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In the News: Tails of Marin

By Carrie Harrington

Oh, behave isn't enough when getting cats and dogs to do what you want

I was 10 years old when my family welcomed our first dog, a golden retriever named Heidi. I wish I could boast about our progressive approach to dog training, but that was hardly the case. When Heidi relieved herself in the house, my dad would stick her nose in the mess and yell "No!" in a loud and booming voice. And when she made herself comfortable on a living room sofa, just the threat of a rolled up newspaper waved in the air prompted her to skedaddle.

Don't get me wrong, Heidi was loved like a member of the family. We simply weren't aware of techniques like crate training or positive reinforcement. Fortunately, pet guardians today have a plethora of behavior and training resources available, including reputable training classes and expert consultants. Certainly, no professional these days would advise you to keep Fido off the furniture by waving a rolled up copy of the IJ! The current approach to behavior modification is much more sophisticated.

Here in Marin, the Humane Society averages more than 50 calls a day from pet guardians with questions about their cat or dog's behavior. Training classes are also popular: Up to 35 classes are offered every week at MHS, including specialized classes for senior handlers, small dogs and difficult dogs. Plus, MHS behavior consultants advise nearly 100 cat and dog guardians every month on how to modify their pet's challenging behavior. What's keeping our trainers and consultants so busy?

Why does my cat do that?

Cats have lived with people for thousands of years, yet they are still a reflection of their African wildcat ancestors and, sometimes, the boundaries between wildness and domesticity are fluid. This is why their behavior can, at times, seem strange and occasionally alarming.

MHS cat behavior consultant Laura Hazard talks to more than a dozen concerned cat guardians every week. The most common behavior challenges she deals with relate to litterbox issues, keeping the peace in multi-cat and multi-species households, and rambunctious kittens.

"Once your vet rules out potential health problems, a behavior consultant can help distinguish the underlying cause of your cat's behavior so that appropriate steps can be taken," Hazard says.

Prevention is key. If you're expecting a change in your normal routine, try talking to a professional in advance. Hazard stresses that "even seemingly minor disruptions, like having a dinner party or getting your carpet cleaned, can significantly alter behavior." Also, be sure to deal with undesirable kitten behavior early on. It's much easier to modify inappropriate behavior in a zany youngster than an adult.

Making dog sense

Similar to cats, canines have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with people for thousands of years. At the same time, it's impossible for dogs to completely understand human society, so it's not uncommon for them display inappropriate behavior, leaving frustrated dog guardians to seek professional advice.

MHS director of behavior and training Trish King addresses problem dog behaviors such as destruction, separation anxiety and aggression on a regular basis. As king emphasizes in her popular workbook, "Dog Sense," "The essence of behavior modification is finding the reward for the inappropriate behavior, eliminating it and replacing the problem behavior with an appropriate behavior."

Even experienced pet guardians sometimes need professional advice. As King recalls, a recent client was mystified by her dog's aggressiveness toward other dogs while on leash. Zeus would lunge and bark at other dogs, refusing to obey his owner. At the same time, he had aced the highest level of obedience in competition. King was able to teach Zeus' guardian about "place learning." As soon as Zeus left the performance ring, he, in effect, took on a different persona.

Essentially, he didn't understand that he was supposed to obey his guardian outside of the ring. With Trish's expert advice, Zeus' guardian was able to modify the behavior.

TO LEARN MORE

For more information about behavior resources for your companion animal, call the MHS Behavior & Training Department at 506-6280 or go to the Behavior & Training section of the MHS Web site at marinhumanesociety.org.

Carrie Harrington is the public information associate at the Marin Humane Society.


Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal