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Author: Marjorie Lewis

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Animal Health Dogs

Canine Fitness Activities You’ll Both Love

canine fitness

With Spring officially here, do you find that you’re not eating so much hearty food and that you’ve started to move more? As the temperature continues to increase and we have more sunny days, you’ll see more runners and walkers out and about, with and without their canine friends. If you have a furry friend, I’d encourage you to incorporate some canine fitness into your own fitness routine as there are many benefits to both. 

What is Canine Fitness?

When you think of fitness in general, do you think about just physical fitness or do you have a more holistic thought? Canine fitness, just like human fitness, is more than just being physically fit. It encompasses our mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Here is a great blog that breaks down each type. 

Canine Fitness Basics

Since physical fitness impacts so many areas of our lives, as well as our pup’s life, it’s important to keep the basics in mind. When it comes to canine fitness, the basic strategy is the same for ourselves and our pups:

  • Provide a healthy diet
  • Engage in lots of regular activity
  • Burn more calories than you eat
  • Keep moving throughout your life

While these are the basics to keep in mind, it’s also important to take the individual, person, and pup, into consideration. For instance, a husky needs a lot more exercise than a basset hound and of course, a husky with impaired vision may not be doing as much running as a husky with great vision. Just as you take your own personal history and abilities into consideration, be sure to do that for your canine friend, too!  

Canine Fitness Activities

When you’re determining what activities to do with your dog, there are several things to consider. Below, I’ve included two to get you started.

Hound Type

Some dogs are sight hounds, some are scent hounds and some are attention hounds.  Find out what activities suit you and your pup the best.

Exercise Preference

Find out what type of exercise your dog loves to do. Is he a runner, a sniffer, or a couch potato?

If you’re not sure what your dog likes, working with an animal communicator can help your dog to express his individual needs and preferences. 

He might express that he likes:

  • Taking a long walk sniffing along a nature trail
  • Running a 5K
  • Hiking a mountain trail
  • Dog Sledding
  • Swimming
  • Nose work
  • Obedience
  • Agility
  • Dock diving
  • People watching
  • Squirrel watching
  • Frisbee
  • Fetch

Try something you both love so you both get all of the benefits of it! Remember that no matter what type of physical exercise you choose, you should keep your pup out and active as they age. A dog that engages in age-appropriate exercise will stay healthy longer than one that spends time on the couch.

Canine Fitness for the Mind

Throughout their active years and well into old age, dogs enjoy stimulation for their mind and their senses in addition to physical exercise. Creating ways to engage your dog through enrichment activities that they can enjoy even on a rainy day will make their life feel full. These might include:

  • Puzzle games
  • Volunteer therapy work
  • Hide and seek
  • Grooming
  • Chew toys
  • Bird watching
  • Visiting friends

The mental and emotional health of our dogs is just as important as their physical health. Allowing outlets for energy helps them to rest better. Allowing them outlets for their curiosity and natural behaviors reduces the risk that they will develop anxiety and unwanted behaviors. Keep them busy?  Keep them happy!

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Animal Health Pet Resources

Should I Seek Veterinary Care?

veterinarian care

Have you ever woken up one day and started your normal routine only to greet your animal and realize they weren’t themselves? Just like with our children and others we are around often, we can typically tell when something is “off”. Since we can’t talk directly to our pets and have them literally speak back to tell us what’s wrong, we have to start to gather information from the past and present to determine if a trip to the vet is needed. The question of seeking veterinarian care for your pet can be a complex one. There are so many factors that play a part in this decision.

Typically, Yes, You Should Seek Veterinary Care

My quick and basic answer to this question is “Yes”. When a client contacts me and asks if they should call their vet about their pet’s symptoms, my first answer is always “Yes, if you have a concern about symptoms displayed by your pet, you should always seek proper veterinary care appropriate to the condition.”

When making this decision for my own pets, I ask myself, “What is my level of concern?” and “what are the symptoms I am witnessing?” Asking myself these questions first helps me to prioritize my next steps.

For instance, if my cat is experiencing some unusual itching and otherwise seems perfectly normal, my concern level would be low and I would take a common sense, wait-and-watch attitude. If the itching continues after bathing and grooming and then progresses to open sores, I elevate my concern and contact my vet.

