About this episode
On this episode, Zazie and Kristi reply wide-ranging questions on each canines and cats that had been despatched in by listeners.
We talked about:
- mind video games and the eye span in senior canines;
- recommendations for brand spanking new issues to show canines; why canines bark at e.g. folks in hats or folks going by the home;
- cooperative look after kittens;
- creating an area useful resource record for anxious and fearful canines;
- enrichment and caring for fearful cats;
- the very best tone of voice to make use of when chatting with your canine and whether or not canines can detect our ranges of stress;
- the best way to advocate on your canine;
- whether or not to show a chin relaxation to cats for cooperative care or to be wrapped in a towel for vet care;
- is watching TV good for pets;
- the best way to train cats to cooperate with having their claws trimmed;
- and we shared some recommendations on desensitization and counterconditioning for anxious and fearful canines and cats.
This episode was recorded with a reside viewers. Thanks to everybody who submitted questions and who got here to the occasion!
Hyperlinks and sources
This web page incorporates affiliate hyperlinks which implies I could earn a fee on qualifying purchases for gratis to you.
Bark! The Science of Serving to Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Canine by Zazie Todd is out now and out there from all good bookstores.
Kristi Benson’s programs on barking and on grooming
The Husbandry Challenge from the Academy for Canine Trainers
Practice Your Canine Like a Professional by Jean Donaldson can be out there from all good bookstores.
BC SPCA desensitization and counterconditioning for cats. You may discover the infographic on Bailey Eagan’s web site
Companion Animal Psychology weblog submit on desensitization and counterconditioning
This episode was recorded in early 2024. Very sadly, Zazie’s cat Harley, who’s talked about on this episode, handed in February of this yr. And extra fortunately, Zazie’s guide Bark! The Science of Serving to Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Canine, which can be talked about on this episode, is out now and getting rave opinions.
There is not any books part on this episode as we targeted on the questions that had been submitted.
Highlights of the episode
Okay: We bought a number of questions. So our first query is from Jaden who says, I play mind video games with my 13 yr previous canine one to 2 instances a day. He’s enthusiastic and maintains his focus for about 5 to 10 minutes. Is that this okay or, or ought to I construct his consideration span? And I assumed once I learn this query first I used to be like, oh, I am unable to wait to listen to what Zazie says about consideration spans. And if there’s analysis on that with canines.
Z: And that is such a terrific query truly. And it makes me actually joyful to consider a senior canine who’s having the chance to participate in mind video games day by day. Not simply as soon as, however perhaps generally even twice a day. And I believe that is implausible. It is a great factor to be doing. There is not that a lot analysis particularly on this in senior canines, however there’s a little bit bit and it tells us that senior canines profit from coaching. So mind video games and that form of factor appear to assist. And I believe a 5 to 10 minute consideration span is nice as a result of, you realize, canines are usually not going to be paying consideration for hours. That appears like a very good size of time to be doing this for. And as long as your canine is engaged, I believe that is implausible.
And what the analysis on this appears to inform us is that doing mind video games for senior canines is sweet for them in a lot the identical method that when folks do issues that preserve their mind lively as they’re getting older, it helps to maintain their mind wholesome. And it, it is a type of issues that’s thought to assist with stopping dementia, for instance, in folks. There’s been some current research truly that present a number of modifiable issues you are able to do that forestall dementia in folks. And mind video games is considered one of them, or maintaining your mind lively. And the little little bit of analysis we have now on canines does present that, that coaching for senior canines is actually good for them. So it is a implausible factor to be doing. Carry on doing it. It is nice on your canine.
Okay: I cherished how the query type of was questioning, is 10 minutes of consideration span sufficient? And I am like, I do not even assume I’ve 10 minutes.
Z: I believe that is actually good. And particularly as a result of it is a senior canine that we’re speaking about, I believe that is, that is actually, actually good. Okay, so thanks for that query, Jaden. And I’ll transfer on to a different one. This one is from Henry. He says, I taught my Chihuahua Shisha to acknowledge her written title. It was simple for her to do. Is there one other factor that I can train her? In August, she handed the AKC Canine Good Citizenship Check.
