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Unwanted Behavior The best way to correct unwanted behavior is to first properly identify the trigger(s) causing it. Your video camera can come in quite handy in providing a visual diary that can aid your veterinarian in diagnosing the behavior(s) and recommending specific behavior modification exercises. A strong emphasis on positive reinforcement is maintained through the retraining process. Most unwanted behavior can be corrected. It just takes patience and the right knowledge. Look at these common problems and the solutions. Dogs Chewing A dog will be more inclined to chew when left alone. This can be an exhibition of not enough exercise, loneliness or frustration at being away from its pack (you and your family). Taking your dog for a walk or throwing a frisbee or ball for 20 minutes before you go to work can do wonders. Dog proofing the area your canine companion occupies can help when you're away. Enclose your dog in a room and remove anything that may be attractive to the wayward chewer. You can also try taste deterrents. If you catch your dog chewing, a firm "no" is useful. It's important to provide your pet with an acceptable toy or rawhide to chew to divert attention from chewing things he shouldn't. A dog kong filled with treats is a great example. Barking Dogs usually bark for a reason. Sometimes, however, bored and lonely dogs will bark to get attention or entertain themselves. One solution for this behavior is to spend more time with your dog. If you have to leave your dog alone, try some vigorous exercise beforehand. If neighbors are complaining that your dog is barking while you're away, try the citronella collar. This collar sprays a strong citrus smell in front of the dogs nose when it barks. The strong smell is offensive to the dog's sensitive olfactory receptors and in most cases the dog quits barking. Cats Scratching The first thing to do is get a good scratching post. Cats love choices so putting a scratching post in several different rooms is a great way to completely eliminate inappropriate scratching. Finding out what kind of scratching surface your cat prefers is also a key to stopping this behavior. Does your cat prefer scratching cardboard, twine, wood, or carpet? When you catch your cat scratching something it shouldn't, take him or her to the post. You can also try placing the scratching post near your cat's favorite scratching spot and scenting it with catnip. Covering the "favorite spot" with plastic temporarily can also help to deter scratching. . Inappropriate Urination/Defecation in cats
There are a variety of medical and behavioral reasons that a cat will begin to urinate/defecate outside of the litter box. Some commons reasons include: · UTI- Urinary Tract Infections are often to blame for your cat’s inappropriate urination. The pain your cat feels upon urinating can lead them to associate their litter box with pain. They will then seek other places to urinate hoping that they will feel better.
· Arthritis- Older cats can have a hard time climbing into litter boxes if they have joint pain. Posturing to defecate can also be painful and they will seek other places hoping to be more comfortable. Thankfully there is medicine to help them feel great again.
· Litter box- If the litter box, litter, and cleanliness isn’t what your cat desires, then they will find another spot that does fit their needs. Many times simply changing the litter to a substrate that your cat prefers will stop inappropriate urination. Having enough litter boxes is also important. The golden rule is a litter box for each cat PLUS one. Though every cat is different, we have found that most cats like large, deep, open litter boxes filled with clumping clay litter. Keeping the box clean is essential. You wouldn’t want to use a dirty bathroom facility, and neither does your cat. · Routine changes- Cats are creatures of habit. They have a routine that they like, and when things are disrupted it causes them stress which can lead to inappropriate urination. Have you recently moved? Introduced a new baby or another pet? We recommend making an appointment to rule out medical issues first. We will take a sterile urine sample while your cat is here and test for any infections or issues that may be bothering him/her. If medical issues are ruled out we will then try to solve the behavioral issues. Call during our normal business hours and our staff will be happy to assist you in any way they can! For more information on Behavioral Counseling and Therapy, contact Ann Jorgensen M.S. CPDT: www.thegoodpup.com |
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