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;
- recommendations for brand new issues to show canine; why canine bark at e.g. folks in hats or folks going by the home;
- cooperative look after kittens;
- creating a neighborhood useful resource listing for anxious and fearful canine;
- enrichment and caring for fearful cats;
- one of the best 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 stay viewers. Thanks to everybody who submitted questions and who got here to the occasion!
Hyperlinks and sources
This web page comprises affiliate hyperlinks which suggests I’ll earn a fee on qualifying purchases without charge 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 Challenge from the Academy for Canine Trainers
Prepare Your Canine Like a Professional by Jean Donaldson can be accessible from all good bookstores.
BC SPCA desensitization and counterconditioning for cats. You possibly can discover the infographic on Bailey Eagan’s web site
Companion Animal Psychology weblog publish 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 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
Ok: We acquired a number 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 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 after 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 canine.
Z: And that is such an important query really. And it makes me actually pleased to think about a senior canine who’s having the chance to participate in mind video games on daily basis. Not simply as soon as, however perhaps generally even twice a day. And I believe that is improbable. This can be a great factor to be doing. There is not that a lot analysis particularly on this in senior canine, however there’s just a little 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, you already know, canine should not going to be paying consideration for hours. That seems like a extremely good size of time to be doing this for. And as long as your canine is engaged, I believe that is improbable.
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 manner that when folks do issues that hold 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 folks. There’s been some current research really that present a number of modifiable issues you are able to do that stop dementia in folks. And mind video games is considered one of them, or protecting your mind energetic. And the little little bit of analysis now we have on canine does present that, that coaching for senior canine is basically good for them. So this can be a improbable 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 suppose I’ve 10 minutes.
Z: I believe that is actually good. And particularly as a result of this can be 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 identify. 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.
Ok: Proper. So I believe that is form of like a canine coach’s dream. You realize, 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 might put on the prime of the listing 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, you already know, veterinary issues finished to them. We will 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 could obtain. So that will positively be on the listing of issues I might counsel that anyone trains for one thing like a Chihuahua.
I believe it will 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 chance that they are going to must be picked up. And so I might say that that is one thing, and that that is one thing that is included within the husbandry plans, however simply, you already know, for, for, for one thing further to coach. Toothbrushing for positive. If you happen to’re not already brushing their tooth. 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 positively prepare your canine to be comfy and pleased to have their tooth brushed. So I might do this, um, once more, for little canine, one thing like going up a ramp, you already know, like issues that, as they, as they age into adults that they may have to, 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 could be part of into. Trick Grasp is one that may be a trick meister that involves thoughts. It is a pet skilled guild program. And so all of it is extremely power free. There is not any, um, you already know, something worrisome concerning the coaching that they are form of recommending. And you may undergo ranges and, they usually’re, they’re very very like form of, they don’t seem to be 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 positively trick applications which are completely. For the cool, cute methods.
And who would not desire a canine who does tremendous cute, enjoyable stuff, you already know, like social gathering methods? You realize, coaching is so enriching and so wonderful. So when the, when the output is a cute trick, I imply, all people form of wins. However not all of these trick applications are purely constructive reinforcement. So there’s one thing, you already know, if you wish to take part, simply remember the fact that it’s possible you’ll be having to make selections about, you already know, approach decisions. So these are those that got here as much as my head. Did you’ve got the rest?
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 methods will be prolonged to perhaps like parkour. If you happen to like spending time exterior together with your canine, then you may train them to get onto issues and to stroll alongside issues and so forth. And it’s the kind of methods, mainly, nevertheless it’s referred to as parkour. And you may train your canine to do various things, interacting with the setting exterior. And I believe that is fairly enjoyable as nicely.
Everybody who tries nostril work with their canine appears to essentially get into it. In order that’s one other factor in case you suppose you is likely to be taken with that. Finally that is one thing the place you may train your canine to be like a sniffer canine, like an expert sniffer canine, they usually go searching out a scent. And newbie lessons are simple they usually’re enjoyable. So in case you just like the sound of that, that is one thing you may 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, among the lessons have the canine resolve the place to look and also you observe the canine. And I believe that is a extremely enjoyable factor to do as nicely. So, yeah, I am at all times a fan of nostril work. I believe canine actually take pleasure in 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 canine, 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.
Ok: 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 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 positively I might. I might put a recall up in all probability at, like, the highest of the protection listing and prepare it. However I believe that is one thing that’s coated in most canine lessons. 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 following query. We’ve two questions that form 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 wish to bark at anybody or any automotive that drives by the home? I stay 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, they usually’re really quite common questions. Persons are at all times asking me about barking. It is such a standard factor, and it is essential 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 a number of barking is simply watchdog barking. They are saying, oh, one thing’s taking place. However it might 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 wish 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 perhaps they’re barking at folks with hats. Possibly going again in time, perhaps this canine as a pet, did not see many individuals with hats through the delicate interval for socialization.
That is one risk. I am not saying it’s to your canine, clearly, and this jogs my memory one thing I ought to have stated originally, which is that we won’t give particular steerage on particular person canine. We’re speaking usually 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 usually, and it is not particular steerage. However for some canine, they are going to bark at folks with hats as a result of they weren’t socialized to folks with hats as puppies through 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 potential so that they develop as much as be pleasant, assured, grownup canine.
