Archives for Behavior tips

Troubleshooting Cat to Cat or Kitten to Cat Introductions

Troubleshooting Cat to Cat or Kitten to Cat Introductions

June 11, 2020 | Comments Off on Troubleshooting Cat to Cat or Kitten to Cat Introductions

The decision to adopt a new cat or kitten is a big one, especially when you’ve already got an adult cat or two in the home. Folks often say that adopting a young cat or kitten can help an adult cat who’s lost a feline companion or can invigorate an adult or even elderly cat but, often, this can lead to a strong stress response in the adult, resident cat. An adult cat with an unknown history with other cats, an elderly cat who’s been the only cat for a long time, or even a cat who’s lived with other
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Cat Clicker Training Basics

Cat Clicker Training Basics

June 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Cat Clicker Training Basics

  Before you can begin any clicker training work with your cat, you’ll need to introduce the clicker to her. The purpose of this initial training is to teach her that the sound of the click means something wonderful is about to happen…. in the form of a very tasty treat. First the cat will learn that the sound of the clicker is associated with a great food motivator, once they’ve become comfortable with that, we’ll move on to using clicker training to encourage behaviors that we’d like to see happen with more frequency.   What do you need? A
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How to Help Your Door Dashing Cat

How to Help Your Door Dashing Cat

June 9, 2020 | Comments Off on How to Help Your Door Dashing Cat

  Does your cat lie in wait for you to open any door to the outside world? Perhaps your cat is quite obvious about this, always lounging at this door, making a break for it as soon as you open the door? Or, is your cat the kind who hides somewhere nearby, running at full speed from his hiding spot once the door is open? Does your cat run for freedom as soon as you open the door, arms full of groceries, unable to stop him? Why does your cat do this and what can you do to help diminish the
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Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

May 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

[print-me]   It’s been an uncertain time for all of us – including the kitties in our lives. We’re home more and our cats are likely wondering why their nap schedule has been suddenly thrown off by human intervention.  Cats thrive on schedule/routine, and even if they’re used to you being home, they’re likely not used to you being home ALL of the time, and their normalcy can be easily disrupted.  Cats may respond to this change in many ways, like being active at times they’re usually not (cat suddenly waking you up at night?), vocalizing more than normal, seeking
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Dogs and Masks

Dogs and Masks

May 6, 2020 | Comments Off on Dogs and Masks

[print-me]   There is no doubt, the recent weeks have been strange and stressful for all of us.  Coming months will also likely bring more changes and adjustments in our lifestyles for both us and our pets.   One of the new sights that you might increasingly be encountering out on walks may be people wearing CDC-recommended face masks or other facial coverings.  You may be getting used to this new sight yourself, so imagine how strange it may look to your canine companion, who is suddenly wondering why humans look so different.   Help your dog out by getting
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Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

April 24, 2020 | Comments Off on Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

[print-me]   Is your dog actually loving the current stay-at-home order?  Pets may be the one part of the population who are not minding this new routine, as now they have you all to themselves all day long!  While you are hopefully enjoying all this extra time with your pets, you may have concerns about how your puppy or dog is going to adjust when things start to return to normal and we are leaving during the day again.  Now is the time to start working on preparing your dog for this eventual change.   First, set up a special
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Tips for Resolving Litterbox Problems

Tips for Resolving Litterbox Problems

March 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Tips for Resolving Litterbox Problems

Why Do Some Cats Eliminate Outside the Litter Box? Litter box use problems in cats can be diverse and complex. Behavioral treatments are often effective, but the treatments must be tailored to the cat’s specific problem. Be certain to read the entire article to help you identify your particular cat’s problem and to familiarize yourself with the different resolution approaches to ensure success with your cat.   Litter box Management Problems If your cat isn’t comfortable with her litter box or can’t easily access it, she probably won’t use it. The following common litter-box problems might cause her to eliminate
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Food bowl bonuses (a.k.a., Teaching puppy to share)

Food bowl bonuses (a.k.a., Teaching puppy to share)

August 13, 2018 | Comments Off on Food bowl bonuses (a.k.a., Teaching puppy to share)

Background Info Resource guarding is a term used to describe situations in which dogs are in possession of an item and want to retain possession of it. In the wild, this tends to be a life or death situation in that if the dog let another animal take possession of his/her food s/he would ultimately die of starvation. Dogs are naturally highly motivated to retain possession of the resource so that they survive. While this survival instinct served dogs well in the wild, it’s not one we appreciate in our pet dogs, so we need to teach our puppies to
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Dog Meets Young Child

Dog Meets Young Child

July 9, 2018 | Comments Off on Dog Meets Young Child

[print-me] This is intended as a broad overview of things to consider with Dog and Toddler and Dog and Preschooler dynamics. These are constantly evolving as a child grows and develops. The challenge here is that dogs rely on predictability and consistent body language in interacting with us and with children change and development happen quickly, particularly in the first 2 years of a child’s life. From a dog’s perspective, babies are confusing and a newly mobile baby or racing toddler is an unpredictable, erratic, worrisome creature. Please note that because a dog has been “around kids” does not mean
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Dog Meets Baby

Dog Meets Baby

July 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Dog Meets Baby

[print-me] Having a baby changes everything, for everyone – including the family dog. As children come into our lives there are myriad changes in how we spend our time, how much time we have, how our homes are organized – just for starters! This piece is intended as a broad overview of things to consider before your baby is due and right after your baby arrives. While your dog may have spent time with babies, there are big differences in bringing a newborn home and then having a child in your home 24/7 – for all of you. Preparing the
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