Topic 10 of 58: Pet Behavior and Training
Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (17:56) |
Wolf (wolf)
Got tips or questions, let's field them here.
32 responses total.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 1 of 32: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (19:57) * 4 lines
Cats and territoriality. They "mark" their territory even if it's the
carpet. What do do?
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 2 of 32: Isabel (Isabel) * Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (21:00) * 1 lines
Castrate! Sounds hard, I know, but the cat population is much too high, anyway! you can't let them make thousands of babies. (They're cute, I know, there's nothing as cute as a little kitten) I will look for numbers, but the population-increase of cats is unbelievably high. (Animal Right Clubs are also castrating cats, BTW) It's better to have lesser cats ( sitting in the animal shelter for their whole lifetime), but healthier ones!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 3 of 32: Wolf (wolf) * Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (21:03) * 1 lines
even castration or neutering doesn't solve the problem. the key is to neuter before the kitty learns to spray. don't know how to stop the behavior though. will do some checking.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 4 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (22:28) * 1 lines
We did all of our cats when I was a kid, and David did his cat, and we never had a problem with marking or spraying...but we did it when they were just 3 months old (as I recall). The trick, as Wolfie pointed out, is to get them before the hormones kick in.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 5 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (22:29) * 1 lines
Or stick with a female and have her spayed when she is old enough. That is the best of both worlds.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 6 of 32: Riette Walton (riette) * Fri, Sep 24, 1999 (07:46) * 1 lines
See, guinea pigs don't do that ...
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 7 of 32: Isabel (Isabel) * Fri, Sep 24, 1999 (08:20) * 1 lines
Don't they procreate very fast or do you only have female ones?
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 8 of 32: Riette Walton (riette) * Mon, Sep 27, 1999 (03:36) * 1 lines
Only female ones. I've thought about taking them to the pet shop, so they can do it once, because no-one should have to NEVER do it in their entire lives, but I'm just not in a position to care for 64 guinea pigs. And I know already that, once those babies are there, I'd never have the heart to take them to the pet shop to be sold, because I'd be scared they land in a place where they have to stagnate in a small cage, and where 'caring' for them might mean feeding them.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 9 of 32: Charlotte Bridges (Charlotte) * Mon, Sep 27, 1999 (10:41) * 1 lines
My cat Fabio was neutered before he learned to spray, yet when I adopted new cats, he began to spray everything in the house. I finally had to exile him to the outdoors, where he lives happily (so it seems) every after. He comes to the back door twice a day for food and the occasional petting session, and my house is once again odor free. Of course, I am fortunate to live in Southern California where I need not worry about him freezing to death in winter.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 10 of 32: Gi (patas) * Thu, Sep 30, 1999 (03:34) * 1 lines
Also, my vet (or should I say my dog's vet?) says that neutering cats too young may give them urethral stenosis problems later.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 11 of 32: Alexander (aschuth) * Thu, Oct 28, 1999 (13:16) * 3 lines
1/2 a year of age is ok, I think.
Terry, when cats do this, sometimes it is because they are anxious, afraid or don't like a situation/place. Most often, they'll have one or two favorite places to do it. One approach is to use menthol oil ("Japanese Herbal Drops") and drip on the spot. THe idea is that the strong menthol will drive off the cat, thus denying this spot. Downside: the whole place smells, too - just differently.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 12 of 32: Alexander (aschuth) * Thu, Oct 28, 1999 (13:22) * 5 lines
Re: Population in many animal shelters - mainly the communal ones-, they have a pragmatic policy of having animals around for a certain time (a few day to a few weeks), and if they have not been claimed by an owner or found a new home, they are just deleted.
I think that was the english term given to me.
And I know people whose own neighbor called the animal catcher on their cats just to hurt them.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 13 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Oct 28, 1999 (16:59) * 3 lines
Sadistic people - for them I hope there is Karma or some divine punishment. Truly sick. We call it "euthanized" here...put to sleep...whatever, it is dead!