Now, that is not essentially the why on this case. It might 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 grew to become scared of individuals with hats. That is potential, 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 originally after which to cease. I do not know what you wish to say about that, Kristi, as a result of I do know that you’ve a number of information about barking in your. You have 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 might 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 might lean in direction of the chance that that canine is just a little 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 realize, So I might say that canine is extra possible on the form of the. Whoa, what’s that? That is upsetting me. Scale canine barking at stuff out the window. I might lean extra in direction of that being, you already know, much less more likely to be a canine who’s upset. It is extra possible that this watchdog barking that you just had been speaking about is triggered.
So I might say in case your canine is upset about one thing, what we wish 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 canine who’re upset at one thing? We wish to make them really feel higher about that factor, after which the barking goes away by itself. As a result of we do not wish to be like, cease barking. We wish to be like, you do not must be upset. This is not really an upsetting factor. You suppose it is scary, however I’ll present you that it predicts good issues for you. So I might are likely to go for a method 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 don’t seem to be scared, they don’t seem to be pleased. It is only a factor that canine do, like, form of like blinking. Um, then I might say now we have form of a number of methods at our fingertips. Um, yay, we do not have a scared canine, you already know, um, however I might say you may 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’ve got. The canine is seeing much less. And that makes a giant distinction for lots of canine.
After which it’s also possible to prepare one other conduct so you may prepare your canine to come back to you and get just a little 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 may prepare this different conduct in order that they form 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 already know, one thing like that. And that entails some coaching.
After which there’s at all times unfavourable punishment. So timeout. So in case your canine is actually not upset and is simply doing this factor, you already know that as a result of it is a part of their pure repertoire, you may say, okay, in case you, in case you get, you already know, in case 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 canine who watch canine bark, actually bark lots. 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 form of deal with one of these barking.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a extremely, actually good reply. And you already know, 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 stay 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, this can be a novelty. This can be a actually good factor. It exhibits 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 educating a canine to come back to you for treats as an alternative is that they may even then begin taking a look at you for treats when the rest occurs and also you study what they’re classes of issues that they suppose deserve treats. And it is not simply essentially folks 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, rather well. So, yeah, it is a regular conduct. You do have to just 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.
Ok: Yeah. And in case 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 anxious about their welfare. I am anxious concerning the canine’s guardian’s welfare at that time. But when your canine is fearful, then that is actually one thing that we wish to get on prime of. We wish to shield that canine after which we wish 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 mum or dad 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 thus far 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 wish to ship these kittens off to their greatest lives potential, and it will be nice in the event that they did not want preventable dentist dental surgical procedure 10 years down the street.
Z: I believe that is such an exquisite query. And in addition I am so impressed on the kittens having been taught all this stuff already thus far. That is good. And this exhibits that you just’re additionally a extremely good coach. So the factor is, I believe toothbrushing is a type of issues that’s tougher. There are issues the place the cat, or if we had been speaking about canine, the canine are typically a bit afraid, can usually be the issues the place the coaching is way more durable to do and it might 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 essentially 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 tooth 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’ve got been doing both. However you would possibly begin with exhibiting the toothbrush and giving the cat treats.
And if the cat has already acquired a unfavourable response to the toothbrush, perhaps the toothbrush needs to be a good distance away from them and also you in all probability simply wish 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 making an attempt to brush their tooth, and even that’s in all probability going to be good for the cat simply to get, you already know, the toothpaste into their mouth is a begin, maybe, however the different elements 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 fully 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 drugs in future. In order that’s actually useful and it’ll assist them with the vet taking a look at their tooth once they really occur to be on the vet as nicely. So even in case you do not reach all of this coaching, particularly since you in all probability solely have the kittens for a brief time frame, even little bits of coaching on this path are actually, actually going to assist them.
After which as for really brushing their tooth, while 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 primary factor is to take it extremely sluggish to be able to inform that they are pleased all through it they usually’re eager to take the treats they usually’re trying excited to come back 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 grow to be a bit afraid.
I do not know, you’ve got in all probability acquired some issues so as to add to as a result of I believe educating a canine to have their tooth brushed is similar to educating a cat to having their tooth brushed.
Ok: Yeah, I believe I used to be excited about the separation of restraint and, and the form of the implement. Um, and I believe that is, that is superior that, they usually do must be educated individually after which introduced collectively.
However I might additionally say, as a result of it sounds to me like Melanie is, is basically an superior Coach. Um, so I might say if Melanie, in case you are not utilizing like, like an expert sort manufacturing coaching, that now is likely to be a time while you would discover it actually helpful, you’d discover it much more environment friendly. So I might say in case you try the Academy’s Husbandry Challenge, it is for canine, however you will get some studying. Or Jean Donaldson’s guide, Prepare Your Canine Like a Professional, which matches over how you can do manufacturing coaching. So it is, you are, you begin actually taking note of what number of repetitions have I finished? 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 this stuff, it is, it is, it looks 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 may, you will be coaching far more shortly than you had been earlier than. If you happen to had been simply, you already know, form of free shaping with out a actual plan or, you already know, so I might say simply primarily based on trying what you already can prepare, in case you’re not already coaching in a manufacturing fashion, this may be one thing the place you’d be like, this actually makes a giant distinction. So that will be my advice for that.
Z: Yeah, I believe that is a extremely good concept since you’re clearly already a superb coach. So this may be one approach 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 a neighborhood useful resource listing for fearful canine households, what specific pointers would you counsel particularly searching for veterinary and pet sitting suppliers with the information of fearful and anxious canine? And she or he says, she or he says, I’ve contacted animal shelter workers, licensed concern free skilled listing, licensed canine trainers and behaviorists, canine day care workers, chilly calling, vet hospitals, holistic vet providers, native canine coaching companies, and fellow canine house owners of fearful canine.
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