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 Content courtesy of Steve Dale, author of My Pet World. Steve currently hosts Pet Central on WGN-AM, interacting with radio listeners from Chicago and from around the world. His guests are leading experts on topics such as pet behavior, nutrition and veterinary medicine.
► New cat is picking on existing cat. How long will it take before the cats get along? Q: We've just acquired a second cat. This new cat is picking on our existing cat. I'm using a calm, assertive energy to make a point about which cat is dominant by scolding the new cat. But this method isn't working, so far. How long will it take before my cats get along? - S.C., San Diego, Calif. A: Could be forever. What you're doing will likely make matters worse. Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Gary Landsberg, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, notes, "The method you describe is being popularized for dogs. It's not appropriate for dogs and far worse for cats. Scolding either of your cats is, at best, confusing (for the cat), and might only serve to effectively teach any cat to no longer trust humans. The cat has no way to comprehend what the scolding is for." When introducing a second cat, it's best to keep the newcomer behind a closed door in a second bedroom or den for at least a week. Of course, family members should spend time in that room playing and bonding with the newcomer. Before introducing the cats to one another, introduce their stuff. Rotate toys and bedding between them. Even place some of the new cat's bedding (such as a towel the cat lies on) close to the existing cat's food dish. Whenever the existing cat eats, he will smell the newbie. For the existing cat, plug a Feliway diffuser (a sort of aroma therapy for anxious cats) in the room closest to the new cat. Also use Feliway in the new cat's temporary lair. At first, only bring the cats together for a few minutes. Give them a reason to like each another by using some heavy artillery: salmon or tuna. Provide this special treat only when the cats are together. When they return to their separate corners, the special treat goes away. "Don't worry about which cat winds up being dominant," says Landsberg. "It's unimportant; what is important is that they get along. They do have to live in the same house. Be sure to provide lots of vertical space, so they have room to get away from one another should they need to. It's important to encourage positive interactions, just as you should encourage dogs." Q: Our 3-year-old Jack Russell/Beagle loves to tear around the house with toilet paper and he destroys any female underwear he finds on the floor. This happens when we're home or away. How can we stop him? - R.J., Louisville, KY A: "When you're not home, consider confining the dog, crate training (him) or keeping him behind a baby gate," says Teoti Anderson, of Lexington, S.C., past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. "When you are home, close the bathroom doors and the hampers, and, well, pick up the underwear. Limit opportunities the best you can." It's a game for your dog to snatch and run, and the game gets really good when you chase him. "When my Golden Retriever was a puppy, he'd take the TV remote," says Anderson. "Instead of chasing him, I called him to me, then told him what a good boy he was. We taught him to 'drop' on command. To this day, Logan will show up at the strangest times with the TV remote. When I was doing laundry the other day, he delivered the remote as if to say, 'I thought you could use this.' I praised him for thinking of me." The Jack Russell/Beagle mix reflects breeds that need a good dose of exercise every day. Also, alleviate boredom by rotating your dog's toys. Every few days, stash the toys he's currently using in a closet and pull out some new ones. Both Jack Russells and Beagles love to sniff and search. Stuff kibble inside a few Kong toys (available at pet stores) and hide them throughout the house for your dog to find. Q: My Peek-A-Poo and I were attacked by a Golden Retriever several months ago. We both suffered only minor injuries. The retriever was off leash and running around the neighborhood. I'm a senior citizen and afraid of larger dogs, and I want to protect my dog. Do they make Mace for dogs? - S.H., Orlando, FL A: Direct Stop is an animal deterrent spray. According to the manufacturer, it's just as effective as 10-percent pepper spray, but since Direct Stop sprays citronella, it's humane. Sometimes the 10 percent pepper spray blows right back into the eyes of the person directing the spray. If Direct Stop is blown back, there's no serious harm. There's no guarantee Direct Stop will stop an enraged dog, but there's no guarantee a pepper spray will stop a dog in its tracks, either. Direct Stop is available at some pet stores, or learn more at Permier pet products, www.premier.com or 800-640-8840. Q: My 6-month-old German Shepherd urinates on his own leg. Why doesn't he lift his leg like all other respectable dogs? - C.K., Halifax, MA A: Hope you're not offended, but Philadelphia, PA-based veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall says your dog isn't yet socially mature. But he will be. Some guys just mature slowly. If your dog is generally a submissive, shy guy (which is Overall's guess), encourage him to be more confident and outgoing. Invite friendly dogs to your house for play sessions. Teach your dog some tricks and reward him with lavish praise. An upbeat, fun training class can also boost a dog's confidence. However, some dogs just aren't cocky enough to cock their legs. Overall has an Australian shepherd named Flash, rescued from a shelter. Flash never became assertive enough to cock his leg. However, by using treats, Overall trained her dog ("my sloppy boy") to look at her while he piddled, so he urinated between his legs instead of on his legs. Training your dog to do this