two dogs sleep in our room at night, sometimes both
with us and sometimes only the 2 year old.
It all started when the 12 year
old tried to get on the bed and the 2 year old was already there. They
just growl and snap at one another. They
both have started the fights. I try to avoid these situations by making sure
they are both on the bed at the same time
or neither are on the bed. I have
tried spanking both of them and it
doesn't help. I have tried raising
my voice to them and that doesn't help.
Someone suggested I spray water at them, and that does not phase them
at all.
It is obviously some jealousy.
Dear CHeath1018,
At 2 years of age, your younger dog is a teenager entering adulthood. He is challenging your older dog for top rank and your older dog is reluctant to be demoded. I agree that neither dog should be on the bed if that instigates a conflict. However, spanking, yelling, or spraying them with water is quite useless. This is not jealousy, it is normal canine behavior. Either you let them work it out on their own (since no one is getting hurt), or you can follow the tips outlined in my handout on Dominance behavior in dogs. Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
have a very sweet natured mixed breed dog, who is part Weimeraner.
I live in Florida now and am about to move to Chicago. I am worried about
winterizing my dog. Currently she won't urinate by leash, she likes to roam and
sniff. She also requires privacy. I will
have to leash train her, but I have heard that there are products where she
could go to the bathroom in my garage, kind of like a sand box.
Do you know of any products of this nature?
Dear Alice,
Start training her to walk on a leash again now, before you move. I do not generally recommend that dogs be trained to void indoors. Too many dogs misunderstand and end up going everywhere but their designated latrine. Besides, the point of walking your dog is to reinforce house training, give her exercise, the opportunity to socialize…and many other perks. There is a new product on the market (a ‘dog’ litter), however, unless you have a tiny toy dog who is terrified of the world, just take your dog for a walk!!! As far as wintering goes, it would help if you were to relocate during the spring or fall, but if that is not possible, she’ll do all right if you get her a coat, until she is used to those Chicago winds! (Does anyone really get used to winter?)
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My cat is destroying my artificial Christmas tree by climbing up it every
chance he gets. I tried a pet repellent spray but that doesn't seem to work. Any suggestions?
Dear Laura,
Thanks for bringing this up! Christmas is a potentially dangerous time for our pets. Please go to the Topic of the Month for an in-depth discussion and some important seasonal tips. I don't have much confidence in pet repellents. Keep him away from the tree by closing off the room, or booby-trapping the base of the tree (e.g. double-sided sticky tape, or SCAT MATs that give a mild electrostatic shock- it feels like static electricity!). Happy Holidays!
Dear
Dr. Schwartz,
Could
you tell me how one can "test" a dog for aggressiveness?
A few
Dear
Megan
Aggression is not a single-minded state. There
are dozens of types of aggression, although there are about 10 or so primary
categories. Each type of aggression
is associated with a different context, trigger, age, history, temperament…you
get the idea. It is impossible to
answer your question because a ‘test’ might trigger an aggressive response
because it is understandably frightening to the dog, or an insult to his/her
social status. The test might not
provoke a response but the dog could be extremely aggressive in other
circumstances. I do not recommend
the ‘alpha’ roll except for young puppies. I would also not recommend
staring down a dominant dog as a test! Viciousness is a term that means little
in veterinary behavior, except to say that a dog is extremely aggressive.
It does not provide a diagnosis, which is key to providing an appropriate
treatment.
Dr.
Cookie:
Is
it safe for dogs to take Prozac? If
so what is the appropriate dosage per 10 lbs?
Dear
Todd,
Prozac
is a psychotropic drug that is used to treat depressive disorders in people.
It is not technically approved for use in dogs although it is prescribed
as an extra-label drug by veterinary behaviorists.
Any psychoactive medication should be prescribed by a veterinarian who is
qualified to diagnose and treat a pet’s behavior problem.
In my opinion, there are very few reasons to rely exclusively on drugs to
resolve a behavioral issue. Drugs,
including Prozac, are meant to complement modification of the pet’s lifestyle
that likely underlies the problem.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My new cat won't groom herself. We got her from the shelter and she was very dirty. We thought it was because she was a stray and needed help getting that much dirt, oil, etc. off. We washed her with a cloth, water only, and brushed out all the mats. But she hasn't groomed herself since we brought her home. Is it pos. she didn't learn how to groom? If so, anyone know how to teach her to groom? (She is a short hair, young adult.)
Dear TeCoa,
Grooming behavior, or lack of it, is an
indication of a cat’s general emotional and physical health.
On the other hand, a little bit of dishwashing liquid goes a long way to
removing grime and is a gentle non-irritating shampoo for pets.
Your new pet may not be grooming herself because her coat could contain
distasteful substances or because she is anxious and a bit depressed due to so
much upheaval in her life. Get her
cleaned up, take her for a complete checkup, and keep her safe and sound inside
your home where she won’t get so dirty ever again!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 7-month-old Bichon; we have had her since she has been 10 weeks old. She is a wonderful companion, but at 9 p.m., it becomes Tiffy Time. She barks, scratches, whines and about anything else she can do to get you to turn off the TV and lights so she can go to bed. My husband is semi-retired so he spends a lot of time with her during the day; she is only alone a couple hours max a day. She won't even take a nap during the day if we are in the house. We have to leave for about an hour just so she will lay down. If we don't she acts just like a tired child, a brat.
Dear Roy,
She may not be alone for long but that
doesn’t mean she is getting enough exercise or training.
She needs to get out and go for long walks, play with other puppies, have
some obedience training! Then by
the time you’re ready for bed, she’ll already be crashed! Enrich her
schedule so she does not need to act out. Also, it is a good idea to get her
used to being left alone or she will become overly dependent. Order my handouts on: Basic Obedience and Why it is important
to walk your dog. That will get you
back on track!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a male Shih Tzu
that is about 5 yrs old. For about 2 years whenever we
leave the house he starts to jump at the door biting the handle
and scratching it. He does this until we are out of site and
have driven away. It is like he does not want us to leave but it is really
annoying especially when we have guests over and he acts this way.
Is there anyway to stop this?
Dear Brian,
This is a form of separation anxiety. Your job is to get your dog so tired that he is ready to have a nap when you leave, rather than begging you to stay! A long walk does wonders prior to your departure. Additional tips are described in detail in the QuickFix handout on Separation Anxiety!
Dear Dr Schwartz
I would like some advice as my cat likes chewing cables and wires and now that I have my computer, there are more temptations than ever! Some of the wires have been hidden and tucked away out of her reach and attention but others are more difficult and wonder if I can spray them with something that will stop her doing this.
Dear Angelique
The best way to deal with this is to 1) conceal the cables/wires any way you can (commercial cable covers are available), 2) close the room where she is most destructive, 3) booby trap the area, 4) provide more entertaining alternatives! Details are provided in the QuickFix Handouts on Chewing Electrical Cords and Destructive Behavior.
Dear Dr. Cookie
My wife and I have had 4 Boston Terriers in the 34 years of our marriage. We both love the breed. Our latest pet of 12 years recently passed on after a long battle with Cushing’s disease. We now have a new pet that is 2 years old, a beautiful little female Boston. All the dogs we have had up until now were raised as puppies. However, this little dog has this bizarre fear of any hard surface floor.....tile, vinyl, hardwood etc. She will not enter the kitchen at all or any other area not carpeted. This pet was originally one of those Christmas gifts for children bought on a whim. I surmise that after the novelty wore off the dog was much like a video game...tossed aside. When the kids no longer wanted the puppy, she was tossed in a fenced pen in the back yard and totally abandoned without dog or human companion for the last 2 years. I'm wondering if it is possible that the kids slid her around on a hard floor surface at a very young age causing this problem. It really is not a problem as our house has carpet everywhere except the kitchen and dining room. However on the one occasion I took her to the vet she was petrified when we went in. I thought she was just frightened of visiting the vet, not knowing about her fear of floors. Have you ever heard of this before and if so, do you have any advice.
Dear Curious...Thom,
Poor little girl!
Thank you for this timely question.
I hope that many people will consider the plight of puppies acquired at
Christmas or Easter, only to be discarded as they grow up.
There are many reasons why she might be afraid of smooth surfaces but we
could resolve this if you care to set up an email or telephone consult.
Perhaps, more than anything, she has already found the cure…a kind,
patient, and loving home. As a
fellow BT owner (Georgyanna, 1 yr old already!), I know how addictive they can
be. Your pup might gain some confidence with another BT
around…!
Hi Dr. Cookie,
My 9-month-old Pug was neutered about 2 weeks ago. Ever since then, he acts as if he has never been housetrained. I continually find surprises, even when he has recently been out to take care of business. Most recently, he has starting urinating right in front of me, which he knows is "bad".
Dear Brent,
Regression in house training can occur
following hospitalization, changes in a dog’s routine (or yours), emotional
conflict, generally anything that upsets the dog.
Another big reason is dogs that are not taken for walks so the owner has
the opportunity to reinforce appropriate elimination. Your Pug boy may have been a bit traumatized but it’s time
to get him snapped out of it! Go
back to basics. Take him out after
every meal, every nap, and as often as possible in between. Handouts on “House Training” and “Why it is important
to walk your dog” will give additional information and advice!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
We have a neutered
male 5-year-old Lab/Sharpei mix. Snuffy
has been with us since he was
a puppy and has been a wonderful family pet.
Snuffy has a large side yard that serves as his area when we are away at
work, we let him in the large yard in back when we get home; he has always acted
happy with this arrangement. Approximately,
two weeks ago Snuffy started trying to get out of the
yard, digging and breaking through the fence. I thought that he was
lonely, but he does this while we are with him.
He is pacing, whining, digging, just plain trying to get out. I try to console him but it appears that he is just to
fixated on getting out to care. We have another dog (Pug) whom I would love to
leave with him while we are away so that he has a buddy but I don't dare because
the holes in the fence are big enough that our Pug would be able to escape.
Dear Sandy,
A dog left alone in your yard is like being in solitary confinement. He is going stir crazy but he is not crazy! He is socially isolated, vulnerable to invading dogs or people up to no good, prone to regression in housetraining/aggression/destruction, and, without your supervision, certainly has your permission to try to dig his way out! Keep him indoors where he is safe. Take him for long walks at least twice a day. Practice obedience as a constructive form of interactive play. Get a dog walker if you are away for long hours. Handouts relevant to you include: Escaping and roaming, Territorial behavior in dogs, Why it is important to walk your dog…
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 5
yr old male cat (neutered) has a very strange habit. At
Dear Alli in Tampa, FL,
This aggressive behavior
sounds sexual to me. Male cats
perform a grasping bite directed to the female’s neck during mating.
I wonder if your singing did not resemble some of the vocal sounds made
by females in heat, and perhaps this has become a learned trigger (conditioned
stimulus). Don’t be afraid to
scruff his neck and remove him with a firm ‘no!’.
Tolerating it is the same as encouraging it, as you now know.
Remove the stuffed toy and invite him to play with some fun toys before
he gets ‘in the mood’ or at least before he really gets into it. He is injuring you and this is most certainly aggressive
behavior that is nothing to laugh at. Let
me know if you need more help. We
could set up a consult and discuss things in more detail and whether or not we
need to medicate him…
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I
heard
Dear Jennie from
Thousand Oaks, CA
I am not familiar with this
homeopathic compound but I can tell you that you might not need drugs at all if
you follow the training tips in the QuickFix handout on Traveling with your pet,
or the other on Moving with your pet. If
you still feel that medication is necessary for your trip, we can schedule an
email consult to discuss options, ok?
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
have a 20 month old Cocker Spaniel/Irish Setter who is an absolute delight at
home yet when I take her out for walks (e.g. in the woods) she always runs off
looking to chase squirrels, birds etc.. Up until she was 1 year she always used
to come back when called now however she just ignores me!! she takes herself off
and only comes back when it suits her this is getting me pretty stressed and
sometimes when she does come back I keep her on the lead otherwise she runs off
again. She doesn’t eat any treats at all so all I can do is praise her or try
to keep her interested to stay with me by taking a ball etc.. but all she wants
to do is run off.
Dear Dan in the UK,
Your dog has learned that 1) she doesn’t have to listen to your ‘come’ command because you let her get away with it, and 2) running off is fun! With those 2 lessons learned, you have no control over your dog. Unless your dog is under reliable verbal command she should not be let off leash at all (and even then, only if you are in a very safe place without cars). Keep her on a leash. Use pea-sized slices of cheese, even hot dogs, any dog would work for those! Take some classes in obedience, or order my handout so that you can learn the basics and how to apply them to everyday life.
Dear Dr Cookie,
My wife and I adopted a
Dear Dennis, Jan & Mel,
I’ve found that dogs that
only get walked once a day (or less often) tend to pull more.
So, for starters, walk her at least 3 times a day for at least 30
minutes. She needs to play with
other dogs to get rid of some of that puppy energy too.
A short leash (2-4 ft.) is more easily controlled than a longer one and
you’re dog knows when she’s ‘on a short leash’!
If you have a choke collar and it is not working, I suggest you try the
head halters (HALTI-COLLAR) but these must be introduced very gradually over
several days. Order my handout on Basic Obedience for tips on collars,
leashes, and how to apply obedience training for a completely happy relationship
with your doggie! By the way, thanks for noticing that I really do care!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
have a 4 mo. Old Shiba Inu puppy. I
also have a Persian cat. The puppy
is constantly sticking his nose in the cat litter box and eating the cat’s
feces.
Dear Dle16,
Your pup is coprophagic
(eats stools) because a) it is a normal canine behavior in young pups and
nursing mother dogs, b) he can get into the litter box, and c) he has acquired a
taste for ‘buried treasure’ as I call it!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I am
desperate for answers. I have a 18
month old Jack Russell Terrier. He
has become very submissive and scared. About
6 months ago my son had the dog down by the river and a gun was fired from very
close by. The dog ran away and we
couldn't find him at all that night. We
went back down to the river the next morning and found him in some thick
underbrush. Consequently he has
become very scared of loud noises and loud voices.
He used to enjoy going for a walk (which is in a park) but lately every
little sound he hears he becomes scared and wants to go home (tail in between
legs, ears back and pulling hard on his leash).
I need some help on how to help him become less scared and enjoy our
walks again. (Lately it has
also become worse because of fire crackers in the area).
Dear Jo-Anne from Canada,
Your dog has the classic
symptoms of noise phobia. I have a
handout on this subject (Phobias, Fears…)or we could schedule an email or
telephone consult. His fears are
also extrapolating to other settings and noises, and he may benefit from a short
course on psychoactive drugs. Your
little guy needs help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
have a 16 year old male (neutered) cat.
The only problem I have at the moment, is that he is driving myself and
my husband 'nuts' with his incessant meowing!
Why would this be? Also, I
have
Dear Josephine,
At 16 yrs of age, I’d
recommend you ask your veterinarian to draw some blood and test him for any
kidney, liver, or thyroid problems that might be lurking below the surface!
Meowing could be attention seeking, senile, or related to anxiety.
As for his possessiveness, some cats bond to a favorite person (or
another cat). I wouldn’t take it
personally but I also wouldn’t risk getting hurt.
Have your husband push the cat away when you want to sit near him.
Your cat needs to know that you have priority over your husband (I
hope!).
Hi Dr. Cookie,
I've
had a 3 1/2 year old Australian Shepherd for about 3 months now.
He is very shy around strangers. He
will generally just stay away from them, but twice he has run up to a stranger,
nipped their pants, and ran back to me. I think that if I just put him in another room every time
someone new comes over, he will just be more suspicious of strangers.
At the same time, I don't want him to hurt anyone.
What can you suggest?
Dear Katie
I would have him on a leash
when someone is invited over and keep him near you. Make him sit when visitors come in and tell him he’s a good
boy. Try to keep greetings calm so
he doesn’t get too ‘pumped up’. When
everyone is sitting down, bring him slowly over to the seated guest and have
them each give your new dog a yummy treat when he sits at their feet. Just let him build some confidence.
This is a conflict behavior that is sort of like ‘bite first, ask
questions later’. Helpful
handouts that are relevant to
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I just adopted a wonderful 8 year old
Siamese. He has a very difficult
habit of biting! I have no idea why. He just gets into a frenzy and decides he
needs to chew on something. He will spend a lot
Dear Kelly,
Siamese cats are
predisposed to compulsive chewing and sucking on wool and cloth but this
generally resolves by the time they are 2 or 3 yrs old.
In his case, it is also unusual to direct this toward your fingernails.
I would not allow him to chew on your fingers.
If he is acting like a puppy, treat him like one.
Why don’t you offer him a rawhide stick, the skinny pencil ones.
Try the crumbling kind as well as the solid plain rawhide stick and see
how he does! More play time, more
toys will also help. Let me know
how you do, we can always schedule a consult.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We
have a total of 4 cats. (2 cats that we have had for 2 years and 2 kittens, both
adopted at the same
Dear Kristen,
Water bottles are usually a
waste of time, especially because you are not teaching him what you want him to
do instead (only what not to do, so he stops for a second and picks up where he
left off). Roscoe sounds like a
high energy, confident, strong, and smart little guy. You must always pet proof your home (trash cans, sinks, etc.)
but I suspect you should treat Roscoe more like a puppy than a dog.
Teach him some tricks! Get
him tired before you leave. He is
looking for stuff to do…
Hi Dr. Cookie,
I
recently adopted a 10 month old male Shiba Inu. He is housebroken but not
Dear Katy,
You may need to rearrange
the furniture a bit or he will probably return to this ‘hole’.
Your puppy might want to sleep there and some dogs dig before settling
in, although this sounds more like a neurotic ‘hobby’ of sorts.
Block or cover the spot, and take him out for some exercise, play time
with other puppies, obedience sessions. He
needs more activity. Digging is
frequently seen out of frustration, and that is what this sounds like to me most
of all. Handouts on all these
topics can be ordered on the QuickFix page!
Check it out!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I own
a 1 yr old male Great Dane, Mojo, who weighs 140 lbs.
I
Dear Mojomoonmax in Wisconsin,
This sounds like puppy play
biting to me. It’s just that he
is a very big puppy! He needs to
play with other dogs besides yours and your sister’s dogs. Take him to a park nearby or start a play group in your area.
The other dogs will let him know if he’s out of line.
My concern is about your comment that he is too big for you to control.
Anyone getting a Great Dane knows they are big doggies.
That doesn’t mean you can’t train him, just that you have to work
harder at it and there is less room for error.
It’s all about leadership, not control.
Attitude, not size. OK?
OK!
Dear Dr Cookie,
As of
late our 4 year old mix breed Doberman/Boxer has become extremely defiant. He has fixed timings for his meals, as well as when he is to
be let
Dear Nandini from India!
I think you have answered
your own question! He is getting
away with ‘murder’ and has learned that aggressive behavior gets him what he
wants, which is not to go out, or to be left alone.
Start with the basics. Basic
obedience at home, then outdoors. He
needs to obey everyone in your household, so even your household help should
work with him, when you are there to coach them. Why don’t you feed him by hand during his walk, at first,
to get him out of this dangerous rut! This
way, he will want to go out, want to eat and get reinforced for appropriate
behavior. He must sit or down stay
for every bit of food he gets. I
strongly urge you to order my handout on Dominance behavior in dogs, and Basic
Obedience. These will tell you
everything you need to know. Remember,
do not challenge him directly, outsmart him! Namaste.
Dr. Cookie:
I
have a 19 yr. old female cat, named Ayla. She
is doing something that is driving me up
Dear
Pam,
At her age, there could be
all kinds of reasons for this change. Arthritic
hips and knees, kidney problems, and any medical problem that might make her
uncomfortable getting into the box or voiding in it.
For instance, an acquired aversion to the litter box can be associated
with urinary tract infections, or discomfort associated with constipation.
Because she does defecate in the box without a problem, she may not like
to get her feet wet if she is voiding more urine than normal…Have her checked
out!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I
adopted a 5-6 week old kitten two days ago.
Anyway, I brought her home and immediately
Dear Treblecierpke
A kitten this young should
not be allowed to roam around without direct supervision.
She may be overwhelmed and began to void out of the box because of
anxiety/fear/forgetting where the box is in such a big scary world!
Keep her in one small room until she is older and let her out when you
can monitor her. Give her a box
that she can easily manage to get into, even if it’s just a simple aluminum
foil pan for now. Use soft sand
litter that won’t hurt her baby paws. Order
my handout on Elimination Problems in Cats for more tips!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I
have a neutered Shih-tzu, 3 yrs old, who is well behaved and never urinates in
our home. Just recently I visited
my sister-in-law in her home and
Orio lifted his leg and urinated on her couch.
Dear Sandra,
Territorial urine marking
is a normal behavior in dogs. Your
dog was leaving his mark in a new place. I
don’t think the presence of the other dogs had that much to do with it.
Basically, he needs to learn the difference between inside and outside
your house and everyone else’s house too.
Currently, he is behaving as if there is only the inside and outside of
your house! Take him to visit other
people’s homes more often and keep him on a leash and with you until you are
sure he will behave. Take him for a long walk before to empty out his bladder as
much as you can. If he goes to lift
his leg, give a firm yank on the leash and say ‘no!’, then take him outside
and encourage him to mark out there to his heart’s content!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My
cat Sam is a 12 year old black and white cat. He has been a joy to me since I
got him as a kitten. Lately he has been acting strange. Usually he sleeps on the
foot of my bed but recently he has been sleeping in odd places. I found him in
an open drawer and today he was curled up in the bottom of a basket where I keep
news papers. He also will sleep on the couch, which he has never done. He is
eating well and shows no symptoms of not feeling well but I am
concerned about his odd behavior.
Dear Lee,
Sam is an 'older kitten',
however, behavior changes are often the first sign of an underlying physical
problem. You know him best & I
firmly believe in following one’s instincts!.
Make an appointment for him to be seen by his veterinarian who may want
to draw some blood to do a ‘geriatric screen’ (basic blood tests for
baseline), just in case. Good luck!
Dear
Dr Cookie
I
would be most grateful if you could offer any advice to help with a problem we
have with our 1 year old Jack Russell male. I work part time and have done since
we got Alfie at 7 weeks old. He has always spent his time alone in the kitchen
with the radio on and toys to amuse him. On the days when I am away from home
for some time a neighbour comes in to either play in the garden with him or take
him for a short walk. Until recently this has been a very satisfactory
arrangement but our neighbours now
Dear
Gill from York, UK!
Younger
puppies need to sleep a bit longer and more often than older pups.
I suspect your Alfie needs more exercise & attention from you than he
has been getting until now. The
barking is a symptom of separation anxiety (handout available), and territorial
barking is almostly certainly involved at his age as well (see handout on
territorial behavior in dogs). He could also simply have energy to burn (which
would not surprise anyone who knows and loves JR’s!) so give him more of
everything!
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
We
have a 5 month old male cat who is blind. He
is very overactive most of the time
when he is awake, is always on the
go. He seems to have the energy of
5 baby kittens. Would a mild tranquilizers work?
Dear
Cowboypoke,
Drugs
are not the answer for a healthy happy kitten who happens to not be able to see!
Play more with him, with toys he can feel and smell and hear!
He might be happy with another kitten as a play mate although any second
kitten should be introduced very gradually.
Have fun!
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
have a 4 month old Yorkshire Terrier. For about a month now, he has been going
through the laundry and pulling out my underwear and gnaws at them. I also
caught him humping a stuffed animal. He also has an interest in sucking his
genital area. Why he is acting like this at such a young age?
Dear
Marilyn,
Puberty
begins earlier in toy breeds. He is
a teenager, being frisky. Keep your
laundry out of reach, remove the stuffed animal, and make an appointment to have
him neutered!
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
My
German Shepherd can't seem to figure out which end of his female companion is
the "business end" when it comes to sex. He keeps humping her head
and she is getting really annoyed. Any
idea on how to, um, turn him around?
Dear
Marian,
How
old is this male and how experienced is the female? Youngsters sometimes need practice to figure things out when
it comes to mating. Female dogs
should not be bred before they are close to 2 years old, so this is something to
keep in mind. He’ll figure things
out eventually, unless she refuses him. Dogs
are not as promiscuous as some believe and can exert a preference in mates.
Chances are he’s just overly enthusiastic and inexperienced.
Hi
Dr. Cookie.
I've
got a year old tom cat (neutered) who is the pedigree kitten of one of
Dear
Ros from Scotland,
How
are the other cats? Has anyone been
picking on him or acting differently when he’s around?
Sometimes, we are not around to see the actually trigger (possibly a
fight with a house mate?) and only see the emotional impact that results.
I’d confine him to one room with his own food, water, litter box and
see how he does after at least 2 or 3 weeks before reintegrating him.
Let me know how you do
Dear
Dr.Cookie
I own a 9 month old Collie named Syke who is terrified of the stairs.
Dear
Frances,
Many
puppies are afraid of stairs, but if she has learned that eventually you will
help her down, she knows she can just wait until you break down.
Make sure the steps are not slippery.
