ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Domestic dogs and cats are quite different from their wild ancestors, but they have retained many of their wild "behaviors".  We discuss dogs and cats separately, although there are a few similarities between the two.

SOCIALIZATION
It is critical for both puppies and kittens to be well-socialized prior to being 7 weeks old, or they will likely develop into very independant pets.  By this, we mean they will not enjoy being handled by people.  Be sure to handle your puppies and kittens frequently as they are growing up, since this should make them more social with you as an adult.

HEIRARCHY
Cats and dogs both establish heirarchies when they live in groups.  There is generally an "alpha" dog who is the leader amongst the dog pack, and the same applies to cats.  Within any household, the human owners should be the "alpha" leaders above all the animals.  The rest of the animals will sort out their pecking order on their own.  This is a natural phenomenon, and should not be discouraged unless there is escalated violence.
The alpha animal usually eats first and takes the lead in most situations.  When certain pets leave the pack, you will notice others fight for new positions.  

TRAINING
Training is vital to your pets life, and will vastly improve your life.  Behaviors such as COME, STAY, SIT, DOWN, NO, and HEEL are all very important, but COME is probably the most critical.  This command can save your pets life if they are headed for danger (ie. running to the street).  It is important to establish yourself as the alpha leader in your household, and to always take the lead position.  This means being the first to exit or enter your front door, being in front of your dog on walks, and insisting on their following your commands.  Many videos, books, and training schools exist to help train your dog using positive reinforcement and mentally stimulating techniques.  There is much evidence that positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement (yelling, hitting) when it comes to training.  Always keep in mind that your dog needs to be reinforced within 10 seconds of completing a behavior, or they will not associate the praise/punishment with whatever they did.

PROBLEMS:
1. Cats urinating outside of litterbox:  This can be due to a number of problems.  They may have a urinary tract problem, they may be un-neutered males who want to mark their territory, they may be stressed out by tension or problems in the household (we are serious), they may dislike the type of litter they are using, the box may not be getting cleaned frequently enough, or there may not be enough litterboxes.  Every cat in a house should have their own litterbox, and there should be one extra as overflow.  If you have 3 cats, there should be 4 litterboxes.  The boxes need to be cleaned daily.  If you have multiple levels in your home and you have an obese or old cat, you may need to put litterboxes on each of the different levels. 

2. My dog is very destructive, or hyper, or unruly:  All of these problems may be related to one thing- pent up energy.  Dogs need a great amount of exercise daily, especially when they are young.  They also appreciate a set daily schedule.  Try taking them for a walk in the morning before work and another walk in the evening after dinner.  Play with them for at least 30 minutes a day, take them to dog parks, or have daily training sessions.  All of these things will burn off energy and mentally stimulate them.  They will be extremely happy, and you will create a stronger/healthier bond with them.  Numerous interactive toys (kongs, tug bottles, etc) are available to keep your pets mentally stimulated.  If exercise is not helping, see your vet about alternatives.

3.  My dog/cat bites all the time:  There can be a number of reasons for this.  Puppies bite because they are teething, investigating new objects with their mouths, as a form of play, as a form of fear, as a form of discouragement, because they are happy (lovebites), or because they are showing possession.  To discourage this behavior, stop interacting with them when they bite you.  Say "no" firmly, and either turn your back or walk away.  Older pets who suddenly begin to bite may be in pain, may have a disease, may have dementia, or may have another mental problem.  It is critical that they be brought to a veterinarian for an exam.

4. Pulling on the leash or jumping on people:  Every dog needs to learn manners.  They often pull on the leash or jump on people because they are very excited.  Choke chain collars are not the answer, because few people know how to use them properly as a training tool.  If you are going to use one, be sure that there is not constant tension on the collar.  When walking , if the dog pulls ahead, you should give ONE quick jerk on the collar to re-direct the dogs attention to you.  Once he is re-focused, the collar should be relaxed again.  We have found a better training tool to be the Gentle Leader collar (see a picture on our "Products" page).  This collar has a strap that fits over the dogs muzzle, and the leash is attached under the dogs jaw.  If the dog pulls, the collar forces the dogs head down.  We can show you this collar in the clinic, or check it out on the internet or at a petstore.  For dogs that jump up on you, it is important to discourage this behavior when they are young.  We all hate dirty paws all over our clothes, and getting knocked over isn't fun either.  To stop this behavior, either turn your back when they jump up on you, or grab their front feet and walk them backward a few steps.  Say "no" while doing this.  They generally dislike being walked backwards, and should quit jumping up on you quickly.   

5. Scooting on the rug:  This often indicates the dog or cat has a problem with their anal glands.  Many animals (such as wolves, wild cats, skunks, otter, etc) have glands near their anus.  They fill with a putrid fluid that the animal uses to mark its territory.  Along with the obvious changes we have caused in our cat and dog breeds, we have altered their ability to "express" their anal glands.  This means they can get plugged up.  If they are not relieved, the glands can rupture and cause very bad infections.  If you see your pet rubbing their hind end on the ground, bring them to the vet or groomer to have their anal glands checked.  It is a quick procedure to drain the anal glands during an exam.