Ask the Patch Pro: Pet Care and Behavior

Brian Feldt (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 12:37 pm

I have a 1-and-a-half-year-old pug and for the life of me, I cannot get him to play with toys -- that is, unless they have food attached/inside them. Is there any way I can get him to start playing with toys? He's playful otherwise -- with me and other people. But when it comes to toys, he's more interested in the box we store the toys in. Any suggestions?

Joe Barker (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 12:38 pm

I'll start things off. I take my dog on several walks during the day both to get exercise (we live in an apartment) and to take care of business. With the temperatures expected to soar in the next few days, I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to make sure my dog doesn't get too hot. I'd like to keep our normal routine, but I worry that the 100+ degree temp isn't ideal for a 20- to 30-minute walk. Any advice?

Kalen Ponche (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 12:48 pm

I have a 3-year-old cat who is the only pet in the house. My husband and I are the only people she regularly interacts with. When we have guests, she's very curious and likes to stay in the room and see what's going on, but if anyone looks at her wrong or tries to pet her, she freaks out and tries to bite them and hisses. I've never heard her hiss at anyone until we recently have had people over. When she was younger I used to lock her in a room when people came over or we had parties because I was afraid she would run out the door and people wouldn't be mindful of keeping it shut. Now I wonder if I've ruined her by not socializing her while she was young. What can I do to make her more comfortable around people who are not my husband and me?

Tamara Duncan (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 01:44 pm

My mini horse, Frosty, seems to have developed an allergy this spring. If we put him in the pasture, his eyes get runny and swollen. I have a stall and a dry lot to keep him, but it makes me wonder -- has our unusually early and very dry spring brought out some unusual allergens?

Lynsey Fuegner June 27, 2012 at 01:48 pm

Hi Brian,
If he likes food, you're on the right track by starting with toys with food inside of them. The next step would be to reward him with food for playing with a toy that does not have food in it. If you can build a positive association to the toy with a food reward, he should start to enjoy playing with toys as much as he enjoys the food.

Lynsey Fuegner June 27, 2012 at 01:53 pm

Hi Joe,
Heat is a big worry for most of us with dogs that enjoy being outside. If possible I would change your walking schedule to allow your walks to be early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperatures are not as extreme. The biggest worry about walking a dog in the extreme heat is overheating and heat stroke, dogs don't cool like we do and depending on their body structure (coat type, length of their nose, age, etc) some are more susceptible to the heat than others. If you do take them for walks in the heat be sure to take short breaks in the shade and offer sips of water throughout the walk. Also be conscious of the ground temperature, remember that your dog is barefoot and can burn his toes on hot pavement.

Angela Woytus-Peacock June 27, 2012 at 02:38 pm

Hi Lynsey! GI Joe, my service dog just started a new weird habit that I'm not quite sure how to interpret. We go to college 2 days a week and since Spring Semester, every time we get to school, he's just fine. I walk him around the big lake before class for a potty break, then we start walking toward the door. This is when (every time) he lays down and rolls in the grass. He never did this for the first 1 1/2 years of school but has been doing it consistently for about 4 months now. I'm wondering if you think it's a little bit of a temper tantrum as in he doesn't want to work anymore? It's the only guess I can make. He seems to want to roll, then lay there for a few minutes covered in grass. He will get up and go into school with me afterward but I don't want to make him keep working if he doesn't like it anymore. Any suggestions? He's 5 years old now and gets PLENTY of exercise!

Lynsey Fuegner June 27, 2012 at 03:15 pm

Hi Angela,
After his roll how is his attitude throughout the rest of the "school day"? Does he show any signs of discomfort or stress (yawning, licking, etc) while you are at school? Do you notice this behavior at any other times he is working, or just at school? If he otherwise seems unaffected by being at school, the rolling could be a superstitious behavior that he has paired with going with you to school, it could even be part of his routine before going inside. If he otherwise seems content to work I wouldn't stress over it too much unless he was showing other signs of stress.

Angela Woytus-Peacock June 27, 2012 at 03:39 pm

Just school, and no other stress signs. Ok, I will watch him closer to be sure to see if I am missing anything! Thanks so much Lynsey!

Lynsey Fuegner June 27, 2012 at 04:04 pm

No problem. Keep me posted, I am happy to help if I can!

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 04:58 pm

I think she can be socialized eventhough she is an adult cat. My recommendation would be to allow her to interact with house guests at her own pace. Allow her to smell and approach guests without the guest petting her. If she starts to rub or elicit interaction then have the guest gently touch her or rub her chin. If she allows this interaction then continue until she demonstrates objection. Another option would be to purchase a product called feliway,which is a synthetic pheromone, and spray the room or area where she would interact with the guest.

Kalen Ponche (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 05:50 pm

Thanks Dr. Jeffreys good suggestions!

Mary Smith June 27, 2012 at 06:07 pm

Hello,
I have an 8 week old male Kitten, who loves to chase my families feet and bite them, attack us on the couch, etc... We can not even pet him because he just wants to bite. What can I do to teach him not to bite? Will he out grow this?

