Archives of Q & A's 2002Archives of Q & A's 2002
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Hi Dr.
Cookie!
Our 6 month old cat does not clean his butt when he is finished using the litter box. He cleans everything around it and all other parts of his body, but he avoids the dirtiest part! What techniques should we use to teach him to clean this area? We've tried spritzing the area with water, wiping it for him, and rewarding him with food when he cleans around it.
Dear James and Jess,
Oh my goodness PLEASE don’t spritz or wipe your kitty’s derriere for heaven’s sake!!! He is not a human being, he is a cat. Cats do NOT wipe themselves after using the box. They may clean themselves during their normal grooming but normally do not even lick the anus. It is a very sensitive spot. Unless your kitty has diarrhea (in which case your veterinarian should examine him), leave his booty alone! Perhaps you need a new distraction? Try my latest book: “Dr. Cookie’s Guide to Living Happily Ever After With Your Cat” (St. Martin’s Press 2002)!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My husband
and I adopted a 5 year old Beagle/Dachshund mix named Boomer about 3 months ago.
Boomer is a very loving, sweet dog and we are so happy to have him. There are
three strange things he does: 1. He refuses to eat food out of a bowl. It must
either be off of a plate, or he will dump the food dish over, and eat one piece
at a time of the floor. 2. Recently, I gave him a new bone to play with. He
started running around the house, then jumped up on the couch and pretended to
"bury" it. in the couch. He even went as far as to pretending to shove
dirt over it. We thought it was funny until I came home one day and found blood
all over the bed spread. He had buried it so many times that he rubbed a spot on
his nose raw. 3. Recently, I took him for a walk, and he suddenly started
barking at a woman who approached us.
Dear Beth,
This all sounds like normal
doggy stuff to me. Some dogs take a
mouthful of food, walk away, spit it out, and eat it one piece at a time.
We all have our little rituals don’t we!? As for the bones, I recommend
only rawhide bones (strips, sticks, twists or braids, but no knots).
Give him ones he wants to eat right away, or even the crumbling kinds
that are easier to eat as a quick treat. As for barking at passersby during
walks, probably a combination of territorial and pack-defensive aggression.
That’s what ‘no-heel-sit!’ is for! Enjoy him, he sounds like quite
a character.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My wife and I
adopted a 3 year old Pixie-Bob two weeks ago. He was a
Dear Steve,
It takes time for new pets to
acclimate, particularly when they were not used to being ‘just pets’.
Two weeks is not a lot of time in the scheme of things.
It can take at least 6 months for them to let their guards down.
Remember, he is adjusting to a new territory, a new family, and a new
life! Hope you enjoy the book and thanks for being such a fan! Spend some quiet
time with him while he eats, encourage him to play with you...when he feels more
confident in his safe room, he'll come out of his shell.
Dear Dr. Cookie
My family has had a 2 yr old female Boxer since
she was 9 weeks old. A few nights ago my 9 year old son walked up to
Chessie who was sleeping on the end of the couch. He leaned down and put his
face next to hers. I guess it startled her, but she jumped and snapped at him,
leaving him with a 3 inch gash just under his left eye that required an ER
visit. Chessie has never been in the least bit aggressive (toward people). My 6
year old daughter rolls around on the floor with her all the time, sit on her,
jumps on her, as does my son...she never growls or anything. However, we have
noticed this reaction several other times (since this incident) in which she is
woken suddenly and she snaps at the person who woke her up. She immediately
looks like she is sorry and drops her head and "slinks" away as if
ashamed.
WE LOVE our dog, but this makes me nervous. Advice please!
Dear Trish,
My
advice would be to stop waking her up so abruptly! You should see what I’m
like when that happens to me!!! Seriously? Call her name to wake her gently, and
order my handouts on Dominance behavior in dogs, and Pets & Kids.
Sounds like you’re all playing some inappropriate games with her, too
(order Play behavior in dogs). She
could behave better, yes; but your kids and everyone else should respect her
limits, too.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 5 month old American Bulldog.
Zeek’s mother rejected her 11 pups when they were about 3 weeks old; we agreed
to take Zeek at just a little over 4 weeks. He is also very affectionate
and enjoys being around people and our other dog and cat. Zeek is fed 3
times a day and he is done eating in 30 seconds without chewing.
He is not aggressive while he eats, but if we touch him or put our hand in the
bowl, he eats even faster. The vet said he is healthy and that this
behavior will stop, he said that 3 months ago. Zeek show no signs of slowing
down. We have tried several different techniques, none have seemed to
work yet. I tried placing large objects in his bowl so he would have
to eat around it, feeding him very small amounts throughout the day, even
placing his food across the floor so he would have to go get it.
Zeek steals our other dog's food like he hasn't been fed in a week. We
keep the cats dish on the counter and now Zeek is trying to figure out how to
get to it. He does not get table food, only his food, dog treats and raw
hides. We even use the toys that a treat goes in to keep him busy, and
those are ruined in a day or two. We feed him dry food and for his age and size,
the vet has recommended 5 cups a day. Could you give me any suggestions on
how to curb this eating habit.
Dear Wendy
in Ohio,
I agree
that frequent meals is an appropriate solution, as is keeping the cat food on
the counter. Zeek is in a rapid
growth phase which should level off in the next few months; beyond that, he will
still be ‘filling out’ for another 6 months or so. You might want to
have him dewormed, just as a precaution. From
a behavioral perspective, 11 pups is a huge litter for most bitches who only
have 6-8 teats. Although he was
removed from that intense feeding competition at a young age, he may still carry
that memory with him. I suspect
that it will fade in time, but probably not soon.
I think there are 2 types of dogs: 1) Those
that eat to live, and 2) those that live to eat.
Guess which one Zeek is! Let
him eat and don’t worry.
Dear Doctor Cookie,
My father-in-law has a 6 yr. old, little Chihuahua named Fawna, she has started doing a strange behavior thing. One she likes to lick my father-in-laws hand, legs like she is getting the salt from his body, but now she is licking the sheets, blankets anything she lays on.What could be the reason for her doing this? Is she missing a vitamin? It is very upsetting to my father-in-law worrying why she would be doing this. He asked his vet, and she has no clue as to why she started this behavior.
Dear
Doris and Fawna,
The
first thing to check is her teeth. Middle
aged dogs can accumulate impressive amounts of tartar, and Chihuahuas are
notorious for tartar and gingivitis. If
her teeth are perfect, then you might be dealing with a compulsive behavior.
If you are in the state of Massachusetts, we can schedule a clinic
appointment. Otherwise, please have your
veterinarian refer you to a veterinary behaviorist near you.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I have a dear little
female Yorky (4 1/2 pounds - 10 months). She loves to sleep in my bed with
me. About six months ago she began jumping up effortlessly on any
furniture she wished to, but I still had to lift her down. Then four months ago
she began jumping down from the furniture as well. Just last week she
became afraid to jump down again. She loves to get up on the furniture
when we are gone but then she can't get down and we find her stranded on top of
the bed, chair, or whatever.