Okay: Proper. So I believe that is form of like a canine coach’s dream. You understand, as somebody who says, what else can I train my canine? I imply, oh, the lights shining. So I put some thought into this and I assumed, so if there’s issues which are going to be helpful for an grownup canine, particularly as they age, I believe husbandry coaching is unquestionably one thing that I’d put on the high of the record of simply one thing that canines must go to the vet.
So instructing them to be comfy on the vet, instructing them to be comfy being restrained in the way in which that canines are restrained and having numerous husbandry type of, you realize, veterinary issues completed to them. We will completely practice our canines to be comfy with this. And the Academy for Canine Trainers the place we each graduated and I work has a set of free plans with directions that you could obtain. So that may undoubtedly be on the record of issues I’d recommend that anyone trains for one thing like a Chihuahua.
I believe it might be helpful if they don’t seem to be already comfy, comfy being picked up. Simply considering forward about as they age there, there’s the probability that they are going to have to be picked up. And so I’d say that that is one thing, and that that is one thing that is included within the husbandry plans, however simply, you realize, for, for, for one thing further to coach. Toothbrushing for positive. If you happen to’re not already brushing their enamel. Canines which are that measurement have a dentist of their future form of factor. I believe that is goes form of with out saying so. And you’ll undoubtedly practice your canine to be comfy and joyful to have their enamel brushed. So I’d do this, um, once more, for little canines, one thing like going up a ramp, you realize, like issues that, as they, as they age into adults that they could have to, for them to be comfy.
After which tips. I believe I simply love seeing people who find themselves having enjoyable with coaching do tips. And there is applications even that you could be a part of into. Trick Grasp is one that could be a trick meister that involves thoughts. It is a pet skilled guild program. And so all of it is vitally drive free. There is not any, um, you realize, something worrisome concerning the coaching that they are type of recommending. And you’ll undergo ranges and, and so they’re, they’re very very similar to type of, they don’t seem to be tremendous cute tips. They’re, they’re tips that type of problem you as a coach. So I believe it is form of enjoyable. You are, you are, you are studying totally different cueing methods. Um, and you then’re getting little titles and it is all very enjoyable. Um, after which there are undoubtedly trick applications which are completely. For the cool, cute tips.
And who would not desire a canine who does tremendous cute, enjoyable stuff, you realize, like occasion tips? You understand, coaching is so enriching and so wonderful. So when the, when the output is a cute trick, I imply, everyone form of wins. However not all of these trick applications are purely constructive reinforcement. So there’s one thing, you realize, if you wish to take part, simply needless to say you might be having to make selections about, you realize, method decisions. So these are those that got here as much as my head. Did you have got anything?
Z: I like these decisions. And they might be my first decisions as nicely, I believe, as a result of such helpful issues, for one factor, after which enjoyable and fascinating issues. And I suppose the tips could be prolonged to perhaps like parkour. If you happen to like spending time exterior together with your canine, then you possibly can train them to get onto issues and to stroll alongside issues and so forth. And it’s the kind of tips, principally, nevertheless it’s referred to as parkour. And you’ll train your canine to do various things, interacting with the surroundings exterior. And I believe that is fairly enjoyable as nicely.
Everybody who tries nostril work with their canine appears to actually get into it. In order that’s one other factor should you assume you could be excited by that. In the end that is one thing the place you possibly can train your canine to be like a sniffer canine, like knowledgeable sniffer canine, and so they go looking out a scent. And newbie courses are simple and so they’re enjoyable. So should you just like the sound of that, that is one thing you can strive. I believe it is best to go for the kind of class the place the canine is in cost as an alternative of you telling the canine the place to look. A few of, a few of the courses have the canine determine the place to look and also you comply with the canine. And I believe that is a very enjoyable factor to do as nicely. So, yeah, I am at all times a fan of nostril work. I believe canines actually get pleasure from that.
And one of many issues we are saying about enrichment for animals is that it is actually essential to contain their most essential sense. And for canines, that is the nostril. So nostril work is at all times a enjoyable factor from that perspective as nicely. Yeah, I believe, I believe there are such a lot of nice decisions of issues that you are able to do.