However, when my horse suddenly begins exhibiting signs of colic my level of concern is immediately high. I collect the data about vital signs that my vet will need and call them right away.

Let Your Experience Level Inform Your Decision for Veterinary Care

Each individual pet owner must take their own personal experience into consideration when dealing with the health of their pet. New pet owners should rely on their vet to educate and guide them through this learning process. 

I personally have years of experience dealing with all types of health conditions in dogs, cats, and horses. I have collected quite a bank of knowledge and experience in assessing symptoms and prioritizing my level of concern. If my dog breaks a toenail, I feel perfectly confident to treat that bleeding at home. That feels well within my skill and experience.  If my new Guinea Pig looks “a bit off” I have no skills or experience to guide me, so I call my vet immediately.

My personal motto is, “if in doubt, call the vet”.

Finances Always Play A Part In Seeking Veterinary Care

One of the most difficult parts of this decision is the financial consideration related to veterinary treatment.  In this day and age veterinary care has become very expensive. There is no getting around that fact. All too often my clients find themselves having to choose between paying the mortgage and getting the veterinary care that their pet requires. They may have to delay a vet appointment due to a lack of funds for payment. This is not an ideal situation for any pet owner.  

I encourage pet owners to purchase pet insurance coverage in order to reduce the stress of this aspect of the decision-making process. I find that pet owners will seek veterinary care more readily if they know that their insurance plan will cover at least part of the cost of treatment. For more information on navigating pet insurance, please visit my recent blog.

Practice Prevention to Reduce Your Need for  Veterinary Care

One of the very best ways that a pet owner can avoid the tough question, “do I call the vet”, is to prepare ahead and reduce the chance of the health condition before it becomes a problem.  Preventive healthcare maintenance is worth every penny you spend. Your vet can help you determine what your pet needs to stay healthy at any life stage. Some of the key parts of wellness are:

  • Annual exams by your veterinarian
  • A healthy diet and regular exercise
  • Regular grooming
  • Immunizations and parasite control
  • Providing a safe environment free of hazards
  • Careful observation of symptoms of a problem

We all wish for healthy and happy pets. Do your best to support wellness through regular healthcare maintenance and don’t be afraid to rely on your vet to guide you through the inevitable injuries and illnesses that are a part of all pet lovers’ lives.

You can also consider using an animal communicator to help you communicate with your animal about its discomfort and behaviors. Animal communicators can also assist your vet in many ways.

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Animal Communicator

Do I Really Need a Pet Communicator Near Me?

pet communicator near me

Have you ever been on Google searching for something and you start to type your inquiry only to have Google pretty much complete your thought for you? Pretty scary, huh? Today’s technology can feel a bit eerie, and yet, it’s often unerring. One of the most popular phrases it autocompletes is “near me”, especially when a professional service is being sought. In many instances, this is very helpful since we would typically need someone “near me” if we are seeking a professional such as a plumber, hair stylist, or veterinarian. However, when it comes to partnering with a Professional Animal Communicator, pet people need not seek one located in their neighborhood. There are many choices these days.

Finding a Pet Communicator

If you find yourself in need of a pet communicator to help lend insight into a health or behavior problem with your pet, you don’t need to search “pet psychic near me” or “animal communicator in Maryland”. It would be better to use terms relevant to the problem you are experiencing, with search phrases such as “animal communicator to help with lameness in my horse”, “pet communicator to help with training problems with my dog”, “animal communicator to help my new rescue kitten”, or “pet medical intuitive to help my rabbit”. Technically, these are called long-tailed keywords so Google looks at each of the keywords to help give you better answers. If you were to use all of the search phrases listed above, each one would lead you to a varied list of professionals, each with their own specialty or expertise. 

As your search results appear, you will be able to read an excerpt about the webpage results and determine what links you want to click on. When you land on a website, you can then start to look at whether or not you see yourself working with that professional, based on the information they provide. 

Location is Not a Factor for All Pet Communicators

When you get to a website, let’s say for a pet communicator, and you see that they are not located in your town or even state, don’t fret! When it comes to animal communication I have found that time zone and distance do not seem to matter. I have worked with cats in Abu Dhabi, elephants in Africa, dogs in the Philippines, horses in the UK, and groundhogs in the USA. 