Dear PatWNash,
I wonder if she might have landed a bit hard and
is once again hesitant? In any event, the fix is simple.
Get a couple of footstools and make sure they do not slip on the floor. Also, make sure they don’t have a slippery surface (non skid strips are
easy to find). Just position them
as needed! Presto! Happy Suzy!!!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a 4 month old
Bengal kitten that is licking the fur off of her tail from the tip back about 3
inches. This really looks awful and I feel could be unhealthy if continued. I am
having her spayed in December and hoping that her problem may be hormonal. Why
do you think she is doing this and how can I get her to stop?
Dear Sam,
I doubt that this is ‘hormonal’, although she
should definitely be spayed. You
might want to make sure she does not have worms (some pets will lick in the
vicinity when they have a sore bum). More
likely though, she might need a bit more activity and/or feline companionship to
distract her. Another kitten would
be easy to add at this age…! Psychoactive medication would help to get her out
of the habit but she is a bit young so I’d rather avoid that for now…
Dear Dr. Cookie
We have an 9 month old
Shiba Inu and a 7 month old Hungarian Vizsla. Our Shiba Inu (Bruno) is extremely
timid around anybody other then myself and my husband. We find it difficult to
take him for walks as he pulls on his lead and cowers if anyone comes near us.
When no-one else is around he is a different dog. What can we do so that other
people can see what a lovely dog he is and we can take him out to play like our
other dog
Dear Andrea K.,
How often is he walked? It sounds like he spends
extended periods in your yard, which is not a good idea for any dog at any age.
Puppies can feel very vulnerable when the pack leaders (you) leave them
unattended in the open. He may also
not develop the social skills of a more confident pup who is routinely exposed
to the world outside your yard. Two
daily walks, at least 45 minutes each are my advice; bring some special treats
(discontinue treats otherwise) and have dog-friendly strangers reward him with a
treat. Let me know how you do!
Hi Dr. Cookie....
Coda is
a 2 year old Lab/Chow mix. For the past 2 weeks she has "chased"
shadows. Mostly it is her own shadow, but she does follow ours if we walk
by her. If there is a light shining on it she becomes very agitated
and eventually tries to scratch it off the floor. . This goes on for hours
at a time. She will do this constantly all day long if we let her. We
now have to literally make her go outside to do her " business
". She has no interest in things that she used to like to do.
We are living in the dark to try and help her get over this, but I'm not
sure how long we can go on like this. Any advice for us and Coda?
Dear Renee, Jon and Coda,
Shadow chasing can be an
attention seeking behavior, a compulsive behavior, or a seizure related problem.
A handout is available on the QuickFix page. I recommend that you seek the
advice of a veterinary behaviorist in your area; I’d love to help if you are
in Massachusetts. If there is no
one nearby, ask your veterinarian to request a behavior consult with me through
Antech Diagnostics (if they send laboratory samples there, they’ll know how to
arrange that), ok?
Dear Dr.
Cookie
Alex is our 8
month old Turkish Van who has started to meow loudly at night waking the whole
family. We're not sure if it's because we gave his best friend to a family
member or because he reached puberty. We tried shutting him out of the bedroom
and leaving the TV on to no avail. What can we do to comfort our kitty at night?
Dear Katrina,
It
seems that there are at least 3 good reasons for his behavior change: 1) he is
missing his best friend (why did you separate them???), 2) he is looking for
something to do (is he neutered yet? Do you play with him to make up for his
lost companion?), 3) he doesn’t like the TV channel you’ve selected (Animal
Planet?).
Dear Doctor Cookie,
My mum has a Springer
Spaniel who is about 1 year old. From the beginning she has established that he
is to sleep in the kitchen in his bed, but for the past 2 months he has turned
aggressive when its bed time and snarls and has bit her once when its time to go
in to the kitchen.
Dear Shirley in England,
Firstly, neutering is a good idea but I don’t
think it will impact this problem. If you read my other replies, you’ll know
that I do NOT recommend that dogs be crated, or forced to sleep, away from the
pack. It is unnatural, and I believe
it is emotionally unhealthy. Unfortunately,
this dog has learned to control your mother with aggression, which is probably
related to some dominance issues, too. So,
my recommendations are: 1) let him sleep in his bed in her bedroom (tether him
to it if necessary until he learns not to wander); 2) give him a small rawhide
stick when he gets into his bed, and 3) long time overdue for some gentle
obedience classes, preferably in a group! Mum’s the word…it’s up to her.
Dear Dr. Cookie-
Our Sun Conure parrot is
approx. 2 years old. We are all well adapted to each other and love each
other unconditionally, but recently Prizm (he/she hasn't been sexed yet)
has been "humping" anything he can get his claws on, from wood toys to
us! We're attempting to "cease" this behavior (by telling
him "No" and putting him back in his cage for 10 minutes with no
attention), but we don't want him to be sexually frustrated either if it is
natural for him. Please let us know what we can do to help him "ease
his/her frustrations."
Dear Amanda and Tim
It appears that Prizm has declared his Y chromosome. You could find him a mate, or you could just distract him with more appealing toys, showers, etc. during mating season. I doubt that you’ll be able to stop his urges with punishment, and I don’t think you should discourage it unless it’s directed toward you... He’s probably less frustrated than you are worried about him.
Dear Dr.,
Our cat is 17 years old.
We are unsure of her breed. Possibly some Siamese and Tabby. She
meows very loudly especially at night to the point of whining.
Dear Karen A. from New Zealand,
I assume that this is a recent
change in her behavior. You should
ask your veterinarian to run some blood (including thyroid function) and urine
tests to make sure that there is no underlying change in her health.
If her health is not the issue, then you may be dealing with some senile
changes. Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is a recently
identified problem that is the feline version of Alzheimer’s disease. There is a medication that can temporarily reverse the behavioral and
neurological changes in these geriatric kitties. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist in your
part of the world!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My 12 week out lab just walked into his crate and urinated. He had just urinated
a half a half hour before outside. Could he be marking his own crate?
Dear Melissa,
Dogs who are crate trained
sometimes learn to urinate or defecate in their crates.
Confined for extended periods with no choice and a full bowel or bladder,
dogs will do what they have to do. Once
they have soiled in their crates, they may continue to do so.
Young pups need frequent opportunities to go outside.
Even though he had just been outside, his bladder could have filled
again, or he may not have had a long enough outing to empty it.
House training takes time. Please
order my handout on House training, which also includes crate training tips.
Have fun!
Hi!
My family is looking to get a
dog sometime in the future. We have young children and are first timers at
owning a dog. I've read that Yorkshire terriers make excellent pets. Are they a
good choice for our family?
Hi Stephie,
Almost every dog breed source
will boast that theirs makes excellent family pets.
It has little to do with the breed really, and far more to do with who
raises them and how. For first time
dog people, I’d suggest you go with something smaller.
