Category Archive

Neurosis is defined as an emotional state of fixation—one in which there are no options. A neurotic pet cannot do the right thing in a given situation because he doesn’t know what is appropriate. Inconsistency rules in this pet’s household, and everybody tells him something different. One person encourages him to jump up, two others correct him for jumping, one person thinks it’s adorable when he steals underwear, another yells about the same infraction.

The pet in a neurotic household is in a no-win situation. Eventually, he stops trying to please and simply tries to defend himself against the next onslaught. He may become so depressed about his state of affairs that he withdraws completely from society, stops greeting people (even his owners) at the door, stops wagging his tail, eats too much or too little, and spends most of his time lying under the coffee table. His depression may manifest itself as aggressive behavior—he might snap if someone does something as simple as smile and step over him while he’s lying down on his mat. The reason for this behavior is that he’s been incorrectly handled for so long that he doesn’t even want attention. Rather, he does want it, but he doesn’t trust it, so he refuses it.

I remember one of my clients and their Basset Hound Stretch (yes that was his real name). Stretch was depressed and would panic when his owners would leave, he would actually sit on top of the house keys every time his owners put on their coats. When they finally managed to shove him aside, he would take the keys in his mouth and run off with them to hide under the bed. Clearly, Stretch was begging for attention.

The resolution of each of these neurotic, depressive tendencies is going to be different, because every animal and every household is different. However my basic rule of thumb is that the behavior must be changed slowly and gradually. The key is to admit that a change has occurred. The easy way out is to ignore the problem, but letting it alone only makes it worse. You have to find a starting point to begin a step-by-step program that will entice your pet back into the mainstream of life. In cases of severe depression, this may be difficult, because many normal alternatives, such as new toys and longer play periods, may do nothing to pique the pet’s interest. Once you find the starting point, however — be it another pet, a new wardrobe, a weekly trip, a new skill or a new food—the therapy must proceed steadily. Depressed pets need short periods of attention several times a day so that you can reestablish some form of relationship with them. Once they have begun to trust again, you can work more intensively with them. And don’t forget the hugs and kisses.

The Holidays are here, and the pet shops are crammed with toys. Many of them look like great fun but you should check any toy very carefully before purchasing, just as you would if you were choosing something for a baby or small child. Can your pet chew or pull off any loose pieces from the toy? If they can or might be able to, then don’t buy the toy.

In fact, as you get to know each other better, you and your pets will soon learn to make your own toys and games. And with patience you should be able to teach your pet some simple tricks. Most pets get a great kick out of pleasing the owner in this way, so always encourage
your pets to play by rewarding them with hugs and kisses.

I always recommend that people have lots of toys and games for their pets — but with well-meaning friends and family, make sure you check out all their gifts before giving them to your pets.

When I first began my professional career over 30 years ago, I studied many of the animal trainers of the day and the methods and philosophies they used. For the most part the methods were primarily based on, that if a dog made a mistake, the need for strong correction was warranted. I knew right from day one that this was not an approach that I would pursue. I realized that I liked to learn when it was enjoyable and invigorating, why not teach our pets the same way? And so I developed the Hugs and Kisses approach to training and behavior, much to the amusement and disdain of others in my field.

Some of the earlier methods of training that were used included punishment: e.g., if a dog digs holes, fill the holes with water and stick the dog’s head and hold it down. If the dog jumps, take your knee and give him a hard blow to the chest. Even the use of slingshots was accepted. I, along with others, knew that there was a better way, one that involved understanding, not dominance.

Common sense was exactly what was missing in the early days. In ensuing years, a good number of trainers and behaviorist started to take a much gentler and more logical approach, “if a dog gets more attention for being good, then why should they be bad ?“ The Positive Method of training and problem-solving was taking hold and it was working. Hundreds of thousands of dogs were educated and enjoyed life as a family member not a member of the pack.

So why the change, why are more and more so-called trainers going back to the harsh methods of the past, where dominance and punishment was the rule? I hear it all the time on my radio show and seminars — that in order for you to have a dog, you must be the leader and demand perfection from your dogs. I say if you want perfection, go to Radio Shack and buy something with batteries! Is everyone looking for that magic pill — that instant gratification which jeopardizes their dog’s enjoyment of life? I say the two keys to a happy dog and a well behaved dog are education and socialization.

Here are some of the methods that I believe are abusive and should not be used.

1. Electronic shock collars. I just heard a story of a trainer that used a shock collar on a dog that was barking — of course the dog was tied outside for 24 hours at a time. “DUH”
2. Alpha Roll: flipping a dog on his back and making the dog submit. Recently, I read that a child was bitten trying this. Can you blame the dog? And yes the dog was killed.
3. How about giving your dog a chance to enjoy? When you go for a walk, remember it’s the dog’s walk — not yours! Let him sniff and pee where ever he or she wants.
4. No collars with spikes—some say it doesn’t hurt—well then, tell me how it works.
5. No hitting of any kind! I’ve yet to see one dog hit another.
6. No hanging of dogs
7. If it looks abusive, chances are it is.

