About this episode
On this episode, Zazie and Kristi reply wide-ranging questions on each canine and cats that had been despatched in by listeners.
We talked about:
- mind video games and the eye span in senior canine;
- solutions for brand new issues to show canine; why canine bark at e.g. individuals in hats or individuals going by the home;
- cooperative look after kittens;
- creating an area useful resource checklist for anxious and fearful canine;
- enrichment and caring for fearful cats;
- the most effective tone of voice to make use of when talking to your canine and whether or not canine can detect our ranges of stress;
- how you can advocate to 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;
- how you can train cats to cooperate with having their claws trimmed;
- and we shared some tips about desensitization and counterconditioning for anxious and fearful canine 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 assets
This web page accommodates 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 accessible from all good bookstores.
Kristi Benson’s programs on barking and on grooming
The Husbandry Mission from the Academy for Canine Trainers
Prepare Your Canine Like a Professional by Jean Donaldson can also be accessible 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 put up 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 12 months. And extra fortunately, Zazie’s e book Bark! The Science of Serving to Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Canine, which can also be talked about on this episode, is out now and getting rave critiques.
There is not any books part on this episode as we centered on the questions that had been submitted.
Highlights of the episode
Ok: We acquired quite a lot of questions. So our first query is from Jaden who says, I play mind video games with my 13 12 months previous canine one to 2 occasions 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 believed after I learn this query first I used to be like, oh, I can not wait to listen to what Zazie says about consideration spans. And if there’s analysis on that with canine.
Z: And that is such an important query really. And it makes me actually pleased 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 possibly 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 canine, however there’s somewhat bit and it tells us that senior canine 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, , canine are usually not going to be paying consideration for hours. That seems 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 canine is sweet for them in a lot the identical means that when individuals do issues that maintain their mind energetic 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 individuals. There’s been some current research really that present a number of modifiable issues you are able to do that forestall dementia in individuals. And mind video games is one in all them, or holding your mind energetic. And the little little bit of analysis we now have on canine does present that, that coaching for senior canine is basically good for them. So it is a implausible factor to be doing. Carry on doing it. It is nice to your canine.
Ok: I cherished how the query form 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 will transfer on to a different one. This one is from Henry. He says, I taught my Chihuahua Shisha to acknowledge her written identify. It was straightforward for her to do. Is there one other factor that I can train her? In August, she handed the AKC Canine Good Citizenship Take a look at.
Ok: Proper. So I believe that is form of like a canine coach’s dream. You recognize, 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 believed, so if there’s issues which are going to be helpful for an grownup canine, particularly as they age, I believe husbandry coaching is certainly one thing that I’d put on the prime of the checklist of simply one thing that canine need to go to the vet.
So educating them to be comfy on the vet, educating them to be comfy being restrained in the best way that canine are restrained and having varied husbandry form of, , veterinary issues finished to them. We are able to completely prepare our canine 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 you can obtain. So that might undoubtedly be on the checklist of issues I’d counsel that anyone trains for one thing like a Chihuahua.
I believe it will be helpful if they are not already comfy, comfy being picked up. Simply pondering forward about as they age there, there’s the probability that they may must 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, , for, for, for one thing additional to coach. Toothbrushing for certain. If you happen to’re not already brushing their enamel. Canine which are that dimension have a dentist of their future form of factor. I believe that is goes form of with out saying so. And you may undoubtedly prepare your canine to be comfy and pleased to have their enamel brushed. So I’d try this, um, once more, for little canine, one thing like going up a ramp, , like issues that, as they, as they age into adults that they could must, for them to be comfy.
After which methods. I believe I simply love seeing people who find themselves having enjoyable with coaching do methods. And there is applications even you can 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 extremely drive free. There is not any, um, , something worrisome concerning the coaching that they are form of recommending. And you may undergo ranges and, and so they’re, they’re very very like form of, they are not tremendous cute methods. They’re, they’re methods that form 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 then you definately’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 methods.
And who would not desire a canine who does tremendous cute, enjoyable stuff, , like get together methods? You recognize, 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, , if you wish to take part, simply remember the fact that chances are you’ll be having to make choices about, , method decisions. So these are those that got here as much as my head. Did you could have anything?
Z: I really like these decisions. And they’d be my first decisions as effectively, I believe, as a result of such helpful issues, for one factor, after which enjoyable and fascinating issues. And I assume the methods might be prolonged to possibly like parkour. If you happen to like spending time outdoors along 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 methods, mainly, but it surely’s referred to as parkour. And you may train your canine to do various things, interacting with the setting outdoors. And I believe that is fairly enjoyable as effectively.
Everybody who tries nostril work with their canine appears to actually get into it. In order that’s one other factor in case you assume you is likely to be considering 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 straightforward and so they’re enjoyable. So in case you just like the sound of that, that is one thing you might 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 effectively. So, yeah, I am all the time a fan of nostril work. I believe canine actually get pleasure from that.
