How To Tell If a Cat Is in Pain
In This Article Do Cats Feel Pain? View 2 More +
3 Dog Behaviors You Can Accidentally “Untrain”
Image via iStock.com/MonikaBatich By Victoria Schade You’ve put in the time at dog training class and diligently practiced your homework, and now you’re convinced that you’re on your way to having a well-behaved best friend. But did you know that some of your daily interactions might be accidentally untraining your dog? It doesn’t take much for the hard work that you’ve put in for it to start to unravel, and it’s usually because we don’t realize how quickly an undesirable dog behavior can take root. For example, petting your dog when he jumps up on you, zoning out during leash walks, or slipping him something from your plate when he demands it are easily overlooked responses that might lead to dog behavior problems down the road. The key to avoiding untraining is to always remain mindful when interacting with your dog. Think about whether you like the behavior that your dog is offering. If you don’t, consider how you might be accidentally reinforcing it and keeping the behavior alive. And remember, some things your dog considers reinforcing might not make sense to you. You might think that pushing your dog off when he jumps is a viable training strategy, whereas he might think you’re giving him a welcoming pat! The following are some common ways we untrain our dogs, which might lead to dog behavior problems, and advice on how to avoid them. Training Dogs Not to Jump Reacting to a leaping dog is almost reflexive, and that’s exactly how jumping up becomes a habit. Whether it’s scolding a dog to get him to stop, or reaching down to give a few pats before pushing him off, this is one example of untraining that’s almost universal. Leaping on people is rewarding for dogs because it works; your excited dog makes contact with you, and more often than not, he gets acknowledged when he does it. Even angry acknowledgement is enough to keep the behavior alive. The secret to curbing a jumping habit is to teach your dog that he’s invisible unless he has four paws on the floor. Instead of telling your dog to get off or pushing him, turn your body away the second his front feet start to come off the ground. Don’t acknowledge your dog while he’s leaping, and the moment he manages to keep four on the floor, turn back to him and say hello. If he jumps again, repeat the process. Training dogs not to jump, especially if they’ve been doing it for a while, will take time. You can also teach the arm cross sit to help speed the process.
15 Hilarious Thoughts You Have While Grooming Dogs and Cats
As many pet parents know, grooming dogs and cats can be a bit stressful. Between the sad puppy dog eyes and the angry kitty claws, it’s one of the less rewarding ways to spend time with your furry best friend. Not to mention, it’s plenty messy. “I wear a water-resistant shirt and apron, and sometimes I still get soaked,” says Amie Tolomeo, a pet stylist and owner of New Jersey-based Rockin Pups Grooming Salon. Is bath day approaching at your house? In the name of moral support, here are 15 thoughts that may cross your mind as you attempt to bathe your pets at home—as well as some expert troubleshooting tips!
The Top 3 Singing Pet Birds
Amazon parrots have a long and storied history as song masters, in part because of their colorful personalities. Diana Holloway, former president of The Amazona Society, said that Amazons enjoy showing off their talents and like to be the center of attention. “You usually see yellow-naped Amazons on TV singing. The audience always laughs, not just because of the talent, but also because of the bird itself. Amazons puff out their cheek feathers and sway, prance and head bob while showing off. They are true hams.” Her Amazon, Lola, loves to sing Barry Manilow’s “Cabana Song.” “She gets into singing, ‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl at the Copa, Copa Cabana’ at the top of her lungs, and then makes the song her own by interjecting all kinds of other phrases and operatic arias. It is hysterical.” She added that double-yellow-headed Amazons are known for their operatic voices. “They can run the scales like no other parrot.” Susanne Cochran of Colorado raises Amazons at the Avalon Aviary and believes that in addition to the double yellow-headed Amazon, the yellow-naped and blue-fronted Amazons are the best singers. “They love to be vocal; it is part of being a magnificent Amazon, and they know they are magnificent.” Cochran said that these parrots like to make up new songs that show off their creativity. “I think it is done more when they forget a part of a song or are at a loss for words.” Although Amazons are enthusiastic singers and can be quite