Now I don’t want you to misunderstand me — I feel strongly that every dog should be properly educated and socialized. And yes, there are times when you do need to correct, not punish your dog. But we have them for such a short period of time and, just like with people, dogs have different capabilities. Not all dogs are the same, some are slower to learn, some are easily distracted and yes some are smarter than their owners. With all that in mind, if you take the time to understand your dog’s needs and keep him mentally stimulated, then you understand exactly what I mean.

I look at my pets Skyler and Cisko and the hundreds of pets that have shared my home as members of my family and when they get a little wacky I think of my eccentric aunt or hyper uncle and realized that having some faults is part of living.

So the next time your pet is just hanging out, go over give him or her a big Hug and Kiss and tell them how much you appreciate them the way they are.

There is nothing more detrimental to the human-animal relationship than misconception. Too many owners interpret a pet’s behavior in human terms and never stop to think about what the pet is really doing and why . The most important lesson you can learn as a pet therapist is the value of stopping and thinking. Before you yell at or punish a pet for what you see as an infraction, examine every possible reason for your dog’s or cat’s behavior. If I had a nickel for every client and listener who began a session by saying, “My dog is just plain stupid!” or “ He’s spiteful and simply won’t listen,” I would be a very wealthy man.

It is neither stupidity or spite—it’s the owner’s inflexibility and his persistence in seeing a problem from only one angle. One woman I worked with complained that her “nasty Pekingese” frequently urinated on her pillow. The truth was that the dog was rarely hugged and kissed and decided that negative attention was better than no attention. Since her scent was strongest on her pillow, the dog kept urinating on it. Another couple told me their Wheaten Terrier constantly pulled at the lead and refused to heel when walking in the city. When I observed the dog, I noticed that he only manifested this behavior when a loud truck or speeding car passed by. His ears flattened against his head, his tail ducked between his legs, and he forged ahead to get away from the noise—he was scared! In such a state, the dog simply wasn’t capable of heeling.

Why do owners blame everything on their pets? Part of the reason is the desire for perfection, of course, but part of it is just lack of awareness. I cannot suggest strongly enough that in order to develop a good, therapeutic relationship with your dog or cat, you must perceive things through his eyes and question his actions within the framework of normal pet behavior in a particular situation. Never fall into the trap of expecting your pet to act the way you would—or the way you think he should. He’s not human, after all .

via Beverly Animal Resource Coalition (BARC)

Top Ten Reasons to Pick Up After Your Dog

Every responsible dog owner agrees… picking up after your dog is a MUST. No matter where or when it occurs, there is NO excuse for not scooping the poop. So here are 10 reasons why EVERY dog owner MUST be responsible for picking up EVERY TIME.

1. It’s the law. Just like littering, it’s unlawful NOT to pick up after your dog, and your violation is subject to fine. The Somerville Dog Owners Group strongly supports tough fines against people who do not pick up after their dogs.
2. It’s common courtesy. Cleaning up after your dogs shows respect for our neighbors and our community. Only irresponsible dog owners leave their dog’s poop for others to look at, step in or clean up.
3. Dog Poop is unhealthy. Abandoned dog poop can host diseases and/or parasites which can infect other dogs who come into contact with it, or be transmitted to people who accidentally step in it and track it home. Particularly at risk, of course, are children who play on the ground. Disposing of dog poop immediately helps all dogs stay healthier and reduces feces-borne parasites and illnesses.

If your dog has diarrhea, and you cannot clean it up, you should not allow your dog to defecate in places where dogs or children may come in contact with it. If your dog has prolonged diarrhea (more than two days), you should take her to the vet.
All dogs should have a stool sample tested by a veterinarian annually. My vet recommends that dogs who frequent places that are visited by many different dogs should have their stool tested twice a year.