Mistakes you make with a small dog will have milder consequences. The
second thing to keep in mind is that the individual’s temperament is much more
important that generalizations about breed. Please order my handouts on Pet
Selection, Kids and Pets, and Basic Obedience.
Those should give you some great pointers and good start!
Dear Dr. Cookie
My mother has a 2 yr old male tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Jasper is absolutely adorable and is brilliant with my two children aged 6 and 2. Recently we have noticed that he is beginning to growl at some children and adults who he doesn't really know who come to stroke or say hello to him. My mum is getting quite concerned about this and we were wondering if getting him neutered would help?
Dear Helen from Liverpool, England
I think that pets should be
neutered, however, I doubt that hormones are primarily responsible for his
behavior. At his age, he is flexing
his social muscle. Dominance
behavior emerges between puberty into young adulthood.
He may resent being petted by unfamiliar people who are unintentionally
dominating him by leaning over him or stroking the top of his head.
Consider my handouts on Dominance behavior in dogs, Basic Obedience, and
Effects of Neutering for an in-depth discussion.
Meanwhile, teach him to ‘sit/stay’ to greet everyone, including
family!
Hi Dr. Cookie.
I rescued a Husky about 2 years ago. I already had 3 cats at the time. My new Husky enjoyed yanking them out of the litter box and shaking them. She actually jumped the fence at a friends house and drowned an unsuspecting kitty that attempted to run. This all happened within the first month of owning her. I kept her on a leash inside for 6 months to train her not to eat my cats, and now they are quite friendly. I have adopted a stray bunny, that was abandoned in my neighborhood. He was just sitting outside at 2 am on the side of the road. So I checked to see if he was injured, picked him up, and brought him home. Is there a difference between inside "family" animals, and the ones outside, like a stray cat running ... or are all rabbits dinner?
Dear Judi,
I really think you’re pushing
your luck in more ways than one. First of all, this is not just a Husky thing, but a predatory
instinct. You are lucky that your
own cats have not been injured. Secondly,
I think you should bring the bunny to a veterinarian to make sure it is healthy.
It could carry diseases that are contagious to you and to your other
pets. Thirdly, some cats hunt
rabbits too. Find the bunny a new
home where it can relax and live without fear.
Or, try the leash restraint again. But
understand that the rabbit could pay the highest price for any lapse in your
vigilance.
HI,
We have a 12 year old
Golden Retriever who is now deaf, slow to get up but still loving and
delightful. Over the last few years he has begun to howl at random times, but
so far thankfully only during the day. At first I thought it was because
he was alone as the howling will stop when I approach him. A neighbor has said
he has heard the dog howl sometimes.
The howling seems to be increasing and now he does it sometimes if I give him a
treat before he eats the treat. Your thoughts?
Dear Carol M.,
Separation Anxiety Syndrome can
impact pets at any age. In older
pets the chance of underlying illness is higher.
Your old boy needs to have a geriatric evaluation (including blood and
urine) to be sure. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, which has many
similarities with SAS, must be considered a possibility too. CCDS is the canine
equivalent of Alzheimer’s disease and often responds to specific medication.
Please order my handouts on Separation Anxiety Syndrome and Behavior
Changes in Aging Pets.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
We have a 20 month old
neutered Boxer. Recently when we take him out for
Dear Tara (From the Netherlands)
Some doggies can regress in training after
surgery. Sometimes this is because
owners are a bit more lenient for a time. In
any event, he is in his prime and at his age would be showing this behavior
anyway. He is challenging you, and
everyone, it seems. If you cannot
trust him to respond to your commands off leash, he should be kept on leash. Go
back to basic obedience training. He
may not be getting enough exercise, especially important with other dogs, and is
taking this frustration out on you and in your absence. Handouts
on Separation Anxiety Syndrome, Destructiveness in Dogs, Basic Obedience will
fill in the rest.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Three days ago we purchased an 11-week-old Rhodesian Ridgeback from a breeder in Iowa. She is an absolutely lovely pet, and we love her dearly. The only problem is she's afraid of everything! We live in an area where there are a lot of dogs, so whenever we walk her and she sees another dog, she starts trembling and whining. We eventually have to pick her up if we want to keep walking. Now she's associated this fear of dogs/other people with being outside in general. As soon as we're out the front door, she sits down and refuses to move.
Hello
Lori.
Many pups are overwhelmed with life in a new home, a new territory, with new
dogs and people. It’s a lot to
cope with and there’s so much to learn. Build
her confidence slowly. Take
frequent short walks on your property. Play
with her, give her treats, encourage her with your smile and praise.
Enroll in a puppy class so she can make friends her own age and her own
size. Take baby steps now.
She’ll take it from there.
Dear Dr. Cookie:
I foster cats for a rescue group. Presently
amongst my many fosters I have a
Dear Cathy D.,
From your description, you’ve done wonders with this cranky boy. It was important to make sure there were no physical problems contributing to his irritable aggression. He sounds like a macho boy who is used to having his own way in his own space. He is a bully! Many cats have a limit to how much petting they will tolerate. Stop touching him before he reaches his limit. Get up and leave before he chases you out of his space.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My cat is due for his annual checkup in October. I usually put this off every year because the veterinarian I take my cat to insists that it is necessary for him to "put the cat out" in order to perform the exam. He says he is "an extremely difficult cat to handle." I have seen this behavior, and he does become extremely violent and aggressive, but I would assume that many cats behave this way. Do you think this is unusual, and do you think I could find another veterinarian who would be willing to have my cat as a patient without putting him out?
Dear
Terri,
Many
pets are anxious at the clinic, but some have a bad time of it. Your cat must be
terrified to behave this way. Your
cat has a phobia, which implies that his fear response is way out of proportion
to the actual danger present. You
can’t explain to him that you are only giving him the best care you can,
however, you can retrain him to be a better patient.
Techniques are described in my handouts on Aggression at the
Veterinarian’s Office, and Fears and Phobias.
You could go elsewhere, but chances are that he would eventually have the
same problem. Some cats do better
staying at home, with house call veterinarians. See if this service is available in your area.
Either way, the handouts will help.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
I have a
five-year-old cat who will not allow me to show him any sort of affection.
If he thinks I am going to pick him up or pet him, he runs. He will rub
against my legs while I'm doing dishes or preparing food, but if I bend down to
pet him, he runs. I have had this cat since he was five weeks old and he
was very loving as a kitten. There are 3 other cats in my home, two older
(1 male, 1 female), and one younger female. I am planning to move to
another state next month, and if I cannot see some improvement in his behavior
soon, I am considering placing him for adoption. I love "Marshall
Dillon", but moving with animals is a chore and all I want from him is some
form of affection.
Dear Carol E.,
If you love Marshall Dillon,
why can’t you just accept him the way he is?
Every cat is an individual and shows affection in their own way.
