Talking excessively to your dog can produce canine anxiety
Since publishing my first “Critter Corner” column in the debut issue of Jmore, I’ve received several inquiries about pet care and well-being.
The following are some of my responses:
I have a 6-month-old kitten who attacks and bites my legs at the sink, and bites my arms and hands so hard that I bleed when we are playing. What can I do to stop him? He is getting neutered next week — will that help?
~ Julie in White Marsh
Neutering will help for sure. It is the No. 1 thing you can do.
However, he is young and playful with a lot of energy and a hunting instinct. Cats tend to come in two varieties — bush cats and tree cats. Bush cats tend to want to be under things or hunt lower to the ground, while tree cats like to jump and be elevated when observing or resting.
Catering his play to his variety will help. If he likes to be elevated, get him a cat tree and attach some toys to it for independent play. A cat wand or spring-type toy would be best. If he prefers lower space, a laser pointer or a cat surprise toy box would be ideal.
To stop the biting, use an air can, the kind used to clean dust off the computer keyboard. Spray it in the air, not toward him. This simulates the hissing sound of a cat, and his instinct will be to back away.
My husband and I argue all the time about our dog, Milo. My husband says I shouldn’t talk to him all the time because it makes him more anxious. I tell him he is wrong, that it helps calm Milo down. Who’s right?
~ Deborah in Owings Mills
Since I haven’t met Milo, I am not sure why he is anxious. Anxiety presents itself in different ways with different dogs.
That being said, your husband is right. If a dog has a predisposition for anxiety, excessive verbal communication can make it worse.
Dogs communicate by watching body language. They will pick up on even a small variance. Dogs only bark, or are verbal, for primal reasons — hunting (feeding time), warning the pack (doorbell or mailman, etc.), migration (time for a walk/potty) and dictation of pack behavior (time to do something, usually play).
When we as humans talk excessively to our (sometimes already anxious) dogs, they try to figure out what we want. When none of the above primal reasons jibe, they can start any number of manic behaviors, from licking to barking. The dog’s inborn temperament is what can dictate why he is anxious, and this usually can be helped significantly by training.
Holiday Hazards
As the holiday season approaches, our activities go from outdoors to indoors in the blink of an eye. Celebrating Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all within a short time frame can be stressful for everyone. Our pets can sometimes become the focal point of these festivities, for good and bad reasons.
During holiday dinners, it’s always best to give them a high value bone/peanut butter kong/catnip or something else they love, just to keep them occupied and away from guests.
An unattended cocktail, dessert or side dish can be very harmful to your pet. A few pieces of cooked turkey can be a treat in their bowl the next day.
When hosting a holiday party/dinner, have your pets stay in an area away from the door until everyone arrives in your home. This way, they get to greet everyone at one time, and there is less of a chance of them darting or sneaking out the door.
The trash can be an issue as well; small bones, coffee grinds, etc., should be taken outside to the garbage can immediately. This way, you can relax and your pets won’t be tempted.
Joy Freedman is a dog behaviorist and obedience instructor. She can be reached at joy@4pawspetservices.com or www.joyfreedman.com.
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