could be your only salvation, short of buying shampoo by the carton, at least until he matures. Q: I have three dogs that sleep with me. Each dog weighs around 100 pounds. They put a paw on me (in my bed), as if they’re telling me “stay.” What does that mean? Also, one of the dogs blows in my ear. What does that mean? I was play boxing with my 8-year-old granddaughter, and then one of the dogs put her mouth over my granddaughter’s wrist. Is this jealousy? I will be very pleased for your answers. — P. L., Las Vegas, Nev. A: Behavior consultant and veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lore Haug of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine is alarmed about the mouthing of your granddaughter. “I sure wouldn’t want to allow the dog to practice that behavior,” she says. “Please don’t play any boxing games with your granddaughter, or if you must play aggressive games, put the dog in another part of the house until you receive assessment from a professional.” As for all three dogs holding you in place, Haug, who was honored with the prestigious Animal of Other Nations Award at the IAABC Conference, says it may be that your dogs either want to be as close to you as possible and are merely snuggling, or they’re exhibiting pushy and rude behavior, which is a good reason to call in a professional who understands dog behavior. About the blowing in your ear, “It could be like a sigh — like “whew, another tough day; I need my rest,” says Haug. “Or perhaps, you laugh sometimes, or rub her tummy after the ear blowing, and therefore unknowingly reinforce the behavior.” Q: We have an adorable yellow cat that we rescued in Chicago 11 years ago. At that time, he had two other cats to play with. We’ve since moved. The one cat he played with overnight we adopted out. The remaining cat sleeps all night, but not our yellow cat. He wakes us up and only calms down if I turn on the TV in the bedroom. It looks like he’s bored and is searching for something. He’s otherwise gentle and well behaved. What do we do? — S. L., Belleau Bluffs, Fla. A: It could be that your yellow cat is still searching for his playmate, so it’s your job to offer play. “Engage the cat with an interactive cat toy,” says behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger of Redwood City, Calif. Also initiate what behavior consultant and IAABC vice president Pamela Johnson-Bennett calls the Cycle of Four: Hunt, Feast, Groom and Sleep — it’s what cats do. So hide treats for your cat to hunt for (before bedtime). “Also, it’s important to totally and completely ignore the 3 a.m. yowling,” says Johnson-Bennett, a feline behaviorist who operates her counseling practice in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and is the author of “Think Like a Cat” (Penguin Books, New York, NY, 2000; $16.95). However, as a sort of compromise, do consider leaving TV on in another part of the house, and scattering a few toys away from the bedroom before you turn in for the night. Q: Josephine, my basset hound, is 18 months old, but the problem is that despite her endearing moments she is the most destructive and stubborn dog I have ever owned. I provide her with rawhide every day, but she still chews on things she shouldn’t, including shoes, books and silverware. The list is a long one, and it’s costing me a lot of money. I find her afterward, scold her and put her in the crate, but that doesn’t help. She is also a counter surfer. I live in a small town, so there is no doggy day care — and I do work two jobs. I do, however, have a student who spends an hour a day with her and takes her for a walk. I try to walk her as much as I can. Also, whenever we have guests, they get jumped on. What am I doing wrong? — L. L., Bradford, Ill. A: Catching her after the act, and reprimanding her after she’s gnawed on household items makes no sense to your dog. She has no means to possibly comprehend what you’re scolding her for unless you do catch her while she’s in the process of destroying an heirloom. Imagine returning home and your dog hears in a loud angry voice, “Blah! Blah! Blah!” That’s essentially what Josephine is hearing. She senses you’re unhappy, but has no clue why. Dogs don’t have the capability to understand when we speak in past tense. IAABC behavior consultant Brenda Aloff, a Midland, Mich., dog trainer and author of “Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog” (Dogwise Publishing, Wenatchee, Wash., 2007; $39.95),” suggests crate training. That’ll be tough since, unfortunately, the crate is where you put the dog when you’re angry, and when you come home — the time your dog most wants to be with you. Still, with patience you can crate train. Or at least, use a baby gate to quarantine her in the kitchen, basement or a room where she can’t wreak havoc when you’re not home. Josephine certainly does sound like a sprightly basset hound. And hiring a dog walker is important. If at all possible, also walk your hound before you leave the house. Be sure to leave heavy-duty toys you can stuff treats in — so there’s something constructive for her to do when you’re away. The fact is that Josephine simply has not earned the freedom to be home alone unless she’s inside a restricted space. As for the jumping on your guests, Aloff says the best way to deal with this problem is to put a leash on her, and ask your guests to actually walk into your dog’s physical space and to continue walking, so your jumping dog’s balance will waver. About the counter surfing, this answer is simple — clear off the counters. If there’s nothing up there, Josephine, your jumping bean basset hound, will lose interest. Q: Thanks for covering the story on tainted pet food so insightfully, but with every day another pet food being recalled, I worry about what to feed my two cats and two dogs. Can I ever trust pet foods again? — S.H., Orlando, FL Q: That’s it – I need to begin cooking meals for Benji and Buster. Recently, a