Place a carpet runner if necessary to give her traction.
Start at the bottom and walk up and down 2 or 3 steps.
Do it several times a day, on leash.
After about a week, take more steps at a time.
See how that works, you can always set up a quick email consult!
Dear
Dr Cookie,
Two
weeks ago my partner’s parents divorced, and we adopted their 5 year
Dear
Julie,
You
must always be more concerned with the cat’s safety when introducing her to
dogs. Although this is a Yorkie and
may not be much larger than she is, he is more likely to injure her than she is
to attack him. You can order my
handout on Introducing New Pets (for this visit or in time for the next one), or
you can keep Sophie confined to a safe place during their visit.
She has adjusted so well in so short a time, it is important to keep her
feeling secure in her new home.
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
I
have a 5 month old kitten. He has
been neutered and his front claws have been removed.
Dear
Pwplw,
Male
kittens can sometimes play a bit roughly and solitary cats often focus their
aggressive play on their owners. I
think that another kitten will be relatively easy to introduce because yours is
still young. The spray bottle is
useless. Make sure you are not
encouraging him to chase after your fingers or legs by teasing him and get some
toys he enjoys chasing (including, perhaps, another kitten!).
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We picked
up a Greyhound/Shepherd mix at the pound 7 months ago. She was
picked up as a stray, and very underweight. She was previously
abused (e.g. cowering at the sight of me picking up a newspaper
off the floor). She had constant accidents indoors, and
submissively urinated whenever people visited. When left alone,
she destroyed window screens, and actually dug through a
sheetrock wall into the room next door. The vet did a crating
test, and the dog actually tried to rip off her own fur when my
wife left the room. After numerous visits, the vet suggested Clomicalm®, and various training exercises. That was 6 months
ago. Three months ago, she was getting more normal, but still
having 1-2 accidents a week, and still getting frightened by loud
voices. At that time the vet insisted that the Clomicalm® will
damage her liver, and told us to take her to half dose. We took
her to a half dose, and the dog had a total meltdown. Today, my
wife took her back to the vet for a checkup. The vet berated her
for having the dog on Clomicalm® for 6 months, and insisted liver
damage was imminent. He also berated her for the dog being so
skinny. She's gained 6 pounds or so since we've had her, but you
can still see all of her ribs. She has almost no interest in
food, and will go an entire day without eating anything, even
with a daily bowl of fresh canned food put out for her. She'll
pick at it on other days, and eat everything on her 'good' days.
Where do we go from here? After the half-dose nightmare, we're
hesitant to experiment with different medications, but will do
that before putting her down.
Dear Eric.
Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, has recently become
approved for use in dogs and is marketed as Clomicalm®. It is
helpful for a variety of problems, however, my concern is that
many veterinarians are feeling empowered to prescribe
psychoactive medication without being trained in the specialty of
veterinary behavior. I think your doggie needs to see a
specialist like myself who can pinpoint a diagnosis and set up a
treatment plan that should include appropriate behavior
modification too. Medication may not even be necessary in the
long run. I think any dog on psychoactive medication should be
monitored at least every 3-6 months (depending on the drug) for
any changes in blood values. Liver damage is not guaranteed with
clomipramine used long term, although it is one of many
recognized side effects (you should see the ones listed for
aspirin and any medication for that matter!) but your dog should
be monitored. Better to have her on the drug and feel better than
off the drug and be a mess, at least for now. Please contact me
so that we can set up a telephone consult? I have a sighthound
and I know how sensitive they can be. Your poor puppy needs help,
please give her a chance before you put her down!...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 7 year
old Siamese cat Clyde is very affectionate and cuddly. I have had
him since he was 6 months old. I moved out 1 year ago and moved
into my own house and left Clyde with my mother. He would poop on
my old bed at her house so I brought him to my house and now he
is doing it again. Since he has been at my house he has pooped on
my spare bed, pooped on my new couch and urinated all over it
while I was at work. I now keep him confined in the kitchen and
laundry room all day while I am at work. He cries so loud at
night while I am sleeping that it wakes me up. I feel bad about
keeping him locked up all day but I can’t trust him to roam
the house.
Dear Maggie
Cuddly Clyde probably began to defecate on your old bed as a
result of separation anxiety. Since then he has generalized this
behavior to a number of similar surfaces which suggests that he
has developed a preference for new surfaces on which to
eliminate. Keeping him confined is ‘damage control’ for
your furniture but perpetuates his separation anxiety and anxiety
in general. Time to set up a behavior consult! Contact me for
more details on how to set it up.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
When I
take my cat to the vet she doesn't let him touch her, she
scratches and hisses at him, and that makes his job really hard.
When visitors come to my home she does the same thing hisses at
them, I have to put her in her room and I really hate to do that.
The vet said she was anti-social, since its just us two. The only
person she lets in the house is my boyfriend.
Dear ‘defaultuser’
Fear aggression can become a real problem and prevent
veterinarians from examining/treating a patient. There is a step
by step approach to desensitize your cat that is described in the
handouts on phobias in pets and a second one on aggression at the
vet’s office. You should order them both. Cats can be
aggressive to visitors out of fear, or territorial defensiveness,
and several other reasons. This can usually be treated too. Look
through the list of handouts. You can order 2 and get a 3rd free!
If you still need help after that, let me know.
Dear Dr. Stefanie Schwartz,
I`m an Italian student: I`m attending to veterinarian university and I
need help. I`m studying cats behaviour, in particular about their
way to bring home the little animals they can hunt outdoor. Why
do they act in this particular way? It rather seems they want to
give a gift to humans who take care of them, is this possible?
Thank you very much.
Ciao Giovanni!
Io ho studato un poco italiano a l’universita molti anni fa
ma non mi ricordo di molto! Thank you for your interesting
question. We do not know why cats sometimes bring their prey,
half eaten or even alive, and deposit them at the feet of their
human caretakers. It is unlikely that this is a gift in the sense
that humans give gifts. More likely, it is a natural behavior
that adult cats normally perform when bringing prey back to their
young. This can be seen most often in female cats that begin to
bring live prey back to their kittens when they are about 4-6
weeks old and teach them basic hunting skills. Occasionally, male
cats may do this too for kittens they may have fathered. Cats
also may learn to do this when they are given positive
reinforcement by their owners who may intentionally or
unintentionally encourage the behavior. For cats that have begun
to bring back birds and creatures other than pests such as mice
it would be best to attach break-away collars with bells on them
or keep them indoors! In this day and age, we need to think about
wildlife and the delicate balance of nature!
Buon anno e arrivaderci!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
How can I
prevent or discourage my cats/kittens from jumping on certain
tables and kitchen countertops?
Dear Trina,
There are many tricks you can try, such as using double sided
sticky tape for example. You can also purchase motion detectors
at electronic stores like Radio Shack that will emit a burst of
sound when naughty kitties interrupt the beam. Cats will jump
onto surfaces to look out a strategically located window or to
look for tasty tidbits. Keeping your kitchen surfaces clean will
help but understand that cats use their territories in a
3-dimensional way. Climbing is part of being a cat so provide
them with attractive alternatives, such as tall carpeted perches
that you can make or buy at pet stores or through catalogs.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Our Shiba
is a 14 month old female. She just recently started digging
around our fence, and last night she dug her way out. (We don't
leave her out for long periods of time without checking on her).
This is really scarry for us because we live near a busy four
lane road. Is there any way to stop this behavior? We have a
fairly big yard and she loves running around it as fast as she
can, playing ball with herself, etc. Now we'll have to take her
out on a leash and she'll lose that freedom of running. Also, she
doesn't usually chew on our things, but lately she picks out only
our daughter's things and chews them up. Is she trying to tell us
something?
Dear Linda,
Your puppy is trying to tell you that your yard is really nice
but she needs to go for leash walks and run in a nearby park
maybe even with other doggie friends! Reinforce your fence but do
not leave her out there unless you are with her. To discourage
chewing, more activity will help and so will rawhide bones!
Hi! I hope you
can help. My Russian Blue Gorby, when he gets angry, or just
wants your attention, pretty much attacks you. It's a quick
attack, but he can jump pretty high! He especially seems
threatened by my boyfriend. I don't want to treat this wrong
because I LOVE my cat!!! Is there anything I need to do?
Dear Lindsy in Oklahoma,
How high does he jump? As ‘high as an elephant’s
eye’?! (Sorry, Oklahoma is one of my favorite musicals!!!) .
Gorby seems to have learned a very effective way to get your
attention. Did you teach him to jump for treats when he was a
kitten? Anyway, if these ‘attacks’ are predictable you
could try holding him down with a harness and leash. Have your
boyfriend give him a small portion of his food when he comes in
so that Gorby will associate him with something good! Give Gorby
attention ( more play, more brushing) before he needs to resort
to this and he will stop doing it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have
gotten a 4 week old kitten early this month, and I happened to
hear someone mention that it is possible to actually train your
cat to go and potty in the toilet bowl. Are you familiar with
that? How would you go about doing that? Please help me, because
my husband hates the smell of the litter.
Dear Anna,
First let me say that if the cat box is kept clean, scooped daily
and changed weekly, your husband would not smell it! If it
offends him imagine what your kitten thinks! Yes, it is possible
to train your cat to void in the toilet bowl. I have seen
commercial kits available through pet catalogs but don’t
know if they are still available since it is not a popular thing
to do. Why don’t you try cleaning the box more judiciously
and just place a cover over it? If your husband complains about
the cat box won’t he complain if the cat doesn’t
flush?!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 5
year old blue point Siamese male. "Tobie" has been a
very good cat up until about 3 or 4 months ago. He has started
urinating on our spare bed, clothes left on the floor, towels
left on the bathroom floor, my fiancé's jeans, sometimes our
bed, & now the couch last night. I am getting so frustrated,
almost to the point of getting rid of him. He has never done
anything like this before. Everyone suggests that it is because
there is another male in the house now (my fiancé). What can I
do to remedy this problem? Thanks!
Dear Valerie,
First things first. Have your veterinarian make certain there is
no underlying physical problem with a blood and urine test. If
the inappropriate elimination began when your fiancé moved in
then it is possible that Tobie is upset and marking his
territory. Check out the handout on inappropriate elimination in
cats for additional tips and if the problem continues let me
know.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have
several cats but my problem is with mainly two of my male cats.
One is a Siamese and the other is a Tabby. The Siamese is almost
4 years old and is about 6 months older than the Tabby. The Tabby
is a very big cat (about 25 lbs) and out weighs the Siamese by
about 10 lbs. Anyway my problem is that the Tabby will stand over
the Siamese and hold him down while biting actually its more like
sucking his neck. We also have another cat, a much older male
that will sometimes do the same thing to the Siamese.
Dear ‘alt’,
This could be a form of play or it could be sexual behavior. The
nape grip is normally performed by male cats during mating. This
can sometimes be seen in neutered males and can be directed
against other males or surrogate objects in the absence of a
female! As long as the Siamese is not being traumatized, injured,
or does not seem to object I’d leave them alone. It sounds
like they all coexist peacefully so don’t worry about it!
It’s a cat thing...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
What
causes cats to chew electrical cords and plastic?
Dear Billie,
Depends on how old the cats are, how long they’ve been doing
it, and what else is going on in their lives! Could be normal
exploration, obsessive compulsive behavior, food remnants on
plastic wrap/bags, play, digestive disorders, etc.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 5
month old Siamese kitten who is currently visiting my parents
house with me for the holidays. He usually is just around me and
is very affectionate and playful. He has explored a little today
but is mainly hiding out under beds and chairs. He usually
follows me around the house at home but is even reluctant to
approach me here. I don't have any other people he can meet or
visit in the town I live in since I am pretty new to town and
don't know many people beyond my neighbors and co-workers. Would
an anti-anxiety drug be of use????
Dear Kate from GA in FL
Cats that don’t get to meet many people can be shy and some
can develop fear related aggression. Your kitten may be shy but I
think he is more unsettled by the change in environment. His
instinct is to behave cautiously, exploring a little at a time,
until he feels comfortable enough to follow you around they way
he does at home. The point is, he is not at home, so don’t
expect him to be unaffected. No, I would not medicate a kitten
for this problem. I would, however, recommend that you confine
him to one room while you visit your folks where he can feel safe
and you can spend time with him. This way, he’ll have a
basis for confidence the next time you go home to visit! You'll
make new friends soon in your new town and when you do, invite
some understanding friends over to your place when you are back
home so he can become a bit better socialized. Happy Holidays!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
cat that is approximately 8 months old. We got him when he was
only about 3 weeks old, after a dog had killed his mother and
someone saved him. We bottle fed him for about 2 weeks. He is
very affectionate and hates to be alone. He will claw under
closed doors until he is allowed in, and he has done this since
he was very small. However, he is extremely aggressive. He was
never played with roughly when he was younger, but he has always
scratched and clawed (he has extremely long claws). Even when he
was a baby, he would love to claw as he was sucking on the
bottle. Now he pounces on us and bites extremely hard. He will
sit on your chest while watching television and be very sweet,
but after a while he will just start playing and scratching a
biting very aggressively. Any suggestions?
Dear Steve and Debra,
Some kittens that are raised as solitary orphans do not learn to inhibit their playful aggression because they don't have the opportunity to get feedback (the kitten equivalents of 'Ow, you bit me too hard, ya jerk!') from their littermates. Solitary kittens, in general, can also focus all their feline pranks on human caretakers. This too can be inappropriately intense. Play with him before he feels the urge to play with you. His 'invitations' are not very courteous! Teach him to retrieve objects like a puppy, throw objects away from you for him to chase. Consider getting a 2nd cat if you are able to introduce them gradually and are prepared for a possible conflict at first (Handouts: 'How to introduce new pets', 'How to select a pet',...). Things might be complicated initially but ultimately there will be no better playmate for him...
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have an
8 year old female cat that has recently (2 wks) started to
urinate on my kitchen counter. Always in the exact same spot! The
counter overlooks one
of her favorite window viewing spots. I've
tried bringing the litter box upstairs to the kitchen, but of
course this did not work. I took her to the vet last week to
eliminate the possibility of a bladder infection. After a week on
an antibiotic - no change. I'm so upset about this I could
scream. I also have another male cat in the house (1 1/2yrs old).
They get along fine - other than their occasional wrestling
match. Is there help for us?
Dear Mary,
First of all, I am very glad that you did not wait longer to get
help and that you have looked into the possibility of underlying
medical causes. If nothing has changed inside your home perhaps
something has changed outside. There may be a new neighborhood
cat that is patrolling near your kitchen window, or at least in
view of the cat. You should have a minimum of 1 box/cat that is
kept meticulously clean. To discourage her from returning to the
counter top place crisscross strips of 2-sided sticky tape so she
won’t want to step there. These can eventually be removed
once regular litter box use resumes.
Hi
I have TWO
miniature Schnauzer puppies that are now 5 months old. As they
are getting older , they want to explore in totally different
directions. I am not looking for perfect dogs that heel at my
side, and I do want them enjoying each walk as a fun time to be
outdoors but I need any suggestions you may have to get them to
stay in one
direction. I don't want to use the coupler that I’ve seen
because I like the idea of them having freedom from each other. I
have thought about walking them separately but we all do enjoy
the idea of taking long walks together.
Dear Fran
You need to make a choice. Either you want dogs to do their own
thing or you want well-behaved and trained doggies! Teaching dogs
to heel, sit, down, come, or stay (the 5 basic commands) allows
you to communicate with them. They don’t have to
‘heel’ during an entire walk, only when you tell them
too! You can use two 4 ft. leashes (couplers may still be
something to consider down the road). They can play off leash in
a safely confined area but, once back on leash, you are the
leader. Work with each dog separately for practice and one-on-one
attention. Then when you are leading both of them, they will fall
into step because you have taught them to do so!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We
recently adopted a four year old Australian shepherd from a
breeder. We have 6 cats and she is still intimidated by them. She
will not eat her food unless we sit with her, however, she will
go over to the same area and drink her water. What can we do?
Obviously we cannot and should not coddle her and sit with her
while she eats. We tried putting her and her food into the
utility room and closing the door so that the cats would not
bother her, she still did not eat. Help.
Dear Rudy
Without knowing more details about her first four years, I am not
convinced that her eating ‘problem’ is because of the
cats. Feeding is a socially facilitated behavior in dogs (and
people too). Dogs prefer to eat in the company of pack members.
Nobody likes to eat alone, especially a dog who has so recently
joined your family. Be patient. Feed her at the same time that
you eat so that she can be near you and you won’t feel that
she’s holding you back from doing something else. Give her
extra attention when the cats are near by to reassure her.
She’ll come around. And I am sure she will be worth it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 2
year old female, spayed Shiba Inu and just got an 8-week old male
Shiba. They play good most of the time, but the 2 year old seems
annoyed with the new male and often resentful towards us. We've
only had the new puppy for 1 week, so we are probably
overreacting. But, will the 2 year old eventually adjust? Are
there any helpful hints you could give us? We've been trying to
give extra attention to the 2 year old, but sometimes she just
doesn't want anything to do with us!!
Dear Kelly,
It is normal for resident dogs to be wary of new comers. After
all, they were there first and it is their territory. It is best
to introduce them on neutral ground, such as a nearby park, so
that it feels like less of a territorial invasion. Some insult is
inevitable but most dogs will become good buddies in short time.
Give both dogs individual attention because they both have
special needs but, in time, she will ‘forgive’ you and
perhaps even be happier because the little guy came along.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My friend
Tobi is an animal lover and adopted two cats a year ago.
"Sam" is still a BIG problem! He refused to do his
"do-do"s in the litter pan...He does wet in it but
that's it...Everything has been tried....2 litter pans etc. He
goes right beside the pan in the same spot every time....He is
not sociable, hides most of the time under the bed but Tobi loves
him ....She does not have a computer, as yet, so I am writing for
her...
Dear Katlova,
Some cats like to urinate in one box and defecate in another
placed in another room in a quiet corner. It might be worthwhile
to place 2 boxes side by side at either or both locations, each
with different litter filler. This way, Tobi can also see if Sam
has a preference for the type of litter filler she has been
using. The handout on litter box training gives additional tips.
Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I just
adopted two female cats (Cassie & Sasha) at least a year old
maybe a littleolder. They are gorgeous and I love them to pieces.
We also adopted a male 8 week old kitten. He is so adorable and
loving. Anyway, Cassie has been pooping in a lot of spots other
than the litter box--although she does that too. I clean itevery
day. We are trying to be patient with them as far as trying to
pick them up. Cassie lets me pet her and purrs all the while.
Sasha won't let us near her. It may be both of them. We have toys
and beds all over the place. HELP!!!! I love them. What can I do?
Dear Tammy
Your new pets are under a lot stress - new home, new owner, new
house mates. It might be better to restrict them to one room (3
litter boxes at least) so they can build their confidence
gradually. Visit them often during the day. Food and water should
be at least 6 feet from the box. When litter box use is more
consistent you can let them out for gradually longer periods
under supervision. There should be at least 1 box for every cat
in your household. Place a box in at least one of the locations
that Cassie has already marked. She should relax as her fear
subsides...
Dear Dr Cookie,
I have a
neutered male dog, but he has copulated with a female in heat. He
penetrated and was in this position for about 30 minutes. I am
very confused, I thought he could not and would not react this
way. This behavior was the reason for the neutering.
Dear Bill,
Male dogs (and cats, among other species) that have sexual experience prior to neutering will often continue to show some sexual behavior even after the hormones are long gone. This is because the behavior is not entirely motivated by sexual hormones but by centers in the brain too. Mating by neutered dogs will be infertile but should still be discouraged. To be sure that all testicular tissue has been removed, your veterinarian may suggest a blood test to measure his testosterone level. This is probably not the problem, however, and more than likely he is still acting on the ‘memory’ of what he used to do or dreamed of doing! His sexual drive will diminish in time as that memory fades but he may still respond to that call of the wild if he can (and she lets him)!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
9 month old spayed kitty that urinates on our bed every 1 or 2
weeks. It usually occurs between 4-6am, but sometimes later.
Sometimes she comes out of her litter box, jumps on the bed and
pees. We clean her box daily, and she usually uses it.
Dear Ruby,
Make certain that she does not have a bladder infection. Many
cats that feel burning associated with cystitis, for example,
associate the litter box as the source of their discomfort and
begin to void elsewhere. If you are certain this is not a
physical problem, the handout on ‘Inappropriate Elimination
in Cats’ will provide you with detailed and valuable
explanations and tips ...
Dear Dr. Cookie:
Our
Persian is now about 6 months old, however, she is not very
lovable.This Persian wants to be near her constantly but when she
goes to pet the cat her tail starts swishing and inevitably the
cat tries to bite her hand and sometimes does and even has broken
her skin.... My wife is upset because our last Persian loved to
be held and petted.
Dear Nancy and Bruce,
It is hard not to compare our pets, particularly when we have
lost a favorite or ideal companion such as your first Persian.
Still, 6 months old is still young and there is room and time for
growth and change... Just remember that every cat is an
individual. Some cats follow their owners about like shadows,
while other cats are never seen except for their shadows! Some
cats like to be near you but just not handled too much. Let the
kitten come to you in its own way. Don’t force it or it will
learn to push away harder and avoid you altogether. Pet with one
stroke, reward with a small tasty treat and stop petting, walk
away. Gradually increase to two then 3 strokes, reward
occasionally, and build from there. And definitely, discontinue
games that are associated with playful aggression (e.g. throw
toys away from you if the kitten becomes aggressive with toys on
strings).
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Our kitten
is 5 months old and we got him when he was 12 weeks old. He
sleeps on my bed and when he wakes up in the night or in the
morning he insists that he must lick and knead me with his paws.
He tries to nestle into my neck and he purrs tons. Basically, he
keeps on doing this until he falls back to sleep. Sometimes
when I'm really tired I'll try and push his head away so that
he'll stop licking me but he just pushes back and eventually
finds a piece of my skin to lick. This behaviour can go on for 15
minutes or more. I'm wondering why he does this. Does he know
that we're not his mother??? Will he grow out of this stage???
Dear Oskar's parents.
Persistence of some infantile behaviors is normal in kittens and,
although we can expect it to fade in time, it can continue in
some adult cats. Many people would LOVE to have a cuddly kitten
like yours! But I understand that it might disturb your sleep.
Take a stand. If he does not stop licking by the third time you
push him away then gently push him off the bed! He’ll catch
on quicker than you think!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have two
cats one male one female--both fixed. They get along wonderfully
with everyone. The problem is--they need my attention constantly!
I pay attention to them as much as possible, they sit on my lap
the minute I sit down. It just never seems to be enough. At night
they cry and cry. We don't let them in the bedroom because they
constantly paw at us. Our apartment is small, so I can't remove
them from the area and spraying them w/a bottle is pointless
because I don't think they understand that meowing is wrong (and
catching them as they meow is hard). Is there a way to correct
this?
Dear Tracy,
Without knowing much about your pets, I’d venture to guess
that they get to sleep a lot during the day and are not ready to
sleep when you are. Give them a good hour of your time before
bedtime - play, pet, groom, cuddle - that way they should be
ready to drift off when you are. And incidentally, interacting
with your little furry friends is a great stress release for you
too and will probably help you to unwind from your day and sleep
better for it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have 2
cats: a 5 yr old female who is practically perfect in every way
and a 3 yr old male who drives us absolutely crazy! The main
problem is that he wakes us up every couple hours all night long.
He has all of these annoying behaviors that start the second we
go to bed. He'll scratch on the window screen, he scratches at
the closet until he gets it open, he scratches at the dresser
drawers, he claws at framed pictures on the wall trying to get
behind them and bouncing them on the wall, and he licks himself
really loudly (loud enough to wake you up and he doesn't stop
doing it.) When we spray him with the squirt gun, he runs down
the stairs and, as soon as we're back in bed, he comes right back
and does it again -- it's become some sort of a game for him.
It's totally driving us crazy. If we close the bedroom door,
he'll bat at the door handle, scratch at the carpet, and yowl
without end. Anyway, just tonight, I was on the computer and he
was sleeping peacefully on the floor. As soon as I joined my
partner in bed, he came into the bedroom and started... I am even
considering sleeping on the couch so she can get some
uninterrupted sleep -- he is truly the bane of her existence and
she wishes that we could either make him live outside or give him
to the pound (neither of which I will permit.)
Dear Alexa,
Like you yourself have told me, this little guy snoozes nearby
while you are busy and then he is still raring to go when you are
dying to sleep! My advice? WAKE HIM UP!!! Play with him at least
twice a day, for extended periods. Before you sleep he has to be
tired so play with him for at least one hour (or until he is
ready to crash). I would hate to see you give him up but I am
also concerned about the effect this is having on your
relationship. Take control of your life. Right now, he is pulling
the strings. Synchronize your schedules and all will be right
with your world!
Hello Dr. Cookie.
