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Pets & Animals

Animal Care and Behavior

Cheryl Alderson

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Questions 1-10 of 249:


  1. I have a puppy about six month old. I have been trying to house train him for about four month now. I keep him in the kitchen because of the tile floor. Its easier to clean up accidents than off the carpet. He will use his puppy pad faithfully as long as he is in the kitchen. But if he gets any chance to roam to another part of the house, he will pee or poop there. My husband thinks he is doing this out of spite. Can you help me? He wants to get rid of him. He knows to use the pads if he's in the kitchen. Why wont he go back to the pads in the kitchen when he's in the living room, or bedroom? HELP!! - frustrated pet owner from chatsworth, Georgia
    The puppy is not having accidents out of spite. His housetraining is not complete. We suggest: 1. Taking the pup outside every hour and giving him a    » more
    The puppy is not having accidents out of spite. His housetraining is not complete. We suggest: 1. Taking the pup outside every hour and giving him a food treat AS he is eliminating OUTSIDE. Gradually increase the time between toilet trips. 2. Use a crate instead of a huge area to keep the puppy in when you can not supervise. This includes at night. 3. Get rid of the puppy pads. They only confuse the dog and teach the dog to go indoors on things (thus the carpet). 4. Every time the pup has an accident, roll up a newspaper and hit yourself in the head and repeat "I was not watching the dog, I was not watching the dog! Bad owner! Bad owner!" Review: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/crate_training.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/housetraining.pdf   « less
  2. I have a pug/shihtzu mix who is constantly licking our faces. Are these "kisses" really a way for the dog to show affection? - Anonymous
    Licking is a submissive sign in dogs, not affection as in people. Dogs do learn that we enjoy it; we encourage it.
    Licking is a submissive sign in dogs, not affection as in people. Dogs do learn that we enjoy it; we encourage it.
  3. I have a 4 month old maltese/mini aussie mix I've been trying to litter box train her for 2 months now I had her in her crate while we were away at work with her litter box in there and she would always go in her litter box of course she would drag her droppings out of the litter box so I would have a big mess to clean when i got home. I started to think that the crate was not such a good idea because shes in there for to long and becoming a dirty dog she wouldnt mind lieing in her own mess. So I went out and bought a gate to put up so that way she will be on tile floor and I put her litter box on one side and her bed and food on another side. I've only been doing this for a couple of days so far she will not use her litter box she only goes on the floor although she used it in her crate. I really need some advice on this. I really need to litter train her my hours at work are to long for her to hold it until i get home.....Please HELP! Any advice? - Jennie from Daytona Beach, Florida
    The puppy is not having accidents out of spite. His housetraining is not complete. We suggest: 1. Taking the pup outside every hour and giving him a    » more
    The puppy is not having accidents out of spite. His housetraining is not complete. We suggest: 1. Taking the pup outside every hour and giving him a food treat AS he is eliminating OUTSIDE. Gradually increase the time between toilet trips. 2. Use a crate instead of a huge area to keep the puppy in when you can not supervise. This includes at night. 3. Get rid of the litter tray. They only confuse the dog and teach the dog to go indoors on things. 4. Every time the pup has an accident, roll up a newspaper and hit yourself in the head and repeat "I was not watching the dog, I was not watching the dog! Bad owner! Bad owner!" Review: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/crate_training.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/housetraining.pdf   « less
  4. I need the name of a strong dog repellant. The neighbors let their dogs run free. I have become a prisoner in my own home. I have called animal control and the police. The mail carrier stated that mail to me and others in the neighborhood will not be delivered to our houses. Now I must pick up my mail at the Post Office. I need some help. - anonymous
    Video tape the dogs so you have evidence of them running at large. Call the police and animal control again and threaten them you will go to the city    » more
    Video tape the dogs so you have evidence of them running at large. Call the police and animal control again and threaten them you will go to the city council to get it stopped. For dog repellent, go to http://mightypets.com/product.asp?3=946   « less