Okay: So a number of these are form of like extras, however identical to, we’re, We’re. I believe we’re each assuming that the canine already has a terrific recall, can wait on the door and different type of security habits. So should you. If that is not in your canine’s repertoire but, then undoubtedly I’d. I’d put a recall up most likely at, like, the highest of the protection record and practice it. However I believe that is one thing that’s lined in most canine courses. So most canines already form of have that in the event that they’re. In the event that they’re already canine good residents?
Z: Sure, I believe so.
Okay: Okay, so the following query. We now have two questions that type of work collectively. Henry additionally requested, why does my canine at all times bark at individuals who put on hats? After which Linda requested, why does my canine need to bark at anybody or any automotive that drives by the home? I reside on a cul de sac. This habits started throughout and after Covid. Did not occur earlier than COVID and we didn’t have this barking drawback for the primary 5 years earlier than COVID So how will we cease this?
Z: So I believe these are each nice questions, and so they’re truly quite common questions. Individuals are at all times asking me about barking. It is such a typical factor, and it is essential to do not forget that barking is a pure habits for canines. It is a regular factor for canines to do. And, for instance, it is one of many ways in which they alert different canines and us to issues going by. So a number of barking is simply watchdog barking. They are saying, oh, one thing’s occurring. However it could possibly additionally generally be an indication that the canine is afraid of one thing. They could be barking as a result of they’ve seen one thing. They need to warn you to one thing that’s probably fearful, making them fearful. So. And generally they’re simply barking as a result of they have not seen one thing earlier than. So perhaps they’re barking at folks with hats. Perhaps going again in time, perhaps this canine as a pet, did not see many individuals with hats throughout the delicate interval for socialization.
That is one chance. I am not saying it’s on your canine, clearly, and this jogs my memory one thing I ought to have mentioned firstly, which is that we will not give particular steerage on particular person canines. We’re speaking usually as a result of, in fact, we will not get a full historical past in your canine on this time span. So we’re solely speaking usually, and it isn’t particular steerage. However for some canines, they are going to bark at folks with hats as a result of they weren’t socialized to folks with hats as puppies throughout the delicate interval, from three till about 12 to 14 weeks, once we really need them to have constructive experiences with as many various varieties of individuals, various things, totally different environments as attainable so that they develop as much as be pleasant, assured, grownup canines.
Now, that is not essentially the why on this case. It may at all times be, for instance, that somebody sporting a hat was as soon as disagreeable to your canine, whether or not deliberately or unintentionally, till your canine turned scared of individuals with hats. That is attainable, too. And as for barking at issues out of the window that they see going again, that is extremely frequent. It is simply. It’s a regular habits for canines to do. And so due to that, the factor to recollect is that we will not count on canines to not bark. However what we will count on is for canines to not bark an excessive amount of. So we will practice them to do their little bark firstly after which to cease. I do not know what you need to say about that, Kristi, as a result of I do know that you’ve a number of data about barking in your. You’ve got written some fabulous weblog posts on this, too.
Okay: Yeah, I agree. I believe once I hear these two questions, and once more, not about any particular canine, and we’d encourage anybody who has questions like this about their canine to achieve out to a canine coach, however somebody whose canine is barking at somebody with hats, I’d lean in the direction of the probability that that canine is a little bit bit freaked out by that image. That is only a bizarre image for that canine. It is like, okay, I like folks. I like folks. Whoa, what’s that? You understand, So I’d say that canine is extra seemingly on the form of the. Whoa, what’s that? That is upsetting me. Scale canines barking at stuff out the window. I’d lean extra in the direction of that being, you realize, much less more likely to be a canine who’s upset. It is extra seemingly that this watchdog barking that you simply had been speaking about is triggered.
So I’d say in case your canine is upset about one thing, what we need to do is make the canine not upset. And I believe you cowl this nicely in your guide and a number of your blogs. How will we assist canines who’re upset at one thing? We need to make them really feel higher about that factor, after which the barking goes away by itself. As a result of we do not need to be like, cease barking. We need to be like, you do not have to be upset. This is not truly an upsetting factor. You assume it is scary, however I’ll present you that it predicts good issues for you. So I’d are inclined to go for a method that helped the canine really feel comfy with no matter it’s that is triggering that barking.