A little over three months ago a dog followed me and my puppy (Brownie-Chow/German Shepherd) home. He (Bonz, 6 mos.) was in bad shape but after two doctors visits, good food, and much love he has improved greatly. My problem is that Bonz has stared to eat Brownie's hair!!! About a week ago I noticed a small patch of her hair missing and I was stumped. At first I thought it was mange... then I caught him doing it and his stool is packed with Brownie's hair. Brownie is a female 7 mos. and is in heat. Neither are fixed as yet.
Dear N'dase,
It is difficult to say whether hormones are involved but at the
very least they should both be neutered asap! Bonz is old enough
to ‘do the mumbo’ with Brownie and Brownie is at
greater risk for mammary tumors and other problems with every
heat she experiences. I’d also keep him under close
supervision and give him rawhide bones to chew on so he
won’t continue to snack on her hair! With his history it
would be worthwhile to retest his stools for worms and to treat
him for tapeworm (carried by fleas) even if these haven’t
shown in his stools. Sometimes dogs will eat funky things when
they have a funny feeling in their tummies. Let me know how you
do, ok?
Dear Dr.,
When we
got our cat she was only 8 weeks old and completely litter box
trained. After a couple of months we let her outside and she very
seldom used her box anymore. One night she had an accident in my
husband's closet and since then has relieved herself in the
closet as well as the spare bedrooms. She never uses her box
anymore. If she stays inside during the day she just goes
wherever she pleases. How can we retrain her to use her box?
Dear Mary,
First of all, I would recommend that she remain indoors for her
own safety. With regard to litter box training, you should
confine her to one room with at least 2 boxes that are kept
meticulously clean. Visit her often to pet and play with her.
Cats prefer quiet corners (like closets!) for their private use.
Place the boxes accordingly and make certain her food and water
are far from the litter. Once she has begun to use the boxes
again, you can let her out for brief periods under close
supervision (keep your bedroom doors closed for a while!). You
will find the handout on litter box training very helpful.
Dear Dr Cookie,
I have a
16 month old Rottweiler bitch. She has had 3 different homes in
the short time she's been around. The other homes (I did not find
this out until I was attached to the dog) had to get rid of her
because she fights with other dogs but only females. She gets
along well with them for about a month and then she fights and
the fights get worse. and she won't stop when you command her to
stop. Is there any kind of training that would help her with her
aggression towards other females? Someone told me take her to
doggy school but I think she may be too old for that. If I did
would that help her?
Dear Jackie,
I’m all for taking her to obedience class because that will
teach you to teach her the vocabulary you will use to communicate
with her. It will still be up to you how you apply the training
to structure her life and modify her behavior. Her problem with
other bitches may be unpleasant but it is normal. Dominance
hierarchies are formed between sexes and within sexes. If she
does not tolerate other females (do you have a female dog
already?) there are steps you can take to minimize the potential
problem. I am happy to talk to you about this in a telephone or
email consult, but for starters you can order the handouts on
dominance aggression in dogs and another on how to introduce new
pets to each other. I hope you will work with her rather than
sending her on to yet another home...!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We had our 7
month old Bearded Collie neutered about 3 weeks ago. Since then
he is no longer housebroken when outside his crate, but will not
eliminate in his crate all day long. We crate him at night next
to our bedroom, and during the day when no one is home in the
family room. He has just started refusing to go into his crate,
and is becoming aggressive, snapping at us. We leave treats and
toys in his crate all the time, with the door open, but he
refuses to go in to retrieve any toys. Although he has chew toys
and bones available, and does chew on them, he also chews on
anything paper or cardboard that he can find. He is also trying
to dominate our 4 year old neutered German Shepherd. Any ideas
for getting him to go into the crate once again?
Dear Kathie,
Regression in house training can happen in times of stress, such
as hospitalization, but I am more concerned about reinforcing his
aggression. At 7 months, he is like a teenager and is rebelling
against the status quo and restructuring his relationships with
you and your other dog. They can work out their relationship but
he must not be allowed to hurt people. If treats and toys are
always available he may be tired of them. Put them away. Offer
him a special yummy that he can look forward to only when he goes
in his crate like a good boy. Feed him there too. He obviously
needs more activity (walks, play, obedience practice with you) so
it is up to you to get him tired out. You might also consider
graduating from the crate altogether. There is no law that says
that every dog must be crated... consider my handout on crate
training and decide for yourselves.
Hi Dr. Cookie-
Living in
a remote area forces us to travel considerable distances
sometimes several times a week. Our 4 year old female Kuvasz used
to really enjoy the trips, however, in the last 2 years she is
responding to normal road noise (water, ice, gravel hitting the
truck) and oncoming vehicle lights with what appears to us to be
fear and extreme anxiety -- her heart rate is very fast, she
breathes fast and drools, and her eyes are fixed on the oncoming
vehicle and as it approaches she turns her head as if she
expected to be hit. She has never been in an accident or even a
fender bender - all we can imagine is that sometime she was hit
with water spray through an open window . I think if we could
break the cycle of her fear, she will unlearn it. Is it possible
to give dogs a drug that blocks the physical effects of
adrenalin, increased heart rate and breathing, such that even
though she is responding with fear and anxiety mentally, she
won't feel the fear physically. I know a drug is available for
humans that has this exact mechanism of action and I was
wondering if there was a comparable medicine for dogs?
Dear Pat,
Psychoactive medication can help in cases of fear, however,
I’d like to see you try first without it...Take her for
several short trips around the block each week (daily would be
ideal). Give her a special treat, like a bit of cheese or a 1/4
teaspoon of peanut butter (or simple a piece of her own dry
kibble if she’s hungry and loves it enough) when traffic
approaches. Desensitizing her to car travel does not require
medication if you do it systematically...pointers are included in
the handouts on car travel with your pet and phobic responses. If
you would like to discuss medication, we can arrange a telephone
consult to coordinate her care with your local veterinarian. OK?
OK!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I'm really
frustrated. I have recently acquired a 3 year old Shitzu from my
aunt who did not house train her. Muffy is such a sweet loving
little dog. We have been trying to paper train her without any
success. I tried taking her out 4 times a day, she goes when out
but will still go in the house. I can't be with her every hour of
every day, but I am home most of the time. She holds herself all
night and I take her to the paper on the enclosed porch first
thing in the am and wait with her but she won't go. If I take her
outside she goes, if I don't take her out she goes in the house
in different places each time. Please, HELP!
Dear Pixie,
Paper training only confuses dogs. You do need to start from the
beginning but that will mean a basic investment of time. It takes
time to train any dog to void outdoors but it is simple to do.
Regular meals with no snacks in between, walks of at least 20-30
minutes immediately following each walk, and lots of praise when
she goes out! Additional tips are provided in my handout on
“House training puppies and dogs”! Patience!!!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
six year old lab mix who poops in random spots around our modest
back yard. Now that we have kids we are interested in having her
go in one area to simplify poop clean-up.
Dear Melissa,
Get her on a schedule of regular meal times to better time her
bowel movements. You need to go out with her, use a leash even in
your yard if necessary, and stay with her until she looks like
she’s ready. Then calmly bring her over to the designated
area and use a new phrase like ‘go for it’ as she
eliminates, praising her for it. Eventually you should be able to
command her to go wherever you like! In time, she will void in
the designated place on her own. Of course, it would be better
for her if you simply taught your kids to take her for a walk...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Our18 month old Lab-Dachshund mix is out during the day and sleeps in a crate indoors at night. Our problem comes in the evening when we would love to have her in the house, but she is extremely restless and nervous, barks and howls at the door, or starts up with nervous habits like walking in circles or digging at the carpet. The only solution we've been able to find is rawhide bones. Give her one of those, and she'll will chew happily (and quietly) for hours. My question is,how much of this is safe? I have heard it can knot up in their stomach and cause digestive problems. Other toys just don't do it. She loses interest within a minute or two.
Dear Jenny,
Rawhide bones are essential for dogs and dog owners. For the
former, because they need to chew, for the latter, to preserve
your sanity and furnishings... Any object can become lodged in
the bowel but the frequency of rawhide bones causing obstruction
is negligible compared to the frequency of rocks, socks, or
children’s toys causing obstruction. Rawhide bones are the
best occupational therapy around! I would also comment that she
might be better behaved indoors if she got to do it more often.
Her anxiety would be lessened if it weren’t such a big deal
to be in the house with you. That is what every good doggie
deserves.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
6 month old Lab named Shelby. She has been crate trained since
she was 6 weeks old. How old should she be before we let her out
of the crate at night and during the day when we are not at home.
Dear 'OVRTIME',
That depends in part on Shelby and in part on you. You’ve
got to try it some time! Try graduating to a fenced off area of
your home (baby gates are not just for babies!), make sure she is
tired out and empty before you go, and let me know how you do!
Dear Dr. :
I have a 9
month old pug (neutered male) who has almost every behavior
problem in the book. He is stubborn, refuses to obey, (unless it
is a sit with a treat involved), goes to the bathroom frequently
in the house, runs away from home, refuses to come when called,
aggressive towards other dogs, and goes right through the
invisible fence. We have gone to two dog schools, the fence
people have tried to train him, the vet tells me to take him back
to the breeder or else put him on medicine. The problem is, my
son bought the dog and loves him to death. Meanwhile, he is being
a royal pain!!
Dear Queenmom,
There are likely many things that are contributing to your
problems but, in my opinion and experience, concealed electronic
barriers can lead to problems. For example, some dogs learn to
disregard the shock to gain the reward of freedom. In general,
however, dogs that are left to their own devices in the back yard
tend to regress in house training and in civilized behavior. My
advice? Order some of my handouts for some great tips and go back
to basics. Leash walks, obedience practice, play with other
doggies... Psychoactive medicine is unlikely to be necessary if
you make his life more structured. Consider a telephone consult
with me and we can put it all together for you in a formulized
plan!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
cat that is about 11 weeks old & he likes to sleep in/on my
bed w/ me at night. As he purrs, I reach to pet him and he wraps
his front paws around my wrist and gently bites my hand. I
thought purring meant he was happy?
Dear Connie,
To an 11 wk old kitten, everything is a game. Yes, purring does mean a cat is content but it is also heard when cats are anxious (like at the veterinary clinic for routine vaccines) or when they are ill or even dying. Purring in these instances might be a kind of anxiety release. For you & your kitten it is more important not to tolerate any kind of aggressive behavior toward people, even in play. If he bites you when you reach for him at night, don’t!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
6 year old male Golden Retriever and a 6 month old female Old
English sheepdog. For the most part they get along just fine but
the younger pup will not leave the older guy alone - whenever he
runs, she hangs on to his neck or tail and won't let him go and
he becomes quite angry. Is this a herding technique?
Dear Maureen,
This sounds like regular doggie play to me! Your Golden boy may
be a mellow easy going guy compared to the lunacy of a 6 month
old pup. Things would be better if you also played with her
yourself in a controlled game that incorporated obedience skills,
such as ‘fetch’, and gave her the opportunity to take
it out on doggies closer to her own age and temperament on a
daily basis in a park near your home. This way, he won’t be
the focus of all her energy!
Dear Dr. Cookie;
Our 4
year-old "fixed" male cat likes to meow almost
constantly...I think it's just to hear himself. He doesn't seem
to direct it to any one thing, and he is strictly and indoor cat
(along with 2 younger siblings). We have had his testosterone
level checked, and he is fine. What could be causing that, other
than normal chattiness?
Dear Amy,
If you find that his vocalizations occur in the morning and
evening, i.e. at regular intervals, then chances are that he may
need a bit more stimulation than he currently has. Remember that
indoor cats have limited activity and you need to provide him
with other stuff to do, like more play time or even just quiet
time alone with you...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
two year old dog named Max. He is supposedly part Lab and part
Shepherd. Max is afraid of cameras. The second that he sees a
camera, he gets up and cowers in a corner. We have tried
experiments, like putting the remote control up to our face, and
he has the same reaction. The worst thing, however, is the way he
gets when I want to take him to the dog park in the car. He
adores the park, so the moment the leash comes out he begins to
cry but by the time we're in the car, it's a non-stop, piercing,
series of high, almost hysterical barks; you would think someone
was torturing him. It's almost impossible to drive because it's
so distracting. And after an hour of running around in the park,
he goes home quiet as a lamb.
Dear Lynn,
Sounds like Max is a “sensitive dog of the 90’s”!
Regarding his fear of cameras, it may take a single terrifying
event to instill a phobic response that lasts a lifetime. This is
something that responds well to behavior modification and we
could set up a consult to help him with this problem. A phobia
can be triggered by anything that resembles the phobic trigger.
As for his hysterical anticipation of going to the park, this too
is something that we could work on. It is probably a conflicted
emotional response that builds on a sequence of events leading up
to the car ride. Think about making an appointment for a behavior
consult by telephone or email! Medication may not be necessary
...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 3
month old female Shiba Inu puppy. She has a generally good temperament, but when she gets tired she gets almost violent and
attacks and bites, hard enough, at times, to break the skin .
This is very confusing to me because she is extremely gentle the
rest of the time even when she gets excited. When she exhibits
this behavior, I eventually catch her put her in her crate, she
whines and yelps for a while and then falls asleep. What can I do
to prevent this behavior, and what is the proper way to respond
to her biting.
Dear Anna
You must stop interacting with her before she gets to that point.
The best way to deal with aggression is to avoid the
circumstances that trigger it. Don’t push her to the point
where she feels she must become aggressive to get some space.
Punishment could invite retaliation but you should also not put
her in her crate as a form of punishment. The crate should always
be a safe and happy place for her to be. Begin obedience training
soon to provide a constructive arena to set the foundations for
your relationship.
Dear Dr.,
My son and his
wife have a Pug. Can she sense that my son's wife is pregnant? Do
some dogs have a special sensitivity when their owners' are
pregnant?
Dear Mary,
Congratulations Grandma! Most dogs may be able to detect that
something is different when a family member becomes pregnant.
However, this is unlikely to be due to a conscious understanding
of pregnancy or to the physical appearance of an increasingly
pregnant woman. Body chemistry is certain to undergo significant
change during pregnancy and dogs are keenly sensitive to changes
in odor. It is possible that they are able to hear the baby
moving and, perhaps, even detect the heartbeat in advanced stages
of human pregnancy. This has not been documented but seems
possible given their acoustic sensitivity.
Dear Dr.Cookie;
I have two
Chows. Yangtze fights with Beijing the female when she eating. He
gets nasty and won't quit once he has started. Being the alpha
dog she defends herself and tries to put him down. Paw on top of
his back. He does not back down. I have tried everything: I pull
him away on a leash, I have put coins in a can to shake, I put
water in a squirt bottle, separating them when they eat... I know
he loves her because when they’re together he has to sit
right next to her. He cries when she is not around. And he loves
to play with her in the yard and she plays with him. I just can't
figure out how to solve this.
Dear Emilie,
Possessive aggression has nothing to do with whether or not
Yangtze loves Beijing. It has to do with his guarding of objects
that he values. I have discussed this in detail in my handout
available on the QuickFix page. In the meantime, I’d
recommend that you feed them at least 4 small meals a day so that
he is not so anxious at each one and that you simply feed her
behind a closed door. You will still need to work with his
possessiveness but that is discussed in the handout.
Dear Dr. Cookie-
We have just
decided to adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer from our local
Human Society. She is 4 yrs. old and left because the owner
"didn't have time" for her. We researched the breed and
she seems an appropriate family dog in many ways. There will be
my husband, myself and our 11 yr. old son in the household. Our
biggest concern is that we are all away 6-7 hrs. each weekday and
not into hunting as this breed was meant for. Have we made a
mistake?
Dear Cindy,
Almost all dog breeds were bred for hunting one critter or
another... Cocker Spaniel, Golden and Labrador Retriever, even
the little but mighty Dachshund and Beagle were born to hunt.
Hunting or predatory behavior in dogs is partly inherited and
partly learned. Chances are your dog was not taught to do much if
her former owners ‘didn’t have time for her’ as
you mention. Long walks (especially before and after work), daily
socializing with other dogs, interactive play with you, and
obedience practices will provide physical and intellectual
stimulation for your new dog. Additional activities might include
agility training or recreational field training with local dog
clubs. Hire a professional dog walker or a responsible teenager
to take your dog out during the day if necessary. Things will
work out, I am sure, because you already care enough about her
welfare and are making appropriate preparations for her arrival!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
About a year ago I rescued a young kitten from the alley behind
my apartment building. He is a beautiful orange male tabby with
amber eyes and a beguiling nature. His only flaw is that he
drinks by dipping his paw in the water and licking the drops. I
have to use a heavy glass bowl to prevent him from tipping it
over. I'm concerned that he will pick up bacteria from the litter
box with his damp feet. Is there anything I can do to break him
of this?
Dear Jillian,
Paw dipping is a variation of normal drinking behavior. The fact
that his paws get soggy shouldn’t make them any more or less
clean (unless he uses soap, then I’d be really curious about
him!!!). Try the stainless steel dishes made for doggies that tip
over their water or food dishes. Or, teach him to drink out of
the sink. Leave about an inch of water in the basin (drain
closed), or simply leave the faucet dripping (drain open) so he
can catch the drops as they fall!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Every night, our cat Tad (male, about 2 yrs) turns into this "other" cat. At night, (some mornings too) he stalks and corners Mia (female, about 1 yr). His eyes go completely black, and he jumps on her and bites her neck. Most of the time they get along famously. They'll groom each other and play nicely. This morning I found Tad sitting at the foot of the fridge, and Mia was stuck up there and had defecated down the side of the fridge. What I can do since it mostly happens at night when I'm asleep. There'd be no real way to isolate them either, because we have such a small apartment. PLEASE help!
Dear Katy,
I agree that what you describe doesn’t sound like play,
particularly when you tell me that they interact so well at other
times. Cats show a very special kind of territorial aggression
that is a function of time and place. In your case, Chad is fine
most of the day but at peak activity periods (morning and
evening) he takes life a bit more seriously. Even though your
home is small, you need to figure out how you can keep Tia away
from Chad during his critical hours. Keep her in your bedroom
with you overnight or some other room where he can’t
continue this vicious cycle. Tia’s anxiety level needs to
come down and Chad needs more acceptable activities to pursue.
Play with Chad yourself to get rid of some of his excess energy,
particularly in the evening when he is more active. He will
mellow with age and their relationship should smooth out over
time.
Dear Dr.Cookie,
About 2
weeks ago I bought an 8 week old Siamese kitten. Every night when
I go to sleep, it bites my ear and cries like it is nursing.
Dear Shelby
Separation related behaviors such as distress calls can continue
in a young kitten when they are first separated from their mother
and littermates but this should fade away as your new kitten
adjusts to her new home. Discourage those ‘love bites’
simply by pushing the kitten away!
Dear Dr. Cookie...
I have a
6-week old female kitten named Ella. She is always purring even
while mewing. Does this just mean she's happy? Thanks....
Dear Robin,
Congratulations on your first kitten! Purring can be a comfort
vocalization that cats produce when they are content but it can
also occur when they are anxious or even in pain. In your case,
she may still be a little anxious since you are both so new to
each other but I’m quite sure that she will by 100% happy in
no time at all! Enjoy your new baby!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Our 3 year
old tortie (tortoiseshell color) cat has been an absolute joy
until a couple of months ago when we discovered that she had
urinated in my husbands overnight bag. My husband is a pilot and
I am a flight attendant, therefore we are gone from 2 to 4 days
at a time. We cleaned and disinfected the area up as best we
could. She has since urinated in other areas of the large walk in
closet where my husband keeps his overnight bag. Today, I found
that she had urinated on a garment bag laying on the floor of the
closet. The closet is not very well ventilated, so we would
rather not close the door. We love Bailey very much, but this
destructive behavior cannot continue.
Dear Steve and Ivie,
Apparently, Bailey loves you too but you don’t appreciate
her way of showing it! From a cat’s perspective, marking her
scent (urine) with yours (clothing on floor) is quite a
complement. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get in the
habit of elevating the luggage to a shelf or hanging the garment
bag in the closet. There are other ways to discourage her from
entering the closet besides closing the door. Of course, you
could just close the bedroom door... She is such a little
trooper, alone so much of the time, it must be stressful for her
to see you come and go. Let me know how you do!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Thank you
for your wonderful, wonderful, and informative web site. I
recently tried to introduce a "rescued" kitty into my
home but had problems with my 6 year old resident cat. Over a
period of 2 1/2 weeks, the hissing subsided somewhat so I thought
things were improving, but I was wrong. My older cat started
peeing around the house, obviously marking her territory. I was
very fortunate to find a friend who was looking to get a new
kitten, so the little kitty got a new, safe home, and I thought
things would get back to normal. I was quite surprised to
discover, this morning, with the kitty gone, that my first cat
had once again "sprayed" in the exact same spot as
before.
Dear Colette
Your case is a classic example of territorial marking triggered
by an ‘intruder’ and then maintained by the lingering
scent and visual cues left by the spraying of urine.
Interestingly, your cat is in a minority of females that spray
urine (rather than squat to mark). She should settle down in time
but meanwhile deodorize the area and sprinkle some dry food down
in front of her target vertical surface. That way, she might
simply change her mind and have a little snack instead! I have a
handout on inappropriate elimination and another on territorial
behavior in the cat handout list if you need more tips!
Greetings to you Good Doctor-
My wife
and I have a beautiful Siamese cat who loves to sit on our
cars...Needless to say it makes it very hard to want to wash your
car...any suggestions?
Dear Pat,
You have four options: 1) Keep your beautiful cat indoors where it
will be safe!, 2) Give your cat a key to the car so it can sit
inside!, 3) Keep your beautiful cat indoors where it will be
safe! 4) If you really don't want her on the cars, go ahead and
wash them! :-)
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My son has
donated his cats to us. We had one old cat and a year ago
acquired two stray cats who adjusted very nicely to our home.
When we integrated all five cats, initially it went reasonably
well. However, his Clancy (a neutered six-year-old male who has
always been difficult to handle) began chasing and bullying the
two younger cats. Our vet has put Clancy on Valium - even though
he seems mellower, he still maintains an aggressive streak. We
are considering declawing him, but are looking for any
suggestions you may have for getting these cats to co-exist more
peacefully.
Dear Anne and Brian
Valium is not indicated to treat aggressive problems and
territorial aggression is unlikely to be impacted by medication
alone. Psychoactive drugs should not be administered without a
complete set of lab tests (blood work) before and during
medication. I’d recommend a behavior consult so we can
tailor a program to fit your needs. A simple option would be to
find Clancy a home where he can be the only cat. Perhaps you
could convince your son to take back his problem child?!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I am the proud new owner of a pure white Persian kitten! The
problem is that I think she may be deaf. I have heard that pure
white kittens are usually blind or deaf. She is very active but she doesn't seem to
respond to sound.
Dear Carrie
White kittens with blue eyes are often hearing impaired to some
degree. This is a genetic ‘marker’ similar to
Wartenburg’s syndrome in people with a white streak of hair
near the hairline. My first recommendation is that she be
strictly confined indoors, which I’d hope you’d do
anyway! Other than that, you may find that she vocalizes a bit
more loudly than other kitties (she can’t hear her own voice
to modulate volume). Some deaf cats startle a bit more easily but
cats are extremely sensitive to vibrations through the pads of
their feet. I bet you will find that she quickly adjusts and will
rely on her other senses to compensate for her deficits.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
We have
two 5 month old Irish Setter puppies. We are crate training them;
therefore, at night they sleep in separate crates in our laundry
room. No matter what time we put them to bed, they tend to wake
up between 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. every morning. If we exercise
them before bed, it doesn't seem to make a difference. We make
sure they eliminate before going to bed, and by now they should
have better bladder capacity. Help!
Dear Tyra & Greg,
Since your puppies seem comfortable going in the crate and staying there for most of the night, it appears that crate training should work well for you. By responding to their whimpers, however, you have taught them that vocalizing will get your attention. It will take some determination on your part to ABSOLUTELY IGNORE THEM until you are ready to get up. Never go near the laundry room until they are quiet! Keep them up really late a couple of nights in a row, if you can. It may take a few days, but stand tough!
Dear Dr. Cookie
My 4 yr
old Australian Shepherd male is attacking my 6 wk old Australian
Shepherd male. We leave him with my mother when we go on vacation
and he gets along with her dogs very well. Please help
Dear Stephanie
There is a big difference between getting along with his
‘cousins’ at their house and accepting a rival on his
own turf!!! It is very important to introduce new pets on neutral
ground. If your dog was aggressive to other dogs in the past, I
would have been very hesitant to recommend adding another dog. At
the very least, I would keep him on a leash when the pup is up
and around (give him a special rawhide bone to keep him busy or
extra attention) and keep the pup safely confined when you
aren’t there to supervise. Aggression can be worse between
same-sex house mates. I don’t know anything about his
history or how bad the ‘attacks’ are but contact me to
set up a consult if things progress or do not improve.
Good morning Dr. Cookie...
