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What did your cat do today? 5 tips for a happier cat.
Environmental enrichment is
extremely important for indoor cats. It helps to maintain
their mental and physical health. Proper enrichment helps relieve stress
and can positively affect many
behavior problems such as aggression and inappropriate elimination. The tips below will help your cat stay busy, relax and enjoy life!
1. Release your cat's inner tiger.
Toys that
move like the Da Bird help to stimulate your cat's predatory response. Other predatory toys include Ba -Da-Beem Rotating Laser Cat Toy, Frolicat laser toy, Feline Frolic, Panic Mouse and Undercover Mouse.
Tai Shan catches the Panic Mouse
2. Make it new!
Rotate your cat's toys so that each day your cat has
something new and fabulous to explore.
3. Turn on the TV.
Some cats love to watch television. You can turn on your cat's favorite nature show or purchase a DVD like Video Catnip.
4. Give your cat a job.
Teach your cat to work for her food by using food balls to stimulate her.
The Delidome can keep your cat busy for hours!
5. You don't have to spend a lot of money.
Cats don't care how much you paid for a toy. They are just as happy with a ball of paper or a cardboard box. Add some catnip and let the fun begin!
Want more information on how to
enrich your cat's environment? Click here. |
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Ten Tips for Better Dog Training
1. Behaviors that are rewarded will increase.
If your dog looks at you and you give him a treat, he will look at you more. If your dog jumps on you and you pet him, he will do that more too!
2. Find your dog's currency.
Make a list of everything your dog enjoys and use it to your advantage!
3. Elementary school before high school.
Break down new behaviors into small steps. Move to the next level when your dog is getting it right 9 out of 10 times.
4. Focus on the positive.
Observe your dog and reward correct behaviors, even if you didn't ask for them. If you come into the house and your dog DOESN'T jump on you, be sure to reward him. Isn't that the behavior that you want?
5. Don't get frustrated, take a step back.
If your dog just isn't getting it right, make it easier for her.
6. Pay up quick!
When your dog does something fabulous, make sure you reward her as fast as you possibly can.
7. More rewards, more attention.
The more rewards you give your dog in a short period of time, the more engaged he'll be with you.
8. Don't nag.
It's more effective to ignore annoying, attention seeking behaviors than it is to say, "no no no" over and over again.
9. Replace unwanted behaviors with new ones.
In place of your, "Don't do that." you should use, "Hey, come over here and do this instead."
10. Be consistent.
Your dog will learn more effectively and will know exactly what to expect.
Want more detail? Click here to read the entire article.
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Rasa's Story: My journey with my leash aggressive dog.
Jess Feliciano, CPDT-KA
Shortly after adopting Rasa, a young Rottweiler/Catahoula mix, I discovered that he was anxious and reactive both inside and outside of our home. Dogs, cars, and especially a combination of the two, made him growl, bark, and wail at the top of his lungs while jumping and spinning wildly at the end of the leash like a mini tornado.
At first, I was actually excited to get a "project" dog. To me, reactivity wasn't such a big deal. I had worked with many, many reactive dogs. Little did I know, that working with a reactive dog (who was also hard to motivate) and LIVING with a reactive dog (who was also hard to motivate) were two completely different experiences. Well, that initial excitement didn't really last that long.
I'll admit I became incredibly frustrated at times. Frustrated with Rasa, frustrated with myself, and frustrated with other people who had the nerve to walk their dogs at the same time I was walking mine! I struggled for awhile trying different training tools and it was a long time before I found what really worked for him. The hardest part of working with Rasa during this time was that it was so difficult to see any improvement at all. I was constantly saying to myself, "Why isn't he getting better? Why isn't he 'fixed'? Why did he do that amazing thing yesterday and then he did that horrible thing today?!"
Eventually, I came to realize that when you have something that's changing very slowly every day, it's almost impossible to see it; especially when it's not something that's cut and dry. I created a picture in my mind of what Rasa looked like when I first got him (a mini tornado with ear piercing snarls) and constantly reminded myself of this picture. Whenever I took Rasa out to work with him, I compared what he looked like that day to the image in my mind; NOT to what he looked liked yesterday. When I finally made this connection, I began to see improvement and feel good about it. At last, I was able to see some change. We really were accomplishing something! I strongly believe this epiphany was the key to our success.
I am only human and there were definitely certain times in the beginning where I broke down and regretted adopting Rasa. Now, I never regret adopting him. Not only did I save this dog's life for sure, but he taught me many lessons such as patience to work through a tough problem over a long period of time. Rasa and I are still learning and we will both continue to work hard to achieve our goals. One year after adopting an adolescent Rottweiler/Catahoula mix, I discovered that I was now a more experienced dog guardian and a more patient person overall.
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Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
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Is your dog afraid of storms or noises?
Noise phobia and storm phobia are common problems in dogs and cats. Many pets react
with extreme fear and panic to certain noises or the sound of thunder.
DO'S AND DON'TS:
DO:
1. Plan ahead.
Contact your veterinarian before storm season starts about the use of a medication, natural remedy or supplement to help relieve your pet's stress. Most medications for this use require dosing trials with
your pet (testing their effect on your pet at the prescribed dosage) before
they can actually be used effectively when your pet is stresed.
2. Drown out the sound.
Turn on the radio, TV, fan or "white noise"
machine.
3. Keep your pet occupied. Give your pet
something fun to do or play their favorite game with them. 4.
Hand your pet 3 toys from the toy box that he or she hasn't seen in a while.
5. Change your attitude.
Act excited
and happy and your dog will often follow.
DON'T:
1. Punish your dog for her destructive
behavior.
Your dog is panicked. If you punish her, you will teach her to not
only be afraid of the storms, but also to be afraid of you, too.
2. Entice your pet to get in your lap
or to cuddle with you (but don't ignore her either!).
While cuddling may seem like the most loving thing to
do, in the long run, it will actually worsen your pet's behavior. First, it
teaches your pet that you are the only way to stay safe when she is
frightened. Unfortunately, you will not always be able to be with your pet when
she is in a frightening situation. If you don't teach her another
way to stay safe, your pet will be lost and even more panicked without you.
Second, cuddling doesn't give your pet any instruction. It doesn't tell her how they can stay safe. As a result, she never learns the tools that she needs to feel calmer.
Want to read the entire article? Click here.
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Fearful Fido Class for storm and noise phobic
starts in August
This 4 session class is intended for
dogs who are afraid of noises and/or storms. Dogs will learn to relax,
be exposed to various types of treatments including desensitization and
counterconditioning, distraction and redirection, relaxation, TTouch and
much, much more. For more information, click here.
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Clinical Trials
Does your cat urinate outslide of the litterbox?
If so, your cat may qualify for a clinical trial for a new supplement. Click here for more information.
Is your dog afraid to ride in the car?
Your dog may qualify for a clinical trial for a new supplement for travel phobia. Click here for more information.
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Does
your cat have a favorite toy?
Email a picture to info@flvetbehavior.com and your cat
might be the star of the next newsletter.
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Do you want to...
Contact information: |
Do you have a great story of success with your pet?
Your story could inspire someone else! If you would like to share your story, write it in 500 words or less and email it to us at info@flvetbehavior.com. If we use it in the next newsletter, we will let you know!
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Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB 