And for canines who’re barking, are having watchdog barking triggered, which is type of like they don’t seem to be scared, they don’t seem to be joyful. It is only a factor that canines do, like, form of like blinking. Um, then I’d say we have now form of a number of strategies at our fingertips. Um, yay, we do not have a scared canine, you realize, um, however I’d say you possibly can put, you should purchase on type of Amazon or different locations, you should purchase a sticker that goes in your window that obscures the canine stage stuff and down so the sunshine nonetheless is available in, however you have got. The canine is seeing much less. And that makes an enormous distinction for lots of canines.
After which you may as well practice one other habits so you possibly can practice your canine to come back to you and get a little bit deal with. In order that they bark a few instances after which they flip round and run as much as you and get a deal with. So you possibly can practice this different habits in order that they type of see the factor that makes them bark is a cue to come back to you and get a deal with or to do one thing else, run to their mat and get it, get, you realize, one thing like that. And that includes some coaching.
After which there’s at all times adverse punishment. So timeout. So in case your canine is really not upset and is simply doing this factor, you realize that as a result of it is a part of their pure repertoire, you possibly can say, okay, should you, should you get, you realize, should you bark greater than two or three barks, we offer you a pair since you’re a canine and we will allow you to canine. If you happen to proceed to bark. And a few canines who watch canine bark, actually bark rather a lot. We’re gonna, we’re gonna offer you a 30 second little timeout. And that works remarkably nicely as nicely. So we do have a number of instruments at our disposal to type of deal with such a barking.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a very, actually good reply. And you realize, with my very own canine, I made a decision I used to be going to let him bark on the television as a result of when he first got here to reside with us, he was silent for months. He by no means made any noises in any respect. So when he first began barking at issues, I used to be like, nicely, it is a novelty. It is a actually good factor. It reveals he settled down and I let him. And after some time I am considering, okay, now that is an excessive amount of barking on the television.
However what’s actually fascinating about instructing a canine to come back to you for treats as an alternative is that they will even then begin taking a look at you for treats when anything occurs and also you be taught what they’re classes of issues that they assume deserve treats. And it isn’t simply essentially folks going by or issues on the television, like seeing different canines on the television. However I believe it is good to know that that’s an method that works actually, very well. So, yeah, it is a regular habits. You do have to simply accept some barking, however relying whether or not or not the canine is fearful, there’s tons that you are able to do about it.
Okay: Yeah. And should you’re unsure in case your canine is fearful, then that I believe it is time to attain out to a coach. As a result of if a canine is fearful, that is affecting their wealth. For like a canine who’s watchdog barking for a minute, I am not apprehensive about their welfare. I am apprehensive concerning the canine’s guardian’s welfare at that time. But when your canine is fearful, then that is actually one thing that we need to get on high of. We need to shield that canine after which we need to change that underlying emotional state if we will not shield the canine.
Z: Yeah, yeah.
Okay: Okay. So subsequent up, Melanie asks, as a foster father or mother who takes care of 1 to 2 litters of kittens yearly, what are the important thing steps to creating cooperative care? For toothbrushing, what I’ve tried up to now has both not labored at greatest or backfired. I am pretty good at coaching the cats to not meow for meals, to enter their carriers on command, to take a seat, to go to their stations, in addition to vacuum and doorbell desensitization. However toothbrushing has me stumped. I need to ship these kittens off to their greatest lives attainable, and it might be nice in the event that they did not want preventable dentist dental surgical procedure 10 years down the highway.
Z: I believe that is such an exquisite query. And likewise I am so impressed on the kittens having been taught all these items already up to now. That is good. And this reveals that you simply’re additionally a very good coach. So the factor is, I believe toothbrushing is a type of issues that’s harder. There are issues the place the cat, or if we had been speaking about canines, the canine are typically a bit afraid, can typically be the issues the place the coaching is way tougher to do and it could possibly very simply backfire should you go, particularly should you go too quick. And all of us have that tendency to go fairly quick.
