Frequently Asked Questions
· Are classes or private training best for our family?
· I want my children to learn to interact with the dog. Do you allow children in class?
· How do I know if a trainer is right for me?
· My friend and I each have a cat and are planning to get a house together. What is the best way to introduce our pets without a fight?
· How do I teach my dog to walk on a leash?
· My cat is clawing the furniture. I’ve tried the spray bottle but it doesn’t work. Is there any way to stop this behavior?
· How do I prepare my home for a new puppy?
· My dog panics every time it storms. How can I help him stay calm?
· We just got a new puppy. Are there any quick tips on potty training?
· My bird screams all the time. How can I make him stop?
· You have mentioned a product called Comfort Zone and one called Feliway several times. What are these products and where can they be purchased?
· Other resources
· Great Reads
· What clients have to say
Q: Are classes or private training best for our family?
A: That depends on your family and your individual needs. All dogs can benefit from taking a class at some point; however, some dogs may be overwhelmed by a class situation. If you have a dog that is fairly well socialized, friendly, and just ill-mannered, then class is probably a good option for you. If your dog is overly shy, or reactive to other animals or strangers, or you have specific problems, then you may wish to begin with private lessons. Private lessons are a great way to learn to manage problem behaviors within the safety and privacy of your own home, and many people begin with private lessons and advance to classes when they have gained more confidence in their skills. Private lessons are also a good option for large families, busy families, and families with children younger than 5 who wish to be involved with pet training.
Q: I want my children to learn to interact with the dog. Do you allow children in class?
A: Yes. I encourage the entire family to attend class together. Children, especially, are encouraged to develop bonds with the family pet. Although you may not wish to bring young kids to orientation, if your child is of kindergarten age or older then he is old enough to participate in class. If your children are younger than 5, then I encourage you to explore private lessons that can be tailored to fit your child’s abilities and family schedule.
Q: How do I know if a trainer is right for me?
Start with references, from your vet, your groomer, or a friend. Most pet people know other pet people and are often your best resource for finding the help you need. Once you have a few references, make a phone call or personal visit. Ask questions about your trainer’s experience, education, and training philosophies. Does your trainer have experience addressing your particular needs? Are their methods in line with your own personal beliefs about your pets’ well-being? Observe a class and/or ask for references. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and make sure you are comfortable with the answers.
Q. My friend and I each have a cat and are planning to get a house together. What is the best way to introduce our pets without a fight?
Introduce them slowly; it can take cats several months to adjust to new animals in their space. Begin at least a few days before the move by presenting each cat with a washcloth or piece of material that has been rubbed on the face of the other cat (that place on the side of the chin that they are always rubbing on things). This will help introduce each animal to the smell of the other. I would also suggest purchasing a Feliway plug-in for the common areas of your new home and plugging it into the wall at least 24 hours before bringing the cats.
After the move you will want to keep your felines separated for a few days. Let them each have their own space in and around things that are familiar to them. For example, you may want to keep the litter box and feeding dishes in the bedroom or bathroom of the person to whom the cat belongs. Don’t try to combine litter boxes or feeding areas right away; it may never be feasible to combine boxes. Let the cats take their time exploring their new surroundings, coming out of the bedroom slowly and on their own terms. Remember to let them take their time and don’t attempt to force an interaction. You can expect some hissing and growling but hopefully it will be minimal and in time will diminish completely. If either of the cats seems to be stressed to the point of refusing food or water for more than a day or two, or begins to appear ill, contact your vet to discuss some sort of calmative medication.
Q: How do I teach my dog to walk on a leash?
If your dog is a young puppy, then now is a perfect time to begin leash training. You can begin with an inexpensive, light weight nylon leash, one you can afford to sacrifice to the ‘dog gods.’ During supervised sessions, attach the leash to your puppy and let him drag it with him while he roams. This will help him get used the ‘feel’ of a leash. He will most likely play with it or chew on it, but right now, that’s okay. He should be learning that leashes are good. You can slowly begin picking up the leash and calling the puppy to come to you, then progress to moving with you. Work patiently and with lots of positive reinforcement.