4. Dog Poop bio-degrades slowly. Some people think it’s okay to leave dog poop because it will break down naturally. However, the biodegration process is very slow, and, especially in places where the dog population is high, abandoned dog poop can accumulate faster than it breaks down. In the cold weather, poop freezes and, because poop that is frozen to the ground is almost impossible to clean up, it will remain where you left it for several weeks to several months.
5. It’s not fertilizer! In fact, poop impedes landscaping efforts. Leaving dog poop encourages other dogs to mark that spot (by urinating over the previous dog’s scent): poop left on the grass contributes to the problem of “nitrogen burn.”
6. Dog Poop pollutes the water. Somerville is located in both the Charles River Watershed and the Mystic River Watershed. Dog feces, like any feces, contains high levels of nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, which actually pollute the water. Dog feces and urine contain relatively large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients feed and stimulate the growth of algae in water bodies in much the same way as fertilizers help lawns to grow. This can cause the water body to become depleted in oxygen, making it less healthy for fish and large levels of growth can impede recreational and aesthetic value of water as well. (“The Scoop on Poop” Scituate Reservoir Watershed Education Program)
7. Dog Poop is unsightly. Everybody knows that. It’s disgusting. Pick it up. We all deserve to live in a clean city where we can be proud and step lightly
8. Dog Poop tops the list of complaints against dogs. More than dog aggression, nuisance barking or unsupervised dogs, most complaints against dogs are about people not cleaning up after their dogs. This is true for city parks, sidewalks, and your neighbors’ lawns.
9. Dog Poop makes dog owners look bad. For everyone who cares about options for off-leash recreation in Somerville, the worst thing about dog poop is that it is bad for public relations. Dog Poop is the number one reason for negative public sentiment against dogs. Every time you don’t pick up after your dog, you are giving one more reason for others to dislike dogs and dog owners.
10. Your actions set an example for others. When you pick up after your dog, you are part of the solution! And your actions will help convey the message that it’s the right thing to do. Many people even carry extra bags to offer to others as a subtle and neighborly hint that cleaning up after our dogs is what responsible dog owners do.

    More and more people are taking it upon themselves to pick up “orphan poop.” These people are truly ambassadors. You can set a good example, too. If you see orphan poop, pick it up with one of those extra bags you are carrying. I know, I know! Nothing like picking up somebody else’s cold poop, but what a message it sends to others! Your actions will encourage others to do the same, and soon, this will be a non-issue, because everybody will simply pick up without giving it a second thought.

Older pets require the same sense of belonging and need for love that all living things do. They’re social animals and want to feel connected in some way. The older pets that come to shelters and rescues have either been dumped & doomed to wait until euthanized, or they’ve found themselves without home or family because their human companions couldn’t or didn’t want to keep them. Life as they knew it has forever changed, and they’re adrift in a world that often has no room for them.

Many potential adopters assume that when they go to a shelter or rescue, the older pets that are for adoption have some type of problem or “baggage,” or that the dog or cat is not a good candidate for adoption based on some other illogical reason.

There are many reasons that older pets wind up in shelters or become homeless: foreclosure, death of a family member, allergies, work schedule change, moving to a new home that does not allow pets, new baby, change in lifestyle, new relationship doesn’t like pets and the list goes on .

There are many wonderful reasons to adopt the older pet. The vast majority of potential adopters enter a shelter looking for a puppy or a kitten not realizing the advantages of the older pet. The pet probably has some training, has been socialized around people, and is eager to experience the love that you can share. They are usually housebroken, no longer chewing and don’t have as much energy as the pup or kitten. And for those people that believe that “you can’t teach an old pet new tricks“ you are so wrong. Many of the older pets that I have adopted were so happy to please that they were actually easier to train than some of the younger pets I’ve worked with.

Here is a list of reasons to adopt an older pet from several humane and rescue groups:

What you see is what you get — when you adopt an older pet you know what they look like and how big they are (but remember that you can’t always judge a pet’s personality when they are behind bars, give them a chance.)

Older pets generally settle in easy and bond rapidly with the new family.

Many older pets have already experienced parts of life, like riding in a car, going to the vet, walking on a leash and are just happy to be with you.

Older pets know you saved their lives and pay you back everyday for the rest of theirs.

They are thankful for that second or third chance.

Older pets have wisdom that should be calming to a new owner

When you adopt older pets, you can erase their past unpleasant experiences by loving and caring for them.

OLDER PETS CRAVE THE SAME SENSE OF BELONGING AND NEED FOR LOVE THAT ALL LIVING THINGS DO.

The question that has been haunting me for years is, “How can people be so cruel?”

Having been involved in animal rescue for more than twenty-five years, I honestly thought that I had seen it all. But every day, animals are being abused in barbaric ways by people that know that it’s very rare for long jail sentences to be handed down when it comes to abusing animals.

Here’s the story of Phoenix: He was used as a “bait” dog — that means he was put in the pit so that other dogs can learn how to fight. Very often these bait dogs are muzzled or have their mouths taped up and are tied up so that they can’t defend themselves and sick minds call this a sport. His ears were cut off and he was scarred all over his body — I call it attempted murder! How any human can watch any living thing being attacked and enjoy it is beyond me — but they do it because most of the time they continue to get away with it. We need to fight for stronger laws, so that these despicable people will suffer the same way they caused the innocent Phoenix to suffer.

Phoenix wound up at a shelter, where he was given a second chance by rescuers. Coastal German Shepherd Rescue stepped up to the plate and Phoenix with all of his abuse is doing well, physically and emotionally. Thank goodness for the small rescue groups that do the bulk of the work, yet receive little of the financial rewards of the larger groups. This is exactly why I started The Hugs and Kisses Animal Fund to help these amazing groups. My Mantra “ ABUSE AN ANIMAL GO TO JAIL “