Many of us at some point have experienced horses that don’t respect us very much, or we experience trouble on the ground or in the saddle. These problems can be frustrating and intimidating, leaving us not knowing what to do.
Dogs that come from hoarding situations may have never lived with people. Learn what to expect, how to handle them and how to best ease them into their new living situation.
Canine rivalry refers to conflicts between dogs living in the same household. Animals that live in social groups establish a social structure within that group.
There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy. Among them are your cat’s size, activity level and personal preference. Another is the environment in which your cat spends his time. Although we can’t guarantee your cat’s enthusiasm or his safety with any specific toy, we can offer the following guidelines.
Need to go out of town? A boarding kennel can give your pet quality care while you’re away, giving you peace of mind. However, before you load Fido and Fluffy into the car and drive them to the nearest kennel, it's important to do your homework and find the right kennel for your pets, then you’ll need to prepare your pets for boarding.
Your cats and dogs will be happiest and healthiest, regardless of the season, if you keep them inside with you. Here are some guidelines for protecting your pets when the temperature drops.
It is normal for dogs to explore the world with their mouths. However, chewing can be directed onto appropriate items so your dog is not destroying items you value.
It’s normal for cats to scratch objects in their environment for many reasons. The goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.
Many people have a problem with roaming cats that attack wild birds as they feed or nest in their yards, that use their garden as a litter box, or that upset their pets by invading their territory.
This article by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers addresses the ramifications of a reliance on dominance theory as it relates to understanding dogs, interpreting their behavior, and living harmoniously with our canine companions.
Your dog is a living, breathing animal that relies on you for almost literally everything (food, water, shelter, play time, potty breaks…). Taking care of your dog’s physical and mental enrichment is part of being a dog owner.
Horses, donkeys and mules are very big animals. This may seem like an obvious fact, but it’s crucial to keep it in mind any time we interact with or train horses.
The easiest way to start clicker training is to teach your dog to hand target. During this process your dog will learn that the click sound ALWAYS means a treat is coming, and he’ll learn that offering a specific behavior earns a click/treat. This will become the foundation for teaching all sorts of new behaviors.
Guinea pigs are hardy and affectionate and make great companions. However, people often think of them as "low-maintenance" pets, when in reality, they require a lot of care and attention.
One of most common statements we hear is, “My horse doesn’t like …” or “My horse is always spooky at …” These problems are actually very common because horses are naturally fear-based animals, and spooking is instinctual.
A hedgehog is a small, insectivorous (insect-eating) mammal. There are 17 species found throughout the world. The species most commonly kept as pets is the four-toed, or African pygmy hedgehog. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and can be quite shy. They come in several colors and patterns. Hedgehogs are generally considered solitary and may be kept by themselves.
It’s so difficult to watch our beloved pups suffer from noise phobias, such as fireworks and thunder. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help your canine companion cope.
One of the single most frequent questions about rabbits as companions is: Are rabbits more like cats or dogs? The answer: neither. Dogs and cats have been bred for centuries to not be afraid of humans. Rabbits have been bred primarily for meat, fur and physical characteristics, which means that when you adopt a bunny, you adopt a lovely, domestic animal with the heart and spirit of a wild animal. It is much more challenging to win the trust of this sensitive, intelligent creature than it is to win the heart of a puppy or kitten, which has been bred to trust you from birth.
Overweight cats are at a higher risk of health issues like diabetes, skin issues and arthritis. Being overweight also decreases the quality of a cat’s life. Through diet and an active lifestyle, your cat can maintain a healthy weight and live a healthier life.
The cat has a history of urinating or defecating outside the litter box. This behavior could be inconsistent meaning it happens once in a while or it could be consistent where it happens regularly.
A rabbit's diet should be made up of high-quality pellets, fresh hay (alfalfa, timothy or oat), fresh water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited quantities. Any food that is picked fresh must be thoroughly rinsed and cannot be fed if sprayed with herbicides or pesticides.