I think Menthol or any other fragrance other than animal might be welcome!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 14 of 32: Wolf (wolf) * Fri, Oct 29, 1999 (20:31) * 1 lines
i don't think deleting animals out of the shelter is the answer. just because someone doesn't take a dog or cat doesn't mean they're not worthy.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 15 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (00:24) * 1 lines
...of course it does not mean they are not worthy...but what do we do with them?
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 16 of 32: Gi (patas) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (03:53) * 1 lines
Shelters have only so many places for the animals, and probably all of them are overcrowded. I understand them killing the "surplus" animals, and hope they do it humanely... And mostly, try to not think about it very much. I confess to using "the ostrich method" about cruelty to animals a lot. I think I'd go insane otherwise.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 17 of 32: Elena (Elena) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (15:14) * 6 lines
and if they have not been claimed by an owner or found a new home, they are just deleted.
So whenever one wants to give a home for an animal, one should first go to one of these shelters and see if there are animals that one could rescue from being deleted. I wish that people would care to do this more often.
My motherīs dog Bonnie is from one of these shelters, kept by the university vet department. She was about one year old, a beautiful black mongrel and nobody came to claim her in two weeks. So we took her (eight years ago) and sheīs a wonderful character in spite of the fact that obviously she has been treated badly in her youth.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 18 of 32: Elena (Elena) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (15:29) * 4 lines
"the ostrich method" about cruelty to animals a lot. I think I'd go insane otherwise.
Gi, I know exactly what you mean.
I simply canīt watch it when they show those horrible documentaries in tv about mishandling of cattle. I saw one a few years ago and experienced such a shock that I stopped eating meat and became a vegetarian. I donīt want cattle to suffer because of me and I guess the only thing I can do about it is not to pay for it.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 19 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (19:10) * 1 lines
I always wondered what sort of people watch those documentaries...Not for me, either!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 20 of 32: Wolf (wolf) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (20:07) * 4 lines
me either.
both my dogs were free and could have ended up at the pound. my third dog, lucky, died about 3 years ago. we rescued her from the street and decided to keep her. had her for a year when we had to put her down (tumor on the windpipe). it was the most horrible thing for me to deal with. i lost it in the vet's bathroom (wrenching sobs). she had been abused but i don't know how long. she would yelp anytime your feet came near her. she overcame it by lots of tender loving care on our part. i loved that dog qu
ckly and earnestly. am so glad that the last year of her life was spent in a loving environment!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 21 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (20:59) * 1 lines
Dear Dear Wolfie..*big hugs* for your kind heart and patience and love... I am moved so much by your simple story of heroics on your part and honorable treatment and response from your beloved furperson. Somewhere where furry four-footed things go, she is smiling (yes, they can smile!) down on you and yours. Bless your heart, Wolfie!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 22 of 32: Wolf (wolf) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (21:07) * 3 lines
*blush* i've dreamt about her and immediately was relieved of guilt. she was so happy and healthy and frolicking. she came to say hello and then had to go on. i woke up feeling so much better and i know she's in a good place!
and for those who don't think dogs can smile, you just need to open your heart a bit more. they grin from ear to ear (*lol* quite literally!!)....it is such an honor to be loved by these creatures!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 23 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct 30, 1999 (21:21) * 3 lines
Gi has sent me a priceless set of pictures of her SFO (Significant FurOther), and he is looking coy in one of them, looking like a proper little man, and then grinning wickedly with teeth showing and everything. They do, indeed, make faces and smile.
I am happy she came back to let you know she was in a better place and was happy. What a load off of your heart that must have been. *sniffle* *smile*
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 24 of 32: Isabel (Isabel) * Mon, Nov 1, 1999 (08:50) * 3 lines
Can we see a picture of Gi's doggie? Puuuleeezeee!?