The one limiting factor I’ve found is that the human client and I need to have a common language and that for me, is English. When I communicate with animals, I am also using a common language but not that of spoken English. The animals and I transfer thoughts, feelings, and ideas between us telepathically in the form of mental images, emotions, and physical sensations. This type of “data in energy form” does not seem to be restricted by distance or language. Perhaps it is similar to the way radio stations or TV channels can broadcast across great distances.

Pet Communication Via Phone

Not all pet communications or pet psychics work the same way. Some people prefer to be at the site in person with the animal while communicating. Others request that their clients submit a list of questions that will be answered via email. Most will do a consultation over the phone with the client and that is how I prefer to work.

I have done many consultations in person with my clients and at busy pet fairs but these loud and high-energy environments are not always the best for this type of work. When I am communicating with an animal, I prefer to sit quietly with my eyes closed. I enter a state of deep mental quiet where I begin to receive mental images from the animal. For me, it is like watching a video download in my mind’s eye. Along with the imagery, I receive emotions and physical sensations that I feel in my own body. When I sit in a quiet environment I can perceive these sensations in all of their small nuances. I prefer to be connected with the pet guardian by phone so that I can share a real-time verbal conversation with them as I send and receive thoughts with their pet. In this way, it is like sharing a 3-way conversation or working with a language translator. The person can have a conversation with their pet in a way that would not be possible by email with a pet communicator. 

Pet Communication Works Globally

I have worked with clients all over the world and their feedback tells me that it works with only the potential inconvenience of our different time zones. So when searching for a pet communicator or pet psychic, ask your friends for referrals. Social media has really expanded our social circle so don’t be afraid to inquire there. You no longer need to search only “near me”. The right match might be in your own neighborhood or across the globe but your pet won’t care either way. Make the call, open the conversation, and delve into new levels of relationship with the animals you love.

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Animal Communicator Partnerships

6 Professionals That Should Partner With An Animal Communicator

communicator

Open communication leads to understanding. That’s the truth. Whether we are discussing human relationships or the relationships we share with our companion animals, opening a conversation leads to a healthier relationship based on a deeper understanding of one another. One of the best ways to have communication with your animals is to hire an animal communicator.

Improving Relationships with Your Pet

Whether your animal companion is a lap cat, an agility champion dog, or an endurance horse, you must partner with many professionals to keep your pet happy and healthy. These professionals each have their own toolbox of skills, education, and experience to lend to you and your pet, but none of them can know your pet on the same level that you can.  

Animal Communicators can not only help improve the relationship between you and your pet, but they can also help you improve the relationship between your pet and the other professionals you have working with them, as well as your relationship with those professionals. 

Pet Professionals That Partner Well with An Animal Communicator

There are several professionals that work with pets and I’ve highlighted 6 that I think make great partnerships for animal communicators. They are a:

  1. Veterinarian
  2. Veterinarian technician (vet tech)
  3. Dog trainer
  4. Horse trainer
  5. Pet sitter
  6. Animal shelter volunteer

Veterinarians and Vet Techs

Veterinarians and vet techs have a lot of experience with different animals, breeds, and medical situations but they have a very limited time to get to know your pet on a deeper level. They are limited by the experience presented to them during your brief visit. They must rely on visual observation of symptoms and lab work. Imagine how much more insight your vet would gain if they could have a real conversation with your pet, asking about where it hurts and other physical symptoms that are not externally visible such as nausea or joint pain. With even basic knowledge of animal communication, veterinary staff can help create a less stressful environment for visiting pets, conveying their intention to help and reducing fear triggers for the pets.

Dog and Horse Trainers

The expanded understanding that comes with animal communication can also benefit professional dog and horse trainers. When an animal has the opportunity to express details about their own experience of the world it can help to explain behavior patterns and triggers. Not all training techniques fit all personality types. Gaining individual knowledge directly from the pet about their unique personality and preferences can help guide any trainer to develop a program that works best with that animal. A dog that is reactive to loud noises or voices might learn better using hand signals. A horse might express a past experience that created fear of closed spaces. With knowing this, the trainer can begin the process out in the open and work on rewarding the horse when entering closed spaces. The deeper the understanding of the animal and its own unique nature, the better the trainer can react and build trust.