And so one of many issues to do is to actually decelerate. And the opposite factor to do is to interrupt it aside into much more tiny, tiny bits. So that you do the coaching in numerous components. You clearly, you do not simply go as much as the cat and brush their enamel after which give them some treats as a result of that is going to freak the poor cat out. And that is clearly not what you have been doing both. However you would possibly begin with exhibiting the toothbrush and giving the cat treats.
And if the cat has already bought a adverse response to the toothbrush, perhaps the toothbrush must be a good distance away from them and also you most likely simply need to construct as much as the cat licking pretty treats or very tasty hen flavored pet toothpaste off the toothbrush earlier than you do. Any try at truly making an attempt to brush their enamel, and even that’s most likely going to be good for the cat simply to get, you realize, the toothpaste into their mouth is a begin, maybe, however the different elements of doing that is that you’ve to have the ability to maintain their head and open their mouth and that is one thing to coach utterly individually and one thing that cats usually do not significantly like.
However the added benefit of coaching that’s that it is also coaching them one thing that they should know to be pilled in the event that they ever have to have medicines in future. In order that’s actually useful and it’ll assist them with the vet taking a look at their enamel once they truly occur to be on the vet as nicely. So even should you do not achieve all of this coaching, particularly since you most likely solely have the kittens for a brief time frame, even little bits of coaching on this course are actually, actually going to assist them.
After which as for truly brushing their enamel, once you lastly get to that time, take it actually sluggish, like simply put the toothbrush as much as their mouth after which, then give them tons of treats, that form of factor. Actually, actually sluggish. So the principle factor is to take it extremely sluggish with the intention to inform that they are joyful during it and so they’re eager to take the treats and so they’re wanting excited to come back and participate within the coaching. And the factor that I believe is so frequent a mistake is to go too quick after which as an alternative they grow to be a bit afraid.
I do not know, you have most likely bought some issues so as to add to as a result of I believe instructing a canine to have their enamel brushed is similar to instructing a cat to having their enamel brushed.
Okay: Yeah, I believe I used to be enthusiastic about the separation of restraint and, and the type of the implement. Um, and I believe that is, that is superior that, and so they do have to be educated individually after which introduced collectively.
However I’d additionally say, as a result of it sounds to me like Melanie is, is actually an superior Coach. Um, so I’d say if Melanie, in case you are not utilizing like, like knowledgeable kind manufacturing coaching, that now could be a time once you would discover it actually helpful, you’d discover it much more environment friendly. So I’d say should you try the Academy’s Husbandry Challenge, it is for canines, however you will get some studying. Or Jean Donaldson’s guide, Practice Your Canine Like a Professional, which matches over the best way to do manufacturing coaching. So it is, you are, you begin actually listening to what number of repetitions have I completed? Um, when can I push the following step? When, when can I understand that the following step is an excessive amount of? So then I make a center step.
So all these items, it is, it is, it appears like fairly a little bit of entrance loading studying that you will have to do. However in the long run you grow to be this identical to a crackershot coach, proper? You will, you will be coaching far more rapidly than you had been earlier than. If you happen to had been simply, you realize, type of free shaping with out a actual plan or, you realize, so I’d say simply primarily based on wanting what you already can practice, should you’re not already coaching in a manufacturing type, this could be one thing the place you’ll be like, this actually makes an enormous distinction. So that may be my suggestion for that.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a very good concept since you’re clearly already a superb coach. So this could be one technique to, to assist transfer by way of these points and get even higher at it. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. So we’ll transfer on to our subsequent query, which is because the proprietor or household of our beloved fearful and anxious canine who’s fearful of individuals, if one would create an area useful resource record for fearful canine households, what specific pointers would you recommend particularly in search of veterinary and pet sitting suppliers with the information of fearful and anxious canines? And she or he says, she or he says, I’ve contacted animal shelter workers, licensed worry free skilled listing, licensed canine trainers and behaviorists, canine day care workers, chilly calling, vet hospitals, holistic vet companies, native canine coaching companies, and fellow canine homeowners of fearful canines.
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