And one of many issues we are saying about enrichment for animals is that it is actually necessary to contain their most necessary sense. And for canine, that is the nostril. So nostril work is all the time a enjoyable factor from that perspective as effectively. Yeah, I believe, I believe there are such a lot of nice decisions of issues that you are able to do.
Ok: So quite a lot of these are form of like extras, however similar to, we’re, We’re. I believe we’re each assuming that the canine already has an important recall, can wait on the door and different form of security conduct. So in case 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 security checklist and prepare it. However I believe that is one thing that’s lined in most canine courses. So most canine 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.
Ok: Okay, so the subsequent query. We’ve got two questions that form of work collectively. Henry additionally requested, why does my canine all the time 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 conduct 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 really quite common questions. Individuals are all the time asking me about barking. It is such a standard factor, and it is necessary to do not forget that barking is a pure conduct for canine. It is a regular factor for canine to do. And, for instance, it is one of many ways in which they alert different canine and us to issues going by. So quite a lot of barking is simply watchdog barking. They are saying, oh, one thing’s taking place. However it could actually additionally generally be an indication that the canine is afraid of one thing. They is likely to be barking as a result of they’ve seen one thing. They need to provide you with a warning 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 possibly they’re barking at individuals with hats. Perhaps going again in time, possibly this canine as a pet, did not see many individuals with hats in the course of the delicate interval for socialization.
That is one chance. I am not saying it’s to your canine, clearly, and this jogs my memory one thing I ought to have stated in the beginning, which is that we won’t give particular steerage on particular person canine. We’re speaking typically as a result of, in fact, we won’t get a full historical past in your canine on this time span. So we’re solely speaking typically, and it is not particular steerage. However for some canine, they may bark at individuals with hats as a result of they weren’t socialized to individuals with hats as puppies in the course of the delicate interval, from three till about 12 to 14 weeks, once we really need them to have constructive experiences with as many various sorts of individuals, various things, totally different environments as attainable so that they develop as much as be pleasant, assured, grownup canine.
Now, that is not essentially the why on this case. It might all the time 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 widespread. It is simply. It’s a regular conduct for canine to do. And so due to that, the factor to recollect is that we won’t count on canine to not bark. However what we are able to count on is for canine to not bark an excessive amount of. So we are able to prepare them to do their little bark in the beginning 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 have quite a lot of information about barking in your. You’ve got written some fabulous weblog posts on this, too.
Ok: Yeah, I agree. I believe after 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 succeed in out to a canine coach, however somebody whose canine is barking at somebody with hats, I’d lean in direction of the probability that that canine is somewhat bit freaked out by that image. That is only a bizarre image for that canine. It is like, okay, I like individuals. I like individuals. Whoa, what’s that? You recognize, So I’d say that canine is extra probably on the form of the. Whoa, what’s that? That is upsetting me. Scale canine barking at stuff out the window. I’d lean extra in direction of that being, , much less more likely to be a canine who’s upset. It is extra probably that this watchdog barking that you just 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 effectively in your e book and quite a lot of your blogs. How will we assist canine 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 must be upset. This is not really an upsetting factor. You assume it is scary, however I will present you that it predicts good issues for you. So I’d are inclined to go for a way that helped the canine really feel comfy with no matter it’s that is triggering that barking.
And for canine who’re barking, are having watchdog barking triggered, which is form of like they are not scared, they are not pleased. It is only a factor that canine do, like, form of like blinking. Um, then I’d say we now have form of quite a lot of strategies at our fingertips. Um, yay, we do not have a scared canine, , um, however I’d say you possibly can put, you should buy on form of Amazon or different locations, you should buy a sticker that goes in your window that obscures the canine degree stuff and down so the sunshine nonetheless is available in, however you could have. The canine is seeing much less. And that makes a giant distinction for lots of canine.
After which you too can prepare one other conduct so you possibly can prepare your canine to return to you and get somewhat deal with. So that they bark a few occasions after which they flip round and run as much as you and get a deal with. So you possibly can prepare this different conduct in order that they form of see the factor that makes them bark is a cue to return to you and get a deal with or to do one thing else, run to their mat and get it, get, , one thing like that. And that entails some coaching.
After which there’s all the time damaging punishment. So timeout. So in case your canine is really not upset and is simply doing this factor, that as a result of it is a part of their pure repertoire, you possibly can say, okay, in case you, in case you get, , in case you bark greater than two or three barks, we provide you with a pair since you’re a canine and we’ll allow you to canine. If you happen to proceed to bark. And a few canine who watch canine bark, actually bark loads. We’re gonna, we’re gonna provide you with a 30 second little timeout. And that works remarkably effectively as effectively. So we do have quite a lot of instruments at our disposal to form of deal with such a barking.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a very, actually good reply. And , 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, effectively, it is a novelty. It is a actually good factor. It exhibits he settled down and I let him. And after some time I am pondering, okay, now that is an excessive amount of barking on the television.
