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Lily had just finished putting away her groceries when she walked past Omar, her 2 year old Ragdoll cat. This good lady relied on her fuzzy house mate for more than she might readily admit. They lived alone together in a normal house on a normal street. She seldom went out; Omar never did. As Lily headed toward the bedroom she glanced at her cat as a way of getting a read on his mood. She loved Omar but he could be impetuous. At times his postures and demeanor signaled his discontent with an outdoor scent or sound. There was the occasional rippling of his skin. Maybe there was a person approaching the house or a feral creature in the yard. Often Lily couldn’t relate her expressive cat’s visage to anything in particular. Omar was a bit of a puzzle. Sometimes Lily checked in with Omar specifically because of his…
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During Luna’s first weeks she missed out on gentle social exposures, causing her to be afraid when approached by anyone. Well-meaning human attempts to make friends triggered defensive lunging and snapping. You can side-step fearful encounters for your puppy by providing the kid with choices. Let your puppy choose to interact when he is ready. And NO DOMINANCE moves. Dogs were not put on this earth to challenge us humans for global supremacy
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We share strong bonds with our dogs and cats but there are significant differences between them and their people. Many pet parents get help for behavior problems early but some have to dabble in trying to solve these challenges alone. This often fails. Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” No matter how much we think our pets are just like us they need permission to be who they are.
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We never want a scared dog to perceive a threat. No one should ever approach, lean over, or stare at her. She’ll choose to approach when she’s not afraid. She can then learn to divert her attention away from a fear trigger by targeting. With enough repetition your dog will look to you, her reliable leader, whenever she starts feeling a bit wiggy.
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Over my career there has been a person as an essential component of every pet I’ve treated. It has been a rare four-legged creature who has walked into my office alone, requesting treatment for diabetes, a fracture, a nasty case of diarrhea, or a serious behavior disorder. They show up with a flesh and blood human in tow, with an emotional, vested interest in their well-being. Many of these pet parents seek help early but some have to dabble in trying to solve it themselves. But that’s just water under the bridge. A veterinarian can only be truly helpful if all judgment is abandoned at the back door of the animal hospital. Actually, the dumpster is a better place for criticism. Everybody makes mistakes. We come to work to give service. Sure, people do dumb stuff. It is interesting though. Almost everybody who has ever sat down with me for…
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When well-meaning dog lovers approach or reach for your dog, does she tremble, growl, or lunge? Early puppy socialization means exposing them to gentle people and pets. It’s a great way of preventing fear-driven, defensive aggressive behavior later. Healthy behavior management should start as early as age 7 weeks. The puppies in this video are available for adoption from the Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary in Glorieta, NM. Call (505) 757-6817.
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Reactive Adult Dogs can still Learn Luna’s life with Hope and Brian began with great promise. But it wasn’t long before her freak-out moments began to consume their lives. When well-meaning dog lovers approached or reached for her she trembled, growled, and dribbled urine. Setting Luna up for success would be the most important priority for the rest of her life. As she gradually learned to relax I explained how to teach her to divert her attention from a fear trigger. I’ll share facts on puppy socialization, an opportunity that was likely missed during this wigged-out dog’s earlier months, specifically her first 3. Proper socialization at the appropriate developmental stages really counts but there is more to it than exposure to the right creatures at the correct times. I hope you’ll find this this information helpful. You’re welcome to share this blog with any of your dog-loving friends. Each week…
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Reactive Adult Dogs can still Learn Luna’s life with Hope and Brian began with great promise. This busy couple wasn’t ready to start a human family but they loved pets. Apartment living made a small dog a good choice. They’re socially conscious people who wanted to make a difference so off they went to the local shelter in search of a pint-sized canine companion. That’s where a 6 month old Papillion-looking waif stole their hearts. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Well, relationships can be challenging, even with man’s and woman’s best friend. It wasn’t long before Luna’s freak-out moments began to consume her people’s lives. Interactions with visitors triggered her to jump back and retreat. When well-meaning dog lovers approached or reached for her she trembled, growled, and dribbled urine. Hope and Brian believed that exposure to more people would help bring out the best in their new dog so they…
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Does your cat seem lonely? Wouldn’t he love to have a friend? Well, maybe. I treat a lot of aggression between household cats. Fret not; I’ll also explain how to improve your chances of getting it right. I’m Dr. Jeff Nichol.
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