Most cats are not ‘lap cats’, and many do not like to be carried or
restrained. For him, rubbing
against you is a lot. Let him come
to you, instead of forcing him to run away.
You’ll get a lot of insight into cats and what makes them tick in my
most recent book, “Dr. Cookie’s Guide to Living Happily Ever After With Your
Cat” (St. Martin’s Press, 2002). Keep the family together; take him with
you. He sounds like a wonderful boy to me.
Dr. Cookie,
Our wonderful 2
yr old Lab/Hound has only one fault, hard to believe isn't it? She will not come
when called, we have and do use a training collar for this. Just when we think
she got it and we stop using the collar back comes the look "who me."
Tried a retractable lease, treats etc. Nothing works so far.
Dear Audrey,
If a ‘training collar’ is a
shock collar, I wouldn’t come to you either! If your training collar is a
choke collar, that does not entice a dog to approach you either.
‘Come’ has to be a jubilant joyful experience for the dog.
It is a voluntary decision that is very different from other obedience
skills. If she anticipates punishment with this command, she will learn to run
the other way. Practice makes
perfect, using delicious tiny treats but on an intermittent basis. Practice indoors at first.
If she doesn’t ‘come’ off leash outdoors, then she should not be
released! Patience!
Dear Cookie,
I
recently rescued a 10 month old kitten. She is fine during the day, but will cry
and cry every evening...all evening until the early morning hours. I believe she
wants to go outside, which is probably what she's used to. Is there any way to
stop her crying at night?
Dear Ellen
It takes time to adjust
to a new environment. Keep her
indoors and make sure she's spayed. She
doesn’t know what’s good for her and how good she has it in her new home!
Wake her up during the day to play with her, brush her, keep her moving.
Eventually, she will synchronize her daily rhythm with yours and you’ll
both be ready to sleep at the same time. Consider
adding another kitten to your home, too. This
way, she’ll have the best toy in the world, another companion cat!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My
family adopted a young English Springer Spaniel 10 months ago from the local
Humane Society (approximately 2 years old now). This very good-natured guy has
quickly bonded with our family. Snickers is very sweet but his escalating
vocalizations are going to cause some hearing loss soon. Initially, he
would sort of woo-woo when he "captured" a tennis ball or toy, circling
the yard or the room with the object in his mouth. Soon after, he began
"trilling" or "singing" when he was about to be fed.
He was otherwise doing everything he should (dropping the toy on command,
sitting before being pet or receiving his food) so we assumed this was just his
happy noise. It has now become his habit to greet each family member (and
especially me) with a regular opera upon coming home from work, returning from
the store, coming in from taking the garbage out ...etc. I'm thrilled that
he's thrilled to see me, but it takes a full 10 minutes for him to complete the
evening song and dance routine and heaven help us if the phone rings or we'd
like to talk to each other during the show.
Dear Karen,
Many
dogs vocalize with excitement; it is normal canine behavior, after all.
Barking is a trait that was emphasized when dogs were first domesticated
because making noise was an advantage for alerting people to danger.
Territorial barking was the first home security system.
If he has learned to bark in certain circumstances, he can also unlearn
it. By not correcting the behavior
when it became a nuisance early on, it was effectively reinforced by your lack
of discouragement. Keep your greetings calm.
Make him EARN your return/greeting and his food by remaining silent and
in a “down/stay”. Don’t feed
him until he is quiet for at least a few seconds, and then build it from there. It will take patience, but you can do it!
Dear Dr. Cookie,
My grandcat, a 16 month old
Siamese, eats fur play mice down to the plastic innards in about 15 minutes. She
also eats leather shoestrings, if she finds them. I got her some rawhide dog
chews but she didn't care for them. Can you suggest anything that would be safe
for her to chew and ingest.
Dear Grandma Martha R.,
Many cats like to chew on things, but Siamese and a few other oriental breeds seem a bit more partial than most, at least for the first few years of life. Try the crumbling kind of rawhide sticks. You can also try ½ of a frozen meatball. A boiled tip of a chicken wing (the bones are small, and will become very soft with cooking) also provides a satisfying chew. Read more in my award-nominated book “Dr. Cookie’s Guide to Living Happily Ever After With Your Cat” (St. Martin’s Press, 2002).
Dear Dr.,
My Miniature Pinscher has
never been socialized with other dogs, and snaps and barks at my Akita.
The Akita puppy is 70 lbs and wants to lick and play with the Min Pin.
The Akita puppy has been in obedience training consistently since 2 1/2
months old. What can I do to get
these two dogs to tolerate and interactive with each without
anyone getting hurt?
Dear
I don’t know how old your Min Pin is, but a big
Akita pup would be terrifying to even well socialized toy dogs at first. Teach
your Akita to ‘down/stay’ near the tiny one.
This will reinforce the Min Pin’s dominance a bit, and help make it feel
more secure. It will also teach
your Akita to remain calm around the little dog.
Obedience training with your Min Pin
will also help to improve your control over the little dog, and in a group
class, will help socializing too!
Dear Dr. Cookie:
My dog friend sits on me!!
Buddy is a Lab mix, with a very sweet and loving disposition. When Buddy sits
with me, he always, but always parks his butt on my foot. Recently when I laid
down on the floor to wrestle with him, he backed right up and sat right on me.
Wazz up with that?
Dear Anne S.,
Sitting on your foot is one thing; he probably just wants to feel in contact
with you and that’s fine. Sitting
ON you and wrestling with him should both be discontinued.
You don’t want him to learn that he is dominant over you, and you
don’t want him to think that wild behavior
directed toward people is acceptable.
Dear Dr. Schwartz:
I have a 16 year old female Yorkshire Terrier who has
recently begun walking in circles. S
Dear Joan Hermann
Circling behavior can be a symptom of many things.
The most benign problem might be infection or inflammation of the inner
ear, which generally resolves in several weeks with appropriate medication.
It could also be a neurological problem with more serious causes. Your
veterinarian should evaluate your little old lady and make a first hand
diagnosis. Call
today!
Hi!:
My husband recently bought me a neutered ferret to keep me company. I let him have the run of the living room but now he’s sneaking up behind me on the couch and biting me in the butt He also bites my husband’s feet and ankles when he takes off his shoes. He also bites my daughter very hard. I bought him some toys; he especially loves his stuffed weasel. I’ve tried popping him with the fly swatter, and a rolled up newspaper, not hard, but he just gets more aggressive. He is also climbing up onto my cockatiels’ cage and terrorizing tem.
Dear Andie & Rowdy,
You
don’t mention how old this rowdy boy, but I assume he is a young adult.
He certainly sounds like he is looking for things to do and has more
energy than he knows what to do with! You
might consider getting a second ferret for him to play with.
On the other hand, he might not have the right temperament to fit in with
your family. Just because they are
small does not mean ferrets are always cuddly.
Hitting him or squirting him are not helpful and never
recommended. Try restraining him with a harness and leash so that he knows you
have the upper hand! Build a little
playground for him, with obstacle course and things to climb.