I have
just acquired a new kitty, about 6 months old. I am contemplating
getting him declawed. I hesitate to declaw....I really don’t
like the idea but I don't want my house torn up either. I'm
wondering if just having them trimmed often would be better than
declawing.
Dear Carol
I’d like to see you try to get him trained to use a scratch
post first. These are available at any pet store or you can make
your own! The posts can be placed vertically or horizontally.
Encourage their use by scratching the surface with your fingers
and calling him to come over and investigate. Place them at
several locations in your home to see which he prefers. Order the
handouts on ‘To Declaw or Not to Declaw’ and ‘Nail
Trimming’ from the handout list on the QuickFix page. You
can always declaw if it becomes unavoidable down the road...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I am moving to
a new area, and I have a 6 year old "outdoor" cat. How
do I get her adjusted to her new surroundings. I don't want her
to become an "indoor" cat.
Dear Scott,
Your cat is better off staying safe and sound indoors. She will not be hurt, contract a contagious &/or fatal illness, get lost, or abused. Tell me, why would you NOT want her to become ‘indoor’!!!??? Think about it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My cat died
today. I have another, who has lived with the one who passed away
for a decade. Should I let the live cat see the body, or remove
it
quietly?
Dear Sad Friend,
My condolences on the loss of your pet. I hope that she lived a long and full life. It probably does not matter whether or not your other cat sees the body. One way or the other, she knows that the other cat is not coming back. She likely had a sense that something was wrong even before you discovered her house mate’s body. It will take her some time to adjust to the other’s absence, especially if they were close companions, so spend a little extra time with her. It will be good for you both...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Up until 2 1/2 weeks ago, my husband and I had four cats. One of them died very suddenly. Within the past week, Murphy (one of the three surviving cats) has begun to defecate outside of the litter box. Murphy has been "picked on" all of her life by the other two surviving cats. Also, about a month ago, she began to claw or bite at me as I began to put her in the chair and now over the past week or two, she cries rather loudly when I pick her up out of the window.
Dear Amy
It is possible that the cat that died was some kind of buffer, if
not an ally, between Murphy and her tormentors. With one less cat
in your colony, social dynamics are bound to change. Is it also
possible that Murphy is reacting to your grief over losing the
4th cat? You might confine her to one room to get her used to
using the box again. This might be a permanent solution if the
other 2 are victimizing her, especially near the litter boxes. If
she bites you when you move her from the window in the morning,
leave her alone! If anything else seems ‘different’ to
you, have Murphy examined by your local veterinarian to make sure
there are no underlying physical problems...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have 3
cats, 2 ferrets, and a Chinchilla. The cats get along great with
the ferrets and the chinchilla. Lately, one of the cats (Twitty)
has been hissing and defecating by the front door. We recently
put a carpet there and once when the Chinchilla was out, he did
urinate on it. Twitty promptly replied by defecating over it. She
continues to poop on it, even after repeated washings.
Dear Crystal,
Cats mark with urine and stool. My advice is very simple: throw
away the carpet and don’t put one in that spot for a very
long time!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Do you
have any idea why my ferret Nibbles (who's approx,. 8 weeks) just
HAS TO kick all of the food out of the dish before she will eat
any of it. Thank you.
Dear Crystal ,
...Because it’s fun! Ferrets are very playful and inquisitive. Put less food in the dish at a time so she won’t make such a mess!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
six year old fixed male tabby that has been an indoor cat for
most of his life. Recently, about a month ago, he has started to
become very restless at night and wanders around the house,
yowling VERY loudly! Help!
Dear Ms Polga,
Sometimes cats respond to odors that filter in from the outdoors
that are undetectable to us. There could be a female in heat or a
new tom that has been marking closer to your home. Your cat could
be responding to a change in your own sleep/wake cycle. Or his
agitation could be an early sign of an underlying medical problem
such as hyperthyroidism. See your veterinarian to be sure this is
not the case!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 2 yr
old Sphynx cat is a doll. I recently added another Sphynx (Zoe)
who is now 5 mos. old. They get along well. But Zoe is pooping
outside the litter box more often than not. I am cleaning up poop
3 or 4 times a day. I have sprayed the carpet with kitty
deterrents from the store. I have rubbed her nose in the poop and
then taken her to the box to show her where she should be going.
My boyfriend was reluctant to let me get another cat and now she
is so much trouble! Help!
Dear Teresa,
Your problem is a common one and it would be a shame to lose your kitten without trying to resolve her problem...I would recommend my handout on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats. Basic advice includes providing at least 1 box/cat and hygiene, of course, but there are many additional tips that are sure to help. Rubbing her nose in it & chasing after her are only going to make things worse! At the very least, confine her to one room, and start her litter box training over, using the guidelines in the QuickFix handout. Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My
boyfriend and I just adopted a 7-10 week old kitten (they were
not exactly sure how old he is). The kennel where we adopted him
from tried to convince us (no pressure though) to possibly adopt
his brother as well. They called us last night to check up on our
kitten and also told us that the brother kitten (still in the
kennel) has been crying the last 2 days (since we've adopted his
brother and he has been alone). Both of us work 9-5 jobs and the
kitten is alone during this time. I feel (more strongly than my
boyfriend) that two kittens would be great, but having two cats
may not be so great. The major reason is because we live in a
relatively small apartment (approx.. 700-750 sq. feet). How
important is it for our kitten to have a playmate? I would
greatly appreciate your thoughts on this.
Dear Nicole,
Yes, definitely get his brother (or another kitten around the
same age). They will entertain each other while you are at work.
It is the same amount of work, really. And it will prevent some
problems, such as unacceptably intense play aggression that is
often seen in solitary pet cats. Your space is limited but
remember cats use vertical space too. The quality may be more
important than the quantity of space. And besides you won’t
always live in a small place...!
Dr Cookie,
I have 3
cats; 2 of them lick my skin constantly. If they are sitting on
my lap, they will lick my hand or arm. Sometimes, they wake me up
in the night, licking my face. I have tried to deter this
behavior, but it does not seem to work. Why do they lick me? Is
there any way to make them stop and still cuddle with them?
Dear Michelle,
You may be using a lotion they particularly savor or they could
just be very affectionate kitties. If these 2 cats are related it
could be a genetic predisposition. If they begin licking you when
on your lap, you could cross your arms or push them off your lap.
Do the same thing if they lick you at night. The important thing
is tobe consistent about it. They’ll get the message
eventually. After all, they probably do it, in part, because they
can (you let them)!
Dr. Cookie:
We
acquired a very intelligent one year old declawed cat from the
Massachusetts SPCA. Unfortunately, since he is declawed he bites
to get attention-in the morning for breakfast or when he wants to
rough-house or is aggravated about something. However, Spencer
can draw blood. Recommendations??
Dear George,
Your cat may be playing or this could be undesirable
attention-seeking behavior. The fact that he has been declawed
does NOT explain his biting. There is no evidence to support a
link between declaw surgery and an increase in biting. Chances
are there are simple suggestions that will resolve his behavior
so Spencer doesn’t end up as a throw-away cat at the shelter
again! If you are in MA, please consider a telephone or email
consult or even a house call with me.
Hello Doctor,
My cat
eats dead leaves. I noticed this when I used to put him on a
leash and let him out on the patio. Now we just let him go out on
the balcony. He now tries to get the dead leaves from my plants
inside. He also howls very sorrowfully at certain times of the
day as though something hurts or he's lonely.
Dear Brandy's Owner,
It is probably normal for cats to eat plants. Brandy seems to
have developed a taste for dead leaves. As long as these plants
are not toxic to cats (consult your veterinarian for a list)
there should be no problem. It sounds like he needs more activity
to fill his day, too. Giving him a taste of the outdoors may have
spiked his interest in looking outward for entertainment. It is
up to you to fill the gap!
Hello Dr. Cookie,
I have a 2
yr old Labrador. I adopted him from a good friend of mine just 2
days ago. He hasn’t touched his food and I'm really worried.
He drinks a lot though. He's tied up for now cause we have a 2nd
Dog around and they fight whenever they're released.
Dear Glen,
Your new dog is under a lot of stress: separation anxiety from
his former owner, adjusting to a new home, aggression from your
resident dog. In addition, you have socially isolated him by
‘tying him up’ and so he has no reassurance at all that
things will be ok. No wonder he’s not eating! I don’t
know if these dogs will be able to get along because I have so
little information about either of them, however, if the fighting
is serious enough to keep them apart it may have been a mistake
to take this pup. He may do better in a different
setting...consider what is best for him.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We
recently adopted a 2nd cat Persephone (3 yrs old) from a shelter
and, despite a chilly reception, she and Pandora are now getting
along fine. However, Persephone is still afraid of me and my
boyfriend, and hides whenever we come into the room. We are being
very gentle and patient with her, but we are afraid that she will
never like us. How can we make her trust us enough to not have to
hide all the time? Thanks!
Dear Shelley,
I don’t know how long you have had your new cat but the best
relationships frequently take time to develop... try feeding her
by hand to teach her to associate you with something positive.
Don’t pursue her, let her come to you at her own pace.
Remember, she had a different life before you adopted her and you
know so little of her experiences. Patience! and, of course,
love.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I just got
two new kittens on Sunday. One is 3 months and the other four.
They were both born on a farm and are used to the outdoors. We
were told we should keep them isolated and indoors for a few
weeks, but the four month old kitten has been crying often while
staring outside the window. He seems so desperate to get outside.
Will this go away with time?
Dear Diana,
Congratulations on your new boys! They will adjust to indoor life
in time. Neutering them will help when they are a bit older.
Meanwhile, provide them with lots of entertaining toys,
especially ones that move. Cat ‘trees’ give them
additional vertical spaces to explore and enjoy indoors. The best
playmate for a kitten is, of course, another kitten. Be sure to
have them examined by a veterinarian who can also answer your
questions about basic health care.
Dear Dr Cookie,
For the
last week or so, my neutered male cat (almost 2 yrs old) has been
really nervous and doesn't want to go out. He is fine when he is
upstairs but when he comes downstairs he stares at the cat-flap
and jumps or runs and hides at the slightest noise. He's a
nervous wreck!! He doesn't seem to have been in any fights. It's
even freaking me out a bit because he seems to be staring at
something I can't see. His sister who is from the same litter is
fine, so whatever it is thats frightening him isn't affecting
her. He's such a loving gentle boy, I'm scared he might be going
mad.
Dear Joanne (from England!),
Cat-flaps (or pet-doors as we call them on this side of the pond)
allow pussycats to go in or out at will but they also enable
other critters to investigate, too. I wonder if your boy saw
another cat or some other creature attempt to enter the flap.
Perhaps they both took one look at each other & had quite a
fright. Your cat should relax in time but to speed things up you
could try carrying him out the door so he can see for himself
that the coast is clear. Of course, I’d rather he not go out
altogether. Although England does not have the problem of rabies
in wildlife as we do in North America, outdoor cats fall victim
to many other diseases, traumatic injury, and unkind people. So,
perhaps the advice I should be giving you is how to teach his
sister not to go out anymore...!
Hi Dr. Cookie.
My husband
and I adopted what we think is a 3 yr. old beagle/setter female
from the Humane Society two months ago! She is a love...we
couldn't ask for a better dog! We went on vacation last week and
decided to leave her with a friend who has two kids and a dog
while we were gone. She seemed to adjust nicely, had fun with the
children and the dog, and gave our friend no problems. However,
since we've returned we've noticed a slight change in her
temperament. She seems a little less happy, a little more
irritable, and a tad more anxious. Lately, when my husband walks
over or near her while she is lying down, she'll yelp as if he
has stepped on her tail (he's stepped on her tail twice before).
She yelped a little with me today when I hugged her. Is this a
physical problem? Does she miss the other family? She's also
taken to sleeping on her bed a bit more than she did before.
Dear Heather,
Could be she is a bit depressed if she had such fun with your
friend’s family and dog. Could be she is a bit submissive
and her yelp is a defensive reaction to your (unintentional)
dominance threats. Hugging is a sign of affection between people
but can be perceived as a dominance threat to dogs. Could be
she’s just settling in to her new home and is feeling more
comfortable with you. To make sure that all is well physically, a
veterinary visit would be in order. Otherwise, just give her some
time, more contact with kids and dogs at a nearby park. It takes
time to adjust to a new home. Everyone goes through ups and
downs...
Hi!
When we first
got our cats Nevada and Edward 6 months ago, Nevada seemed to be
the dominant cat. But Edward has since gotten healthy and gained
some weight and now he appears to be top kitty. The behavior we
dislike the most is his insistence on making Nevada move from
every comfy spot he finds. If he spots Nevada looking cozy and
happy on the couch, on a chair or even on the floor, he pounces
and makes him move. Nevada generally doesn't fight this unless
he's on the second floor of the house (seems like maybe they have
the house "divvied up"- Nevada gets the second floor
and Edward everything below it??). We've tried preventing Edward
from doing this by blocking him or saying no, but he seems to
have an uncontrollable compulsion to engage in this behavior. Any
thoughts on how we can change our behavior and his so we can
reduce the bullying?
Dear Marge,
Your cats are exhibiting completely normal behavior for cats. You
can’t expect him to behave like a little human gentleman and
say ‘excuse me, do you mind if I sit there?’. He’s
behaving as a territorially dominant cat and his house mate knows
his place too. They’ll work it out. No one is getting hurt.
Instead of trying to impose your own sociocultural senses on your
new friends, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Dear Dr Cookie,
I have a 6
year old female German Shepherd called Jemma. The owners of the
house we’ve lived in for the last 6 mos are also my
landlords. While I am working during the day Jemma goes into
their yard to keep their dog Georgey company. Both dogs get on
fine. Recently, Jemma has started digging holes again. She hasn't
done this for years. Almost every morning I take her for an
hour’s walk before work and she has company nearly all day
with the other dog and my landlords (retired couple), so I doubt
whether it is from boredom. I would be very grateful for any tips
on how to stop this behaviour. My landlords love Jemma but I
don't think they are taking too kindly to her digging up their
lovely garden. Cheers.
Dear Julia (from Australia!)
G’Day! Well, we don’t want things to become strained
between you and your lovely landlords. And it doesn’t seem
appropriate to expect them to supervise your Jemma. There are two
basic approaches. Punish and redirect the digging as it occurs
(which would be unfair to your landlords) or prevent the
opportunity. That might mean penning her in a section of the yard
to minimize damage or restricting her activity to a part of the
yard that is covered by cement or wood flooring or coming home on
your lunch break to play and walk with her. She is obviously
regressing to mischief she pursued in her younger days and so it
is well possible that she is not getting enough of something,
most likely your company and perhaps a bit more structure to her
day as well as limitations to her unrestricted activity. Jemma
obviously needs more!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
3-1/2 year old Border Collie Mix who has always been a bit on the
high-strung side, but is a wonderful, loving, intelligent dog. In
the past week she has been exhibiting some odd behavior. She has
this rubber chicken squeak toy. It's never been a favorite-until
the last week. Now she carries it EVERYWHERE with her - even
outside. When she eats, she puts it down next to the bowl. She
carries it in her mouth constantly. Then there is the almost
constant whining....like something is wrong, but I can't figure
out what. Then there is the digging at the rugs, the tile floor,
the comforter on the bed, her bed on the floor...always with the
chicken in her mouth. I know what you're thinking...pregnant,
right. Nope, she's not pregnant. I talked to the vet. After she
made the joke that my dog was "neurotic", she suggested
that my dog was "traumatized" in some way and feeling
insecure. The only things that has happened recently is Hurricane
Floyd, but she was inside the whole time...safe and dry (more
than I can say for me!). Any insight would be greatly
appreciated!
Dear Laurie,
Is your dog spayed? The behavior you describe is consistent with
pseudopregnancy, or ‘false pregnancy’, a relatively
common hormonal state seen in intact bitches. If she is not
spayed and she is not going to be bred, wait until the signs
subside and have her spayed (it might take a few weeks). If she
is spayed, ask your veterinarian to confirm that no ovarian
tissue remains with a blood test. If she is spayed and her
hormone levels confirm this, make an appointment with me!
Post-traumatic stress probably does occur in our pets and I would
not laugh off her distress. Floyd may have affected her more than
you know, especially if you were not together at the time...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have an
adorable eighteen month old Kerry Blue terrier. The problem is
other dogs. He meets at least 10 a day on his walks. Until he was
one year old, we had absolutely no difficulties. Then he was
bitten while visiting a friend with an ancient Visla. Billy has
never quite recovered. After this, he attacked most dogs we met.
Particularly intact dogs. After some weeks we reluctantly agreed
with our veterinarian’s advice to neuter Billy. That was in
May. Things have improved, but not entirely. When off the lead he
is desperate to meet other dogs. Mostly things are OK but he will
not come when called and after a few minutes of the dogs milling
around each other, trouble follows. I have not been close enough
to see who starts the fights, but Billy is certainly the last to
leave it!
Dear Jenny,
I am not convinced that Billy’s aggressiveness toward other
dogs is entirely due to his traumatic experience. He is an
adolescent and may be trying to establish dominance with other
dogs. There may be a territorial component, too. Intermale
aggression is always more intense when one or both rivals are
intact (not neutered). Your decision to neuter him was well
founded but his behavior is not entirely controlled by hormones.
You might consider taking him to the park at different times of
day when he won’t encounter so many rivals, or place a
basket muzzle on him so he can’t hurt anyone. He definitely
sounds like he should be in obedience training because he does
not respond to you. A group class (if he wears a basket muzzle)
would be the next step but you might want to begin with 2 or 3
private classes first. Or, order my handout on Obedience Training
to start. Until he is more reliably trained, and until you can
reliably prevent injury (with a basket muzzle) to other dogs, he
should not be let off leash. Note also that Billy’s early
exposure to other dogs (between 6-13 wks of age is the sensitive
phase of development) is an important basis for all other social
relationships...Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I am
having a problem with my two new kittens Siddhartha and Beowolf.
I recently adopted the brothers when they were 3 months old from
the Humane Society. They are now 5 months old. One of them,
Siddhartha, sucks on the other one's genital area several times a
day. Whenever I try to pull Sid away he returns immediately. Beo
doesn’t seem to mind and in fact both of them purr very
loudly during this. Only Sid does it to Beo- they never change
positions. I think it might be a natural reaction to being
separated from their mother so early but it is kind of
embarrassing. Should I stop it, or will they stop on their own?
Thanks.
Dear Kasia,
Don’t be embarrassed! My cat Sara Lee (like the chocolate
cake), now almost 20 years old, did this to her house mate
(Jonathan, died too young at 9 yrs) when she was very young. I
agree, it may well be related to early weaning although many cats
weaned early do not do this. This is a redirected form of nursing
or suckling behavior. The cat’s penis is quite small and
does, indeed, resemble the nipple of a lactating queen! He will
probably stop on his own eventually, or Beo might get annoyed
when he is older and make sure his brother stops. You could
discourage them by placing one in another room with the door
closed until the mood has passed, or you could try picking Beo up
so Sid can’t get to him. Hopefully, this will be the biggest
problem you ever have with them! Thanks for writing in.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a three month old male kitten. This kitten finds it very
hard to be alone. Even if we are home with him all he does is cry
until we pick him up and cuddle him to sleep. He wakes us nightly
between 4-5 am. I must say that this is getting quite
annoying!!!! What can we do? When he gets fixed will it stop??
Dear Karen,
You have two overlapping problems. First, his circadian rhythm is
not yet in synch with yours. If he is waking you up in the early
morning it is because he is on pussycat time. Cats are
crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk primarily. Keep him up later
and he will sleep later too. Secondly, he is an emotionally
dependent kitten (do you know how many people out there would
love a kitty like him?!) and may well have a mild case of
separation anxiety. I’d like to recommend you consider
adopting a house mate for him. Because he is so young, , he will
accept a companion more readily. Two cats keep each other company
and are as easy to care for as just one (get a second litter
box). He is still a baby, however, and you should enjoy cuddling
him while you can! Babies have a way of growing up...!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My sister
has a real cat problem. Chucky, a 6 year old male shorthair, has
always been overactive, aggressive, and has an obsessive tendency
to escape at every opportunity (he has destroyed 10 window
screens) - crazy. The problem really began when my nephew was
born; Chucky would sleep in the crib and his behavior became even
more aggressive (swatting or biting, even), so the cats were
turned into backyard cats. Chucky has managed to find his way
through every bit of chicken wire and is now the neighborhood
nuisance. He has come home with 2 huge gashes which will now
probably require stitches. My sister has tried unsuccessfully to
find someone with no children who will care for him, but no one
wants him. She is now talking about euthanasia. Is this her only
option?
Dear Marie,
Rather than banish the cats to the backyard, your sister could
have placed a screen door to the baby's room or a
‘tent’, made especially for cat owners with babies,
over the crib. In any case, Chucky sounds like a rowdy dude. It
seems that Chucky is just one of those cats that has inherited
more of the wild ancestral genes rather than the ones that
predispose a cat to be more tame and docile. He would probably do
well on a farm. Or, you sister could set up a consult with me to
discuss the other options, such as psychoactive medication. It
would be a shame to euthanize Chucky. After all, in a way, he was
your sister’s first baby. Priorities change but Chucky
deserves more of a chance...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Hello! My
husband and I recently adopted two kittens from the same litter,
(they will be 6 months on September 10th). The male is trying to
mate with the female. He is attacking her a lot and wrestling her
to the ground. We are getting them neutered ASAP. Would he be
able to impregnate her if they are this young? We just want to do
what is best!
Dear Amanda and Brian,
It is unclear whether your male is a) playing with her (males
tend to play more roughly than females), b) being territorially
aggressive toward his sister, or c) trying to mate with her. Your
brief description of his behavior is not suggestive of sexual
behavior. I suspect it is either rough play aggression or
territorial aggression. You may not be able to distinguish these
two types of aggression based on his sister’s reaction to
him alone since she is probably being terrorized either way. Yes,
if the are both sexually mature he could get her pregnant. Since
they are both about to be neutered, the component of his behavior
that is hormonally directed should subside. You still need to
redirect his attention away from her by playing more intensely
with him when he is most active (probably in the early morning
and evening time) until he is thoroughly tired out. Either way,
he should mellow in time but having him neutered is a good first
step.
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I am about
to adopt a 12 year old cockatiel. He was fed and cleaned but very
neglected. He has lost the feathers on his head and he bites. I
am taking him no matter what I learn but is there hope that he
can ever trust enough to stop biting? He was taken to a Vet that
said he looked healthy but perhaps needed a diet with more
protein. She didn't touch him, only looked at him. Have you ever
heard of the feathers growing back? I'll love him no matter what!
Dear Terry,
Well, it might be best to get a 2nd opinion on your bird from a
veterinarian who is more comfortable dealing with them. I am no
expert in avian medicine nor is it the mission of my website.
However, his aggression is of concern to me. He is a young bird
and may well flourish under your loving care but do you know
anything about how he was raised? Was he hand-raised? Did he get
to meet a variety of people growing up (i.e. how well was he
socialized)? Keep his beak well trimmed (your veterinary clinic
should offer this service) to minimize injury. Don’t let him
ride on your shoulder (keep him at chest level and away from your
face at first, just in case he bites) because that would promote
his notion of being dominant (and more aggressive) over you. And
if he bites, put him right back in his cage with the cover on
immediately. You want it to be very clear to him that aggression
is not desirable...Best of luck and let me know how you do.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
four month old lab/bull terrier mix I adopted at the town shelter
3 wks ago, she was picked up as a stray but did have a collar on.
When being corrected with NO or sometimes a push OFF she will
growl, lip curling etc. and snap. She has yet to do any serious
damage nipping, although she did jump to bite my four year olds
cheek, (superficial scratches only). I have investigated several
trainers, all of whom agreed she could be trained but one trainer
suggested she return to the shelter. I'm appealing to a higher
authority for an opinion as to what to do next.
Dear Maddy on LI,
I am concerned that this pup is not the right choice for your
young family. This much aggression in this young a dog does not
bode well. While it is possible she could be molded into an
appropriate family pet, her behavior so far indicates at the very
least that she will require careful and constant training. Are
you an experienced dog owner? Do you have time to continually
correct this obviously challenging pup? The question is not only
can her aggression be inhibited but are you able and willing to
invest in this dog? Be realistic. It is tough to be brutally
honest sometimes but think of all the other wonderful doggies
that are waiting at the shelter...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I'm
nearing wit's end. I've recently moved into a new house, and my
dog has gone thru a set of blinds and a screen door. I realize I
am at fault for not getting him to obediance training earlier
(he's 1 1/2). I'm being forced to consider crating, which some
seem to believe is not necessarily traumatic for older dogs if
introduced properly. Finn is a Border
Collie/Rottweiler/Chow/Shepherd mix and is fairly anxious. Thank
you for your time.
