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A dog will believe that any response from its person is an earned reinforcer. That’s why reprimands and punishments fail. To stop digging the hole even deeper you’ll need to ignore everything you don’t want. But sometimes the nipping, mouthing, and body slamming continue anyway.
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Severe reactions, nightmares, escape attempts; even aggression can indicate PTSD in dogs. Harsh training methods or physical trauma can provoke this lifelong disorder. There is help for this tough problem.
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Second in a series Father and son trundled off in the family station wagon to a somewhat dilapidated quasi-farm. In the corner of an ancient barn sat a plywood enclosure of delightful Britanny puppies scampering around their haggard-looking mama. Looking back, it’s clear how badly she needed a break from the unrelenting demands of puppy production. Because I was a boy it somehow made sense to me that a male puppy would be a good choice. The first cuddler to hop into my lap was my immediate BFF. My father’s childhood cocker spaniel was named Scott; my dog would be his namesake. I was the luckiest kid on the planet. I am older now, wiser and a bit battle scarred, but still lucky. Now it was time for Responsibility. No more fun and games. Vaccinations for puppies, a concept in its infancy at the time, got my attention next. I…
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My dog “Mick” loves to play fetch with a ball but then he holds onto it. I’ve tried pulling it loose so I could kick it for him again. Rather than tug-of-war, I squat and hold a tasty treat at his nostril and then put it near his mouth. When he releases the ball to take the snack I “capture” the behavior by saying, “Give”. He now earns the food by taking the treat when hearing the “Give” command. We love playing together. There’s something in this game for each of us.
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Question: I show mini dachshunds and have a bald tail which urgently needs some hair. He did have folliculitis and follicular hyperplasia, which were treated with cortisone and antibiotics and these have cleared up, but needs to get the coat back urgently. No fungus or mites, as have treated in case, and is a fit healthy dog otherwise. Could you tell me about the Rogaine treatment? I have really tried everything. Dr. Nichol: You have a bald tail? Ahem. Shouldn’t that be, well, you know, private? I’m a veterinarian so I know something about this, on pets anyway. Let’s go down that path. I’m glad you haven’t tried minoxidil (Rogaine). If you were to apply it to any part of this pupster, you should expect him to lick it off and suffer poisoning similar to having eaten it directly out of the can. Symptoms would include vomiting, low blood pressure,…
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Adopting a puppy is good fun until the chewing starts. You have to take action. So what do you do? You’ll teach good behavior using innate canine learning principles. Share with your friends. Dogs of all ages can learn to earn.
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First in a series Karen and Richard loved “Larry” and Curley”, a couple of fuzzy BFFs who’d shared their home with them since kittenhood eight years earlier. Everybody snuggled. It was feline nirvana. Then a college kid they knew needed to move and couldn’t keep his kitty, 2 year old “Moe”. Mmm, they reasoned. This could work. So they dropped by Moe’s house to size him up and, wow, another sweet cat who loves to cuddle! What could go wrong? What Richard and Karen didn’t understand is that Larry and Curley, having never shared their indoor lives with anybody but each other, had developed permanent brain networks that supported only their little world. Cats are actually programmed to live in colonies – “villages” that raise the youngsters. Some adolescents and adults come and go. Those living in this type of fluid environment, including permanent residents in feline foster homes, do…
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Question: We have a smart, beautiful 5-month-old collie. He has the bad habit of always wanting his mouth on us, usually biting. He’s not mean at all. It just seems that biting or mouthing is his favorite way of communicating and playing. We don’t like it. It hurts. We are expecting a grandchild in a couple of months and we can’t have the puppy biting the baby. Dr. Nichol: Your puppy is enjoying you much as he would another puppy. He’s an active young hellion, play-fighting with the nearest warm body because he has no one of his ilk for mutual mouthing and slobbering. Reprimands would be pointless. There are people who believe that since it’s the puppy’s mouth that causing trouble they should hit him on the mouth. Please don’t do that; you would only damage your good relationship while teaching the little guy nothing of value. It’s the…
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Grooming or petting a cat can be dangerous. Watch for dilated pupils and rippling skin. Physical problems can underlie serious aggression.
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