Pet Sitters and Animal Shelter Volunteers

The same principles are true for pet sitters and animal shelter volunteers. The deeper the understanding between them and the pets in their care, the less stressful the interaction is for all parties. Both pet sitters and shelter volunteers encounter situations where they need to provide care in close contact with animals they may have never met before. These animals are generally in a state of wariness or uncertainty when encountering new people. Life in a shelter can be deeply stressful. They just don’t know what to expect. A consultation with an animal communicator can help to open the lines of communication and understanding that can facilitate the building of a trust-based relationship. Once the pet can begin to understand the motivation of these strangers, (caretaking) and the expectations of this relationship (trust) they can begin to let their guard down and let their true personality shine through.

Aren’t all relationships based on trust and open, honest, mutual communication? Why should our relationships with animals be any different?  Don’t be hesitant about sharing these ideas with the professionals on your pet’s care team and see how it works.

Categories
Animal Adoption Rabbits

5 Things to Know About Rabbit Adoption

rabbit

Easter will be here before we know it and chocolate bunnies won’t be the only thing being purchased around that time. By the way, did you know that over 91 million chocolate bunnies are bought each year around Easter? That’s a lot of chocolate bunnies!! While there won’t be 91 million, the adoption of rabbits will increase during February, since it’s Adopt A Rabbit Month, and during Easter time, too. Many parents plan on gifting their child/children with what seems to be a cute, furry friend for Easter and some even go out on a whim and get one with no prior planning. Whether you’re adopting a rabbit spontaneously or planning it, here are some things you should know:

  1. Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. These intelligent and social animals require daily enrichment activities, exercise, and socialization. They are energetic so it’s important to provide them with things that will help them spend their energy. Otherwise, they may find something to occupy them, like chewing on your favorite shoe or a lamp cord, to keep them entertained.
  2. You have to “bunny-proof” your home. Rabbits can easily destroy your furniture, carpet, molding, and wires. They’ll even eat any loose paper laying around. 
  3. Their diet is NOT carrots and bunny pellets. Rabbits actually require a constant supply of hay. It is vital for their digestive and dental health. This is a big thing for families that may have allergies. Something else to consider is that their diet has to be supplemented with fresh vegetables on a daily basis. Dandelion greens, romaine lettuce, and herbs are all good for rabbits and the cost of these additional groceries can add up quickly.
  4. Rabbits are not inexpensive pets. My House Rabbit has a great article that breaks down the cost of a pet rabbit. The initial cost for one is estimated to be up to $390 with ongoing costs of around $85 per month.
  5. Rabbits are not good for children. Rabbits are prey animals so they like to be kept on the ground. Children tend to want to cuddle and pick them up which startles them. When a rabbit feels something holding it, it may get aggressive and then scratch the child as it tries to flee. If you’re going to adopt a rabbit for a child, it’s better to have an older child so that they can participate in their care and understand how to safely handle the rabbit.

While there are many pros to having pets in general, a rabbit is a pet that you’ll want to put deep thought into. You may want to consider talking with a veterinarian about the life expectancy and care they will need. The more information you have, the better off you are.

If you do decide to adopt a rabbit, the House Rabbit Society shares a great article For People New to Rabbits that provides some useful resources. They also have a brochure that contains a lot of practical information including how to feed and house-train your new rabbit and bunny-proof your home before the rabbit arrives. Something else you may want to consider after getting a rabbit is hiring an animal communicator. Talking with an animal communicator can help you understand if the rabbit is happy with their environment, this will lessen the risk of them destroying property and engaging in undesired behaviors. This is just one of the ways an animal communicator can help. To learn about other ways, you can schedule a consultation. 

Categories
Cats Spaying/Neutering

Love Is In The Air – For Your Cats, Too

Neutering

It’s the month of love! Despite having celebrated Valentine’s Day on February 14th, a day dedicated to love and romance, the entire month is all about love! It’s a month of prioritizing self-care (specifically heart health), self-love, and fostering relationships with friends and family. When it comes to our pets, we might call February – Beat the Heat Month. Otherwise known as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering our pets. 

