Picking a dog’s brain

As it turns out, you might have more in common with your dog than you think. Jen sent me a link to an interesting article about intelligence in dogs that was posted on Time.com a few weeks ago.

Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can.

If you’re like me and always want to learn more about the way that your pup’s mind works, it’s certainly a worthwhile read.

Are we anthropomorphizing more than we should?

The follow article is being republished with permission from it’s author, Donna Fournier.

This past Mother’s Day, while visiting with my mom and sister, I was recounting an incident my youngest dog had. Right away, my mother, who doesn’t believe in crate training, jumped on me saying “He’s mad at you because he spends all day in the crate while you’re at work”. The typical argument ensued… “No,” I say, “Dogs don’t have the capacity to hold grudges or hurts. They live in the moment; dogs have no past to reflect on and no future to plan for or worry about; they only live in the now.” To think otherwise is Anthropomorphizing.

Anthropomorphizing is attributing human characteristics to non human things; most commonly, animals. Believe it or not, this harms the relationship between humans and animals. When humans believe that a dog or cat has human characteristics, we tend to expect more than the animal is capable of producing. By doing so, we find ourselves more easily upset and angered by the animal’s behavior, instead of understanding why the animal isn’t following the rules.

A happy Fourth for you and your pets!

The vast majority of pet owners already know that our pets don’t tend to take the same enjoyment that we do in the festivities surrounding holidays like the Fourth of July, fireworks in particular. Reactions to the loud noises and inexplicable bursts of light can range from your cat hiding under the bed in a state of inconsolable terror to the dog barking incessantly until she’s exhausted. In fact, the Fourth is when we see some of the highest numbers of missing pets each year. So what can you do to help prepare your pets for the Fourth and keep them safe?

Behaviorist Donna Fournier says that ideally, if you have some time to prepare, you can begin desensitization training as she describes in the article, Helping your dog overcome a fear of storms. In a pinch, you may also wish to ask your veterinarian if a sedative is appropriate to help manage your pet’s anxiety. No matter what your pet’s reaction, your response is going to be very important as well. If you are overly indulgent or coddling toward your pet, you may help to reinforce the fearful behaviors you are seeing. On the other hand, if you become upset or take a negative approach to potentially bothersome behaviors like pacing or barking, you may just be giving your pet further reason to feel threatened. Try to set an example and show your pets that there is nothing to fear through your calm and confident attitude.

Pets and children

The following article was written by Donna Fournier for PetKeyBlog.

As an 8 year old child, I can remember begging my parents for the cute little bunny in the local pet shop. I promised that I would take care of the bunny, feed him, clean the cage, and play with him every day. And I meant that with all my heart. However, the reality was I was off playing Hide-and-Seek with friends, riding my bike in the neighborhood, reading a book, or simply watching TV on a rainy day. My mind drifted away from bunny-care to homework, chores, friends, and other such things. Before long my bunny, Cinnamon, was my mom’s. He responded to her, came to her when she was outside near his hutch, took food from only her, and was fearful of everyone else in the family. I was crushed; Cinnamon was supposed to be “mine” and he hated me. At 8, I just wasn’t responsible enough to care day in and day out for another life form. This was such a valuable lesson; one that has stayed with me throughout my 20 years in working with animals. What I learned then is that even the most responsible, well-meaning, “mature”, caring child isn’t able to be consistent and responsible enough to be the main caregiver. Children have much to explore, learn, and seek while growing up, and it’s not uncommon for even the most mature child to slip on consistency.

What made me think of Cinnamon and my failed attempt at responsible animal care in childhood was the news story out of England of a 4 year old child “bathing” his week old puppy in the toilet and flushing him down. This sparked the old debate; at what point do you bring a pet into your home when you have children?

Helping your dog overcome a fear of storms

The follow article is being republished with permission from it’s author, Donna Fournier.

Thunderstorm phobia is the most common of all phobias a dog will have, and with thunderstorm season upon us it’s important to help Fido relax without being medicated, if possible.

The most common route people take is medication, such as mild sedatives like ACE, Benadryl, and in severe cases even Valium can be given. While this does work, it doesn’t desensitize the dog to the sounds and smells of the storm, and certainly doesn’t help modify and/or eradicate the stressed behavior.

The common mistake pet owners make is reinforcing the fear. Dogs learn through Immediate Association, meaning whatever they are doing at the moment that you use a praise tone is what they are being praised for. So, reinforcing the behavior is as simple as talking to your dog while he/she is in stress mode; i.e. “It’s O.K. honey, you’re fine”. Anything you say in a comforting tone your dog takes as you liking the fearful behavior. While it is the Human reaction to console one who is afraid, to the dog it tells them you like the fear response, hence, the dog will continue to be afraid, and perhaps get worse.

There are many schools of thought about how is the best way to handle the anxieties toward thunderstorms.