Teach him tricks! Right now,
he’s a juvenile delinquent and he needs direction and guidance.
Hi,
My dog licks everybody that comes through the door or anyone she can get close enough to outside. Even when we call her over to play she has to get in a couple of licks to everyone near by. She is 3 years old now, is there anything we can do??
Dear Alison O'Boyle,
Sure! How about teaching her to
‘sit’ and ‘stay’, or simply ‘heel’?
But what’s so wrong about a couple of licks?
Would you rather a couple of nips? Sounds
like a great doggy to me! Enjoy!
Dear. Dr,
I
have a 6 month old Maltese puppy who incessantly eats the potting soil out of
the potted plants in my apartment. He also is intent on licking feet but more
frequently when they are dirty. He eats his food regularly but sometimes will
choose the dirt over the food. We have tried obedience training by isolating him
when he does this after we tell him no but now he grabs a
mouth full and then runs because he knows he will be in trouble.
Dear Brooke Baker,
First of all, social
isolation is not obedience training. Isolating
him will teach him nothing except to be afraid of being alone, or of you.
Puppies normally explore the world by tasting it.
Does he have anything else to chew?
Rawhide sticks or strips would be a
safe alternative. Bring a stool
sample into your veterinary clinic in case he has picked up some worms (the
eggs can lay dormant in the soil for months and
years). And get this boy enrolled
in a puppy class. He needs to
play with other dogs, and you need to
get some basic instruction. And
don’t forget those long walks either! Treat
him like a big dog. Raise him as if he was a Rottweiler.
You’ll prevent all kinds of problems down the road!
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
We
just adopted a 5 year old Aussie/Shepherd mix. A week after we got her, she went
into heat. She is still in heat now. She
had no behavioral problems (other than not wanting to walk more than a block
from the house) until the last day or so when she started shredding pillows and
'humping' her doggie bed. When I
catch her doing it, she sits on top of the pillow or doggie bed as if she is
protecting it. Is this normal behavior for a dog in heat?
Will it stop when she is done? We
intend to get her fixed as soon as this cycle is complete.
Dear
Karen,
Hormones
can drive dogs and bitches pretty wild. Bitches
in heat are not feeling like themselves at all.
It’s a massive chemical change in the brain and there is only one
focus. It is generally not
recommended to spay a bitch in heat because the blood vessels to the uterus and
the uterus itself become engorged with blood, making the procedure more tricky.
She will go back to normal after her heat is passed.
You can have the surgery done about 4 weeks later.
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
Two
months ago I rescued a 2 year old unaltered male Beagle from a hunter who said
he was about to drop him off at the pound because he was not a successful rabbit
dog. When I went to get the dog with my husband and 4 year old son he was a
skulking nervous wreck and peed himself and shook the whole time. In the 2
months I have had him he has not come very far. I did recently get him neutered
and he is perfectly
Dear
Caribbean Cindy,
Sounds
like a particularly terrified and traumatized puppy.
He needs help and you need help with him.
Clomipramine, manufactured for pets under the name of Clomicalm®,
is a tricyclic antidepressant. I’d
rather see him on a drug that helps to control anxiety more specifically.
But more than that, you need to see a veterinary behaviorist (referred
through your veterinarian) who can help to define his diagnosis and lay out a
plan for behavior modification as well. There
is no such thing as a magic pill. However,
from your brief description, your little guy needs a comprehensive treatment
plan to help him overcome his past and enjoy his life in a wonderful new home.
Hi
Dr. Cookie.
My
friend has a 2 year old Boston Terrier that has started urinating in her sleep.
She does this wherever she is sleeping - the couch, the bed, etc. She is always walked before bedtime and does not seem to do
this intentionally - only in her sleep. The
vet says there is nothing wrong with her, that it is a behavioral issue.
In the past she has urinated on the couch intentionally - we think for
attention - but lately she really does appear to be sleeping.
Any advice?
Dear
dhberlin,
Dogs
who urinate in their sleep on a regular basis are unlikely to have a behavioral
agenda. Involuntary relaxation of
the urinary sphincters implies a neuromuscular laxity.
She would probably fall into the category of urinary incontinence and
should be treated accordingly. Consider
getting a second opinion from a veterinarian in your area.
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
have a 7 month German Shorthair Pointer with a docked tail.
He intermittently chases & chews his tail.
He gets plenty of attention and exercise.
Dear
Kerry,
Have
your veterinarian examine your dog to make sure there are no parasites that
could be bothering him (fleas, whipworms…).
His anal glands should also be expressed to make certain they are not
impacted or infected. If there is no physical cause, the behavior is likely
behavioral. Some dogs learn to do
this for attention. Some dogs do it
when they are excited, really need to go for a walk, or have to defecate.
Other dogs have a compulsive desire to chew their tails and need to be
treated by a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
Treatment may include psychoactive medication and will certainly be based
on a change in lifestyle and interaction with the owner (behavior modification).
Dogs who chew their tails even in play should not be encouraged to do so
because it can progress to a serious form of self-mutilation.
Speak to your veterinarian about what to do next.
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
My
14 month old Boxer has become very skittish around people.
My family was over for a picnic and she spent the whole day under the
coffee table. When she was younger
she was very friendly and would walk up to people, now she will start to walk up
and then run the other way, bark and wag her tail.
I am not sure how to correct this problem. I would like to socialize her
more to help her overcome it but I am worried about her getting scared and
wiggling away from me. I would
appreciate any suggestions you may have.
Dear
Bridget and Chloe,
It
is unclear from your report what could have caused the regression in her
sociability. She may have had a bad
experience with someone, or she may not be getting the same opportunity to
socialize with people that she did when she was younger (e.g. fewer walks, fewer
visitors). On the other hand, she
is now a young adult and is likely showing the emergence of more adult
behaviors. Territorial defense is a
responsibility of mature pack members. She
is exhibiting conflict behavior, wanting to approach and retreat at the same
time. Clarify her indecision but
relieving her of the responsibility to make any decision.
Teach her to ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ when greeting you, family, friends,
anyone. Have visitors give her a
treat to reward her for approaching them in a friendly and controlled way.
Establish clear leadership over her so that she is more confident in you.
Enroll in an obedience class and practice every day!
(Handouts: Obedience for Dogs, Territorial behavior in dogs)
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
I
have a 3 year old mixed breed dog. I think he's part Lab and either Rottie or Doberman.
He
Dear
Melissa
Sounds
like this boy needs a nice long walk in the evening before he gets to chewing
his bowl. Then, how about a rawhide
strip to enjoy when he comes home. And, what about changing to a stainless steel bowl
while you’re at it? No worries…
Dear
Dr. Cookie
I
am in a state of despair. My 6 month old lion head bunny is chewing the
wallpaper in his room! He has got plenty of toys he can chew e.g. telephone
directory, wooden blocks etc. Is there anything we can put on the walls to stop
him ruining them! Please help before my mum puts him outside :-(
Dear
progers.com,
Well,
think about this for a minute. The ‘toys’ you’ve given him were not appropriate for
bunnies to begin with, and they also taught him that it’s perfectly fine for
him to chew paper and wood. So why
are you surprised that he’s chewing wallpaper?
