Spring has sprung and a young cat’s fancy…well, you know the rest.
Ask any animal rescue organization or volunteer with a house full of discarded kittens what the real world of animal rescue is like these days. Help stop overpopulation.
Cat, kittens, dogs and puppies are in need of help. Give them a break by taking them to the nearest spay and neuter clinic. Many clinics are offering seasonal rates and discounts in order for you to help them and the growing number of homeless animals.
It’s a wonderful circle: people helping animals = people helping people to help the animals.
Your friend,
Fisher
Dear Fisher,
Really warm weather is here now and I am wondering if you have an idea about what to do about all my shedding. Hair is everywhere in the house. I play in a big back yard with trees and flowers and lots of great shaded areas. I never see my shedding out there so how come it’s all over the house? My human guy is always brushing his clothes and furniture. And then that awful vacuum cleaner comes out to get the hair out of the carpet. He doesn’t really complain but I know it’s annoying.
Ralphie
Dear Ralphie.
Some pets think that the more the humans obsess about hair on the furniture, the more the hair just appears. Then there are theories that if a human shares his house with a cat or dog, or any other furry critter – and he wears black – the fur will instantly gather and cling to his clothing. This phenomenon is even more extreme if the person in the house is a guest. I find nothing to prove or disprove such a theory, but pet lovers everywhere seem to agree it is true.
Shedding hair is a normal process in dogs, cats, and even people. It is just simply out with the old and in with the new. There is a season for everything, as they say, and you are in your hair-shedding season. Now, just as a caution, if you are shedding excessively and developing bald spots, get to the Vet ASAP. You could be reacting to your dog food, or you might be over-stressed, or something physiological could be going on and you need to get it checked.
Normal shedding is just that – normal. Grooming is very important in order to help the process along. Daily combing routines cut down on the evidence. Your human can do this himself, take you to a groomer (get a good recommendation), or do both. It is going to be much easier for him to do it himself first to see how effective he can be in eliminating his own frustration. Daily brushing is also a great one-on-one bonding between man and dog.
Visit The Amazing Dog Training Man for an excellent article called “How To Reduce Your Dog’s Shedding in 3 To 5 Days”. His recommendations include:
- Brushing Start at the head and work towards the tail
- Groom Frequently Establish a regular schedule and include lukewarm bath
- Carding An extra step to remove excess undercoat
Oftentimes dog lovers will take their dogs to a groomer for nice summer fur cut. You may not approve of you new look, but the extra breezes blowing through your short hair can make you more comfortable and help you enjoy those lazy days of summer.
Your friend,
Fisher
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I have survived the Christmas holidays and now I am wondering how on earth I am going to get through the big New Years Eve party my humans are planning. I remember last year when people seemed to ring the doorbell for hours on end, and then the loud music and raucous merriment until all hours of the morning. I try hard to be sociable and calm, but it is not always that easy. What’s a fella to do?
Andy
Dear Andy,
Some of us are lucky enough to have our people go out instead of inviting a lot of people for this very special celebration. I know that it is the eve of a whole new beginning – another year to make good on all those resolutions and such. But, it can get a little out of hand sometimes, and I encourage you to look after your own safety. Your people are likely kind and good-hearted, but sometimes even the best of intentions can cause their pets harm. OK, I will say it. Pets can even take on some very neurotic tendencies when such parties happen in their domain.
But, let us face some facts about pets and holiday hoopla. Some of you will be all into it and just enjoy the heck out of it. Some of you will take the hidey-ho attitude and show how aloof you really can get. Then, there are those who get completely fritzed out and will likely end up sequestered to your own private area of the house, if they are lucky. Overall, the most important thing is that your people keep you in mind at all times during the celebration.
Just because there are now gobs of guests in the house, it is still your home, too, and safety precautions must be kept. Many of the rules apply to almost all holidays. For example, the No Chocolate or Alcohol rules must be enforced. And I just heard of a new one: avoid eating aluminum foil and plastic wrap! Funny, I personally would never have thought of that.
There are things to do ahead of time to prevent dangers and mishaps:
- Consider a micro-chip. There are usually more lost pets than usual after New Years. No matter how much you want to run out that door to find solace, consider the consequences.
- Your people can schedule some time out with you into their merriment. A nice walk around the block with your human can be very calming for both of you. After all, the abundance of noise is now inside the housel
- If at the stroke of midnight, your people likely know of at least one person who will bring fireworks. They should make a huge effort to see that you are comfortable inside, preferably tucked into the Master’s bed. It will not hurt a thing if they should also place some tasty pet treats on the nightstand. Hey, live it up!
Check out a very comprehensive article on Holiday and Seasonal Hazards from the American Dog Trainers Network. Your safety is important. Also of great importance is the fact that before 12 midnight, there are no new resolutions to worry about. Have a very happy new year!
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt Tampa Bay
Out There weekend edition
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Dear Fisher,
Hi, my name is Zelda. It is great to finally write you. My human reads your column and sometimes brings it home to show me.
Anyway, I am having some trouble in my new home here, and I was wondering if you could help me. My human and I met through his X and when they split up, I stayed with him. Even though he gets up REAL early in the morning and wakes me up, and then to school and work, and back home late at night and I have to yell at him for attention – I love it here! And, his parents have 2 Pomeranian dogs who are fun to play with.