Important Information About Cat Fertility

Did you know that February is the start of the breeding season for most cats in the Northern Hemisphere and it lasts until October? During this time, a cat can have up to five litters in just one year. That’s a lot! Here’s how it’s possible:

  • Cats go through puberty, just like humans, and this can start as early as five months old.
  • Once a cat hits puberty, it can reproduce and its heat cycles last every 14 to 21 days.
  • Once pregnant, the gestation period is about 2 months which makes it possible for a cat to have up to 5 litters a year. You can learn more about a cat’s pregnancy stages here. 

Because of the possibility of pregnancy and the number of cats in each litter, it’s really important to get your cat spayed or neutered to prevent adding to the overpopulation of cats.

Benefits of Spaying/Neutering

There are many benefits to both the community and to our pets when we choose to spay or neuter. 

Reduces wandering and territorial behavior

If you have ever lived with a female cat in heat, you know what an unpleasant experience it can be with their yowling for love at any time of day or night. Any stray male in the neighborhood will be making nocturnal visits and be equally vocal. An unneutered male can get quite aggressive and will usually mark his territory by spraying his strong-smelling urine. If your cat lives outdoors even part-time, it is important that you eliminate the risk of their producing unwanted litters or being injured by other aggressive cats. 

Animals tend to live longer

Family pets that have been spayed or neutered are often more relaxed, they bond more closely with family and will be less likely to wander from home. Their life expectancy is also longer due to reduced risk of diseases such as testicular cancer in males and breast cancer in females which can be fatal 90% of the time in cats.

Helps fight overpopulation

Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

Help Reduce the Strain on Shelters and Rescues

The best way to help support shelters and rescues that are dealing with the overpopulation of cats is to make sure that yours is spayed or neutered as soon as they are of age. The decision to spay or neuter your family pet can be protective for them in a number of ways. Your veterinarian can help you explore the benefits for your individual pet.

Another way is to support a feral cat rescue organization. Organizations like Alley Cat Allies, have a Feral Friends Network which brings together people and organizations for support and guidance with feral cats. Organizations like these benefit the community by trapping feral cats, providing spaying and neutering services and vaccines, and even transitioning these animals into adoptive homes when appropriate.

You could even help out by fostering a cat while they wait for its forever home. You can learn more about showing some love by fostering a cat in my recent blog.

Categories
Pet Fostering

Show Some Love by Fostering a Pet

The season of love is upon us! Have you started thinking about ways that you’ll be showing love to your loved ones in your life? What about ways that you can show love to those who are not currently in your life? You could donate to a cause that’s close to your heart or even express your love by fostering a pet. Fostering a pet could actually serve you, your family, and the fostered pet.

Fostering a Pet

When you foster a pet, you provide temporary care and shelter for an animal while they are waiting to be adopted. This is often a great option for someone who wants to help animals and doesn’t have the capacity to have an animal of their own. By fostering a pet, you will help relieve overcrowding in shelters and provide so many benefits to the animal you’re fostering. We’ll discuss some of these benefits later on.

Pets Experience Love Differently

If you decide to foster a pet, it’s important to keep in mind that we, humans, might envision “showing love” as buying a gift or sharing vigorous hugs with our beloved. However, this would not be our pet’s idea of love. Of course, each of our pets has their individual preferences based on their personality just like we do, but in general, an animal’s Idea of showing love might include:

  • Companionship
  • Shared playtime
  • A gentle snuggle, on their terms
  • Providing a safe place to rest without the threat of danger
  • Healthy food provided on a reliable schedule
  • Shelter from severe weather
  • Trust

Benefits for the Pet Being Fostered

Many pets that are waiting for adoption have been abandoned or neglected, or are homeless. Therefore, the animal finds itself without the surety of protection and regular meals. Their life is filled with uncertainty, fear, hunger, and perhaps pain. Having a foster home helps provide security by providing a supportive sanctuary for them to feel safe.  

Food and Medical Care

Once rescued, they will be provided with food on a regular schedule and even treats to reward good behavior. Oftentimes, pets have gone months or years without medical care, or have never had it. In a foster home, meals and medical care can be given with more attention to individual needs and with the care and patience required by some animals. Having regular medical care will help them have a better quality of life and could even reduce their physical pain.

A Safe Environment

By fostering a pet you will give the animal so much more than it might receive in a shelter environment. Rather than a small cage in a kennel, a foster home can provide a soft, warm home with individual attention. The overall environment of a foster home lowers the stress of most animals that come from the shelter. The surroundings are quieter with less fear energy than the shelter. This allows stressed animals to get the rest they need without having to be on guard all the time. 