Dear Curt,
Obedience training is unrelated to destructiveness, and
specifically, separation anxiety. Although every owner needs to
communicate with their dog (think of obedience commands as a
vocabulary you teach your pet), the problem occurs when you are
not there! Crate training may be damage control, however, you are
still not dealing with his problem - which is anxiety. The
destruction is a symptom, not the problem. Also, consider that
some dogs become even more frantic when crated (even with gradual
introduction to the crate) & he could injure himself &
destroy the crate while regaining his freedom. I would really
love you to order my handout on Separation Anxiety. You could
also check out the one on Destructiveness as well as House
Training your Dog (which contains nice tips on crate training if
that’s still an option for now). Your Finn has the genes of
doggy champions in him. He needs work, outlets for his energy,
intellectual and physical challenges. He is still a puppy. I
suspect that his anxiety in your absence (& even when you are
there) might be lessened if his needs were being better
satisfied.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My Beagle
Charlie was adopted at around 9 mos. from a no kill shelter in
Brunswick ME. Unfortunately, we couldn't adopt his brother due to
our housing restrictions. At the time, we also had my childhood
pet with us, a 12 yr. old Sheltie. When they met, they got along
so we decided to adopt Charlie. Since then we've moved and sent
our Sheltie to live with my mother (where she lived most of her
life). Anyway, no matter what we try, Charlie's separation
anxiety seems to be getting worse. We have crated him since
we've had him but usually for no more than 6 hours. We walk
him before but it doesn't matter, even if I leave him to check
the mail he goes crazy when I get back. My wife and I are
wondering if we should try to find a companion for Charlie while
we are at work. He's not overly destructive when we leave
him out of his crate. He usually just shreds his bed. Do
you think a friend might help?
Dear Chris,
Other than shredding his bed, it is not clear to me what
Charlie’s problem is. He may well have separation anxiety
but I can’t base my diagnosis on your brief description. I
don’t know how old Charlie is now either but one thing is
clear. If you want a second dog, get one. But don’t get a
2nd dog just for Charlie. It might backfire. Separation anxiety
is not unusual for shelter adoptees given their histories.
Charlie may have been very bonded to his brother but right now he
is more likely reacting to separation from you. Take him for long
walks (30 min. or more) before a planned departure, take him to
play with other doggies in the park, give him a special rawhide
bone just before you go. Deal with Charlie’s problem first
before possibly complicating things further with another dog.
Hi Dr. Cookie.
We have a
one year old Shiba Inu that is a very good, lovable, pretty
obedient dog. The biggest problem we have is that he chews
leather. It isn't when we're gone either. He goes in our bedroom
and sneaks in the closet and will grab a shoe and take it out in
the hall and chew on it. We try to keep the bedroom door shut,
but that doesn't always work. He will also chew books, TV.
remotes, vhs cassettes, cell phones, etc. I give him a rawhide
bone when I leave in the morning and that does seem to help, but
when I get home he always takes the bone outside and buries it
and then he doesn't have a bone inside the next time we leave,
and there goes a book or something left laying around. The last
time he had a shoe I actually spanked him on the butt with it (not
too hard). I have 2 teenage boys that keep their bedroom doors
shut so he can't ruin any more of their stuff. He seems to be
getting a little better as he gets older, but the shoes are
expensive! He has a whole basket of toys to chew on. He's so
cute, but so mischievous about these shoes. It seems like he
wakes up about 5:30 and goes looking for something to chew on
after he goes to everyone's bed to see if he can get anyone up.
Any suggestions? (Please don't say to get up at 5:30 with him!)
Dear Jane,
The fact that he does this when you are home suggests that this
is a very effective attention-seeking behavior. This little boy
is looking for mischief, something to do, trying to push your
buttons and entertain himself in the process. Get your teenage
boys to help you with an expanded daily walk schedule. Take the
pup to play with other doggies so he can chew on them instead of
shoes! A basketful of toys means nothing if YOU don’t use
them to play with your pup at least twice a day. Those rawhide
bones are too big for him if there is so much left for him to
bury (get smaller ones to match his size & motivation to
chew, they're not meant to last!!!)! And please, no more
spanking! Make sure he is tired out at bedtime but not sleeping
before your bedtime...then he’ll be more likely to
synchronize sleeping patterns with yours. Good luck!
Dear Dr Cookie
My 6 yr. old,
80 lb. Border Collie mix was brought into our yard with a then 9
yr. old, 28 lb. American Eskimo. Both males, both neutered. The
BC fought the AE often, even after the BC went to obedience
classes. After losing the AE, we got a 11 month old, 40 lb.
Samoyed, female. It took forever to get the BC to allow the
Samoyed into the yard with him. The BC tries to fight every dog
when out on a walk to the point that when I take him walking I
have to go during the hottest part of the day so no other
people/dogs will be out. He had been fighting the Samoyed often
but had not had a fight since March until last week. I believe
this time it started after giving each of them a dog bone in
separate areas of the yard, as always, and maybe the Samoyed came
over too close to where his dog bone had been before he ate it.
Just a guess. He is on some herbs and Bach Flower Essences, which
I thought had helped but I wonder why all of sudden he did this
and if you have any suggestions.
Dear Sharon,
There is no evidence that herbs impact interdog aggression or any
other behavior problem although I have heard anecdotally of some
occasional limited effects. It is unclear to me whether your dog
is showing dominance aggression, territorial aggression, is
poorly socialized to other dogs, or all of these together. At the
very least, he seems like an assertive and volatile dog. I am
available for telephone or email consults to better define his
problems.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have
two Shibas -- one is a two year old male, the other an 11-month
old female. Our routine for the last 6 months or so has been to
leave them outside in our fenced backyard for about seven hours
during the day while we are away. Our covered screened porch is
there for shade and shelter, and we leave them plenty of fresh
water. Also, we live on a lake, and up until recently, both dogs
have had an aversion to water, making us feel safe leaving them
in the yard. During the last few weeks during the heatwave we've
been having, I've kept them indoors during the day, and by the
time I get home, they are raring to go!! I take them outside,
play chasing/running games to give them the exercise they've been
lacking lately. Just the other day, the little one, Lucy, decided
she would "test the waters," literally!! As I watched
in disbelief, she slowly ventured to the lake, walking along the
shoreline. She then found herself in water a little deeper, and
wouldn't you know, she discovered she could swim.The next thing I
knew she was swimming full tilt after a duck, and I was in our
canoe trying to rescue her!! We would rather not put up a
chain-link fence at the shoreline, so my question to you is 1)
are those underground, "electronic fences" that use
shock as a deterrant effective, and 2) are they humane??
Dear Fearful in Florida
I am not a big fan of concealed electronic barriers. Some dogs
are willing to take the ‘zap’ and continue on their
merry way, so strong is their motivation to break out. Frankly, I
am also not a big fan of leaving dogs unattended in yards. Since
you are worried about snakes or drowning in the lake, consider
crazy people coming into your yard, other big dogs, Lucy running
away & getting hit by a truck, etc. Simplify your existence
and prevent problems by keeping them indoors when you are away.
If Lucy wants to swim, why not teach her to follow you in the
canoe just as many joggers run with their doggies? You could put
a harness on her rather than a collar, attach her to a leash with
a floating device on the end of it (as a precaution/visual
marker)...Having a yard (with or without a lake) is a luxury.
Your dog needs long walks (swims?), time with you, and
interaction with other dogs (with or without a fence).
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I have two kitty cats; one male 9 yrs. old and a female 7years old. We moved last November from a place that had been home for six years. I bought a new self-cleaning litter box in January and put it along side the old box. The male used it right away but the female was frightened by the noise. I think she sometimes urinates in the old box however she is leaving poop at the front of the stairs. How do I get her back in the box and eventually to the new one? Love your column.
Dear Jim,
I firmly believe in the adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. YOU may like the new box but that doesn’t matter. Your cat is the one that has to like it, even love it! By putting that scary contraption next to the old box you may have also taught her an aversion to using both! She may be defecating at the stairs to mark her territory or as an aversion to using either box. I’d advise you to get that new one far away from the old one in the hope that she will return to using her tried & true box once again... Remember that the majority of stuff sold for pets is marketed to appeal to people, and you have the proof!
Dear Dr Cookie,
Last year my son was passing by while our 3 year old male Samoyed was eating a pig ear. He did not try to take it away but the dog growled at him. My son put out his hands in a questioning fashion and the dog bit him in the arm and went on to chase him into the next room where he climbed on the couch before the dog stopped. We had the dog neutered in hopes the this would end it . Last week my husband took an apple away from the dog and when he returned to scold him the dog attacked him and bit him in the hand and continued to show aggression until my husband tackled him to the floor. This dog is usually very friendly to everyone and is a well behaved house pet. My husband is his primary caretaker and is now reluctant to interact with the dog. Can we control this ?? The dog has been outside since the last attack.
Dear Mrs. Murtaugh,
Possessiveness about food has no connection to the testicles. Many dogs become aggressive when they are protecting an object of value. There are training techniques to correct this described in my QuickFix handout on ‘Guarding Objects of Value (possessive aggression)’. However, the best advice is to leave the dog alone when he has a pig’s ear or other yummy treat. Let him enjoy it in peace and teach your son to respect the dog’s limits. Your dog warned your husband and son with a growl and they did not understand or take notice of this serious and obvious bit of canine communication. In the future, they should. Possessiveness is largely unrelated to dominance. Rather, the motivation of the guarding dog is what counts. Your husband should not challenge the dog so directly or roughly because he could get hurt. The dog has a situational problem. Recognize it, deal with it. We all have our quirks...
Hello Dr Cookie!
My Himalayan cat is 10 years old, I have had him for 9 yrs.. He was in pretty poor shape when I rescued him at about 1 year old. For the last 9 years, he pulls the hair out of his tail. I was told by vet at the time that he was stressed. He is strictly a house cat and the last time I had brought him into the vet, which was about 5 yrs ago they told me it was probably more of a habit now. I have tried bitter apple but he licks and chews that off. Thank you.
Dear Owner of Hairless Cat,
Overgrooming due to stress is called ‘psychogenic licking’ or ‘barbering’. If you are sure that there is no physical problem (anal gland blockage, fleas, internal parasites, etc.) then the problem may well be due to emotional causes or it could be an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Since it has been lifelong chances are that it is an OCD but the good news is that psychoactive medication is very helpful in curbing this problem. I invite you to contact me to set up an email consult for more details!
Dear Dr Cookie:
My 5 year old Boston Terrier ‘Toby’ has started something new this summer. He has always been a grass eater also known as Dog Salad in our house. Over the last couple of weeks he has been eating dirt! Yikes. His diet hasn't changed. When I discovered what he was doing I did discipline him. He has also had a couple of bouts with diarrhea overnight.
Dear Lori,
Dogs are omnivores (not just strictly meat-eaters) and scavengers. It is normal for them to eat grass. If grass is the salad, dirt may be his salad dressing! Or perhaps there is some flavor in the soil that appeals to him (manure or other fertilizer?). Since his tummy is upset, it is probably a good idea to bring a stool sample to your local veterinarian. Keep his leash on in your yard so you can quickly move him away when he starts to chow down and give him more interesting things to chew on such as rawhide bones!
Dear Dr Cookie
My dog, Charlie Girl, has recently been acting very strangely. She does not like to go out at night (sometimes) and is very afraid of loud noises--she is almost petrified at times. Her tail goes between her legs and I can not get her out of the front door. If we are in the house and she hears something, she runs into my back bedroom and will not come out for quite some time. I should probably give you a little background-- I was separated about a year ago and we had two dogs. My ex-husband kept one and I kept Charlie Girl. We owned a home which I had to sell--the house was in a quiet neighborhood and the apartment I live in now is on a relatively noisy block--there are a lot of children. I don't know what to do for her, she is so afraid sometimes it breaks my heart. Please help.
Dear Christine,
Sounds like you have both had a lot of heart break this past year. Charlie Girl may have been the more submissive of your two dogs and her confidence, particularly in such a novel environment, has been shaken. She may have depended on that other dog for leadership in uncertain situations. She may not have been exposed to children very often, either, and this could be compounding her fears. You need to assume stronger leadership but at the same time reassure her that all is well. Take her out for very short walks (and more frequently) and return home before she acts afraid. Give her a cookie (treat)! Take her out when things are quiet. Build her confidence slowly and from a more secure foundation. When she seems better, and not before, gradually increase the length of her walks. Some dogs develop phobic responses and require medication to help alleviate their anxiety so please don’t hesitate to contact me to set up an email or telephone consult. Perhaps you could find a park where other dogs play? That would help you both to make new friends...you will both be fine with a little time and patience.
Dear Dr Cookie
The worst problem with my 5 year old wire haired Fox Terrier is her love of water. Now that may not seem like a problem but her love of water is so strong that during a rainstorm, particularly a thunderstorm, she goes absolutely wild and there is no controlling her. She barks and runs around the house whining and jumping, wanting to go out in the rain. The one time I did let her out, I couldn’t get her to come back and she ran around outside barking and jumping at the rain. I have been playing a tape of a rainstorm over and over again but it’s not working. Help!!
Dear Lee,
Phobias to thunderstorms are among the most common phobic responses in dogs. It is unclear to me whether your dog is responding out of fear in an offensive fear response (biting at the rain rather than hiding under your bed) or whether she is playing with the rain. My sense is that she really loves it. So why not put on your raincoat and boots and celebrate out there with her?! You know the song, don’t you? :-D
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 3 year old neutered male cat (Finnegan).Two months ago, we introduced a new female kitten (Madeline) for some company for him. To my delight after about a few days of readjustment they seemed to be getting along just fine, playing together etc. Now, just in the past few days Finnegan has become very moody-grumpy, hissing and not wanting to play with Madeline at all. The only change that has occurred is that in the past week the temperature has become very hot (over 95 degrees). Could it just be that he is cranky because of the heat? He seems to be eating o.k. (albeit less than normal-but then so is Madeline and me too for that matter, because it is so hot). It seems such as shame that they were enjoying each other's company and then suddenly Finnegan became aggressive.
Dear Megan in Steaming Hot Toronto, Canada,
If your home has air conditioning, then the heat is unlikely to be bothering Finnegan. I’m assuming it is warm in your home so, yes, the heat would be affecting all of you. I’m glad he is still eating and that is a good sign. He could just be establishing his relationship with her so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Kittens need to know their limits after all. On the other hand, he might not feel well... Always have a new pet examined by your veterinarian before introducing him or her to your household. If you have not had Madeline examined worms, Feline Leukemia and related viruses, as well as any sign of upper respiratory infections, please do so right away. Say hi to them both from a former Montrealer (me!), eh?!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 2 1/2 year-old Doberman Pincher who seems to exhibit rather weird behavior that can range from excessive whining and murmurs that can continue for long periods at a time to sucking everything that has some meaning to me, or swallowing any tissue that I've happened to misplace for two seconds. He also has this closeness problem... he has to always be touchingor rubbing against me. It's excessive, and at times makes me want to cry in pity for him.
Dear Cassie,
At the very least your Dobie (or Butterman as I call them since they melt like it!) is suffering from a neurotic overdependence on you. It is unclear to me what else may be going on because I don’t have all the details of his history, for example, or current lifestyle. Is he a shelter rescue? Is this new behavior or has he been this way since he was a pup? He certainly sounds very anxious, as do you, and so I would urge you to consider contacting me for a more indepth consultation. I would love to have the opportunity to improve things for you both...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Beau is an 8 year old toy poodle (castrated). Ever since he was a baby, he has growled at and bitten me. He has been to three obedience classes, one of which he actually graduated from. The trouble is, he knows who's boss. I really don't feel that he's spoiled - I've tried to control him, but he's so little - and quick - that's it's not possible without hurting him or myself. His groomer (and former trainer, not the one who gave him a certificate) has no problem with him. His Veterinarian has no problem with him. It seems I'm the only one who does He is also the very smartest dog I ever had. Any help you can give me with this control problem would be appreciated. I've put up with it for a very long time.
Dear Mom of the Pit Poodle (your name not mine!),
Little dogs get away with a lot more misbehavior than larger breeds. Sometimes it is because they are small, quick & difficult to 'catch' in order to correct them (eg, Shiba Inus among others). Sometimes it's because they are more toylike & easier to indulge. It is never too late to get things under control although the longer your dog is allowed to misbehave the more he may resist having his attitude changed. Your problem sounds like dominance aggression but I would urge you to contact me for an indepth diagnosis. You've waited long enough for help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 9 year old spayed female Maine Coon cat. She has a wonderful disposition and has been a great companion for me . She does have a couple of behaviors that, while not really problems, I am curious to understand. First, whenever she walks by articles of my clothing that are laying on the floor (no bachelor comments please), she stares at it intensely and walks by very slowly. Once she gets all the way by it, she will often scurry away quickly. Secondly, she loves to crawl up in my lap or to jump up and lay on my chest if I'm laying down. But if I'm in shorts or am not wearing my shirt, she absolutely will not do those things, and acts horrified to touch me. Sometimes I think she's just neurotic. Any thoughts?
Hi Kyle, thanks for writing in. Sounds like she might be playing when she scurries away from your clothing or she could just be overly cautious about unfamiliar objects. Either way it's normal for a cat who sounds a bit skittish. Re: her apparent aversion to your skin may simply be a strong preference for the feeling of cloth. She may be a bit neurotic, but gee, aren't we all?
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Why don't cats like to ride in cars?
Dear Laurie,
Usually it's one of 2 reasons: 1] because they only go for a car ride on the way to the veterinary clinic (which can be unavoidably unpleasant), and 2] because they rarely go for a car ride & anything unfamiliar or unusual can be scary! By the way, this applies to dogs as well!
Hi Dr. Cookie:
We have a 12 year old Maine Coon cat. He has outlived his two cat brothers, the last one died four years ago. Charlie seems to changing into a crabby old cat. He is territorial, runs off any cats who wander into his court yard. We tried to introduce a kitty, thinking he was lonely, he went under the bed, and only came out to hiss and eat. My husband does not want to try again, because he thinks it will change the way Charlie relates to us. He is a wonderful cat, follows us from room to room, talks to us, and allows for lots of petting. In reality, he is spoiled, our surrogate cat child. Should we try again? What about a puppy? Thanks!
Dear Julie,
Sounds like Charlie is doing just fine. He is doing his job as the solitary cat in his territory and he is enjoying your exclusive attention. So who really wants a kitten or a puppy? Decide what YOU want. Charlie will learn to live with another pet if that is what you want. He will naturally resent any newcomer and may withdraw from you temporarily as he adjusts but that should not last forever! It is hard to predict how 2 cats will take to each other, although a young female would be less of a rival. Charlie has been alone for 4 years and at this point likes it that way!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My fiancé has been sent to prison...his cat seems to be terribly upset. She has lost alot of weight, she paces back and forth to the doors as if she is looking for something (or someone). Would there be any point in trying to petition the prison to allow visitation or would that make matters worse?
Dear Lori,
Cats definitely bond to people, and some cats can become deeply affected when separated from their favorite person. What you describe in this cat is a clinical depression. I think it would confuse her to visit him. You should see your veterinarian to make sure there is no physical problem which could have been triggered by the recent stress in your household. Once you are sure your cat's problem is exclusively emotional, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to boost her appetite if that is what is necessary. Meanwhile, tempt her with special treats like canned cat food in chicken or turkey flavors and spend extra time playing, brushing or simply petting her.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
How do you get a cat to settle down at night? Mine starts running around and wanting to play when we go to bed. Thanks.
Dear Jodi,
Cats are crepuscular by nature, meaning that they tend to be most active at dawn & dusk (or early evening). But they also adjust to our schedules. If you are away all day, your cat will likely sleep. The key is to get her tired by the time you are ready for bed, and that means playing with her! Buy or make appropriate toys that trigger & keep her interest and you will both sleep well!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My female GSP (German Shorthaired Pointer) likes to lick everything - people, the carpet, her toys. What is causing this behavior?
Hi there. Obsessive compulsive licking is a recognized behavioral disorder in dogs. But, your dog could also like the taste of something that is on the surface of certain objects. An increase in daily exercise and opportunity to lick/chew appropriate items such as rawhide bones may be helpful. I am available for telephone consults if you need help in 'licking' the problem (sorry, couldn't resist <G>)!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
In May I brought home 2 Ragdoll brothers who were 4 months. Whenever Max would come on the bed with us Sam would urinate. We had them fixed at 5 months and thought that would help the problem but now it has even gotten worse. The boys get along very well and both recieve a tremendous amount of love. They use their liter boxes at all times except for when Max comes on the bed when Sam is there. They are just shy of their 7 month birthday and I was wondering if this will go on forever. Sam doesn't seem to mind if we play or show Max affection any other time. Thanking you in advance.
Dear Joan,
You can't blame hormones for everything! Sounds like simple territorial marking. You may need to keep Max out when Sam is there, and vice versa. This has nothing to do with how much you love him or showing Max affection. It's not a personal thing. It's a cat thing. You need to break the pattern by interrupting the scenario...
Dear Dr. Cookie:
We have two female chows: Shatzy 2+ yrs & Eva 1 1/2 yrs. They have lived together for about 1 yr and 3 mos., or so. They have always been best of friends...Recently, I was walking out the back door to go to work, when I noticed a cat by the fence. The dogs noticed the cat as well and were quite upset. I scared the cat away but Shatzy turned on Eva and the worst battle to date broke out. Eva received several puncture wounds to her front leg and several smaller scrapes to the lips and around her eyes. Shatzy had a fairly serious cut to the bottom of her paw - - - on the pad. Another fight broke out when my wife came home for lunch and the dogs fought for nearly five minutes as my wife fought to stop the battle. Shatzy is the Alpha dog. We need something concrete to do in the short run.
Dear Oversons,
The kind of aggression you describe is called redirected aggression. Shatzy's predatory arousal could not be directed against the cat so she took it out on the nearest target, Eva. What ensued after several incidents of this kind, is not just dominance aggression (nor is it predatory). It is a learned behavior that has little or nothing to do with the original trigger ( cat) at this point. Keep the dogs separate for now. Reintroduce them only after several weeks and do so for progressively longer periods spent together over several more weeks. Sometimes more involved programs are necessary. I remain available for telephone consults should you need more assistance!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a older, 14-year old cat who is displaying several irksome behaviors. After we put out food for him, he'll just look at it, taste it briefly maybe, then go away, only wanting to be fed an hour or two later. We've tried giving him different foods, but he doesn't seem to care for any of them too much. He also had a recent vet exam where nothing wrong was found. Any advice?
Dear Dave,
At 14, alot of things can start to change and not show up on a routine exam. Geriatric changes can often be detected on blood tests. Your cat might have a sore mouth due to dental problems. Or, it might be too hot to eat. Or maybe he just wants your attention and has learned a reliable way to get it! First, make sure there is no medical problem. Then, and only then, can we decide this is purely behavioral. Regardless, even a 14 yr old cat deserves some TLC and quality time with you, no matter how busy life gets...
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My new dog (adopted last year) is very loving, gets along great with my other dog, and follows me everywhere. However, a few months ago this new dog began growling, barking, and snapping at my husband in the morning. He also gets this way at night when my husband tries to get near me. If my husband scolds him he only gets meaner. Why did this happen so suddenly? Why do my dog and my husband get along during the day, but not the night or morning or when I am in the picture? My dog acts like a jealous lover! Either that or he is trying to protect me, but why?
Dear Kate,
It is common for newly acquired pets to slowly incorporate themselves into the 'pack hierarchy' (you only think it is sudden). Sounds like your dog has achieved an inappropriate rank, that is, he thinks he is the 'top dog' (alpha male) and you are the ranking female. His behavior is normal but not desirable! He considers your husband his rival where you are concerned, so in a way you should be flattered. But after you've taken a moment to appreciate just how much your dog is attached to you, I have a very good handout so you can better appreciate your husband's attachment too...
Dr. Cookie,
My 2 standard poodles, Elizabeth,and Alexander like to run in the door, jump over the sofa, then to their kennel. When going out he door, the sofa is hurdled again, then out the door. They are sweethearts, but my sofa should not have to take this abuse! Please help us----------
Dear Fed up in Texas,
Simple solutions are often the best. Rearrange your furniture!!!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
What is your experience and feelings about putting a dog on Prozac? What would be the reasons you would recommend a dog on Prozac?
Dear Barbara,
In my experience, many new drugs are released with tremendous marketing campaigns & frequently ride on a wave of publicity. It is not my practice to prescribe medications because they are 'in fashion'. Prozac has attracted a lot of media attention for those of my colleagues that choose to experiment with their patients. In my opinion, although its pharmaceutical properties have real merit, Prozac has not been adequately studied in controlled clinical trials for use in pets with particular problems. For this reason, I continue to use other medications that have a longer track record and reserve new drugs for use when others may fail.
Hi Dr. Cookie,
I don't have a problem dog, (which is amazing because I own a Shiba Inu and you know who independent they can be!), but I have a pet question. I am buying a home with a pool, and I am so afraid "Bugsey" may have an accident. Other than building a fence around the pool, is there a way to train him to stay away, or at least how to get out if he falls in?? How do people with pools deal effectively with their pets?? Thanks!!