However what’s actually fascinating about educating a canine to return to you for treats as an alternative is that they may also then begin taking a look at you for treats when anything occurs and also you study what they’re classes of issues that they assume deserve treats. And it is not simply essentially individuals going by or issues on the television, like seeing different canine on the television. However I believe it is good to know that that’s an strategy that works actually, very well. So, yeah, it is a regular conduct. You do have to simply accept some barking, however relying whether or not or not the canine is fearful, there’s heaps that you are able to do about it.
Ok: Yeah. And in case you’re undecided 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 nervous about their welfare. I am nervous 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 prime of. We need to shield that canine after which we need to change that underlying emotional state if we won’t shield the canine.
Z: Yeah, yeah.
Ok: Okay. So subsequent up, Melanie asks, as a foster dad or mum who takes care of 1 to 2 litters of kittens yearly, what are the important thing steps to growing cooperative care? For toothbrushing, what I’ve tried to date has both not labored at finest or backfired. I am pretty good at coaching the cats to not meow for meals, to enter their carriers on command, to sit down, 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 finest lives attainable, and it will 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 a beautiful query. And in addition I am so impressed on the kittens having been taught all this stuff already to date. That is good. And this exhibits that you just’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 canine, the canine are typically a bit afraid, can typically be the issues the place the coaching is far tougher to do and it could actually very simply backfire in case you go, particularly in case 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 several elements. 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 may begin with exhibiting the toothbrush and giving the cat treats.
And if the cat has already acquired a damaging response to the toothbrush, possibly 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 rooster flavored pet toothpaste off the toothbrush earlier than you do. Any try at really attempting to brush their enamel, and even that’s most likely going to be good for the cat simply to get, , the toothpaste into their mouth is a begin, maybe, however the different facets of doing that is that you’ve got 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 typically do not notably 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 must have drugs in future. In order that’s actually useful and it’ll assist them with the vet taking a look at their enamel after they really occur to be on the vet as effectively. So even in case you do not reach all of this coaching, particularly since you most likely solely have the kittens for a brief time period, even little bits of coaching on this course are actually, actually going to assist them.
After which as for really brushing their enamel, once you lastly get to that time, take it actually gradual, like simply put the toothbrush as much as their mouth after which, then give them tons of treats, that form of factor. Actually, actually gradual. So the principle factor is to take it extremely gradual as a way to inform that they are pleased all over it and so they’re desirous to take the treats and so they’re wanting excited to return and participate within the coaching. And the factor that I believe is so widespread a mistake is to go too quick after which as an alternative they turn out to be a bit afraid.
I do not know, you have most likely acquired some issues so as to add to as a result of I believe educating a canine to have their enamel brushed is similar to educating a cat to having their enamel brushed.
Ok: Yeah, I believe I used to be serious about the separation of restraint and, and the form of the implement. Um, and I believe that is, that is superior that, and so they do must be educated individually after which introduced collectively.
However I’d additionally say, as a result of it sounds to me like Melanie is, is basically an superior Coach. Um, so I’d say if Melanie, in case you are not utilizing like, like knowledgeable sort manufacturing coaching, that now is likely to be a time once you would discover it actually helpful, you’d discover it much more environment friendly. So I’d say in case you try the Academy’s Husbandry Mission, it is for canine, however you may get some studying. Or Jean Donaldson’s e book, Prepare Your Canine Like a Professional, which fits over how you can do manufacturing coaching. So it is, you are, you begin actually being attentive to what number of repetitions have I finished? Um, when can I push the subsequent step? When, when can I notice that the subsequent step is an excessive amount of? So then I make a center step.
So all this stuff, it is, it is, it looks like fairly a little bit of entrance loading studying that you will have to do. However ultimately you turn out to be this similar to a crackershot coach, proper? You will, you may be coaching far more shortly than you had been earlier than. If you happen to had been simply, , form of free shaping with out a actual plan or, , so I’d say simply primarily based on wanting what you already can prepare, in case you’re not already coaching in a manufacturing type, this might be one thing the place you’ll be like, this actually makes a giant distinction. So that might be my suggestion for that.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a very good thought since you’re clearly already an excellent coach. So this might 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 checklist for fearful canine households, what specific tips would you counsel particularly on the lookout for veterinary and pet sitting suppliers with the data of fearful and anxious canine? And he or she says, she or he says, I’ve contacted animal shelter employees, licensed concern free skilled listing, licensed canine trainers and behaviorists, canine day care employees, chilly calling, vet hospitals, holistic vet companies, native canine coaching companies, and fellow canine house owners of fearful canine.
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