food I often use was recalled and I’m now totally worried about my dogs. Everyone should just cook their pets’ food. At least you know what you’re putting into the food. Don’t you agree? — G.D., Nashville, TN A: Your comments are understandable. In fact, I’ve received dozens just like them. I may be in a minority these days, but overall, I still trust commercial pet foods. I do suggest that readers stay away from any food containing wheat gluten, at least until this mess is cleared up. Since melamine (the toxin) allegedly arrived with wheat gluten imported from China, if there’s no wheat gluten in a food, there’s no reason, at this time, to believe the food is unsafe. It’s a fact that pets are living longer than they did 30 years ago. The most significant explanation is that our attitudes toward our furry friends have shifted; pets are now considered by most Americans to be members of the family. We care more, so we’re more attentive to our pets’ safety, and visit the vet more often. Also, vets can do much more today than they once could, and many owners are willing to pay for cutting edge medicine. Still, there’s one more reason for pets’ longer life spans — better nutrition — which manufactured foods are responsible for developing. My wife and I continue to feed our own pets commercial foods. I never knew so many books existed on home cooking pet food. Nearly every day now, I receive a new ‘do-it-yourself’ pet cookbook in the mail. Clearly, home cooking isn’t easy. Our pets have specific nutritional requirements, different from our own. Guidance is important to understand what ingredients, vitamins and amino acids are essential and in what quantity. However, resources on home cooking vary widely in quality. Some are written by ‘self-taught’ animal lovers, others by experts in pet nutrition. I’m afraid many pet owners are jumping on the home-feeding bandwagon and making mistakes. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, some not causing problems until years from now. And remember, making your own pet food is very time consuming. Max Armstrong, a renowned agricultural reporter at WGN Radio, Chicago, has an interesting take on this issue. “I believe, overall, that our pet foods are held to higher standards than food for people in most other countries of the world,” he says. However, Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, a veterinarian scheduled to testify on the tainted pet food issue at an oversight hearing of the U.S. Senate’s Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee April 12, says, “Pet food companies who make claims should have to prove them the same as the companies who produce the foods we eat do. Listen, the problem of adulteration (of pet foods) has happened before. There is a problem out there.” Hodgkins, who once worked in the pet food industry, now has an all-cat practice in Yorba Linda, CA. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who called for the hearing, adds, “I’ve seen this coming for a long time…I am concerned about pet food, but also concerned about our own food safety. The system is completely broken down. The FDA is like the fire department that’s only called after the house has burned down. They’re called when there’s a crisis. They should have been on the front end of this issue.” Q: I jog through a place where there’s a dog park nearby, but dogs are also off leash here, though they’re not supposed to be. When I go running with my 45-pound dog, the off-leash dogs chase us; it’s what dogs do. How can I get these owners to leash their pets? — S.K., New York City A: Sarah Hodgson, author of “Miss Sarah’s Guide to Etiquette for Dogs and Their People” (Howell Book House, New York, NY, 2007; $12.99), says you can try talking reasonably with these folks, but there will be different people to talk with every time you jog. You could also try contacting park or city police, since the law is to have dogs on leashes. Hodgson is realistic about the matter. “Don’t worry about training people; that’s sometimes impossible. It’s far easier to train dogs,” she notes. “My advice is to keep on running. The dogs are likely social if they’re in a park and won’t hurt you. But just in case a dog really pushes the envelope and threatens you and/or your dog, pull out Direct Stop (made by Premiere pet products and sold online and at some pet stores). The citronella spray will startle and stop the dog without causing injury.” Q: My 4-month-old kitten is biting. I’ve tried yelling, and I mean screaming. I’ve read that you can hold a cat by the nape of the neck and shake it, but so far, that has not helped. Any other ideas? — C.G., Rochester, NY A: If you shake hard enough, you can injure a tiny kitten. That’s not to mention the mistrust you’re creating. Screaming isn’t working either, and your cat may not understand why you’re raising your voice. Simply put, aggression begets further aggression, and fear. Jacque (cq) Schultz, a behavior counselor at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York City, N.Y., has a better plan. “When kitty bites, make a hissing sound, kind of like a mother cat. Act disapproving,” she suggests. You could also try blowing a puff of air into your kitten’s face. If that fails, buy a small can of compressed air (photo supply shops sell them to clean camera lenses) and blast the air in the direction of your cat. Meanwhile, it’s imperative to provide appropriate outlets for normal kitty mischief. Use interactive toys, such as feathers or fabric at the end of fishing pole-type sticks. Also, understand the typical kitten cycle of all-out intense play is followed by deep sleep. Don’t try cuddling when your kitten is in a play mode. Instead, hold your pet and tell her what a sweet girl she is while she’s in he mood to snooze. Steve Dale's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com. He can be heard Sundays on WGN Radio,
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