If your dog is an adult, the process can be a little more daunting. However, you do not have to resort to pinch, chain collars, or leash corrections. These methods will teach your pet what you don’t want, but aren’t very effective at teaching the right thing. Start by making sure your pet is okay with a leash, then begin walking and ask your pet to move with you. After 2-3 steps, reward your pet. Using this method, you are teaching your pet to move and stay with you. If your pet is a real challenge or easily distracted, try increasing the reward value (i.e. meat treats are better than biscuits) and increase your vocal animation.
Q: My cat is clawing the furniture. I’ve tried the spray bottle but it doesn’t work. Is there any way to stop this behavior?
A: Clawing is not only good exercise, but it is also a powerful territory marker. It is a very natural behavior, and one that should be REDIRECTED not deterred.
As you have already discovered, the spray bottle doesn’t work. Why? Because you haven’t taught your cat not to scratch, you’ve taught your cat not to scratch when you’re there. If you aren’t in the room, there is no punishment. So it’s a little like slot machines…it’s enjoyable enough to keep taking the chance.
The path to saving your furniture is three fold:
1) Create a more appealing place to scratch by observing your cat’s scratching preferences,
2) Make your furniture less appealing by applying double stick tape or a repellant, and
3) Reward your cat with praise and treats for doing the right thing. Don’t worry about rewarding your cat every time- remember the slot machine?
If you have further trouble, you may wish to try Feliway spray or plug-in in your home or applied to surfaces you DO NOT want clawed. For more information on this product go to www.petcomfortzone.com
Q: How do I prepare my home for a new puppy?
A: If you are bringing home a new puppy soon, then this is a great question; puppy proofing is important for the safety and well-being of your puppy, not to mention your stuff. There are a lot of things you can buy for your pup and it can get pretty expensive, so I’ve compiled a list of the essentials to get you started.
No puppy needs to be unsupervised and free to roam your house, so the first thing you need is a crate. The crate should be big enough for your pup to stand up, turn around and lay back down. If the space is too big, then your pup will sleep in one corner and potty in the other, which is no help with potty training. The first night you crate your puppy, he may whine. Using a towel or t-shirt that smells like you, wrap an old wind up clock that ticks, and place it in the crate with your new baby. This should help sooth him. You may also want to try some Comfort Zone spay applied to the towel (for more information on Comfort Zone go to www.petcomfortzone.com ).
The following is a list of other things you will need to get started:
· Food/ water bowls (I recommend two of each, so that you can rotate and wash them each day)
· Premium puppy food
· Carpet/ stain cleaner (if you don’t have carpets then vinegar and water will work just fine)
· Toys and chews (stick to three in this department: something to chew on, something to interact with like a ball or tug, and something snuggly. Don’t over load on toys at this point. Your puppy needs to learn what is his. Also remember that ‘if it looks like mine, it’s mine.’ So, if you have a throw rug with tassels, don’t buy a rope toy and expect your pup to know the difference)
·Leash, collar, name tag (don’t put your puppy’s name on the tag, put your name and phone number)
There are tons of other things you could spend money on at this point but these are the basics. You’ll have a lifetime to stock your closet with pet related items, and right now, you’ve still got to think about vaccinations and training.
Q: My dog panics every time it storms. How can I help him stay calm?
A: Many pets are afraid of storms; they cannot identify the noise or it’s source. My Saint Bernard, Baby, taught me more about storms than I could have ever learned in a book, and your dog will, too, if you listen. Depending on the severity of the phobia, there are many things you can try- before drugs- that may alleviate the stress or even eliminate the fear. The most helpful thing to Baby was developing a routine and repeating it every time. It made the storms more predictable. So start with a plan.
There may be a place your pet automatically seeks out during a storm. Chances are it is a small, three or four sided, den like area. Go with this, or help your pet by finding a space. Encourage your pet to go there, maybe even lay there with him for a bit. You may also wish to turn on any lights, so the lightening isn’t noticeable, and a radio or white noise machine to reduce sound. Now, give your pet something pleasurable to do, like a peanut butter stuffed toy. Some pets will think this is grand and some will be too nervous to care. If your pet doesn’t care, then move on.
