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Do dogs and cats grieve?
Fairly frequently, I am asked if pets grieve. Some animals most certainly do grieve whether it be for a canine, feline or human family member. I have also been asked if it helps with the grieving process to let the remaining pet be involved in the veterinary appointments and eventual euthanasia of the ill pet. Although there is no research to support this statement, I believe that it does help. I have seen the difference in my own patients when they are allowed to follow the process. Although we will never really know what the pet is feeling or thinking, it appears that being able to be a part of the appointments and the euthanasia makes the grieving process shorter. Get the answers to the most common questions about pet grieving here>> |
Introducing your cat to your new dog
Dogs and cats have long been portrayed as enemies.The truth is that while dogs and cats don't always get along, many of us have dogs and cats that live together peacefully. If introduced correctly, your cat can appreciate your dog's company or at least learn not to hate her! To get your pets off on the right foot, follow the simple steps in this article. Click here to download the article>> |
The Perfect Dog
By: Cheryl VanVoorhies
After suffering numerous life tragedies back to back to back, the death of my mother, a ten year relationship done, the death of my fifteen and a half year old Pekingese, who was "perfect" and my house burglarized - I found myself spiraling into a world of going to work and staying at home alone. I had lost all my confidence. The silence in my house each night was almost deafening. I started thinking,"If this is what life is like until I die, my spirit will be dead long before my body."
So, I decided to get a puppy, YIPPEE! A big dog puppy, a German Shepherd puppy, to help keep me company when l was lonely, to protect me if someone broke into my home, to do new and exciting things with....a new adventure! Yes! Yup, a new adventure all right, but not the one I expected.
I thought I did all the right things when choosing a puppy. I went to the breeder two times after the puppies were born and observed the mother. She seemed slightly timid but was receptive to strangers, and the puppies seemed to be in a very active, clean environment. I ran through a giant pasture with what seemed like a gazillion puppies running after me. I sat down under a tree, my new puppy crawled into my lap and bit my nose. The rest was history! Seele pronounced Zeelah, means spirit or soul in German. Be careful what you name your dog, boy is she full of spirit!
Once we got home I realized she was not the typical puppy I had growing up. She did not like to be held, she was not a kiss your face kinda dog, and all she did was chew on my legs and hands whenever I tried to pick her up or play with her...I renamed her the piranha dog.
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Jumping
Most often, dogs jump for attention. It's natural to want to be up near the hands of the face of someone who may pet you. Unfortunately, owners do generally pet dogs when they jump up. This reinforces the behavior making it more likely to occur again. Any type of attention can be considered reinforcement by the dog. This includes pushing the dog away and yelling at the dog. Some dogs may jump because they're anxious or because they have excess energy.
Teaching dogs not to jump is pretty simple--ignore the dog when he is jumping and teach him an alternate way to get attention--yet this behavior is a common unruly behavior. It's not because the behavior itself is particularly difficult to correct. It is because owners and the guests who visit their homes are inconsistent. Some people pet the dog, some yell and some ignore the dog when he jumps. This causes the dog to be variably reinforced for jumping. This means sometimes the dog gets rewarded for jumping and sometimes the dog doesn't. Believe it or not, this kind of reinforcement (reward) is the most powerful kind you can apply to a behavior. That means that dogs who are sometimes rewarded and sometimes punished for jumping become very persistent jumpers. Follow the simple tips in this article and your dog will be asking for attention politely in no time. Click here to download the entire article>> |
Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
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| Volume 3, No. 1: Jan 2012 |
Does your dog lunge, bark and growl on the leash?
Take the Reactive Dog Class taught by Dr. Radosta to learn how to control your dog and teach her to relax on walks. Reactive Dog Class starts January 2012 For more information, Click here>> |
Canine Body Language Spotlight: What are these dogs saying?
Do you know what it means when your dog puts her ears back? The ear carriage of a dog can offer a great deal of information, but it can also be a confusing body language cue to interpret. That is why it is labeled a "yield" signal. The ear carriage should be considered along with the context and other body postures displayed by the individual dog. In general, the farther back the ears are pinned against the head, the more frightened the disposition of the dog.
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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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Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
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