loud, they can be taught to “whisper sing,” Cochran related. Her yellow-naped mother bird, Wolfie, sings soft “la-la-las” to her babies in the nest. Yvonne Kleine of New York has a yellow-naped Amazon, Perri, that greets her with a series of wolf whistles, jungle songs of her own composition and the occasional Amazonian Concerto. “We have this little ritual where she sings to me, and after a few bars, she stops, and I am supposed to fill in the missing musical parts. If she likes the melody, she joins in, if she doesn’t, she screeches “No! No! No!” and we start all over again. She never gets tired of doing this.” Perri also sings opera. She loves Gilbert and Sullivan. “She sings and dances to ‘We Sail the Ocean Blue,’ wiggling around and bobbing her head while fluttering her wings. Her version is so funny and fractured that there have been times I have laughed until tears flowed.” Diana Craven of California has three African greys, but her best talker (and songstress) is her yellow-crowned Amazon, Little Lulu. “She learned to turn on the radio by watching me move the switch from radio to tape. Now she moves the switch back to radio, says ‘Good girl’ and returns to her cage.” Little Lulu sings ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’ which is very clear, all the way to ‘I don’t care if never get back.’ She loves to sing ‘crackerjack.’ She also sings ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco,’ through to ‘the morning sun will chill the air.’ I think she misses a few words somewhere, but there’s no mistaking what she is singing. She sings herself to sleep very softly, making up her own words and melody, and sometimes she just hums.”,The Appeal Of The Cockatiel
5 Things You Need To Know About Green-Cheeked Conures
Don’t let their small stature fool you; pint-size green-cheeked conures have huge personalities. Originally from South America, these conure clowns will win over even the coldest of hearts. With different color mutations and friendly dispositions, the green-cheeked conure might be the next parrot you’re looking for. Here’s what you need to know:
How To Bond With Your Dog
In This Article Why Is Bonding With Your Dog Important? View 1 More +
Why Is My Dog Drinking a Lot of Water? Is This Normal?
There are several reasons a dog might drink more water than usual, from hot weather and diet to medications and underlying health issues. Here are some of the most common reasons a dog may drink more water. ,Q: I’ve noticed that my dog seems to be really thirsty and drinking lots of water lately. She’s not lapping up her entire bowl, but it’s more than usual. Why is my dog drinking a lot of water? Is this normal?
Difficulty and/or Rapid Breathing in Ferrets
Living and Management With proper management and care, ferrets with less severe forms of dyspnea, tachypnea, and hyperpnea do well. However, it is best if you confine your ferret to cage rest so that it does not overexert itself.,Dyspnea, Tachypnea, and Hyperpnea in Ferrets Dyspnea, tachypnea, and hyperpnea are all terms that describe disturbed breathing patterns in ferrets. Dyspnea refers to the distress often associated with difficulty breathing or labored breathing; tachypnea, meanwhile, is rapid or fast breathing; and hyperpnea is deep breathing. Typically these breathing difficulties are associated with some ailment or stressful situation. Symptoms and Types The type of breathing difficulty (dyspnea, tachypnea, hyperpnea) experienced by the ferret will typically determine what type of symptoms are displayed. Some of the more common signs and symptoms include: Restlessness Pneumonia Open mouth breathing Nostril flaring when breathing Noisy breathing (stridor) Upper airway obstruction Excessive sneezing with discharge, especially among ferrets with concurrent respiratory tract infections Insomnia or trouble sleeping, especially among ferrets with congestive heart failure or those with hernias in the diaphragm Also, although it is rare in ferrets, coughing may occur in ferrets with dyspnea.
Do Cats Need Wet Food? The Benefits of Wet Cat Food and More
Jump to section Do Cats Need Wet Food? Wet Cat Food vs. Dry Cat Food 5 Benefits of Wet Cat Food 5 Disadvantages of Wet Cat Food How Much Canned Food To Feed a Cat How Often Should I Feed My Cat Wet Food? How To Get a Cat To Eat Wet Food FAQs About Cats and Wet Food
What To Do When Your Puppy Has Diarrhea (Sorry!)
Puppies can develop diarrhea for a number of reasons, some of which are more serious than others. Let’s look at some of the most common answers to the question: Why does my dog have diarrhea?,Jump to section Causes of Puppy Diarrhea The Dangers of Puppy Diarrhea Deciding Whether To Go to the Veterinarian What To Do When Puppy Diarrhea Happens Puppy Diarrhea FAQs