I share a room with my human, and have a special pillow on the bed. Everything would seem great to the outside observer, but there is a dark side. My human’s parents already had a cat. Her name is Kitty-Lynn and she is a stick in the mud. She never wants to play and it seems like every time I come outside of my room to roam around, she is always there. We always end up just in the middle of a stand-off, hissing at each other and just staring. There are times when I try to be nice, but it just doesn’t work. I was wondering what can be done so we can finally live in peace. Sure, I have my room and she has hers, and as long as we stay out of each other’s way we are fine. But I would like to be able to share the living room and family room with her. Is there anything that can be done so we can finally get past our petty differences?
Zelda
Dear Zelda,
It sounds very encouraging to me that Kitty-Lynn and you are not getting into anything worse than hissing and staring. The process of getting along can be slower than you would like but it is very possible. Kitty-Lynn is probably a little miffed at your unexpected arrival. If you can try to not take that personally, it will help you both. She had her territory all laid out and was happy as the only cat.
There are some very interesting things you can do to make things better. All household members will need to cooperate and I think you will all get some good fun out of the exercises in the long run. Think of them as “character building” games.
Since you have already developed a pattern of hissing and staring at each other when any boundaries are crossed, it is best to start over at the beginning. That means that you, Zelda, will be confined to your own room for a short period of time. You will keep your litter box and food dishes in there with you, and of course, you have your own pillow on the bed. If it makes you feel better, go ahead and sleep directly on the bed cover and just use the pillow for your head.
The next step is for your human to put your food dishes very near to the door of your room before he goes out for the day. His parents should put Kitty-Lynn’s dishes on the other side of the door. The door stays closed a while longer. But, you will both start to associate each other’s presence with something pleasurable, like eating your dinner. Kitty-Lynn will start to get used to your smells, and you will start to get used to hers.
Stay with me – this is getting fun. Next step is to put a brick on each side of the door so it can remain open a tiny bit, not enough for either of you to break on through to the other side. Lots of opportunity to peak at each other! Good old cat curiosity will take over and you will both probably forget the staring and hissing shortly.
And now the Grande Finale! You, Zelda, can come out of your room and into the main house. Yes, the whole house! Kitty-Lynn will stay in your room with your things for awhile. Oh, I know, there is going to be a whole lot of snooping and sniffing going on while you get accustomed to each other’s smells, but as long as you have hidden away your really personal documents, there should be no problem. As you get to know each other in this very subtle way, you will become ready to face each other with a different attitude. You may not end up snuggling together, but I foresee some playtime together. Or, you might end up just peacefully tolerating each other which is pretty good, and we all know cats are masters of tolerance!
I also want to mention that our Tampa Bay SPCA also has a FREE Behavior Helpline. Call 727-586-3591, then ask for or dial extension 133 and follow the prompts.
Your friend,
Fisher
Dear Fisher,
I am a 13 year old male. When I was a puppy I had a barking problem, I stopped barking after proper and now that I am in my golden years, I have converted back to the problem. I bark as if to get approval to go ahead and eat, and I bark when my human is gone. The neighbor says I am becoming senile. Is that true?
My owner thinks I am playing a game with the food but he is frustrated about my barking and bothering the neighbors. I am afraid I am becoming a nuisance. Why am I doing this now?
Toby Seas Stars
Dear Toby Seas Stars,
I can sympathize with your worries. As we get older, anxiety builds and we worry more about our imperfections. Add to that the worries of our humans who love us so dearly, we have a clear case of building anxiety.
While most barking is normal for dogs, anxious barking is usually higher pitched and tends to annoy the neighbors more than usual. Take a look at your possible motives. You might be lonely or bored. It will serve you well to look into a new hobby – a quiet and calm hobby.
In addition to wonderful training tips, the internet offers helpful products. First is the electrical shocking color which is pretty self-explanatory. Then, my favorite is a collar that emits a citrus smell that lingers in the air so your owner knows when he gets home that you have enjoyed a personal bark-a-thon. Another is surgery to remove your barking mechanism. That just renders me speechless! These may not be for you at all.
Since you already brought up the “senility” word, it is important to realize that age does make a difference. Doggy Alzheimer’s disease, formally known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, is a condition that causes problems similar to those that affect aging humans. Memory loss, confusion, and disorientation can easily lead to agitation and barking. You were easily trained as a pup, but now that you are older, the same techniques are inappropriate and could lead you to react defensively. After all, you are likely unaware that a problem exists and you may think the training is for puppies. Insulting!
Some of the things your human can try to help you include:
- *First and most essential – determine the cause of your behavior
*For boredom, try fancy new toys and more exercise – tired dogs bark less
*Use a new command such as “enough” rather than “no”
*For separation anxiety, do short practice sessions of pretending to leave the house
*”The Neighbor” might be more than happy to stop in to give you a break, or consider a pet sitter or doggy day care to help you through the day.
When you calm and silent, change daily routine by getting completely ready to leave and then stay and relax awhile. Next, leave for short periods of time, building on that as each segment is effective. Do not rush the process or all will be lost.
For more great information, go to Petfinder for the article by Jacque Lynn Schultz, ASPCA Director, Special Projects, called “Silencing the that Barks When Left Alone.”
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt Tampa Bay
Out There weekend edition