Dear Lisa,
Child-proofing and pet-proofing frequently run parallel, if not identical, paths & your question is no exception. A sturdy chain link fence around your pool area will prevent many accidents. Another option is to place a dog pen right around the door leading to the pool area so that you can prevent Bugsey from getting to the pool when no one is around to supervise (but still let him enjoy at least part of your yard)!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Thank you for
web page and your willingness to answer the questions of anxious
pet owners. Just two days ago, I rescued my neighbor's cat from a
bad home environment. One problem I've experienced is that she
wipes her rear on the carpet or the bare floor after defacating
in her litter box, which she also does not bother to cover
afterward. She is very underweight, and at the advice of the vet,
I had her dewormed. Could this be a reaction to the medication?
The other problem is that when I'm petting her, which she loves,
she starts licking my fingers and switches immediately to biting
them, not hard, but still very annoying. Could either of these
behaviors be
related to the fact that she has not yet been spayed? Thank you.
Dear Lisa Johnson,
Scooting on her behind just means she's itchy. Have your veterinarian check for an anal gland problem & repeat the stool sample to make sure there are no worms. If she nips at your fingers, don't let her start licking them to begin with. Play with more appropriate toys than your own body parts! If she still nips, say 'no' firmly & stop interacting with her (pushing her away if necessary). And GET HER SPAYED!!!
Dr. Cookie,
I have a
cat about 1 yr old. Usually (9 out of 10 times) he defecates
right next to his litter box. I have changed his litter from brand
to brand trying to figure out if he doesn't like the litter he's
got. I usually let the same kind of litter stay in his box for 3
months at a time (clean it 3-4 times a week) just so he can get
accustomed to it, but nothing has worked. Please help me! He is
part of my family.
Dear Steve,
While it is a good idea to see if your cat prefers one type of litter over another, you must also consider other factors. If your cat is defecating right next to the box, the location is probably not the issue. So let me put it to you this way. If you didn't flush your toilet for 3 months, would you want to use it? Don't think so! Even if you 'clean' the box (I assume that means to scoop out fecal balls) it is not clean enough, certainly not for your cat. Pour in about 1 inch of litter, scoop it daily, and dump it totally out 2 or even 3 times a week. You may need to do this for at least 6 months & if he is doing well, you can put in more litter at a time but still dump it once weekly. Remember it is not what YOU think is clean but what your cat will tolerate!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 3 year old Wire Haired Fox Terrier named Kyle and just in the last month or two has started urine marking in the house. He does it anywhere he feels like it. I have had several dogs in my life and all have been males but none of them have done this. He is not neutered. Please help, I am at my wits end and am not sure of what to do.
Dear Donna,
Dogs can be very territorial and, unfortunately, sexual hormones in circulation tend to intensify the predisposition to urine mark. While not every intact male shows this tendency, the best thing to do is to have yours neutered. Unless he is of particular breeding value, you will prevent all sorts of testosterone-related problems down the road. It may be necessary to block access to his favorite target rooms for a while. Be sure to disinfect & deodorize his favorite targets too & take him for an extra daily walk!
Dear Dr. Cookie-
I have a new
kitten in my home (Odell) who is approximately 10 weeks old. To
our delight, he did start using the litter box right away, but he
also used other various places. We've managed to narrow those
other places down to one lingering spot - our bed! If our bedroom
door is open, he finds a nice spot at the foot of the bed. If we
keep the door shut, he finds the litter box just fine. Can you
offer any advice to help keep my comforter clean??
Dear No Sleep-
Your new kitten is marking his territory & is strongly bonded to you, otherwise he would not be so persistent about remarking your bed! Try sprinkling dry cat food pellets over the surface of your bed (divide his daily portion into 3 or 4 meals) and stay with him while he eats so your other can't won't! This should teach him that your bed is not an ideal place to leave his mark. And definitely add at least 1 if not 2 additional boxes to encourage his appropriate toilet habits.
Dear Dr. Cookie...
Hank our 5 year old, neutered Chessy cross has lately become an aggressive barker at other dogs from the back of our truck. Any dog we see: be it in another truck or on the sidewalk he really freaks out, almost jumping out of the truck. He also does this behavior from our yard. He is fine on walks and may run up to other dogs but is never aggressive. How do we end this behavior without ruining the ride for the rest of us? Thanks, Kim
Dear Kim,
While I realize that driving with dogs in the back of pickup trucks is common, it is VERY high risk. Dogs get thrown or jump from open vehicles every day and are lucky if they survive with only minor injuries. Dogs should be secured in the cabin of your truck, left at home, or you could get a large crate for the back of your pickup for use as a traveling compartment! Hank sounds like a territorial boy. He is doing his job, from a dog's point of view at least. This tendency is inborn but how he expresses it is in part up to you. If he is left alone in the yard or the back of your truck, it is up to him. Take him for more walks so he won't be so reactive & keep him near you where he will be happy & safe & easier to control!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Mica, my 6
year old golden retriever, has a phobia of thunder, we can't
leave her alone at home or she will ruin the house if a
thunderstorm comes. I know that sedating her is no solution, so
what should I do? My parents have already put adds in the
newspaper to get rid of her, because she is becoming too much to
handle. I know there is a solution and I would rather find it,
than give her away. Sincerely, Scott
Dear Scott,
Behavior problems are the #1 reason for giving a pet away, placing it in a shelter, or euthanasia. Human nature is such that we will put up with a problem until our level of tolerance is reached, and then frustration sometimes pushes us to do desperate things. There is a treatment for phobia to thunder (and other loud noises too) but it is a gradual process. Won't your parents please give it a chance, for your sake? Let them know that giving your dog away is something that you will always regret. Sedation can help some dogs but it is temporary. Contact your own veterinarian for medication in the meantime. It's better than losing Mica before we have a chance to retrain her behavior!
Hello Dr.Cookie,
I have a
18month old and a 9month old neutered male Siamese. The18month
old continuously tries (I assume) to mate with the younger male.
He bites him on the neck and holds him, then mounts him. The
little one just seems annoyed. Should I try to keep him from
doing this and if so.. how? Thanks, Wanda
Hi Wanda,
Well, sexual behavior can persist in neutered animals if they have 'experience' with raging hormones before neutering and especially if they have the opportunity to practice mating related behavior. It is not harmful to your younger male but if it bothers you, try spraying your Casanova with water or simply yelling 'no'! He will likely persist in your absence. Also, try playing more with him so he'll have less time and energy for his romantic pursuits!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have recently acquired a nice natured German Shepherd cross dog from the local pound. He is around 18 months old and neutered. When ever I go away no matter how long I am away he chews things up in my house. He has chewed all the toilet paper, children's toys, disposable nappies, TV remote just to name a few. It makes no difference that he is housed with my other dog. He gets plenty of exercise, up to 3 hours per day, most of it bush walking and running after rabbits. How can I stop him destroying my home and contents? Thank you, and terrific web page. Regards, Gina
Dear Gina,
There is a higher incidence of separation anxiety in dogs adopted from animal shelters, for obvious reasons I think. I have a handout on separation anxiety in dogs that would help you. Meanwhile, give him some time to adjust, an extra long walk before a planned departure, & a rawhide bone just before you leave! Also, PET PROOF YOUR HOUSE!!! Remember that separation from YOU is what is making him upset, whether your other dog is there or not. Don't be angry at him for loving you. Let me know how you do.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Matisse, my 6 month old cat thinks that my bathtub is her own personal litter box, which she uses intermittently along with the two real litter boxes in the house. I have two cat's the same age. I clean both litter boxes daily. She uses the bathtub sometimes when the other boxes haven't even been used. Any suggestions?
Dear Karen,
Matisse could be expressing her preference for litter box location or her aversion to the placement, hygiene, or litter filler of your 2 boxes. Some cats can be very particular about where they void. Why don't you fill the tub with an inch of water & place at least 1 box in that bathroom? Let me know if you need more help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 6
mo. old German Shepherd puppy that has a mouthing problem. I have
tried many things with her, alpha her, put her in isolation for a
short time, held her muzzle shut and even put my had down her
mouth as far as I can. She still seems to want to do this when
she wants to play. I know that this is a hard age and that is how
they play with other dogs but it does become frustrating at
times. When she does this it hurts me since she no longer has
baby teeth and I am concerned about the kids that come over to
play with my kids. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Also I have noticed that she seems to get a little aggresive when
she meets someone she doesn't know at home. She barks
consistently and the hair stands up on her back, but she does not
lundge or snap at them. I seem to think she is putting up a front
to these new people as not to let them know that she is really
afraid herself. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from
you soon!
Dear Tracy and Timber the White chomper!
Your puppy needs you to set limits and to guide her toward acceptable behavior. Play biting is normal but not acceptable when she is playing with people. Sounds like she is not getting enough exercise or play time with other doggies. PLEASE don't abuse your dog by isolating her or shoving your hand down her mouth. What good will that do? Give her toys to chew on instead and play with her & her toys in the yard. Barking at strangers in your home could be fear aggression &/or territorial aggression. I have handouts on these if you like. Meanwhile, put her in a sit/stay when visitors come & get some obedience training! Loving your pet is one thing, but knowing how to bring out the best in her is something YOU need to learn. Good luck!
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I have a 12 yr-old male, neutered cat (Cheshire) who has always been very aggressive and rather standoffish. A month ago I had to put Jade, my 10 year old lovable, affectionate cat to sleep. Since Jade's death, Cheshire has been very affectionate towards me and very vocal (he barely made a peep while Jade was alive). He still bites a lot (an unbroken habit since the day I found him when he was a year old - the squirt bottle helps though), but now he follows me around and loves to be groomed and snuggled. I am getting a Devon Rex kitten shortly (he will be 12 weeks old when he arrives). What is the best way to get my old guy used to my new guy without either of them getting hurt. Thanks!
Dear Worried Mom,
You might consider trying to resolve Cheshire's aggressiveness before your new kitten arrives! I'd predict that he will be upset for quite a while, especially since it sounds like he is enjoying being the only 'apple of your eye'. Since Jade's death, you wrote that he has really relaxed and been more demonstrative. I have a really good handout on how to introduce new pets to resident pets. I am sure it will be helpful.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I have a
six-mo. old Shiba puppy. He's been a great dog for us -- he's
friendly, affectionate and listens most of the time. He's even housebroken. I'm concerned for him though. We leave him home every
day (he has the run of our large kitchen and den), but I worry
that he gets lonely. Is it cruel to leave a dog home alone for 8
hours at a time, five days a week? We are considering getting a
another dog so he won't have to be alone. But that's the ONLY
reason we would consider another dog.
Dear Nancy,
Have you considered a dog walker (a friend, a neighbor, or professional) ? This way your little guy can have a walk & some play time half way through the day. Eight hours is a bit much for such a young dog but most pups adapt eventually and you can continue dog walkers even when he is older. Take your pup for a long walk before & after work so he is content to rest while you are away. Sounds like you are having more problems than he is with the separation! If the ONLY reason you are considering another dog is to keep him company, consider 2 things: 1) He might be perfectly happy as the only 'child', and 2) A second dog could complicate your lives in ways you never expect! Keep life simple.
Dear Dr. Cookie -
I have
four cats - Chooch (grey tiger), Whitey (white, of course),
Lucifer (black) and Smokey (grey). They all purr except the grey
one. Smokey has not purred since I rescued him from being dumped
in a garbage can when he was a kitten. Is it possible that
someone damaged his neck and therefore, his motor? I thought all
cats purred.
Dear Paula,
Smokey may purr eventually, give him some time. He is still the new kid on the block and may be a bit anxious with the other senior housemates. On the other hand, he may have been ill as a kitten. Some viruses affect the throat. Purring is thought to result from an alternating vibration in the pharynx (not the vocal cords) and the diaphragm. If part of the mechanism was damaged, he may not purr as well.
Dear Dr, Cookie,
We have
attended a number of dog shows and looked at breeds we feel would
be best suited to our home as a family pet. We selected the Welsh
Springer Spaniel, visited a breeder and saw the puppies, the only
one still available was a small female. She was less
investigative than the other puppies and was the only one that
did not have her tail up and wagging. Yet this dog was active and
did play, she never did initiate the activity while we were
there. She did come and play with us as visitors, but was the
least aggressive of her litter. Does a puppy that seems so timid
end up being a poor choice as a family dog? Do dogs that seem to
be sweet, and less aggressive end up being couch potatoes? Do
small less aggressive puppies get more confidence as they leave
the letter and the competition of many other active siblings? Do
these behaviors, shyness in dogs mean that they will be scared by
any new situation or dog that crosses their path? Are there any
real helpful guidelines to puppy selection- as to what to look
for physically and behaviorally in a puppy? Thank you for your
response.
Dear j. share,
Shy pups often bloom once they are removed from more enthusiastic littermates. However, seeing a puppy just once can be misleading. I've seen many submissive pups become dominant members of the household, so don't let it go the other way either! I can send you a prepared handout on how to select a pup, basic obedience, & anything else you can think of ($5 each). I tried to email you but my message came back with fatal errors. Go with your instinct. If you are unsure, wait for the next litter. If you have limited experience as pet owners, a more passive temperament might be ideal. Your pup will evolve, develop according to your guidance and the experiences to which she is exposed.
Dear Dr. Cookie
Doctor, it's a little late for advice however I just have to know if anything could have been done. Our 9 year old male neutered Siamese cat was just put to sleep yesterday. He was the friendliest animal we have had and there have been many over the years. About 3 months ago (in our best guess) he started to spray in the house. I caught him at least half a dozen times. The problem reached an unbearable point and we had him taken to the vets for examination. They couldn't find anything medically wrong and diagnosed him with a behavioral problem. He was put on the equivalent of Prozac to try and calm him down. Admittedly his behavior was off in a way I couldn't quite put my finger on so the veterinary diagnosis seemed to make sense. Well the Prozac type medication not only didn't work it seemed to get worse. We decided at that point on the advice of the vet to put him down. The whole family took it hard.
Dear Gary,
My sincere condolences on the loss of your pet. I don't know if more could have been done but I wish I'd had the chance to help you. Your situation is precisely the kind I try to help pet owners avoid. I can tell you that there might have been additional medical tests I could have suggested, alternative medications to try (Prozac is not my first choice for any behavior problem in pets), environmental changes,...but some cats that spray can be tough to turn around (although my success rate is very good). There is no such thing as a magic pill & medication is rarely something I will use before other things are tried. You did the best you could in an uncomfortable situation. If your cat's behavior was 'off', it is possible he was ill. Perhaps you can take some comfort in knowing that he can no longer be harmed by worldly things. Try not to second guess yourself. No regrets, ok?
Dear Dr. Cookie
We have a
one year old Shiba Inu named Casey (female). I should mention we
are not only new Shiba owners, but new dog owners as well. The
problem is in walking her. First, whenever we approach her with
her leash she runs away and hides. When she does walk she always
stops and sniffs everything. She will often simply stop in the
middle of the path and even pull backwards. At times she has
pulled right out of her collar. Our first experience with taking her to a training school was a disaster. The trainer told
us that we had no business as first time dog owners owning a Shiba
and in front of my 9 year old told us that we wouldn't be able to
make any progress in training her. We quit the school and start
another one this week.
Bob, Freyda, Sara Greenberg
Dear Greenbergs,
Shibas are spunky little doggies. She's putting 'the brakes' on because she has learned that it gets her what she wants,- her way! Try a nylon choke collar or a Martingale collar (used mostly for sighthounds). These will give you more authority & she won't slip out. Sniffing is normal for dogs. That 's how she investigates scents left by her buddies, call it "P-mail" (I do). She might be frightened by the way you approach her with the leash. Crouch down low & entice her to come toward you to get a dog cookie (remember why I got my name!). As far as training goes, I'm glad you're continuing elsewhere, enough said!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
The stray cat that is collectively cared for by everyone at my job had a kitten recently. The mother is tame and very gentle, but the kitten (appears to be six to seven weeks old) is very frightened of people and runs away everytime I try to gently approach it. Last week I was able to corner it and tried to pick it up (I only wanted to show it how nice people were) and it bit me, HARD. I really want this kitty to have a good life, but what should I do? Should I go ahead and find it a home, leave it with the mother, attempt to tame it, advice please.
Dear Cat Lover from Tennessee,
Well, the first thing I would recommend is to capture the mother & have her spayed! I'm sure that everyone at work could contribute a few dollars! If she is so tame, perhaps she'd make a nice pet! Avoid injury to yourself. Kittens must be socialized to people early (2 to 6 weeks of age) & may remain shy/defensive if not exposed to positive interaction during this critical phase. Minimize handling the kitten until it becomes accustomed to people. Be patient! Nobody appreciates being grabbed by a stranger! I know you're a cat lover, so you'll make sure the kitten receives appropriate veterinary attention, too. Test both for Feline Leukemias, parasites, etc & don't expose them to other pet cats until you are sure all is well! Any dent you make in the stray cat population will help.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a
11-month old shepherd/rottweiler mix who will not stop barking.
Our 2 dogs stay outside, and it drives the neighbors crazy. We
have been to obedience school, and now we have to shut them in
the garage at night. Do you have any suggestions?
Dear Penni,
Sounds like your pup is going stir crazy. I am certain he is not getting the exercise or intellectual stimulation any healthy young dog needs. Leaving your dogs in the back yard is like leaving your kids in front of the TV. It might be OK for a while but what direction or interaction will they get beyond this! Take your dogs out for at least 2 walks every day, 45 minutes each time (minimum); play with him, ball, Frisbee if he likes to jump! Provide a healthy outlet for all that energy & intelligence. Be kind to your dogs as well as your neighbors!
Dear Dr. Cookie-
My cat Izzy (8 months old) is SO loveable when he wants to be (he
has been neutered), but it seems as if anytime he is not
completely in a loving mood or totally sleepy, he bites at our hands, legs and his favorite, toes! Is this still kitten behavior
that will go away with time or should we be doing something now
to correct it?
Dear Charlie and Emily,
Actually, I did my thesis work on the control of aggression in cats. Aggression toward people is more common in single cat households. Izzy could be showing a form of play aggression (please do not encourage him to play with your fingers or toes!!) but it could also be irritable aggression, something which can be more intense in males. I have handouts on these topics that would be helpful and/or you could consider a telephone consult. I would not want you to be hurt any further. Even wounds inflicted by your own pet can become infected or leave scars. Let me know how I can help.
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have a
female Mini Schnauzer who is a terrific mom (she recently had a
litter of nine puppies) but I am wondering about one behavior she
exhibits. The problem is that as soon as she gets near them and
they come up to her, she regurgitates her food for them. This is
her fourth litter and she has done this with all of them. I have
tried not letting her out with them until several hours after she
has eaten but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I also
have tried speaking firmly and saying no but she continues to do
it. Should I not worry about it or not let her out with
them?
Dear Dave & Gail,
Don't worry! This is a very normal behavior in many species including domestic dogs (although most bitches will not express this instinct as readily as yours does). The mother brings semi-digested prey back to babies with less developed teeth/digestive systems. Enjoy the puppies & please don't punish their mother...she's doing a great job!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I am having a problem with my 10 month old Tibetan Spaniel. He has a terrible habit of jumping on my table and counter and stealing food. I try not to keep food out on the table to tempt him. I try to keep him crated when we are eating. He doesn't beg for food and we never give him table scraps. He free feeds so he always has a bowl of food out where he can get to it. I am so frustrated. Any help would be appreciated.
Dear Vicki,
Tibetan Spaniels do seem predisposed to climbing up on table tops, although it is not exclusive to the breed by any means. I know you have tried many things but you might also consider placing upside down mouse traps on the counter and table tops (this will scare but not harm him). You might also try the Scat Mat, a mat with a low voltage current (it feels like static electricity, I've tested it myself!), available through pet catalogs. Feed him twice daily rather than ad lib so he will have a greater 'appreciation' of his own food & make sure it is a feed he really enjoys. Good Luck!
Dear Dr Cookie,
My cat has kidney failure. She is normally an outdoor cat, so we have decided to keep her in the laundry at night to keep her out of the cold and away from other cats. Unfortunately as she is getting healthier, she is unhappy, pacing and scratching at the door. We don't want her outside, what can we do to make the laundry more appealing? Is this caused by the hormones we are giving her to stimulate her appetite and thirst? Thank you very much for your time.
Traci and Ooskie from Australia
Dear Traci,
I am glad to hear that Ooskie is feeling stronger and that you are keeping her indoors, at least overnight. I believe that pet cats should be kept inside. The world has changed dramatically & it is no longer realistic, in most places, to allow our pets to roam freely outdoors. It is not a 'natural' environment for them (let alone for us!) to maneuver in a world of cars, trucks, and crazy people, not to mention 'natural' enemies...Ooskie needs to adjust her circadian rhythms. This may take many weeks but be patient. Play with her or interact with her in some other positive way at peak activity times (generally early morning and evening in cats); take her out for a walk with a harness and leash if you think it might be helpful. Buy or make some new toys that she has only overnight. Sprinkle her dry food on the laundry room floor to enrich her activity during confinement. I don't know what medication has been prescribed for her so consult your veterinarian for possible behavioral side effects. Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I am the
owner of a 9 year old Beagle mix and 3 cats. Lately, our dog,
Corky, has been getting into the litter pans on a daily basis and
eating some of the feces. What is her problem and what can be
done to break her of this?
Dear Pam,
Coprophagia is a normal canine behavior performed by the bitch to keep her puppies & den clean. It is also seen in young pups but they usually outgrow it. Some dogs continue to ingest stools as long as it is available & therein lies the answer! Make certain that Corky can no longer reach the box, by placing a barrier to the room that only allows the cats' access or try a covered litter box with an extended hood. Cat stools seem to be a popular delicacy &, once discovered, are hard to resist!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I think this is quite a common problem with Persians, but our 5 year old female seems to dislike using the litter tray . We bought her from a so called dealer in January this year and this has been a constant problem ever since. She occasionally also urinates next to the litter tray and not inside. I would really appreciate some advise on how to house-train an already adult cat. (It has proved impossible to contact the previous owner in order to find out whether this problem has always existed.)
Dear Nathalie,
It is tempting to speculate that if your cat shared the box with many others & the box was not kept clean (ie, clean enough for her, not you or any other cat!) she could have developed an aversion to the box. But, it does not really matter how it began but why it continues. Call your veterinarian to make sure there is no bladder or kidney problem. Inappropriate urination is not more common in Persians, it is simply common, but first find out if there is a medical problem. If there is not, we can set up a telephone consult or I can send you a handout on this topic. Let me know what happens!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I'm having
a problem with my (6) dogs eating their own stools and everyone
elses'. I've tried putting meat tenderizer in their food and also
pumpkin. I clean up after them at all times, but when loose in
the runs it is kinda hard to always go behind them.
Dear Gail,
Additives & medicine are frequent failures because the dog still has to practice coprophagia to ingest the substance & so still gets reinforced for the behavior. The dog may or may not mind the substance (for example, some dogs LOVE Tabasco sauce!) or he could feel nauseated too long afterwards & never make the connection to the stool. Also, the dog could eat a piece of stool that is untreated. Use your time instead to clean up! Letting them loose in the runs is perpetuating the behavior - take them for leash walks instead or let them out in the runs 1 or 2 at a time when you can be with them to clean right up!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Hi, We have
two French Bulldogs-- both male (neutered), one is three and one
is one. They are great buddies 99 percent of the time. Every once
in a while the younger dog will pick a scrap with the older dog. We
usually break these scrapes up, but recently left them go and
observed so no one would get hurt. It lasted about 15 seconds,
and the older dog simply held the younger one down with his paws
(he did not hurt the younger one). This was about a week ago, and
no scrapes have taken place since then. We have had dogs for 45
years but never two at once--- is this normal? should we do
anything else? Thank you!
Dear Jake and Jereth,
Yup! Nope! As long as no one is getting hurt, let'em be! You're welcome!
Hi "Dr. Cookie"
I have a 8
month old neutered male Siamese cross cat who is always tossing
large amounts of his litter out of the box when ever he uses it. We have 3 cats (two spayed females 11 and 4 years old) and
have two litter boxes in use. Donavin (our male) tosses litter
out of both boxes. Is there anything that I can do to discontinue
this habit?
Dear Siobhan & Family,
Unfortunately, Donavin is a slob and that is his style!!! (I resist making broader male bashing comments! <G>) I would recommend getting covered litter boxes, 1box/cat, or at the very least try litter boxes that come with detachable rim guards for other enthusiastic diggers like yours!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
First of all,
what a great website. Although I know your work focuses on cats
and dogs, I have a problem with a more exotic pet. I have a Cockatiel. Almost 2 years old, he has a
tendency to be mean and
irritable. I try to cuddle him and when he was little, he would
next on my chest and sleep. Now, as he is older, he is not as
affectionate and
even has purposely bitten me. I do let him out of the cage and two
things happen: I cannot leave the room without him flying after
me and he refuses to go back into the cage. Also, another thing
is that he is so high-strung that if the phone rings he goes out
of control and bangs, I mean BANGS, around in his cage. There is
no change in his environment, nor has his food, and even the vet
says that he is in perfect health. Any ideas with this type of
behavior and what I can do to improve it. It just kills me. Would
a dog treat or cookie help (ha!)