Speak to your veterinarian about how to provide for your rabbit’s basic
nutrition and need to chew on appropriate objects. Visit your local pet store for all kinds of neat toys and
other items that will help to wear down his bunny teeth! Meanwhile, keep him
away from telephone directories and wall paper, of course!
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
have a Siberian Husky (8.5 yrs) and a Lab/Chow mix (9 yrs)... they have been
crate trained from 10 weeks. Every
night they 'go to bed' just fine & I lock them in (I just stay 'bedtime' or
'go to your room' & they both merrily go down to their crates and wait for
me to close the door)... this isn't because they are destructive or not
housebroken... it is just our family ritual. One or two times while I have been away on business, my mother
didn't lock them in and my Husky apparently took a liking to it.
Now for the past week or so, she goes down to her room just fine, but she
doesn't want to move her feet out of the doorway when I go to
Dear
Lori,
Honestly?
I don’t think it’s compulsory to crate dogs (although many will learn
to live with it) and I don’t think it’s advisable to crate them away from
your bedroom at night. That’s
like tying them out in the woods all by themselves away from the safety of the
pack; every survival instinct would go against that notion…Crates are not
tolerated by every dog, even though yours did fine until recently.
But now your Husky has had a taste of the good life.
Dogs who are crated overnight should at least sleep in a crate in their
owner’s bedroom. You could try
that and see if it’s a welcome compromise.
Or, you could just let your dogs be happy and sleep by your bed, either
on the floor or in a doggy bed of their own.
You could use the same commands but direct them to even sleep in an open
crate in your room. Come on, now.
Bend a little?
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
just adopted a new dog one week ago. Teddy is approximately a year old and neutered.
Dear
Amy P.
No
flicking penises please! He’s just a happy boy and this is quite harmless.
It is not a ‘behavior’ problem really because it is not a conscious
effort on his part. Think of it as
a reflex and pay no mind. Just
enjoy your dog!
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
If
we get my pygmy goat fixed will he lose the interest to mate and stop peeing on
himself?
Dear
Leighann,
Nice
to have a question about a farm animal for a change!
Neutering him will reduce sexual behavior to nearly zero, unless he has
already had some experience, in which case it may not disappear completely.
Self-marking with urine is seen in males of many species, and is often
related to sexual advertisement. This
too should resolve with neutering.
Dear
Dr Cookie,
My
son owns a female Brittany Spaniel who was two years old when she had her 1st
litter. There were 5 pups in the
litter and she ate 4 of them. Is
this a normal occurrence and why would a female mother eat her pups?
Dear
Frank,
Some
new mothers are very nervous and can cannibalize their pups.
It can also happen if there are too many spectators, especially if they
are strangers to her. If this is
repeated at her next litter, she should not be bred again and should be spayed.
Not every dog of breeding quality has the temperament to go along with
what it takes to breed and raise a litter, or the temperament to pass on to
future generations.
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
recently adopted 2 kittens. My household has 2 children. One of the kittens was
immediately playful and liked being handled, the other one hid. I hoped she
would get better, but it’s been about a week and she seems more fearful. The
lady we got her from says both kittens were handled equally and were fine with
handling when she had them. They were not around children though. Should I give
the more fearful one back? She says she will come and get it if I make that
decision. Or should I give it a little more time?
Dear
Betty,
All
kittens are individuals. From the
same litter and with the same early exposure to people, you describe kittens
that are obviously very different. The difference could be in their ability to adjust to change,
or in their social inclination. A
busy household is overwhelming to any kitten.
Let her come around on her own. On
the other hand, if she is not the kitten you’d hoped for, return her now while
she is still easily adoptable and can be placed in a less stressful environment
(for her).
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
Our
two male cats, both 9.5 years old, 100% indoors since birth, neutered since 8
weeks, not littermates but
Dear
Pam,
Cats
mount to assert dominance, as do dogs. It
is not necessarily sexual, but it could be.
Neutering at such a young age would imply that they’ve had no
significant circulating testosterone, the sex hormone that drives libido in both
males and females (people, too). Nevertheless,
it could still be persistent sexual behavior, redirected onto the ‘next best
thing’. If it doesn’t bother
them, and it doesn’t really bother you (after 9.5 yrs), forget about it! Or, shoo them apart if you catch them in the act.
At least they’ll learn not to do it when you’re not around.
Dear
Dr. Schwartz,
In
the last couple of weeks, my 4 year old female cat Cheyenne has been urinating
on me at night while I am sleeping. She does not urinate anywhere else abnormal,
and her box is kept clean. She doesn't even urinate on the bed, unless I am in
it. She has also started carrying around a small stuffed animal that used to be
her chew toy. While she carries it, she makes deep throaty meows
(like a cat in heat might make). The meowing is only strange because in
the past four years, the most she has ever vocalized was small, short squeaks
(while playing or when picked up) or howling (only in the car). She has also
started sleeping with me, which usually only happens when I am ill or upset (she
is otherwise uncuddly). We have ruled out any type of pain or infection. I am
quite far along in my pregnancy and the vet suggested that because she is very
attached to me that she is picking up on my pheromones and is reacting to them,
and possibly going through false pregnancy. She was spayed as a kitten and has
never had a litter. Does the vet's explanation make sense (if so, why?) or could
there be an alternative explanation?
Dear
Elizabeth,
Sometimes,
the cats who seem less bonded to us, or at least less sociable, turn out to be
more responsive and affected by our moods and routines. It would be interesting
to take a blood sample from her and measure her hormone levels (estrogen,
progesterone) to see if they are within the range expected for sterilized or
intact queens. The feline sense of smell is actually more sensitive than dogs.
She could well be perceiving changes in you. There is no evidence that
false pregnancy occurs in response to human pregnancy. Generally, false
pregnancy in pets resolves after spaying. But that doesn’t mean your
veterinarian is off-base. At the
very least, you describe a kitty who is clearly anxious and going through an
undetermined change. Make sure that
there are at least 3 boxes in your home (2 cats = at least 2 boxes + 1).
If her baseline blood and urine tests are normal, ask for a referral to a
veterinary behaviorist in your area. If
your veterinarian is a client of Antech Laboratories (just ask!), let them know
they can arrange for a free telephone consult with me about you.
This is a specialty consulting service for veterinarians only.
Dear
Dr.Cookie,
We
have a male yellow Lab who is 5 months old. When we are outside playing with him
(retrieving games, swimming) and during a walk he will suddenly start jumping on
us, trying to bite and grab our clothes. We have to hold him down until he calms
down enough that he will stop. During this attack he won’t listen to any
command even if a treat is offered, he seems very excited but he isn't barking
or growling. Is he playing or is he being aggressive? How can we stop this?