Routine

The foster home will provide a more relaxed and predictable routine which can be important to a pet that has come from so much uncertainty. Fostering allows a scared or anxious animal to form a bond of trust with one familiar caretaker rather than the anonymous staff that they encounter in a shelter.

A Place to Be Themselves

Once rested and renewed in their foster home, a pet’s true personality begins to emerge. Their caregiver can learn about their likes and dislikes, play style, and energy level creating an environment for them to grow and thrive. 

They can learn about how to behave in a home and get socialized with other family members and pets. Individual personality traits can be recognized that will help pair them with their perfect situation. For example, if a cat is not well suited to life in a family home, it can be placed in a farm-type home where it can receive care and shelter and maintain the freedom it needs. The foster caretaker is often the one that writes a pet’s adoption profile to attract just the right match.

Tailored Training

These pets can now receive care and training individually tailored to their needs, such as housetraining or leash skills, which can improve their adoptability. By fostering, you can teach an animal all of the skills they need to become a valued family pet or be matched to a job that fits its personality. 

Taking Love A Step Further

If you’re looking to see what your foster pet really loves, an animal communicator is a great way to do that! An animal communicator can help identify where the pet may be experiencing pain, what kind of food they enjoy, and what their fear triggers are. To learn more about how an animal communicator can help, schedule a free introductory call.

If you choose to foster a pet, I thank you in advance as the care and love that a foster provides can help ensure the pet lives a long, healthy life filled with fun and love!

Categories
Dog Training Dogs

Is It Ever Too Late for Dog Training?

dog training

Are you considering adopting a dog but are hesitant to adopt an older one? Adopting a dog is a big decision. As we stated in our previous blog, 6 Things to Consider Before You Adopt A Dog, there are several things you should consider when doing so. That list expands when you are looking at a more elderly dog. Adopting an older dog has several pros and cons, such as bypassing inevitable puppy behavior (pro) and knowing the dog’s personality (con). One of the things that there are many misconceptions about is whether or not you can still train an older dog. The short answer is yes! Despite the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, you can absolutely teach an older dog new responses so it is never too late for dog training. Before we dive into that, let’s get a better understanding of what dog training can entail.

Types of Dog Training

Styles of Dog Training

In another blog about needing a trainer, we discussed what might prompt someone to get a trainer, what to consider before hiring a trainer, getting input from others and how animal communication can be a resource. Now, let’s look at the different types of dog training. According to Pet Keen, there are 4 different styles of training.

  1. Positive Reinforcement. (My personal favorite). This is all about praise for good behavior.
  2. Dominance Training. With this training, you’re utilizing methods that communicate to the dog that you are the alpha and that the dog submits to you.
  3. E-collar Training. E-collars use shock, noise, or vibration to correct unwanted behaviors. 
  4. Clicker Training. This signals the dog that it’s reward time when they’ve done something good. 

Specialized Dog Training

Outside of the 4 styles of training, there are also 8 different specialized trainings. Some of these are not fit for all dogs so it’s important to hire a reputable trainer that will thoroughly discuss each. 

  1. Behavioral
  2. Tracking
  3. Obedience
  4. Therapy
  5. Agility
  6. Retrieving
  7. Service
  8. Protection

Finding the Right Dog Training

Take a moment to think about the way you learn. Do you have to write things down or do what you’re learning yourself to get it to “stick”? Humans are just like dogs in that we each learn differently so knowing how your dog learns and understanding each type of training is important. For instance, if you have a hound, tracking could be a really good way to train your dog since they are natural hunters with extra-strong sniffers. As I just demonstrated, the breed may be something to consider when choosing a type of training. The type of training you choose will also depend on things like:

  • Age – you won’t necessarily want agility training for a 14-year-old dog.
  • Health condition – if your dog has severe anxiety, you may not want it to do service training. 
  • Desired outcome – if your dog is showing undesirable behaviors that you want to diminish, you wouldn’t want to focus on therapy training. 

No matter what type of training you choose, the only time age should be a factor is if their age is directly related to a health condition or physical ability. Otherwise, age should not deter you from teaching your dog a new behavior or trick. 