Dear Scott,
Birds are very social animals, and many exotic birds such as the Cockatiel live in large (& noisy!) flocks. Much of what you describe is undesirable attention seeking behavior,- he has learned that his vocalizations get your attention. Another problem you describe is his aggressiveness. This may be, in part, another way he gets what he wants but I suspect that he is exhibiting dominance aggression. By allowing him to perch at your chest level or higher you have reinforced his social rank above yours. No, a cookie won't help him but it could make you feel better ! <G> Glad you like the website!
Dr. Cookie!
My Samoyed, Polar Bear, is 17 months old. He grew up with my 4-year old Sheltie, Toby. They have always gotten along very well until recently. From the time Bear was about 14 months old, he has been harassing Toby. I think now Bear realizes he's much bigger than Toby and wants to be the alpha leader. Bear initiates these encounters, and although most of them are intimidation, some are real fights. I can usually break them up before any real damage is done, but a couple of times, Bear has drawn blood. Three weeks ago, I had Bear neutered, but that hasn't had time to calm him down. When I'm home, I keep them separated as much as possible, but it's getting harder. I don't know what else I can do!
Dear Mary Sue,
I agree. It sounds very much like Polar Bear is challenging Toby's dominance. However, breaking them up may actually be delaying the declaration of a clear cut winner, although I know how difficult it is to stand by when Toby is so much smaller. Keeping them apart may not be the best idea for the same reason. There are actually a number of things that you can do to help resolve the dominance conflict between your boys in a more controlled way so I hope you contact me soon! I have tried to reply to your email directly but it comes back with a fatal message! If you are interested in more in depth help, please contact me again & let me know your snail mail address!
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I have 2 cats, brother & sister, approximately 3 years old. The boy cat likes to eat plastic bags. Is he lacking something in his diet? His sister has just started chewing things, plastic hangers, my shoes & last week she chewed on a CD. Why? Any insight you can provide would be appreciated.
Dear Shirley,
This problem may sound amusing to some but the behavior known as PICA, the ingestion of inappropriate non-food items, has hazardous potential. It is unlikely to be related to diet. There could be a genetic predisposition in your two cats but learned behavior can also be mimicked. It would be very important to get a detailed history of your cats' lifestyle, activities, and other information to give a clear diagnosis and plan to treat their misbehavior.
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I have a 9 yr old Irish Setter dog. For the last year or so, she has been chewing on her right front leg. She has created a bloody gash on her leg. We have been to numerous vets and tried everything to get her to stop. The sour apple spray - she likes the taste. We have wrapped her leg to keep her away from this - she chewed the wraps off. We recently tried the Victorian collar - she managed to get out of this. Her leg is now sore and she is not getting along very well w/ this anymore. Do you have any suggestions for how we can get her to stop - and/or why she's doing this?
Dear Christy,
What you describe is most likely a type of obsessive compulsive disorder called 'Lick Granuloma', a type of psychoactive (emotional in origin) licking. It is unlikely to respond to the remedies you have tried so far although they may help if combined with a more precise treatment program. It would be very important to have the skin biopsied. Sometimes, certain types of skin tumors and infections can be confused with psychogenic licking. Ask your veterinarian to consider a biopsy of the area & to draw blood to make certain there is no underlying medical problem. Once this is proven, contact me to set up a telephone consult & send the lab results to me. Your dog could be a candidate for medication that would control her urge to lick. We can decide together what is the best treatment for your dog!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I've had my 5 yr old Jack Russell Terrier, Sly, since she was 6 wks old. I love her dearly and can't imagine what I ever did without her. The problem is...she licks rocks but will listen when I say 'no chewing'. It doesn't help to throw the rock away...that starts a game. I worked at the farm where Sly was born, so we were there nearly every day, and every day, first thing upon getting out of the car, Sly finds the best rock, and immediately begins licking and shaking...her whole body shakes while licking this rock, and depending on the level of apparent anxiety, will whimper and whine while licking. She doesn't leave my side, (following me from stall to stall with the rock) or play with the other dogs at the farm while we're there. Both her father and g-mother suffered from this same affliction, though both of them died with no front teeth since they were allowed to chew those rocks. I also worry that Sly is ingesting stone dust, wood shavings, horse manure and urine and who knows what bacteria and germs in the process. But the part that REALLY bothers me is that when I leave Sly at this farm for them to dog sit if I need to go out of town....she doesn't even so much as LOOK at a rock, much less lick or chew. Yet the minute my car pulls in the driveway, as soon as she knows it's me....she finds a rock and it begins. So, tell me Doc, which one of us needs the shrink ?!
Dear Jan & Sly,
Sounds like Sly has a form of separation anxiety that borders on obsessive compulsive behavior. She may be redirecting her anxiety, stemming from your anticipated departure, onto the undesirable oral behavior you descirbe in detail. She is overly dependant on you ("she doesn't leave my side") and this does not help. There may be a familial predisposition to support a possible inherited tendency. I can send you a handout on separation anxiety in the dog and another on the ingestion of inappropriate objects (including rocks) but I would also recommend a 'quick fix' consult on the net; a telephone consult would be the most direct/personal way to get help. Let me know where you'd like to start! Meanwhile, little Sly is really stressed out so don't be too hard on her and don't encourage this by making it into a game...
Hello Dr. Cookie!
I own a Dalmatian (liver spotted) and he is 17 months old .We took him to obedience school when he was 1 year old ( I think it was to late to take him). He did, however, learn his commands and he does them well but only when he is tired. When he is wired before we take him for a run, he'll drag us all over if we let him but he'll tire out before us and that's when he does all his commands well. I can even drop the leash. is there a better way to handle this?
Dear Rob,
It is never too late to start obedience BUT you have to practice all the time! In every room of the house, in your yard, during walks (on leash outside please!). Practice for 5-10 minutes in your home 2-3 times a day, keep the leash on him if you need. He sounds like a healthy young dog that also needs an additional long walk or run in his routine. Don't give up! Repetition and patience is the key!
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have a 6 month old male Shiba Inu. He loves going for walks and
I have never had a problem putting his collar on. This past week
he tries running away when I come near with the collar. He used
to do this as a game, but now he just turns and walks the other
way. I don't want to start chasing him around the house because
he will see it as a game, but I don't want to ignore him or he
will be getting his own way. I also don't want to grab at him or
he will never want to come to me. Any suggestions?
Dear Shiba Parent,
Your puppy is pulling a power play. It is important to remember that what you practice in play becomes part of their behavior through life. Part of this may also be a form of juvenile dominance behavior (over you) so I'd suggest you regain control with obedience practice on a daily basis even if it's just for a few minutes. Instead of chasing him, get him to come to you with a special food treat that he must earn with a 'sit/stay' as you place his leash. Make him work for you and not the other way around!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have gotten a 3 year old female Persian Cat. She is usually a somewhat nice cat but she really seemed to take a liking to me. My friend delivered her to me 2 days ago. (I should also mention that Zoe is in heat and not fixed) I put Zoe in her own room with plenty of places to hide with food and litter. I wanted her to get used to my voice so I started looking under the bed she was hiding under and talking soothingly to her. She has not been out in 2 days and is hissing, growling, and now lunging at me if a try to look under the bed or even walk around the bed. What is the best way to approach this situation?
Dear Traci,
Let Zoe relax at her own pace! She has been uprooted to a new territory with a new owner and is seeking refuge under your bed. By disturbing her there you are threatening and antagonizing her. Let her feel secure in that room with the door closed for a few days (you can go in but don't look under the bed) and then leave the door open so she can walk around if she likes. She should settle down although it could take several weeks or even months. Be patient. And as soon as you possibly can, GET HER SPAYED!!! Hormonal peaks also contributes to her irritability & she will be a happier housepet.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My Vet said
that my Springer has the symptoms of Springer Rage. For no
apparent reason, he gets a funny look in his eyes, starts
growling and barking at me. He looks very ferocious and yet his
tail is wagging. This has happened to me 3 times in the last 5
weeks. What should I do? Thanks
Dear Bob,
So called 'Springer Rage Syndrome' is a popular misconception. It is an unfortunate label for an extreme form of what usually turns out to be dominance aggression. This can occur in just about any breed! A wagging tail, seen along with aggressive behavior, is an indication that the dog is in conflict over whether to back down or proceed with his aggressiveness. Be very cautious, he is giving you fair warning. I would strongly recommend you contact me. At the very least I could send you some handouts on dominance aggression and how to deal with it, as well as basic obedience skills ($5 each) or we could set up a telephone consult. Let me know!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I have a 3 1/2 month old Shiba Inu. He is the sweetest thing,
except that he is constantly wanting to nip and gnaw on
everything -- including my extremities. He has about 5 chew toys
to divert from human subjects, but they don't seem to distract
him enough. My husband and I are pretty consistent with saying a
loud NO! when he does this, but he comes right back for more.
What else can we do about this?? I hope it's not something we'll
have to wait for him to "grow out of." I feel like we
need to be training him now, or this problem will only become
worse. Help!
Dear Nancy,
Play biting is a very common and normal behavior. It is fine between dogs but there must be a double standard between dogs and their behavior toward people! "No" is not enough unless you immediately direct him toward a more desirable target, such as his chew toys. Also, before he gets this demanding, make sure he stays more calm and satisfied with an additional walk each day &/or play group with other doggies! Let me know if you'd like my handout on play aggression in puppies. You are right in doing something now because we definitely don't want this to persist in his adult behavior.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I wasn't familiar with pets until I rescued 1 month-old male kitten from a garbage can. He received lots of painful veterinary care and is now a 6 month-old healthy and happy cat: he eats well, purrs constantly, dozes on my lap, plays all the time alone and with me. He really loves his litter box, his scratch & scramble fake-tree... he enjoys all that immensely! Last week vet neutered him: he panicked literally when see him. He was constantly snarling and hissing all the time. My vet tells me he's a feral cat, no a domestic one is like him! I know he has a lack of socialization. My apartment is very quiet: no people or pets around. I'm at home the most of the time, but I know he isn't frightened to be alone. He is frightened, terrified of the rest of the world. People can't approach him: he becomes a tiger! He runs under the bed and snarls and hisses at everyone. Once alone, he comes out and begins to purr... I've no problem, he allows me to touch, clean, groom, handle him... but he needs vet care, occasionally. Local behaviorists tells me: "Cats are crazy! Take a dog!". I don't want a dog. I want to take care of my cat. What can I do for him? Thanks in advance! With best personal regards,
Danny in Italy
Buon giorno Danny!
Feral cats are domestic cats that have returned to the wild. Like domestic cats, they carry a set of genes that predispose them to a range of social behavior. Exposure to people at a very young age (3 to 7 weeks!) is critical to positive socialization of kittens. If your home is very private, your kitten will have limited interaction. Invite some of your friends, 1 or 2 at a time, to help you. Ask them to visit at least several time every week. When the kitten finally comes out to investigate, have your friends give him a special food treat. Many domestic cats can have antisocial behavior as well as become extremely fearful at the veterinary clinic. Phobias can develop after just one exposure to a terrifying event, as in your case. Fortunately , this can usually be treated with systematic retraining. Povero gato!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 4 year old Lab/Retriever mix who we originally got from a shelter when she was just over a year. When we got her she was extremely fearful of everything, especially anything new. While her confidence has improved tremendously over the years, she still exhibits fear in new situations, with new people, etc., although not nearly as as she used to. She also becomes aggressive in the back yard when people come down the alley. My other two dogs do not behave this way, and I thought she would learn from my male that it is OK., but she hasn't. What can we do to improve her confidence and curb her aggressive behavior outdoors? Thank you!
Dear Jeanne,
Shelter dogs are frequently diamonds in the rough. Anyone considering a pet should visit their local shelters or veterinarians for pets in need of a new home. However, some of these come with a set of problems that may stem from their abandonment by their first owners or could have been part of the reason they were relinquished. With time and patient retraining they usually outgrow many of their anxieties. Tell her what you expect of her when greeting new people by commanding a 'sit/stay'. Give her a rawhide chew to distract her when visitors come over. Her territorial aggression is more difficult to curb but are you sure you want to? Every dog has their own 'style', her instincts to guard may be stronger than your other pets. Let me know if you need more help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Tigger is a 3-year old short-haired cat. She and her male littermate own me completely. When we first got these two, they were bosom buddies, and often cuddled up together. However, as they got older, and especially after they were spayed/neutered, Tigger began acting very hostile, not only to her brother, but to absolutely anyone.She can be a very loving little thing. But she will sometimes turn (right from her positionon my lap), and lash out with a hiss and fully extended claws. She will siton her cat "tree" and strike out at anyone who passes (sometimes, you understand -- other times, she just purrs, and asks for treats). We tried her on Buspar, but she seemed to get even more aggressive. We are never going to give her up, or anything like that -- we love her dearly in spite of everything. We understand that all animals are individuals, but is there some way we could get Tigger to be less hostile? My son has suggested that Ovaban worked well on one of his cats, but I have read of some undesirable side effects from the use of hormones, and am reluctant to ask to try this. Any ideas? Help would be very appreciated.
Dear Lynn,
Psychoactive medication can be very useful but I am very conservative with its use and almost never prescribe drugs without retraining either you and/or the cat as well. Ovaban is a synthetic progesterone that is no longer in favor in part because of side effects and in part because other medications are more effective. It sounds like much of her aggressive behavior would be more easily predicted if I had more information. Once the details are clarified, you might not need to medicate her at all!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I cannot keep my dog from going in the house. We have a doggie door and she is able to go out when ever she wants but seems to lazy to do so at least several times a day. If I send her outside she almost always goes and goes out on her own part of the time. I have never caught her going in the house but find the tell tale signs on the carpet. If I can't get this corrected I will have to give up the dog and I hate to do this. Any suggestions as my carpet is getting ruined. Thank you!
Dear Joyce,
Having a doggie door and a back yard are luxuries. In no way, however, do they replace going for walks with you several times each day in addition to playing with you or another dog! Regression in housetraining is very common given your dog's current lifestyle. It's spring! Take your dog for a walk! You will both benefit from it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 2
year old Golden Retriever (Whitney) who is undoubtedly the
sweetest, smartest, and most personable and good natured dog our
family has ever known. HOWEVER, she is absolutely PETRIFIED of
thunder. As soon as she hears thunder in the background of an oncoming storm she begins to shake, shiver, and pant
uncontrollably until the storm blows over. At first we thought it
was kind of funny while trying to calm her down. But, it seems that she is getting
worse, and I'm seriously concerned that
someday (PLEASE DON'T LAUGH) she might have a heart attack. The
few times she has been outside when the thunder began, she has
ruined our two back doors by not only clawing and scratching to
get in, but chewing off the wood of the doorframes. Once she even
broke or wore off one of her nails . All I can think of is giving
her some kind of sedative; however, that would not do much good
unless we knew far enough ahead of time about an oncoming storm.
Please believe me when I say I believe it is really a serious
health problem. I truly believe she can't live a full life if she
continues to have these attacks every time we have a storm. When
Whitney was about six months old, my husband and sons took her
out in the country to try to get her used to gunfire. The minute
she heard the first gunfire, she took off scared to death back to
the house to find me. From that point, the thunder has bothered her and I assume it reminds her of gunfire. Is there a possible
solution to her fear?
Dear Dawn,
Whitney is not just afraid, she is 'phobic'. A phobia is an extreme form of fear that is out of proportion to the actual threat of the situation. I do not think it is funny because in her state of panic, your dog has injured herself, destroyed your property, and is getting worse. Sedation alone is unlikely to help because sedatives do not relieve anxiety, they simply sedate. There is behavior modification that can be very effective, and which should offer a long term solution to the problem with thunder. Some phobias occur after repeated exposure to a frightening event (like the veterinary clinic, for example) but they can also happen after just one exposure to a terrifying stimulus. It seems likely that gunfire was the initial trigger (excuse the pun!) and, although that too could be treated, you are better off dealing with one problem at a time, especially when one is so easy to avoid (gunfire, that is!). I hope to hear from you soon so we can discuss a treatment plan for your pet!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 8
month old spayed female Shiba Inu who likes to dig in the flower
and shrub beds outside. We have tried to stop the digging by
burying a balloon, her feces, and spraying the beds with a stop
dig spray purchased at the pet store. We need some useful
suggestions to get her to stop. Also, what do you think of the
shock collars? Thanks, Gloria Weidner and "Sedona"
Dear Gloria,
Digging in the garden is fun! Digging is a basic instinct for most, if not all, dogs and the energy currently being devoted to this 'hobby' must be redirected to something of equal intellectual and physical enjoyment. Minimize leaving her unattended in your yard and take her on long walks instead! Extra time playing with a Frisbee or Kong on a rope toy or a ball will surely help. Erect a penned in area of your yard to restrict her access to the plants. In my opinion, shock collars are reserved for only the most desperate problems and owners, and frankly, I've never needed to recommend them!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I will be getting a new Cesky terrier pup in 2 weeks and realize the pup will be lonely and cry for the first couple of nights. How can I make the pup feel safe and secure in it's new home for the first little while. I will be home all day with him, but am concerned for him at night. Should I cover his kennel with a blanket, quietly tell him 'no' when he cries, put a stuffed toy in with him? I would appreciate any help as I know what I will want to do is just bring him in the bed with me, which I am sure is not a good idea. Many thanks in advance.
Dear Peggy,
If you are crate training, I like to recommend either relocating the crate to your bedside at night or placing another crate there. The crate should never be associated with social isolation or punishment. It is normal for a pup to be a bit anxious in the crate at first but it is probably best not to say 'no' but rather to ignore the mild complaints (attention is attention, you don't want to encourage his cries). On the other hand, if he seems truly in distress, you need to teach him that his crate is a safe and happy place to be, or abandon crate training altogether! Just make sure he is very tired and 'empty' (urine, stool) before going in to his kennel. A stuffed toy is a great idea and covering with a blanket may or may not help him to settle down by creating a more 'den' like place. Lots of cuddling is fine but unless you want him to sleep with you better to not encourage it just now! Enjoy your new pal!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We purchased a Devon/Sphynx kitten from a breeder recently. We got the kitten at 10weeks old. It nurses on itself. I was told by my vet that he will outgrow this. But how long will it take, can we expedite this? It is a very annoying noise. Please help!
Dear Michele,
Congratulations on your new kitten! Yes, your kitten should outgrow this but it is hard to say exactly when. It might be by the age of 6 months but could continue into the first year. This behavior may be related to the sucking/chewing problems in some Siamese and Abyssinians which has a genetic basis but in your case it could be a simpler thing. Provide a soft stuffed toy to redirect the sucking, and lots of extra play time with you. See how things go and contact me again if you really lose patience!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 6 month old Shiba puppy who has always acted aggressively towards other dogs. We have a 6 year old Akita as well and they get along well. We have tried to socialize him since he was 10 weeks old, taking him to parks where there are lots of other dogs but each time he growls so fiercely that everyone is scared of him. He loves all humans though, even strangers. Any suggestions?
Dear Traci,
There is a critical period of socialization in dogs during which they must have positive exposure to people & other dogs to ensure a healthy foundation for all future interaction. This period is generally between 6 to 13 weeks (give or take a week). Some pups are frightened of other dogs at first, especially if there are a lot of adults racing around that could present a pretty terrifying image to a small puppy. He may be afraid or perhaps he thinks he is defending you or your other dog! Hard to say but at least I would try bringing him along when there are only 1 or 2 other dogs so he can establish a relationship with one and then build from there. Occasionally, individual dogs are 'antisocial' & simply will not tolerate other dogs not in their own 'pack'. See how you do & let me know.
Dear Dr. Cookie
I have a gorgeous 16 month old German Shorthaired Pointer named Hope. We bought her from the breeder at 6 months of age. She spends about 6 hours a day in her crate while I'm at work. The problem is she urinates in her crate on a daily basis. She was also urinating in the living and rec. room until I cut off her access to these rooms. It's almost like she can't hold it. If I take her to the park she'll pee 3 or 4 times. Is this a common problem with this breed of dog? Do you have any suggestions as to why she is doing this either medical or behavior? Thanks
Dear Carolyn,
My first question: is Hope spayed? Bitches in heat will urinate frequently to advertise their receptivity. Is this a regression in her behavior or a new problem? She might have a bladder infection or even urinary crystals that irritate the bladder lining. If she seems incontinent (has trouble holding it), you should see your veterinarian right away. Bring a urine saple with you if you can. In fact, even if your problem is difficulty in housetraining without a medical problem, she must first be examined to make certain of that. My finally comment: it is not true that dogs will not void where they sleep (i.e. the crate). If she has to urinate & has no choice but to soil in the crate, she will. Please do not punish her for her accidents. Find out if there is a medical problem & that will be half the battle. There are many reasons for inappropriate urination (& she may be doing this for more than one reason). It is very important to distinguish a medical problem from a purely behavioral one first! Either way, there is always Hope!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have an 18 mo. old Shiba Inu. We love him dearly, but don't love the way he loves to chew. He will chew just about anything left out. We thought he would outgrow this by about 1 yr., but he hasn't. Do you have any suggestions?
Dear Chewy,
Well, we should all think of puppies (dogs until the age of 3 yrs or so!) as mouths on feet!!! Dogs need to chew & if we don't provide them with attractive & appropriate chewable objects, they will certainly find their own! There really is no replacement for rawhide bones. All shapes, all sizes, ones that are easy to finish, others that are more of a challenge. Your dog will have his own preference for shape & size. New bones now are made from compressed/processed carrots or potatoes. Offer a variety! A BUSY MOUTH IS A HAPPY MOUTH! Those that say that rawhides can be swallowed & cause obstruction should know that many other things (eg, steak bones, knives, socks, etc) are far more common & dangerous obstructed objects. Chewy probably needs more exercise than he is getting, too, because if he was really tired out he wouldn't care about chewing so much!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I was wondering what can be done to break our lovable one year old "Magic" from eating her own poop! Jeez...it can't be good for her and it's so disgusting!! I am usually not at home or awake when she's snacking...any ideas???
Dear Messy Welsh Corgi Pembroke,
As repugnant as this behavior (coprophagia) is to people, it is a variation of 'normal' for dogs, although most 'coprophagic' dogs outgrow it before they turn 1 yr. old! Make sure that your owner feeds you at regular intervals (twice daily) with no food between meals. You need a long walk right after you finish eating to help regulate your bowels. Tell your family to keep you on a short leash (no more than 4 ft. long) so that you can be kept away from your bowel movements while they clean it up! As long as you have access to it, you may continue this unpleasant habit. Products intended to discourage this behavior are not usually helpful. You should get a small treat immediately to reward you for not eating your bowel movement (& to distract you from wanting to!).
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I have a 1yr. old beautiful Aussie that I want to keep in the confirmation ring, (she definitely has what it takes) BUT, the only problem I have is when I go to move her around the ring, her herding instinct takes over and her head and neck is completely wrapped around my leg which makes it hard for the judge to see her move straight and for me to move forward. Any advice on how to correct this habitual fault.
Dear Barbara,
The solution is simple. Bring a small toy, such as a stuffed animal, into the ring with you. This will help to focus her attention & excitement onto something besides you, & most judges will not object at all. Eventually, you might not need the toy at all, but meanwhile let her see the toy only during ring practice or actual shows & only give it her at the end! Good luck on the circuit!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 3 yr. old Shiba Inu which can be an aloof breed. While she is friendly in every other way I cannot get her to sit on my lap unless she is stressed out about something she perceives as bad in the environment. I have tried rather unsuccessfully to reward her for sitting in my lap by feeding her and petting her while she is sitting on my lap. I have tried to slowly introduce this method over the past year and this form of behavior modification is not working. Any suggestions?
Dear Renaissance,
Well, several things occur to me. First of all, your dog may not be comfortable in your lap. Secondly, this behavior is generally not recommended since it may be associated with unwanted problems such as dominance behavior. Thirdly, why not compromise & be happy if she is sitting next to you, or at least nearby. Accept your dog for her individuality. That, after all, is what makes her special!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have an 8 yr old Shih Tzu. Due to a stomach problem, he has to be fed 4 times a day -- 2X in the morning about 20-30 min apart and then again in the evening. The problem is that he's started whining when he knows it's time to eat. He can outlast us as to persistence. How can we break him of this habit?
Dear Sue,
Attention-seeking behavior can be very annoying but you have to dig in & outlast him. By giving in to his whining at unpredictable times you have strengthened your little guy's resolve to get his way. Next time he whines, do something unexpected - like leave the room. Pay attention to him only when he is quiet! Also, give him an extra walk at around the time he is most likely to whine. Good Luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have an 8 year old keeshond who obsessively chews his paws to the point of bleeding. I have been to allergists who claim he has a food allergy, but long-term change of diet has not lessened the problem. I feel it has developed into a compulsive habit, and I am at a loss for ways to control his behavior. I've tried socks, bitter-apple, and a cone on his head. He easily removes or circumvents any foreign attachments. If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it.