Kalen Ponche (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 06:30 pm

Mary- hi! my cat did that too for awhile (actually, she still does)! She's calmed down a little bit.

Patrick Breyne June 27, 2012 at 06:57 pm

I have a 8-9 yr old yorkie that we rescued fover 5 years ago. When we try to play ball with her she looks at us like we are nuts? Is this still a teachable trait or is it too late?

Jordan Lanham (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 06:59 pm

My family's lab loves swimming in our pool. He jumps in nearly every time he's out back. Is the chlorine bad for him? Should we be bathing him or hosing him down after he swims or is he OK?

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 07:25 pm

Because of the dilution factor, the chlorine should not be a problem. You may want to use a drying agent in his ears after swimming to prevent swimmer's ear.

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 07:31 pm

Hi Mary. The first step is to be sure that you you do not play with the cat using tyour hands and feet. Be sure to have plenty of toys. These should be toys that the cat can pick up and carry or toys that are on the end of a wand. If the kitten begins to play too roughly you should stop all interaction and leave the room. This will help the cat learn that their behavior resulted in the loss of social contact. They also must not punish the cat by hitting or yelling since this is likely to scare the cat and they may become defensively aggressive.

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 07:46 pm

First you have to get her interested in the ball. Try waving the ball around in front of her face. Eventually, she will sniff the ball. Once she does this, praise her a little and repeat this a few more times. This way she will learn to show interest in the ball. Then it's time to move on to the next step in her training. Now you have to teach her to pick up the ball in her mouth. Is she doesn't do this on her own you can smear some meat paste, peanut butter or something she likes on the ball.

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 07:49 pm

This will make the ball a little more enticing for her. Once she picks it up, praise her and feed her a dog treat. Once she has picked up the ball a few feet away from you, you can lure her back with a treat. Once she arrives with the ball still in her mouth, give her a treat. She will likely drop the ball in order to make place for her treat. Repeat this several times a day until she is enjoying playing ball.

Lynsey Fuegner June 27, 2012 at 07:56 pm

You can also pair playing with the ball with something else she really enjoys and reinforce interest in, and even playing with, the ball with something else she really enjoys. It is helpful to know what she likes in order to be able to properly reinforce interaction with the ball. Some dogs enjoy praise and interaction, some dogs enjoy treats, the important thing is finding out what will truly be reinforcing to her to build an association with the ball.

Kalen Ponche (Editor) June 27, 2012 at 09:05 pm

Sometimes my husband and I feed our cat cooked, unseasoned meat (like chicken or turkey or tuna) or a little bit of organic lunch meat. Is that OK? She really loves it. She normally just eats adult science diet and she weighs a normal amount. We don't give her tuna too much because I figure if humans aren't supposed to have it because of mercury concerns, it can't be good for a 10-pound cat!

Laurie Jeffreys DVM June 27, 2012 at 09:39 pm

A small amount of cooked meat should not be a problem for a young healthy cat.

Julie Bauman - Heartland Humane Society June 28, 2012 at 01:32 am

Great suggestions! I would also consider a calming collar, which can be purchased inexpensively at most pet stores. They are very similar to the Feliway diffusers but the synthetic pheromones, which have a calming effect on cats, are in the collar so they are constantly exposed. Some other ideas are to engage your visitors to create a warm and inviting environment for your kitty. If she's food-motivated, ask your guests to give her a few treats so that she can learn to associate positive experiences with being around people; but again, let her approach them on her own time and comfort level. The key is to not rush or force the interactions as it will frighten her. The same applies to cats who are play-motivated - have your friends use a feather toy to stimulate her play instincts once she has warmed up to the environment. In addition, cat trees and climbing shelves are excellent options for shy kitties because they allow them to get up high and survey the area while feeling more comfortable and confident. Cats tend to be "tree dwellers" so they prefer to view things from on top versus from the floor where they tend to feel more insecure. I hope that helps - good luck!

Julie Bauman - Heartland Humane Society June 28, 2012 at 01:43 am

Hi Mary! Kalen and Laurie both bring up excellent points. Kittens are very playful and energetic by nature and it is instictive for them to want to play-fight as it allows them to learn how to hunt and catch prey in the wild. I foster cats for Heartland Humane Society and have run into this situation on many occasions. I'm not sure if you have another cat/kitten, but if not, kittens tend to do very well in pairs or with another playful kitty. By having a playmate, it allows them to keep each other company and be less bored. It also helps them burn off some of their energy, which means they may be less likely to play rough with you. I'm not sure if that is a feasible option for you but I wanted to mention it just in case. Good luck!

Elizabeth Frick - Tenth Life Cat Rescue June 30, 2012 at 01:03 am

Mary, I agree with Laurie about proper toys and would add to it that you should engage your kitty in regular play sessions, several times a day.
Julie's point is an excellent one as well - having a feline playmate is crucial to a kitten's socialization. Cats teach each other proper interaction better than we can, and they will learn from each other that biting is not always acceptable. I hope that one of the great tips mentioned above helps you out!