  5. I have a 4 year old altered pit mix. She has always been good with kids but recently has shown some aggression when she eats her food. She has not bit anyone but she does growl. She is a indoor dog and I walk her on a daily basis. Should I take her to behavior classes. - Stacy from sj, ca
    Aggression in any form, including warning (growling) is indeed something to worry about. If you have kids in the home, it is doubley more important to   » more
    Aggression in any form, including warning (growling) is indeed something to worry about. If you have kids in the home, it is doubley more important to have a private consultation to get to the root of the matter. We recommend calling K-9 Partnership at 408-857-2468. For now, feed her in a separate room and take up any left over food after 10 minutes. Do NOT leave food down continually.   « less
  6. I have a pitbull mix who is very slow moving and very gentle. She quit eating and after visits to the vet had to have surgery. He removed plastic,rubber (from chew toys),fabric and other "stuff" that was stuck in her stomach and intestines. We feed her generic dog food and people food. Could this be her problem? - Sherry from Deming NM
    We suggest changing the pets diet to one of human grade such as Wellness, California Natural, Innova, Natural Balance, or check out a website for more   » more
    We suggest changing the pets diet to one of human grade such as Wellness, California Natural, Innova, Natural Balance, or check out a website for more brands at: http://www.dogaware.com/dogfeeding.html#TopDry Put the pets daily meals into a food device such as a KONG, Roll A Treat or Buster Cube. This will occupy the dog's time and teach them to target an appropriate chew item. Do provide plenty of natural smoked bones for the dog to chew on. The most common cause of chewing is BOREDOM. Do exercise your dog daily for at least 20 minutes. For more information, go to: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/faq_chewing.pdf   « less
  7. I am interested in looking into the hobbie of Agility training for my Manchester Terrier and myself. He is 8 months old, smart and very athletic . Where can I go to get started. - kathleen from Fremont California
    www.cleanrun.com http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/ http://www.agilityability.com/agility_training.htm
    www.cleanrun.com http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/ http://www.agilityability.com/agility_training.htm
  8. thank you for the advice it will come in very handy. i also have a problem with the 1yr old mix, she keeps nipping at clothing while you are wearing them and hair, how do i stop her from doing this? - dmm from clifton, nj
    Please follow our info on mouthing & biting and exercise for dogs at: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/mouthing.pdf http://www.hssv.org/L   » more
    Please follow our info on mouthing & biting and exercise for dogs at: http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/mouthing.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/playandexercise.pdf   « less
  9. i have a 1 yr old mix dog, i am trying to house train her she'll poop on the paper but will not pee there she keeps peeing on the rug. we take her out and she'll go pee but as soon as we bring her in she pees on the rug. how can i get her to stop - dmm from clifton, Nj
    We suggest you go back to basics using a crate and careful supervision for a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks to establish a new behavior pattern. http://www   » more
    We suggest you go back to basics using a crate and careful supervision for a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks to establish a new behavior pattern. http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/housetraining.pdf http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/Behavior/crate_training.pdf   « less
  10. I have a female 6 mnth old domeman (IZZY) she is the most loving dog I have ever seen she will give you the most sweetest kisses and hugs very playfull with my other dog timber male. we also have four cats everyone gets along great. now Izzy has a problem she pees on the bed mostly on my wifes side. you see ever since izzy was a pup we let her sleep on the bed we don't mind but this peeing has got to stop we have reverted to the cage at night. we don't let her out of our sites when we are at home but once in a while she disappers and this happens not all the time eather just one or two times a week. what can I do I really need your help other than that she is potty trained she goest to the door and barks and she is rewarded - Shawn williamson from kingsport, tn
    First talk with your vet. Many Dobermans have bladder problems such as small size or leakage. Next go back to basics for the next 12 weeks and she is   » more
    First talk with your vet. Many Dobermans have bladder problems such as small size or leakage. Next go back to basics for the next 12 weeks and she is NEVER out of your site OR the bedroom door is kept closed all the time.   « less
Questions 1-10 of 249:
Ask Cheryl Alderson a question