Dear
Sheila
Sounds
like it’s time for obedience classes for everyone!
Play aggression gives pets important social feedback about who they are
and what they can do. Dominance issues often emerge in young doggies during play.
Don’t hold him down, that’s not really teaching him anything.
Push him ‘off!’ with your knee.
Then, teach him to sit and stay, or down and stay.
Reward with a tasty treat. And
give him more opportunity to play with other dogs.
He needs to play rough and tumble boy dog games, but he should only be
playing those with doggy pals.
Dr.
Cookie,
Barney,
our 3 year old blue point Siamese has suddenly started acting very aggressive
toward my 7 year old son in the last few days. The cat will hiss and growl w/
his tail and back bushy...acting like he is going to attack. He has not bitten
or scratched my son...front declawed. When I approach the cat, he lets me pick
him up. I then put him in "time out" in the laundry room for a while.
He immediately calms down and purrs. Barney & my son have always been good
buds. Now my son is terrified of him Barney
has always been a very gentle and easy going cat. He has always been a little
afraid of strangers w/ him hissing ever once in a while at some one
....especially children, but never aggressive. Barney is strictly an indoor
cat....so I can't send him outside. And I don't want to give him up. Could there
be a possible medical problem? Would squirting him w/ a water bottle when he
acts this way help?
Dear
Joyce,
Although
an uncharacteristic behavior change should be investigated for any underlying
medical problem, Barney may be changing because your son is changing.
A 7 yr old boy is more active, louder, bigger, and stronger than a 4 yr
old. He may have startled Barney
unintentionally, or Barney may be reflecting a problem in your son’s behavior
toward him that you may not have witnessed.
Speak to your son, teach him to approach the cat gently and not to pursue
him if Barney is warning him to go away. Perhaps
your son would like to take over feeding Barney? That might teach Barney that a
7 yr old boy is not such a bad thing after all.
Order my handout on Kids & Pets for more tips.
Also, my most recent book “Dr. Cookie’s Guide To Living Happily Ever
After With Your Cat” (St. Martin’s Press, 2002) has just been nominated for
an award and it is full of great information on this topic and many others.
Dear
Dr.,
We
recently (3 days ago) adopted our Greyhound from a reputable adoption
organization. He's was a sweet, but
timid boy in the foster home, and when we first got him home. He shows no signs
of aggression and now that he's been around for a few days, is more relaxed,
playing, seeking affection, sleeping near our bed (instead of his crate).
However, every once in a while (every few days) something will trigger him to
start yelping like he's being beaten. The
last episode, I went to rub his head (like I do a million times a day) and he
yelped all the way into the kitchen, hid in his crate and wouldn't let me near
him for 10 minutes. He NEVER growled or snapped, just "yelped".
After that, he was fine. Back
to seeking attention, and out of his crate on his own. Almost like a switch. I know I didn't step on any tails, toes, etc.
Our vet is at a loss, and there's no history of abuse (of course, you
can't be sure...) Any suggestions? Do
you believe it's something that will improve over time?
Dear
Kelli M.,
I’d
like to see this guy get a thorough physical workup, including CBC, serum
biochemistry, and thyroid panel. I
don’t have all the details, but I understand that these episodes can erupt
spontaneously and are not necessarily triggered by your approach or touch? Yes,
indeed, there is always the possibility of abuse with a rescued Greyhound.
But, if fear is not the issue, you need to investigate sources of pain
and discomfort (neck, disk disease?) or even seizure disorders.
Let me know how you do? (Your veterinarian can ask for a consult with me
if s/he is a client of Antech labs…)
Dear
Dr. Cookie,
I
just recently found your website, and think it's great! It's full of tons of
very useful information. I have a slight problem. I just recently got a
dwarf bunny, his name is Elvis. I believe he's only a few months. I love
Dear
Meg,
1)
Keep him off your bed, 2) Speak with your veterinarian to make sure that
Elvis’ cage is large enough and set up the way bunnies like it.
He should prefer to eliminate in the wood chips section if he has the
option to bed/nibble on hay in the other, and 3) Teach Maggee to sit and stay
when Elvis is around; if she gets to see him more, she’ll get over the
novelty. As long as no one seems to
want to hurt him, and he seems comfortable with them, they’ll get used to
being together in time.
Dear
Dr Cookie,
I
have just inherited a 4 year old Budgie but he has never been trained and is
quite frightened of human contact. He will not eat millet seed from my hand and
won't eat until I leave him alone with his food. I would love to be able to
teach him to trust humans and sit on my finger and hopefully one day be able to
come
Dear
Emma,
Sazu
could become better socialized in time but he will probably never be a
completely ideal ‘pet’. Are you able to touch him at all?
Perhaps you could get away with just one finger stroke on his back when
you place the food in his cage, and build from there.
And perhaps, adding a friendly hand-raised Budgie friend to keep him
company would help you both. Place
them in separate cages near each other at first, slowly moving the cages closer
together. Eventually (several months or more), you should be able to
introduce them into the same cage. And
he might learn by watching the other bird’s interaction with you.
There is also the option of psychoactive medication for anxious birds.
Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist near
you.
Dear
Dr. Cookie:
I
recently rescued a 2 year old female Shiba Inu and currently have an 8 month old
male Shiba Inu. Lately I've notice
that my younger one has starter to lick my new and oldest one's ear.
I mean really digging for gold. She doesn't seem to mind to much of the
younger one doing this. I just was
wondering why dogs do
Dear
Jlbray25
Actually,
it is something nice and it’s submissive.
Your younger boy is submissively licking the adult female.
It is also simply affectionate. Just check her ears periodically, because
dogs who get licked this much sometimes get ear infections (from so much
moisture). Sounds like a happy couple to me.
Dear Dr. Cookie,
Are taste
deterrent products such as Bitter Apple, safe to use by spraying directly into a
dogs mouth to solve problems such as barking, aggression, etc.? The product
Bitter Apple does not state on the bottle that it can be sprayed in the mouth,
but I’m hearing from other dog owners that it is the ultimate, completely
safe, all solve product.
Dear Linda,
Aversive conditioning with bad
tasting substances is best applied to deter destructing chewing, and even then
the success is limited. These substances should NEVER be sprayed into the mouth
of an aggressive dog, or a nonaggressive dog, for that matter. The best way to
trigger escalated aggression or retaliation is to punish a dog that is already
in a state of high alert! Golly gee, if your child was having a tantrum, would
you pore anything down his/her mouth? Try
to understand the problem, then work on preventing it!
It would make much better sense to use basic obedience to reassert your
leadership over the dog, or increase the dog’s daily exercise, or provide more
play time with other doggy friends so that the misbehavior would not even
appear! Don’t listen to these
other dog owners. In fact, maybe they
should listen to you, after you read this and pass it on. Thanks!
