APR 2015

Is your pet super smart?

Or do you have a pet that's all heart and no brains? Or does your furry pal just play stupid so he can ignore your commands? Whichever category your pet falls under, you're going to want to read this month's Spotlight, which is all about understanding - and working with - your pet's intelligence.

In this issue of the Spotlight, we talk about using the right techniques for communicating with pets at all levels of the intelligence spectrum. In the first article, we discuss the challenges of living with a super-smart pet, and in the second, we provide some tips for working with pets who play stupid to avoid complying with your wishes.

There's always something fun and exciting going on at Bewaggle, and we're excited to share our news and information with you. Read on and share in the excitement!

All the best,

Marianne Carlson, Co-Founder
Bewaggle, LLC

407-729-2242

Smart Pets Provide Special Challenges

The problem with having a really smart pet, is that the highly intelligent brain gets bored easily, and then your pet goes looking for things to occupy his mind. When pets are bored, they get into mischief, and that can lead to all sorts of trouble.

Bored cats and dogs often become destructive. They chew, shred and otherwise destroy their toys, and anything they can get their paws onto.

Another problem with a highly intelligent pet is the way they interact with their owners. Fido knows he's not allowed on the couch, for example, but he'll sneak up their whenever he thinks he can get away with it, because doing so is a game he plays. Smart pets test you all the time, because that's one way for them to put their intelligence to work. They can be sneaky and cunning, and for them, that's entertaining. But for you, it can spell trouble. If your pets are destructive, it's probably a sign that he's bored.

Just like children, smart animals will find things to do, if you don't keep them busy. The best way to prevent problems with a highly intelligent pet is to give him plenty of mental stimulation in the form of games and puzzles that will keep them out of trouble. Teach him tricks - lots and lots of tricks. Provide toys that require him to use his brain. And keep him mentally challenged as much as you can. The more work you give his brain to do, the less boredom he'll experience and the less trouble he'll be in the long run.

If you need some suggestions about toys and games to challenge your brainiac pets, give us a call. We'll be happy to give you some tips.

Is Your Pet Playing Dumb?

Has this ever happened to you? You take your dog outside to potty, and when he's finished, you call him to come back in the house. But he looks at you like he has no clue what it is you expect him to do, then goes right back to sniffing the bushes or rolling in the grass. You know he knows the "Come" command, but today, he acts like he's never heard it before. It seems that your dog is playing dumb. But he's actually behaving quite intelligently.

Once you understand why he's not coming when called, the remedy becomes more readily apparent. Usually, a dog (or cat) who once knew the "come" command, will stop coming when he's called because doing so results in a negative reinforcement (like the end of his playtime). Remember that pets repeat behaviors we reward, and stop behaviors that result in a negative consequence. In order to re-teach a pet to come when called, we have to be sure that obeying the command results in something positive. So ask him to come, and when he finally does come in, praise him and reward him (even if it took him longer than you would have liked.) Never scold him after he comes in, as that would reinforce the staying away behavior. If it's playtime he's craving, then you can give him some quality playtime indoors - with you!

Remember he's not playing dumb, he's simply exhibiting the behaviors we reinforce. It's actually quite intelligent. As always, if you need help with training your pets, give Bewaggle a call. A phone consult is always free.

Bewaggle is HIRING!

We need some great pet sitters who live in West Volusia or Seminole County. The ideal candidate will:

Be a true animal lover, first and foremost!
Have at least 10 years work experience. Not necessarily in the animal care industry, but we need people with a proven track record of excellence and professionalism.
Have complete control over their own schedule. We can't work around school and work schedules, as our clients' needs have to come first. This could be a great fit for retirees and the self-employed!
Have basic computer skills and a functional home computer and printer. (A smart phone is not a requirement, but it's a huge advantage.)

If you or someone you know would like to get paid to play with pets, all the information and the application are available on our website. Click here to learn more.

Visit our partners on the web, and tell 'em Bewaggle sent you!