Rabbits are very social creatures and require as much attention and stimulation as a cat or dog. Because of this requirement, rabbits tend to be happier, healthier, better adjusted, and more affectionate if housed indoors. Rabbits also tend to live longer, happier and healthier lives in pairs or groups. Companionship is very important to bunnies.
Rabbits may act as if they're hardy creatures, but they are, in fact, extremely delicate - from their skin to their spines to their external systems. Care must be taken to maintain their good health, but a well- cared-for rabbit can live 12 to 15 years. The following basics are necessary to know in order to groom rabbits safely and to help keep them healthy.
Toys are important because they provide mental stimulation. Without challenging activities to occupy your rabbit when you're not home, your rabbit, especially a solitary rabbit, will get bored. This could lead to depression and/or excessive destruction. The creative use of toys can extend your rabbit's life by keeping him interested in his surroundings, giving him the freedom to interact with those surroundings and allowing him to constantly learn and grow.
A bunny box is basically a large cardboard box with door holes and extras. Start with a large cardboard box about two feet by three feet and eighteen inches high. Then, add layers of flattened cardboard boxes to the bottom until the pile is about three inches thick. You can also put a smaller box inside the larger box.
Dogs are complex animals that may display a variety of different behaviors in any given situation. The Dumb Friends League has this advise to make sure you stay safe when you encounter an unknown dog.
This handout explains how to properly use a head halter, a special kind of collar with a strap that goes around your dog’s nose and another strap that goes around his neck, just behind his ears.
At the Dumb Friends League, we believe that dogs of all sizes are happier, healthier and safer when they can be indoors with their people the majority of the time.
Taking the time, reading up and waiting for two spayed or neutered rabbits to be introduced will ensure you the best possible chance at a loving, bonded relationship.
Cats are territorial and need to be introduced slowly in order to give them time to get used to each other before there is a face-to-face confrontation.
Halloween is a fun time for humans, but not necessarily for pets. Please follow these tips and share them with others to help keep all pets safe on Halloween.
Urine-marking is not a house soiling problem, but rather a territorial behavior. Therefore, to resolve the problem, you need to address the underlying reason for your cat’s need to mark his territory in this way.
Urine-marking occurs when there is either instability in a dog’s relationships or when a dog is feeling anxious. It is not a house soiling problem. To resolve the problem, you need to address the underlying reason for your dog’s need to mark.
Mice are small, social animals. They're quiet, but very active and entertaining to watch. Because of their high activity level and quick movements, they're more suitable for adults to handle than for children.
Every rider has training techniques that work better for some horses than others. The trick is to be able to adapt your techniques with each horse and each situation.
While pet owners would never consider withholding food or water from their cats, many forget to provide adequate exercise and stimulation. Yes, cats do sleep a lot, but play is an important component of any pet’s health and well-being. The release of energy triggered by regular daily interactive play sessions can help alleviate stress and prevent behavior problems.
More often than not, horses get what we call “fresh” after any kind of significant time off. Some will buck, some will want to be “chargy” (go faster than we would like) and some may have other behavior issues arise.
Positive reinforcement is the presentation of something pleasant or rewarding immediately following a behavior. It makes that behavior more likely to occur in the future, and it is a powerful tool for shaping or changing your cat’s behavior.
The arrival of your new family member will bring changes for everyone, but you can help your pet adjust to the big changes ahead by making gradual adjustments before the baby arrives.
When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or “mouth” hands during play or when being petted. Learn how to redirect their behavior!
Even if your dog has been housetrained in the past, he or she may need retraining. This is common for dogs that are recently adopted from a shelter, as they need to adjust to a new home and new routines. Learn how to ensure your dog understands the new house rules!
It’s often important to manage situations while you’re working toward the final solution. In dog ownership, this means setting up your home and life in a way that prevents or discourages your dog from doing unwanted things.