Dog Training for An Aging Dog Could Be Difficult, Not Impossible

When it comes to training your dog, it is easier to teach a new response than to “un-teach” one that has already been learned. So, you can teach an old dog a new trick but it is harder to re-train a trick or behavior pattern that they have already learned.

It is much easier to teach a young dog that is open, energetic, and ready to explore. Young dogs have not had much time to learn about themselves and their environment so they don’t have predetermined responses to new experiences or commands. However, please note that you should be mindful of what you teach a young dog. They learn quickly whether you mean to teach a behavior or not.

As dogs grow and age, they gather information about their environment. They make assumptions and “download” patterns of responses based on past experiences. These “learned” responses may be correct (desired) responses from the human point of view or they may be labeled undesired or incorrect by the human. The dog does not label events and responses as “good” or “bad” as we do. They tend to learn what brings positive responses (praise, reward) and negative responses (pain). 

Their labels and our labels do not always agree. 

With all of this considered, be strategic and intentional about the way you are interacting with and training your dog and you’ll continue to strengthen your bond!

Categories
Animal Adoption

Improving Quality of Life for Your Animal Rescue: Part 2

animal rescue

The day has finally come when you bring your newly adopted animal rescue into your household. The process of creating a quality of life for your new rescue will be a day-to-day activity at first. For most pets, the basic elements that makeup “quality of life” are – sufficient food and water, protection from danger and extreme weather, companionship, occupation, sensory stimulation, and clearly defined boundaries and expectations. In order to create a good quality of life once you get your animal rescue, we’ve included some useful information to consider. 

Your First Days with Your Animal Rescue

In the first days together, try to keep things simple. Moving out of a shelter and into a whole new world can be overwhelming for most pets. Think of your pet as an alien that has just landed from an unknown world. Introduce them gently to their new world. 

Create Small Boundaries

Keep their boundaries small and their schedule relaxed. Pets don’t actually realize at first that they have landed in a new, permanent home. They may need days just to rest after the stress of the shelter.

Allow Exploration

Allow them all the time they need to explore and learn about your home and all the members of your family. 

  1. Keep socialization to a minimum in the first few days until your pet settles in.
  2. Many newly adopted pets go missing in the first few days due to fear and confusion. Allow them to settle in, relax, and bond.

Keep the Same Diet

Start out feeding them the same diet they received at the rescue. Make dietary changes gradually and watch for any signs of distress such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching.

Try out commands

If you have adopted a dog, try out different commands. Find out how much they have already learned. 

As Time Progresses with Your Animal Rescue

Show them Boundaries

Practice leash walking and show them the boundaries of their property. A happy pet is one that knows where the boundaries lie and what the rules are that they are expected to follow.

Consider Their History

Keep in mind that your adopted pet has come to you with a history.  They may already have developed likes and dislikes for toys, activities, food, and friends. Depending on your pet’s age, these are things that you may or may not be able to modify.  Allow them the opportunity to express their preferences and then work with them to compromise when needed to suit your lifestyle. 

  1. If your dog is a “chewer”, provide plenty of things that they ARE allowed to chew on so they don’t get into trouble chewing on your furniture. Most pets do not adapt well when told, “It’s my way or the highway.”

Learn Triggers

Discover the “triggers” that your animal rescue has brought with them from their previous experiences. These may be ‘fear’ triggers such as fear of thunderstorms or “aggression” triggers such as aggression towards other male dogs. Some pets even have “over-excitement” triggers that cause them to lose their minds when the doorbell rings. Create an environment that limits these triggers and/or consult an experienced trainer to help you and your pet overcome their past behavior triggers.

Sleeping Spots

Allow your pet the option of a few sleeping spots in your home. Pets are happier if they can choose “their” spot.  Some may choose the center of activity under the kitchen table while others want the protection of a snug, dark corner.  Let them tell you where they fit best.

Set Expectations

Gently help your new pet to understand what expectations you have for them. Help them to define a role for themselves where they can fit nicely into your household. Some pets fit best as “gentle, quiet companions”, “household guardians”, “playmates”, “exercise partners”, or even “goofy clowns”.  I find that pets generally want to fit in. Helping them to define a role that suits their personality offers more chances for positive feedback and a fulfilling place in your family. Asking a guard dog to be a couch potato just leaves everyone stressed and uncomfortable.