Dear Sad for your friend,
It is still important to exclude the possibility of allergy to many foods, tree/grass/weed pollens, molds, dust mites etc. What kind of testing has been done? You want either a blood test or skin 'scratch' test. If these do not confirm an allergy, contact me again so we can set up a consult for possible obsessive-compulsive chewing. Meanwhile, contact your vet for an appointment & for medications that will make your Friend comfortable right away!
Dear Dr.Cookie,
My dad and I recently rescued a 4 year old American Water Spaniel. I have gotten him to let me handle his feet...but every now and then he'll growl and look at me, he has snipped a few times but never bitten. I want to show Thunder in 4-H with my other dogs but first I need to get him past this.
Dear Snippy,
Sometimes dogs develop 'foot shyness' from a bad experience with nail trimming but more often I see it in dogs that have simply not had their feet consistently handled during their 'puppyhood'. Teach your dog by emphasizing good behavior rather than waiting for the bad & then yelling at him. Gently manipulate his foot/feet very briefly & give him a small tidbit (something special). Build on this gradually & you'll be winning the show! Keep in touch.
Dear Dr.Cookie,
I recently acquired a 1 yr old Irish Setter. He has snapped at my 2 yr old daughter twice or three times, though I don't think he has bitten her. The first time, she surprised him while he was sleeping by lying on him. The next time she tried to lie on him and hug him. I chastised the dog, letting him know that this is not acceptable behavior, and that what he did is a no-no. I also tried to > get across to my daughter that she must love him "easy" so as not to > hurt him. The rest of the time he is affectionate with her. How do I nip his
Dear Lizza,
There are many reasons why your new dog may have snapped at your daughter. It is true that she could have been a bit too rough or surprised him & so it is essential to teach her, a little bit everyday, the rules of doggie etiquette. Give her praise for proper petting, to emphasize the positive ways to 'make nice' to your dog. Your dog's behavior could be related to dominance aggression but I'd rather not guess when the stakes (your child's safety & your dog's future) are so high. PLEASE - contact me so that we can make sure this problem goes no further!
Dr. Cookie,
My Boston terrier Duchess is completely housebroken. She is two years old. However, there is a room in the house she will use as her restroom if the door is not closed. It is my sons bedroom closet floor. Since we cannot catch her in the act, the only form of discipline is taking her by the scruff of her collar, putting her nose a few inches from her 'droppings' and saying a firm NO! This has been going on for a year now. Any suggestions?
Dear Duchess' Mom,
Sounds like Duchess is not completely housebroken! Have you tried putting her food bowl in the closet & feeding her there? This could change her mind about what the closet is for! You might consider looking into one of my books (just click on the Books icon in the menu, it's easy!). There's lots of useful info. about this & many more topics. Also, please please please do not punish your dog for an 'accident' after the fact, or even if you do catch her and never by pushing her face in it. All you are doing is teaching her to be anxious around you! Poor Duchess! Happy Holidays!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Just surfed in and checked out your page- we have 2 mini Dachshunds, one is 4 years and the other is 2 1/2-the younger one , though it has gotten less frequent, pees when people go to pick her up or crouch down to pet her- she's a bit skittish-we're not sure what is best for her since she gets fearful at times- to scold her, set her outside, or not make a bit deal- the other Dachsie responds well to reprimanding - takes the scolding and that's it, but we aren't sure with Francine-it was much worse way back- we even had her checked for a bladder infection in her first year-enjoyed your page. thanks.
Dear Ogie,
From what you've described, sounds like Francine has 'submissive urination'. Punishing her by scolding or isolating her outside are probably the worse things to do. This simple problem is often an anxious reaction out of fear or a signal of submission to a dominant dog or person. I can send you detailed information on how to stop this with a 'quick fix' consult (see the menu) or order either of my 2 books (see menu). Good luck!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have two cats who are very playful and love to climb inside my artificial Christmas tree. I have tried squirting them with water to leave it alone but that doesn't seem to phase them. Help!!
Dear Desperate,
It's hard to work against a cat's basic instinct to climb trees and play in all parts of their territory. Unlike dogs, a cat's territory includes most elevated surfaces. Squirting them with water is not strong enough a deterrent. Ideally, keep them out of the room where the tree is kept. There are so many dangers at Xmas time,- tinsel, mistletoe, poinsettia, ribbons, falling trees, shattered ornaments...!!! If you can't close off the room, try setting mouse traps placed upside down at least every few inches around the tree. If they get too close, the traps make a terrible noise & hopefully will keep them away. There are also mats with a low electric current that can be placed around the base of the tree. These feel like a static electric shock and are available through pet catalogs or magazines. Happy Holidays!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My friend adopted a female spayed Himalayan cat who had at least two homes before coming to Kathy. She has tried several litter boxes, in several locations with several different kinds of litter. Sometimes she uses the litter box, but mostly she goes wherever she feels like. You can put her in the litter box after she eats and she jumps right out and urinates right beside the box. Otherwise, she's a sweet cat. What can be done to train this stubborn kitty?
Dear Kathy's Friend,
From what you write it sounds like the kitty has an acquired aversion to the litter box. This is not uncommon although it does seem like her inappropriate elimination is complicated because she voids in so many locations outside the box. I would need to know how long this has been going on, the target locations, the type of litter filler and boxes used, & many more details. Tell Kathy how to contact me, either by e-mail (deardrcookie@dr-cookie.com) or (617) 738-1128. It would be a shame if her problem contributes to losing yet another good home!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 1 year old cat ‘Wilson’ has a peculiar behavior. Every evening, sometime between 7 and 9 pm, he seems to get startled by something and then races around as if pursued by demons. Is he is playing or if he is really afraid of something?
Dear Parent of frenzied feline,
‘Wilson’ sounds like a healthy, happy cat to me! What you describe is normal behavior in many young cats. Play behavior in cats can have many forms. These include romping & wrestling with playmates, or more controlled interactive playing with their owner & a ball, for instance. A solitary cat can occasionally appear to hallucinate, as if it has heard an imaginary noise, & then it can zoom away, racing around in high gear. This is an energetic form of play & as long as your cat appears normal otherwise, I would just stand back & enjoy the show!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I recently discovered that my 6 month old puppy has been burying her unfinished rawhide bones in the large potted plants in my home. I knew she was digging in them but did not realize she was digging with a purpose until I noticed the smell of a decomposing bone in the soil of one of the plants! what should I do?
Dear Peeved of puppy potholes,
Digging to store food items is a natural instinct in dogs that can be quite destructive. The first thing I would recommend is to pick up any leftover rawhides & put them away. Instead of giving her a new one the next time she needs some quality chewing time, present her with one of the ones she has yet to finish. Try to keep an eye on her when she is chewing on a rawhide in case she goes to bury it & remove it when she seems to have lost the urge to chew it. Try covering your large potted plants with aluminum foil or even chicken wire. If necessary, place them on elevated surfaces or in a room to which she has no access. there are many other things that could be tried, but start with these first & let me know how you do!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have recently observed our 13 year old Boston Terrier becoming obsessed with the blanket in her bed. We will spread it out so it is just right and she then gets in the bed and proceeds to circle round and round in her bed, digging it up into a heap. She doesn't want to lay on this lump so then she looks at us as if to say fix it please. We then spread it out again and the whole thing starts over. What is causing this behavior. Her 'husband' did the same thing when he reached age thirteen. ( He is now deceased). Is she becoming senile?? Also she has started to follow me where ever I go. Upstairs, downstairs, to the bathroom, to the laundry room and she goes into a panic if she can't find me. Any insight you can give me on this behavior would be greatly appreciated.
Dear KBooth,
It is difficult to say whether your dog is displaying obsessive compulsive behavior (digging at the blanket) or whether it is a learned pattern of attention-seeking behavior. You might try simply removing the blanket! How long ago did her housemate die? She may be following you around because of separation anxiety from him although there are many other possibilities. At 13 yrs of age, it would be worthwhile to have a 'geriatric blood screen' drawn at your vet's to determine any obvious physical problem. If her physical examination checks out alright, you might consider scheduling a behavior consult for any persisting behavioral problems. Let me know how you do anyway, ok?
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 2 1/2 year old Boston Terrier named Cookie. Lately she bites my husband's pant legs and once she bit him in the leg. She has never done this to me or for that matter anyone else. Does she think she is playing? I have scolded her but it does not seem to matter.
Dear BT Mom,
Your Cookie might be playing, even if it is occasionally rough play, and I would agree that it is undesirable. At 2 1/2 yrs, however, it could also be a form of dominance behavior which may not be obvious to the average pet owner until the pup reaches adulthood around 3 yrs of age. If your husband is getting injured, it would be important to understand exactly what type of aggression Cookie is showing so that you can fix it before 'the Cookie crumbles' so to speak. I would urge you to consider a behavior consult in the very near future. Any form of aggression is not a problem that should be allowed to continue for long if at all possible!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My boyfriend has a lovely 8 yr old male Rottweiler who weighs about 140 lbs. About 6 months ago, he finally got the dog fixed. He recently agreed to let me do some basic obedience work, and I'm having an odd problem. The dog (Dof) has learned to heel and sit, but I can't figure out how to teach him a down. He thinks I'm playing, and either flops onto his side wagging his tail or, when I try to catch him on the way down to correct him, wiggles away. How do I explain the down to this big goofy guy?
Dear Elizabeth,
I suggest a piece of ice cube (ice chips = no calorie) or veggies or a piece of his dry kibble. Let him know you have it in your fist & make a downward motion with your fist so he slides onto his elbows. Say 'down' as you do this,- that should do the trick! Once he gets the hang of it, use the treat less often, intermittently. Eventually, you won't need the tidbit at all. I believe in bribery! After all, they don't call me Dr. Cookie for nothing!!! :-D
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 5 year old (overweight) Labrador who we chain when our children (toddlers) are eating outside or when we are entertaining other children or certain adults. He is excitable and can easily knock our children over, hence the reason for the chain. Unfortunately, when other children go near our dog on his chain he growls and gives them a warning snap (fortunately, he has not yet broken skin). He also growls when people go near him when he is eating. He has normally been excellent with our children (allowing them to pull his ears, check out his mouth...), but Christmas Eve he drew his last straw. We were eating outside (he was chained), and our daughter went to unchain him and he growled and snapped at her. Once off the chain, he returned to normal. However, the growling and snapping is a serious problem. We're not sure whether to try giving him away (but who would want him) or try retraining him. Help! We need advice - would retraining be successful? Do hormone injections make a difference? Are they expensive?
Dear Peter & Leesa,
Dogs need to be socialized to people and children from a young age. They should not be isolated, kept chained away, and then expected to know how to behave. Dogs should not be expected to tolerate having their ears pulled or to remain passive when fingers prod where they shouldn't. I am unable to respond to your letter without my honest reaction & I apologize to other readers who are not expecting to see this side of Dr. Cookie,- If this dog were a child you could be accused of neglect and abuse. Children should be taught how to behave around pets and to respect them. Parents are supposed to teach their children how to be kind and gentle. Dogs do not deserve to be chained up. There is a higher incidence of aggressiveness in dogs that are raised this way. Dogs need to be trained with patience and persistence. If he is overweight too he is obviously not getting enough exercise either. Dogs are supposed to be valuable and valued members of the family. If you do not agree, then by all means, PLEASE- find him a home, without children at this point, where he will be appreciated. If you do not have the time to give a pet what he needs, you are better off without one. Regarding hormone injections, if you are looking for a magic pill, it does not exist. Yes, retraining is possible but it doesn't sound like you would have the dedication that would be required. If you would like to explore retraining, I am more than happy to help your dog.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a pet white rabbit (now about 11 months old). He has always been the best pet, allows our 2 children to hold and pet him, and has always been very loving. Today when my Mother-in-Law was changing out his food, he became very aggressive and bit her on the arm. We are very attached to the rabbit but are now concerned about this happening again in the future.
Dear Debbie,
I will refrain from making any Mother-in-Law jokes! Male bunnies can become quite territorial & I'd advise you to keep strangers away from his food or crate. Neutering would also be a good idea because the testosterone can intensify his attitude in general. I expect he'll settle down after that.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have GSP (1 and1/2 yr- male). Going to the vet is a traumatic experience- he gets nasty, growls, uncooperative,... muzzle. Harry has been to the vet a couple of times for minor emergencies.. I am wondering about the vets who have seen him - females . They have been nice, gentle and patient-- but I am wondering if there would be a difference with a male vet ? Thanks ! :-)
Dear Harry's Mom,
Yes, there might be a difference with a male veterinarian,- Harry could be worse. What you describe is fear aggression which unfortunately is relatively common. The best way to help Harry is to contact me so that we can plan a program to countercondition his fear. Pets that are this difficult to handle make the veterinarian's attempts to examine or treat them, especially in emergencies when it could be crucial to the pet's survival, nearly impossible. Also, the veterinary staff run the risk of injury and are legally not obliged to treat a dangerous animal and we would not want things to escalate further. Harry needs behavioral help, not a new veterinarian!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My dog is exhibiting pregnancy behavior. She was spayed on October 30,1998 and she exhibited a false pregnancy directly after her spay. That was 30 days ago and she is again exhibiting signs of pregnancy. Her vulva isn't swollen but she is nesting and licking her vulva. She is also taking toys and acting as if they are her babies. Can you give me any suggestions as to what may be wrong. Thanks
Dear Wendy,
False pregnancy (pseudopregnancy, pseudocyesis) is usually resolved by spaying but there have been occasional reports of recurrence despite the surgery. It would be important to make sure that all ovarian tissue has been excised. To do this, your veterinarian can draw some blood from your bitch and measure circulating progesterones and estrogens. As long as the spay has not left any ovarian remnants, pseudopregnancies should fade in time.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Today, one of our babies (a two year old female Norwegian Forest Cat) suddenly started convulsing and died (apparently of a heart problem). The problem is that her litter-mate has started looking for her and is in a panic. How can we help our little girl overcome the separation anxiety of losing her sister? Should we have shown our surviving baby her deceased sister?
Dear Jon,
Our pets grieve the loss of individuals, 2-legged or 4-legged, to which they are bonded. You will all need time to heal this sudden rupture in your home circle. Seeing the body would not necessarily have changed anything and the best thing you can do to help her overcome the void is to spend extra time petting, grooming, playing, and loving her. I'd also recommend you try to find out the cause of death so that you can act appropriately for the surviving littermate. Inquire whether her breeder is aware of any history of heart problems, etc. My sincere condolences to you & your family.
Hi Dr. Cookie-
I've got a delightful 10 week old kitten... but he's beginning to drive us crazy! He bites *any* exposed flesh. We've been telling him "no!" and bopping him on the nose, as well as calling him a "good boy" when he's not biting. He's got plenty of toys but he still bites. He's just gotten strong enough to draw blood and this has to stop! We don't want to use a squirt gun as we're bathing him weekly and I haven't been able to find an ultrasonic device. I've also heard that I should pay less attention to him, and not pat him for long amounts of time, but he constantly begs for attention, preferring to sleep in our laps and not letting us out of his sight. Any suggestions?
Dear Elle,
Little boys, kittens & humans both, tend to be a bit rough sometimes. He needs to be directed toward moving targets, like balls, toys suspended on the end of string, etc. Sometimes the best thing to do is to get another kitten who will be a good playmate. In fact, I recommend getting 2 kittens because they keep each other busy and prevent play aggression toward owners in most cases. You should not be bathing him so often unless someone has allergies to cats (& even so, I'd recommend seeing an allergist for desensitizing injections, they really help!). Don't know why you need a squirt gun or an ultrasonic device (is your name Rambo?<G>) He sounds like a healthy rascally boy cat who deserves your attention but also requires appropriate direction. Let me know if you need more help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Why don't cats like to ride in cars?
Dear Laurie,
Usually it's one of 2 reasons: 1] because they only go for a car ride on the way to the veterinary clinic (which can be unavoidably unpleasant), and 2] because they rarely go for a car ride & anything unfamiliar or unusual can be scary! By the way, this applies to dogs as well!
Hi Dr. Cookie:
We have a 12 year old Maine coon cat. He has outlived his two cat brothers, the last one died four years ago. Charlie seems to changing into a crabby old cat. He is territorial, runs off any cats who wander into his court yard. We tried to introduce a kitty, thinking he was lonely, he went under the bed, and only came out to hiss and eat. My husband does not want to try again, because he thinks it will change the way Charlie relates to us. He is a wonderful cat, follows us from room to room, talks to us, and allows for lots of petting. In reality, he is spoiled, our surrogate cat child. Should we try again? What about a puppy? Thanks!
Dear Julie,
Sounds like Charlie is doing just fine. He is doing his job as the solitary cat in his territory and he is enjoying your exclusive attention. So who really wants a kitten or a puppy? Decide what YOU want. Charlie will learn to live with another pet if that is what you want. He will naturally resent any newcomer and may withdraw from you temporarily as he adjusts but that should not last forever! It is hard to predict how 2 cats will take to each other, although a young female would be less of a rival. Charlie has been alone for 4 years and at this point likes it that way!
Dr. Cookie,
My 2 standard poodles, Elizabeth, and Alexander like to run in the door, jump over the sofa, then to their kennel. When going out he door, the sofa is hurdled again, then out the door. They are sweethearts, but my sofa should not have to take this abuse! Please help us!
Dear Fed up in Texas,
Simple solutions are often the best. Rearrange your furniture!!!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
What is your experience and feelings about putting a dog on Prozac? What would be the reasons you would recommend a dog on Prozac?
Dear Barbara,
In my experience, many new drugs are released with tremendous marketing campaigns & frequently ride on a wave of publicity. It is not my practice to prescribe medications because they are 'in fashion'. Prozac has attracted a lot of media attention for those of my colleagues that choose to experiment with their patients. In my opinion, although its pharmaceutical properties have real merit, Prozac has not been adequately studied in controlled clinical trials for use in pets with particular problems. For this reason, I continue to use other medications that have a longer track record and reserve new drugs for use when others may fail.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have recently acquired a nice natured German Shepherd cross dog from the local pound. He is around 18 months old and neutered. When ever I go away no matter how long I am away he chews things up in my house. He has chewed all the toilet paper, children's toys, disposable nappies, TV remote just to name a few. It makes no difference that he is housed with my other dog. He gets plenty of exercise, up to 3 hours per day, most of it bush walking and running after rabbits. How can I stop him destroying my home and contents? Thank you, and terrific web page. Regards, Gina
Dear Gina,
There is a higher incidence of separation anxiety in dogs adopted from animal shelters, for obvious reasons I think. I have a handout on separation anxiety in dogs that would help you. Meanwhile, give him some time to adjust, an extra long walk before a planned departure, & a rawhide bone just before you leave! Also, PET PROOF YOUR HOUSE!!! Remember that separation from YOU is what is making him upset, whether your other dog is there or not. Don't be angry at him for loving you. Let me know how you do.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Matisse, my 6 month old cat thinks that my bathtub is her own personal litter box, which she uses intermittently along with the two real litter boxes in the house. I have two cat's the same age. I clean both litter boxes daily. She uses the bathtub sometimes when the other boxes haven't even been used. Any suggestions?
Dear Karen,
Matisse could be expressing her preference for litter box location or her aversion to the placement, hygiene, or litter filler of your 2 boxes. Some cats can be very particular about where they void. Why don't you fill the tub with an inch of water & place at least 1 box in that bathroom? Let me know if you need more help!
Dear Friends,
Happy Holidays (Hanuka, Kwansaa, Christmas, & anything else you celebrate)! Remember the pet hazards of the season: mistletoe, poinsettia, ribbons & bows, rubber bands, tinsel, children's toys & toy parts, chocolate, party food, garbage, electric cords, and all the other usual dangers, too! Don't forget your pet because of festive distractions! Warm wishes for a healthy & happy 1999,
Dr. Cookie (Dr. Stefanie Schwartz)
Dear Cookie,
My 3 yr. old Kerry Blue Terrier Bitch (recently acquired) is very aggressive towards other dogs. What basic training principles could I consider to minimize this behavior?
Hi, thanks for writing in! I'd need more of a history to tell you why your dog is aggressive but most often interdog aggression can be traced to lack of socialization during a critical stage of social development. There may be little you can do change this behavior. Basic obedience training will help you to control the dog and provide serious leadership when he begins to act 'act of control' in any context. You could try placing a 'basket' muzzle on your dog during brief & repeated exposure to small groups of friendly dogs (with their owners' consent and supervision, of course). This would prevent him from biting and he might eventually interact on their terms instead of his.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I have a 7 year old female Chow that just recently started to gather things around my home. She puts them on my bed and lays there with them. Most of those items are stuffed animal toys but she has also taken my husband's leather boots too. If I take those items away from her she gets very upset and starts whinning and searching for them. She is driving me crazy because she won't even get off the bed at night. Please help! What should I do? What is wrong with her?
Dear Shelley,
What you describe sounds very much like the maternal behaviors associated with 'False Pregnancy'. In the unspayed bitch, this indicates hormonal troubles that are best solved by spaying her. Make an appointment to see your local veterinarian as soon as you can.
Dear Doc,
I have the funniest girl known to the dog world. But! She will not stay out of my kitchen trash. Maggie ( Irish setter ) is still a puppy at one year now, but shoot, she some times drives me nuts! If nothing is in the trash she will invariably take from the counter...
Dear Becky,
Maggie needs several walks a day but make sure they are at least 30 minutes or more! Also, she needs to play with other dogs, if that is possible in your area. It is very important to make your trash (& all the potential hazards it contains) INACCESSIBLE. That may mean putting it in a cabinet with a baby guard or behind a locked door. Find what works in your home. To keep her from jumping on the counter, there are a variety of things to try. Contact me for more info...
Hi Dr. Cookie-
I've got a delightful 10 week old kitten... but he's begining to drive us crazy! He bites *any* exposed flesh. We've been telling him "no!" and bapping him on the nose, as well as ccalling him a "good boy" when he's not biting. He's got plenty of toys but he still bites. He's just gotten strong anough to draw blood and this has to stop! Wedon't want to use a squirt gun as we're bathing him weekly and I haven't been able to find an ultrasonic device. I've also heard that I should pay less attention to him, and not pat him for long amounts of time, but he constantly begs for attention, perferring to sleep in our laps and not letting us out of his sight. Any suggestions?
Dear Elle,
Little boys, kittens & humans both, tend to be a bit rough sometimes. He needs to be directed toward moving targets, like balls, toys suspended on the end of string, etc. Sometimes the best thing to do is to get another kitten who will be a good playmate. In fact, I recommend getting 2 kittens because they keep each other busy and prevent play aggression toward owners in most cases. You should not be bathing him so often unless someone has allergies to cats (& even so, I'd recommend seeing an allergist for desensitizing injections, they really help!). Don't know why you need a squirt gun or an ultrasonic device (is your name Rambo?<G>) He sounds like a healthy rascally boycat who deserves your attention but also requires appropriate direction. Let me know if you need more help!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Our younger dog, Tiny, has the habit of nipping, chewing and sucking on material quite frequently. Could this be due to the fact that she was taken from her mother so young? It almost seems like a nervous habit. Occasionally, she will also chew at her feet but has done this less since I have been trimming the hair on her feet.
Dear Pat and John Warner,
Yes, I agree it may well be a nervous habit, much like nail biting in people. It is unlikely to be due to early weaning (many pups must be weaned early for a number of reasons & do not develop this habit). You might try to give her an appropriate object to chew, like rawhide bones in a variety of shapes and sizes. All doggies need to chew and if you don't provide them with desirable targets they may well find their own!
Dear Dr. Cookie-
Your site is very informative and a godsend! My 9 month old tabby cat (I got her at 4 months as a stray) has the annoying habit of sharpening her claws on my nice leather and suede shoes. She won't use the carpet scratching post that my other cat uses, so she has her own wrapped rope post, which she does use occasionally but not as much she used to. Is there any way I can get her to stop ruining my shoes? Please help me! I'm desparate!
Dear Melinda ,
Hi there & thanks for your praise! Why don't you try buying some suede (&/or leather) material from a sewing shop? Wrap it securely around her scratching post. Put the post near your closet where your shoes are kept (& didn't your Mom ever tell you to put your things away!!!). This will accomplish 2 goals. Your cat has been telling you what her preference for scratching TEXTURE is & we can use this to our advantage by also putting it close to the LOCATION she has come to prefer! If she is an indoor cat you can always have her declawed as a last resort, but try this first! I have a very good handout on scratch post training & destructiveness in cats which would be worth your while. By the way, cat's don't scratch surfaces to sharpen their claws. They do so in part to shed the blunted layer to reveal an already sharper layer beneath.
Last modified on
Tuesday, June 13, 2006