As a trainer, I often get the question, “How do I get my horse to do this?” or the statement, “My horse won’t do that.” Many times, as I’m offering advice about what I would do in a given situation, people tell me, “I tried that, and it didn’t work.”
There is no guarantee that your dog will never guard again, but there are ways you can reduce the chances of it occurring. Clicker training, for instance, is a good way to reduce any stress your new dog may be feeling.
Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit behavior problems when they’re left alone. Typically, they’ll have a dramatic anxiety response within a short time (20-45 minutes) after their owners leave them.
As we are being teased with warmer weather, many of us are anxious to get out and enjoy our horses with some trail-ride therapy. Maybe we haven’t had time to ride during the winter because it’s too dark by the time we get home or it’s just plain cold. But as we approach trail-riding season, we should consider our horse’s fitness level before we jump on and start going for long rides.
Learn the common reasons why cats don't use their litter box, how to analyze your cat's environment and habits, and how to solve the problem so that you and your cat live a happy, healthy life together.
It’s not uncommon for horses to pull back while standing tied, whether at a trailer, a hitching rail or even a tree while taking a break on a trail ride. This can be a dangerous and scary situation, as horses and people can get hurt if a horse doesn’t stand tied well.
Most cats have a specific preference about where they want to eliminate. By following the suggestions outlined in this handout, you’ll be able to start off on the right foot with your new cat.
Coming when called is one of the most important and useful commands you can teach your dog. In an emergency, a reliable “come” or recall can save your dog’s life, but most of the time it’s just convenient to be able to get your dog to come when called.
Down is the best, most comfortable position for your dog to stay in for any length of time. Down (and especially down-stay) is a wonderful calming maneuver and can also help teach your dog to be more independent.
“Drop it” is useful when your dog picks up something in his mouth that he shouldn’t have – your shoe, your child’s favorite toy, or a chicken bone, for example. It’s also useful for those dogs that grab the leash in their mouths when being walked and for those mouthy dogs that want to grab at your hands, arms and clothing in play.
“Leave it” is useful when you want your dog to stop doing something, whether that is sniffing at someone or something, barking or licking. The dog should immediately stop whatever she is doing and look to you for a reward.
“Settle” should be more relaxed than a “Down-stay” or “Sit-stay”; the dog need not maintain a specific position. You can use it in the waiting room at the veterinarian, or when you are out on a walk and stop to chat with a neighbor.
Use when your dog is jumping up on you or on someone else. Rather than teach the dog to “not” do something, we will ask him to do something he knows how to do that is incompatible with jumping up on you or someone else.
Some canine behavior problems, such as housesoiling, affect only a dog’s owners. However, problems such as escaping and excessive barking can result in neighborhood disputes and violations of animal control ordinances.
Dogs may display a variety of behaviors when they are afraid. A frightened dog may try to escape, may show submissive behaviors, or he may freeze and remain immobile.
The word aggression can refer to a range of behaviors from barking and growling, snarling and snapping, to biting and attacking. Threats of aggression are one way dogs have of communicating and are often displayed as a means of avoiding outright aggression.
Reactivity can look and feel like aggression when your dog is barking or lunging at the leash. However, there is no intention to harm. Learn about the triggers for reactivity and how to manage a reactive dog.
Cats will sometimes eat objects which may result in a variety of problems for both you and your pet. Learn more about this challenge and how to address it.
Dogs will sometimes eat socks, rocks, or other objects which may result in a variety of problems for both you and your pet. Learn more about this challenge and how to address it.
Over the years, I’ve had numerous conversations with folks telling me they have trouble stopping their horses. I often hear, “I’ve tried this bit, I’ve tried that bridle, and nothing seems to get my horse to stop.”
Begin a positive relationship so that you and your new dog can live happily together for a long time. This handout contains tips for starting off on the “right paw.”
Vocalizing is one way for your cat to communicate with you and with other animals. Some cats “talk” more than others, but most cats do make noise some of the time.