Dr. Cookie,
I
have three cats. Two have been
raised indoors and one is an outdoor cat. The
2 year old female cat, that is spayed, has darted out as the door is open, a few
times. She doesn't know what to do
after she gets out in the yard, and she runs from us while we are trying to
catch her. Please let us know how
to keep her away from the door and darting outside.
Dear Nancy
(Praline's Mom),
I commend
your decision to keep your 2 cats indoors.
It is very helpful to place break-away collars with bells on all your
cats (my 5 cats each have one). That way,
you can hear the indoor ones when they approach the door.
If the little female does get close, yell ‘no!’, or even hiss at her.
The collar for the outdoor cat should have ID on it; it will also help to
warn birds and chipmunks to stay alert. Ideally,
of course, they should all remain indoors. See
my handout on Territorial behavior in cats, which contains hints on how to keep
your kitties safe and sound inside your home.
Dear Dr.,
I
have had several dogs, and now have 2 Great Danes that we love very
Dear Sue
(Danes are great!),
The
scratching is an abbreviated digging pattern intended to carve out a cozy
indentation. This would expose cool
earth in the summer months, or excavate a hole in the snow to help avoid winter
winds. The turning around in circles is probably just settling into bed in just
the right position, just like we do when we smooth out the sheets and cuddle
under blankets at bedtime.
Dear Dr.
Cookie,
I
have two small Poodle mixed female dogs approximately 3 yrs old.
The first year they got along great; the second they tested each other.
Going on the third year, they are trying to kill each other. I try separating them but this makes things worse!
Dear
Hilary,
You
describe a classic dominance conflict between your dogs.
It can be a bit worse between dogs of the same gender because they are
vying for the exact same position. Separating
them does make things worse because they are prevented from working things out. Most dog fights appear pretty ‘vicious’, but the majority
of them result in minor injury, if any. All
this, and what to do about it, is described in detail in my handouts on
Dominance Behavior in Dogs. You
should also order Basic Obedience, too!
Dear Dr.
Cookie;
I
have a 10 yr old Siamese cat ( male, neutered ) who
Dear
Jennifer Kidd,
Sounds
like he is looking for something to do! There
is no real evidence that Siamese cats vocalize MORE than other cats; but their
distinctive voices certainly make it seem that way!
Consider introducing another cat, perhaps a younger female?
In any event, play with this boy. Provide
an interesting variety of toys. Focus
all that vocal energy on some other entertaining outlet!
Dr.
Cookie,
I
have a 7 month old Shiba Inu named Kona. He is showing 3 traits that are not
that great. 1st he will not have bowel movement on our property. We have to take
him to the park. This is a slight inconvenience in bad weather. The park is a
short walk from the house. 2nd when it is time to leave he will start to jump up
on us, nip at us, grab pant legs or whatever else he can get his mouth on. 3rd
The problem that we are having with him is that he is constantly mouthing our
hands and nips us for attention.
Dear David
Churchill,
Kona needs
more exercise, not less. There are very few days in the year when the weather is
bad enough not to take your dog for a walk!
And if the park is so nearby, why deprive him? All that aggressive play related energy is an indication that
he needs more outlets for his energy: more doggy friends, more controlled play
with you, daily obedience practice, more walks, longer walks… get it?
Good!
Dear Dr.
Cookie,
I
have a 2 yr old female dog of mixed breed. Last spring while walking her, two
large dogs got loose from their fenced-in yard and attacked my dog. My dog was
not hurt but we were both shaken up. Since this incident, my dog has been very
aggressive towards other dogs that she
Dear
Andrea,
Go back to
basics. Short leash (4 ft. or shorter)
and a headhalter collar (gradually introduced) such as Halti Collar®
or Gentle Leader® would reinforce your leadership and lessen her
anxiety. You should also file a complaint
with your local animal control officer. And
it might be an idea to carry a walking stick or an air horn, just in case.
You need to resocialize her to friendly dogs so that she can refresh her
social skills and loose some of her fears.
Hello Dr.
Cookie
I
have a six month old female Golden Retriever named Lexie. This morning I let her
out to go pottie and she came back inside with a pair of dead bunny legs in her
mouth. I tried to take them away from her to no avail. She ended up swallowing
it. I'm not sure if she killed the bunny or just ate it? Either way it is very
upsetting to me. I looked all over the yard for the rest of the bunny but
Dear Laura
(Bunny defender in Colorado)
I know how
you feel, Laura; but after all, Lexie is a dog with predatory instincts.
I suggest you place 2 or 3 jingle bells on her collar so critters can
hear her coming. You can also place a
leather strap with cow bells on your door for even greater effect when the door
opens. And how about a fence?
Bunnies are, unfortunately, on the bottom of the food chain. Sounds like you have a lot of them! Hawks and owls usually help to keep the population down;
coyotes and foxes take care of the rest.In the burbs, the predatory species
usually stay away or are chased away.The balance of nature is a delicate thing.
People have interfered far too much in so many devastating ways.
Try not to feel too badly, chances are if Lexie did kill that bunny, it
was very quick. On the other hand, there
have been links to predatory aggression and aggression toward small children.
So, it would be wise not to let her continue and to order my handouts on
Basic Obedience and Predatory behavior!
Dear Dr.
Cookie,
My
small dog was attacked a few weeks ago while on a walk around our
Dear
Valarie,
You really
should register a complaint with your local dog officer.
This kind of problem must be nipped in the bud so that it does not happen
to you or anyone else! I would stay away from that house because approaching it is
certainly reinforcing his phobia. Try
driving to another neighborhood or park area.
Just get him back into ‘happy’ mode when going for walks.
Then reintroduce him to your neighborhood but bring a few delicious
treats (pea sized fragments) to entice his progress.
You can also bring a favorite toy if that helps too!
Dr.
Cookie,
I
have a two year old Lab mix female dog. Recently
she has begun refusing to go into the kitchen. I
think she is scared of walking on the tile floor.
This has gone on for about a week, and now she is afraid to go in the
guest bedroom (I have hard wood floors). I
have tried tempting her with treats, carrying her in the room and sitting with
her for a while, but nothing works. She
is clearly terrified. This behavior is a
huge change. Previously, she followed me
everywhere and would lay on the floor of the room I was in.
How do I help her get over her newly acquired fear?
I want her to be calm and healthy but also because her food and water are
in the kitchen. She won't eat unless I
move them to the living room on the carpet.
Dear
Betsy,
If your
veterinarian does not think there are any changes in her eyesight (retinal exam)
or that she has slipped on very long toe nails, it is difficult to understand
why our pets develop some of the quirky behaviors that pop up for no apparent
reason. However, you do describe a
dog with some prior anxiety related behavior.
She has a history of ‘shadowing’ you, which may be a sign of neurotic
tendencies. A behavior consult
would allow us to get a full history, so that behavior modification (and
possible psychoactive medication) can get her back to ‘normal’.
Let me know if you’d like to schedule a consultation…