The next step is to ‘wrap’ your pet. You can buy a t-shirt at a pet store or just use an old one of your own. If you use yours, then cut a slit up the center of the back and then tie it snuggly. For many pets, this is very comforting and has the same effect as swaddling a baby. You may also wish to spray some Comfort Zone in and around the ‘safety area’ or directly on the t-shirt before putting it on your pet. For more information on this product go to www.petcomfortzone.com
The final step in our plan was always Rescue Remedy. I gave the first few drops as soon as the pacing and nervous behavior began and continued as needed. Rescue Remedy can be found at most health food stores and is a natural calmative featuring flower essences.
Q: We just got a new puppy. Are there any quick tips on potty training?
A: Quick tips on potty training…Consistency, Consistency, Consistency! Get a routine and stick to it. Crate training is a great idea and very effective, but no matter what you say, some people just can’t bear to ‘lock Fluffy up all the time.’ That’s fine. There are alternatives you can explore, but the not-so-simple trick is this:
1) Have a routine
2) Prevent accidents through consistency and vigilance (if your puppy makes a mistake it’s your fault not his)
3) Provide lots of praise and positive reinforcement for doing the right thing in the right place
You should also be aware that a puppy can only physically hold his bladder for a certain amount of time. Typically, you can calculate this by age in months plus one. So, if your puppy is 8 weeks old, that’s 2 months plus 1, which is only three hours. This means you should plan on getting up in the middle of the night and coming home for lunch.
The last word of wisdom is this: DO NOT PUNISH ACCIDENTS! When you rub your dog’s nose in his mistake or spank him for error, you create fear, and that’s fear of YOU, not fear of going in the house. The puppy has no idea why he’s being punished, and what you will teach your dog is to hide from you when he goes (behind the couch, upstairs, in the closet). You can smell it; you just can’t find it.
Q: My bird screams all the time. How can I make him stop?
A: This is a problem many pet parents face and is especially common with parrots. They are extremely smart, some as much as a toddler, and therefore need lots of varied stimulation to engage their brains and prevent boredom. In addition, they need a routine that includes playtime outside the cage and interaction with you. If your bird has neither of these, then I suggest you start there.
For toys, I recommend at least two in the cage at all times. You should then keep a basket of toys and weekly rotate a new toy into the cage and an old one out. Put the old one in the basket and in a few weeks, rotate it back into the cage. Your birds routine should be consistent, getting up and going to bed at the same time each day, and they need at least 8 hours of rest each night in a covered cage.
Lastly, I encourage you to reward your bird for quiet moments, and difficult as it may be, ignore the screeching.
Q: You have mentioned a product called Comfort Zone and one called Feliway several times. What are these products and where can they be purchased?
Comfort Zone is a product for dogs that mimics the pheromone produced by nursing mothers. This scent can be very calming to dogs and can often help ease or eliminate fear and anxiety behaviors associated with storms, separation, or introduction to a new pet or home.
Feliway is a similar product designed for cats; it mimics the facial pheromone cats use to mark territory and has a similar effect as the Comfort Zone. It can decrease behaviors such as urine and claw marking, as well as increase a cat’s comfort level in a new space or situation.
Both products are available in either a spray or plug-in formula, and the Comfort Zone is now also available as a collar (though I prefer to use the spray on a bandana as needed). The products can be purchased at most large chain pet stores such as PetsMart or PetCo and from many veterinary offices. For more information on either of these products you may go directly to their website at www.petcomfortzone.com
Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
Clicking with Your Dog by Peggy Tillman
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
Getting in T-Touch with Your Dog by Linda Tellington-Jones
Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn & Susan Hubble Pitcairn
”…Denise is very knowledgeable about how to get dogs to behave and obey.” -Jan
“She is awesome and really loves dogs- that makes her so good as a trainer.” –Paul
“(Classes) are small, so you get lots of individual attention. Denise has tremendous patience. My dog is nothing if not challenging and Denise is wonderful with her.” –Jenni
“She was so good to my son and made this experience lots of fun for him…helps us to achieve the best relationship possible with our pet.” -Sarah