Using an electric collar to fix cat aggression
Comments (3)One of the primal urges and drives of many dogs is to chase, capture, and/or kill prey. In many cases this takes the form of going after the household cat. But how can you fix an urge that is hard wired into the head of a dog? The key is using the proper tools and techniques.
Those that read this blog know that I am a fan of electric collars (sometimes called e-collars, remote trainers, or shock collars) only when they are used properly. This dog training tool should never be used in anger or as a means of ‘getting revenge’ for a dog that is misbehaving. Most of the time this tool should be used on low levels and used as a means of communicating a training principle.
In the case of fixing cat problems I recommend using it a bit differently. In a case like this I recommend using it on medium levels. For most cat chasers the drive to get the cat is so strong. Because the drive is so strong you have to use a higher than normal level to fix the issue. The following are some steps to keep your cat safe.
1- Condition your dog to the e-collar by having the dog wear the collar for several days before using it. No, not several days straight. But for several days put the electric collar on at random times and have your dog wear it for several hours at a time. You don’t want your dog to associate his displeasure with cats with the collar. You want him to believe that cats are inherently negative.
At this point you have to keep your dog separate from cats because it is not time to train yet.
2- Once the dog is accustomed to the collar it is time to start training. Have your dog wearing the collar and on a leash. Keep the collar on a medium level. Allow him to be around a cat. The second he starts to show any interest in the cat at all (looks at the cat, barks, lunges, ears perk up in the direction of the cat, etc.) immediately give a quick stimulation. If the dog continues to show interest in the cat continue giving quick taps on the button. DON’T HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN, simply give a few taps until he starts to look away. Throughout this whole process don’t say anything to the dog. Don’t say “No, bad dog, no cat” or anything of the sort. Continue giving the stimulation until the dog no longer is looking at the cat.
This style of training is called avoidance training. The idea is to form a negative association in the mind of the dog with respect to the cat. For that reason you don’t give a command, you want the dog to believe that cat itself is a negative object. If you give the dog a command to stop going after the dog that means that his obedience is relative to you. Normally that is fine for most behaviors but in this case you want the dog to really dislike paying attention to the cat.
3- When the dog continually looks away from the cat it is time to move on to the next step. Allow the dog off the leash so he is feeling more open and free. Repeat the same step as before. The second the dog even looks at the cat give him a stimulation.
4- At this stage your dog should really dislike even looking at the cat. Your dog is just about fixed of his cat addiction. Now the only step to complete is keeping a close eye on him. You will probably catch him taking quick glances from time to time at the cat. Make sure you can consistently correct him for his interest in the cat and you will soon have a cat-proof dog.
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Be careful of laser pointers!
Comments (0)Chocolate, onions, garlic, parvo, aggressive dogs, and …laser pointers? The list of items that are dangerous to your dog just got one bigger. Beware of laser pointers!
Okay, the truth is that laser pointers are not dangerous to your dog’s health. Physical health, that is. Laser pointers can sometimes be dangerous to your dog’s mental health.
Every day in my dog training business, CommuniCanine Inc., I see all sorts of weird behavioral problems that dogs have. The list runs the gamut from strange quirks to obsessions to everything else. The latest problem I am encountering is the laser pointer.
Many dogs love to chase things. They chase balls, cats, rabbits, birds, toys, cars, and anything else that moves. This desire to chase is called prey drive. Many people have put two and two together and realized, “Hey, my dog loves to chase. I can use a laser pointer! It goes fast and I can sit down while I use it.” Great idea, right? Well, not always.
Dogs are just as capable of developing obsessive compulsions as people are. For whatever reason there are many dogs that easily develop compulsions with the laser pointer. In the last few months alone I have run across a half dozen dogs that are crazy for the pointer. For some dogs the obsession isn’t terrible, the dogs just love it and will play for hours. For other dogs, though, the obsession has led to other issues. I recently ran across a dog that was so obsessed with the laser pointer that he went off his food. He would just sit and stare at the pointer for hours. He couldn’t function because he was just thinking about his toy. Another pair of dogs I came across had developed a deep obsession with the pointer. Their obsession grew to the point that any reflection or light that entered the room set them off into a frenzy of barking. Anytime a car drove past, a door opened, or any other reflection occured it caused them to chase and bark like madmen.
Will your dog develop an obsession with the laser pointer? Maybe, maybe not. Use the pointer at your own risk.
Do pit bulls really have jaws that lock?
Comments (1)I’ve been in a conversation recently with another dog owner and was very disappointed to hear that there is a dog myth that is still rather prevalent. This dog owner was talking about so-called ‘fighting breeds’ and said that you have to be careful with pit bulls because they are anxious to fight and they have ‘locking jaws’.
I have heard this statement for years but it has almost always come from people who weren’t in dog related fields and didn’t know anything about dogs. Allow me to set the record straight, there is no such thing as a Pit Bull or any other breed that has ‘locking jaws’.
It just isn’t true. Pit bulls don’t have jaws that lock. The only difference anatomically between the jaws of the pit bull and the jaws of a poodle is size. There is no mechanism in the mouth of a pit bull that would ever allow it to lock and not release.
Where does the myth of the locking jaws come from?
This leads to the question then, where does this myth come from? To be honest I can’t tell you when and where it started but I think I can lend some insight as to the ‘why’. Pit bulls are an incredibly athletic dog. They have the capability to compete in just about any dog sport around. They also often have high ‘prey drive’. This is the dog’s desire to chase and grab an object whether it be a tennis ball or a rabbit. As such, you will often see a person playing with their Pit Bull with a rope toy, for example. You can often see a Pit Bull playing with a toy and holding on for dear life. This is tenacity and athleticism, not a locking jaw.
So why does it matter?
So you may be asking, who cares? Why does it matter if a Pit Bull has a locking jaw or not? The truth is that the Pit Bull is one of the most maligned breeds in the world and is the subject of Breed Specific Legislation in dozens of countries. The Pit Bull is being banned in cities and countries everywhere. A large part of the reason why this is happening is because of myths such as the ‘locking jaw’ that promote a vicious stereotype of a breed that can be an excellent companion and friend.
Just as with people it is very important to not judge dogs based on aspect. Let’s not help these false stereotypes spread.
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