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 25 of 32: Gi (patas) * Thu, Nov 4, 1999 (03:40) * 0 lines
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 26 of 32: Riette Walton (riette) * Thu, Nov 4, 1999 (10:16) * 1 lines
Oh, what a cute one that is!!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 27 of 32: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov 4, 1999 (14:27) * 1 lines
Hi Patas!!! Is not my furnephew the cutest one in the Universe.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 28 of 32: Wolf (wolf) * Thu, Nov 4, 1999 (17:44) * 1 lines
what a cutie pie!
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 29 of 32: Gi (patas) * Fri, Nov 5, 1999 (14:02) * 1 lines
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 30 of 32: Alpha Wolf (wolf) * Wed, Feb 20, 2002 (20:07) * 11 lines
went to a petco this weekend and they had some puppies up for adoption from a local dog pound. as i watched these little cuties for a few minutes, i immediately picked out the dominant and the submissive pups. true, you want to find a puppy who will defend itself, you must be careful picking a dominant puppy if you have small children in the home. puppies have not learned the difference between kids playing and other puppies taking something the pup has deemed theirs. in the hands of an experienced dog owner, a dominant (or aggressive) puppy can be trained to prevent mishaps that will occur if the puppy is not handled properly and the aggressive behavior being put under control as it grows into adulthood.
we all know that the news has been blaring the story about the bull mastifs who killed a neighbor. i want to make something clear, a big dog does not mean an aggressive dog. these dogs were mishandled, clearly, and not just in that one incident. of course, i don't know all the facts, but i do want to make it clear that training affects a dog's behavior. true, dogs have personalities that make them more prone to aggressive behavior, like in the puppy observation above.
sometimes animals perceive things differently than the people they accompany. we must remember that a dog is a pack animal. when brought into the home, they settle into their "position" which should not be allowed to be dominant except, perhaps, during play. because of this "belonging" instinct, they will protect what is theirs, including the owner, physical property, etc. dogs are not stupid either. they know when someone is being mean or when someone doesn't know any better. if a person is permitted to harass a dog (say the dog is left outside while the owners work) and the local paperboy always throws sticks at the dog, that dog will react if given the opportunity ("if i could get at him, i would"). it is my position that all the facts involved in a negative dog incident should be looked into before deciding the dog needs to be put down or the owners put in jail. this works in the short term because everyone sees a dog who bites as a bad dog. no one ever looks into where the behavior is coming from.
this brings me to my point: it is our responsibility to teach our children, friends, and neighbors, to respect others (people or beasts). my children are not allowed to poke on zoo glass or yell at creatures in the zoo or when visiting animal shelters or pet stores (fortunately they have never displayed this type of behavior). i have witnessed children harrassing zoo animals by yelling at them and running back and forth near their cages. no adults told them to stop (and signs were posted clearly warning against this behavior).
if you meet up with a strange dog, do not look him in the eye (this challenges his dominance, show submission), do not run away (dogs will give chase), do not try to pet him or touch him or push him away (this will get you bitten). if he should knock you down, roll into a ball by tucking your knees into your chest and your chin into your chest and cover your head/neck with your arms. an attacking animal will go for the jugular (hunting instinct). most of the time, dogs will lose interest and go the other day with the occasional look back to see what you're doing. dogs are naturally curious.
i have walked by fences where the dogs come running up and all they want is someone to say hi. i talk quietly to them as i pass by. if i'm walking my own dog, i will go on the opposite side of the street from a fenced animal to prevent frustration on both sides of the fence (dogs want to see who's there). it is easier to control my dog when we are further away from another dog. some dogs have no trouble with another dog in their territory, others want to run immediately to check them out.
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 31 of 32: Alpha Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Oct 6, 2002 (20:16) * 1 lines
article on which one is smarter--dogs or cats: http://encarta.msn.com/column/catsanddogsmain.asp
Topic 10 of 58 [SpringArk]: Pet Behavior and Training
Response 32 of 32: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Oct 6, 2002 (22:50) * 4 lines
And the answer is?
(visualizes wolfie tearing open the envelope and reading the answer):
SpringArk conference 
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