Match Energy

Match your pet’s activity level to their energy level. This will change throughout their lives. Discover the activities that your pet enjoys and share these together. A high-energy pet forced to live a sedentary lifestyle will not experience a high quality of life.

Enrich Their Environment

Provide environmental enrichment. No matter what type of pet you have chosen, environmental enrichment is a top priority in providing quality of life. Discover what types of toys and activities provide sensory stimulation and create curiosity for your unique pet. When animals are asked to live inside your home it is critical to create an environment for them that stimulates their brains and their sensory responses. In my home, I have created a climbing wall for my cat. He has a variety of cat trees to climb and scratch on. He has bird feeders to watch out the window and food puzzles to engage his sense of smell and his appetite along with plenty of small toys to hunt. Challenge yourself to provide experiences for your pet that feed all of his senses. Adding new toys and retiring old, stale ones is also key to keeping your pets engaged.

Pay Attention

Become familiar with your pet’s usual routine and behavior so that you can easily notice when things are not going well. Noticing subtle changes is the key to catching health and behavior issues before they become unmanageable.

Give Your Pet the Activity It Needs

Boredom and loneliness can quickly send a pet into depression or undesired behavior. Is your new pet naturally a loner or a party animal? Create playdates or other opportunities for your pet to socialize within their natural comfort zone. Forcing a shy dog to spend the day at the dog park is only asking for trouble.

In closing, the true key to creating a quality of life for your pet is to consider what they would ask for based on their individual species and personality.  Do not treat them like a human, provide what they want, not what you want. If you have doubts about their needs or questions you would like to ask, an animal communication consultation may be just what you need to create a quality, lasting relationship with your rescued pet.

Categories
Animal Adoption

Improving Quality of Life for Your Animal Rescue: Part 1

animal rescue

Deciding to adopt a pet into your family is a big commitment that can bring years of great joy. One of the critical and often overlooked parts of a successful animal rescue is planning ahead to ensure you’re providing the best quality of life. Spending time and effort to plan and prepare for your new family member can ensure that the transition into your home is a smooth and pleasant one for you and your new pet. Here are some things you want to consider that will help enhance your animal rescue’s quality of life.

Build Your Village

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”. The same goes for a pet. Here are a few things to do before adoption to get your village ready.

  1. Be sure that all members of the family are on board with the decision to adopt and willing to participate in care and training.
  2. Research the animal rescue that you plan to work with. Make sure the organization is a reputable one and not a puppy mill in disguise. Get your adoption application pre-screened so you are ready when the right pet comes along.
  3. Form a relationship with the veterinary practice that you will work with. Find out a realistic estimate of the cost of annual care. Keep in mind that:
  1. Many of the initial costs might be covered by the rescue organization.
  2. Rescued pets come with an unknown health history. Consider purchasing pet insurance for your newly adopted pet to cover any unexpected health conditions. You can get a free copy of my Pet Insurance Comparison Chart below.

I have created a comparison chart containing the information that I was able to collect online from the ten companies that seemed most popular. This was the basic information available at the time I was shopping so I can’t vouch for the current accuracy. This chart is for educational purposes only. Ask Your Animals is not offering insurance advice and is not an insurance expert. Each person utilizing this information is responsible for their insurance choices and due diligence.

Please provide your information below to get the comparison emailed to you.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Prepare Appropriately

  1. Give a close examination of your current lifestyle and schedule. Make sure that you have the time and resources to devote to a new family member. 
  1. Choose the pet that fits the size of your home and yard. A very busy person with only a small apartment might be better off choosing a cat as a companion. While an avid runner might choose a large dog breed known for their stamina. When we choose a companion that does not fit, it can cause stress for the animal and for us. Many adopted pets are returned to the shelter because they were expected to fit into a household that was not well suited to their needs. Narrowing your search ahead of time helps to ensure a match made in heaven.
  2. Prepare your home for a new pet before it arrives. Consider fostering a pet before adopting one to be sure that you are ready for the commitment.

Lastly, Be Certain!

When you do get that call from the animal rescue saying, “we have a great pet for you”, take the time to revisit your list of pet requirements so that you can make a solid decision and not get carried away by a warm pair of sorrowful eyes. Considering all of this will create a great foundation for a good quality of life for you both. 

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