I had the pleasure of speaking with Rebecca Mandell, owner of Dog’s Best Friend training.  Rebecca is a wonderful and compassionate dog trainer and person.  Her reputation proceeds her as she is known as one of the top dog trainers in the South Bay.  She is compassionate about dogs and thinks of them as family members and approaches her training with that philosophy.

We discussed various topics and below is an overview of our discussion.  I provided the questions and Rebecca answered them accordingly.

When should you start training a dog?

It is important to start training a dog when he or she is a puppy, or, in the case of a rescued or older dog, as soon as you bring him/her home.   The world is new to them as is each and every experience.  It’s not only good for a puppy to learn about their new world, but for a dog parent to learn to understand and communicate with them.

During this time, dog owners have the chance to bond with their new puppy and set the path for his or her emotional well being.  Each puppy comes to a family with different experiences so it is important for dog parents to pay attention to what each puppy’s needs are and act accordingly.

Do you have a specific technique that you use for training?

Positive reinforcement is the only way to train a dog so he or she always has positive experiences.  Dog parents want their dogs to feel safe in their home.  Even if a dog makes a mistake, it is important not to punish them, but to see that you haven’t taught them clearly , and need to better communicate what you’re are asking of them. Punishment is never an option, and can lead to your dog being fearful of you and their world.

Instead, dog parents/trainers should reward their dogs for doing the right thing.  It is imperative to look at why the dog is making a mistake.  Is he or she scared, intimidated, confused, or simply hasn’t been taught well enough?  Once the cause is identified, then we can better understand how to approach and train that particular dog.

It is also important to understand that each dog is different and what works for one dog might not work for another.  Dog parents really need to “listen” to what the dog is telling them by their dog’s actions, and emotions, and approach the dog accordingly.

But let me be clear, no matter the issue or the dog, we ALWAYS use positive reinforcement.

What makes a good dog trainer?

A good dog trainer listens to the dog, has compassion, and is able to communicate well with all types of dogs, and dog parents.  They have the dog’s best interest in mind, not their own ego or goals.

Rebecca and I could have spoken for hours.  She is really compassionate about her dogs and helping other dogs in an upbeat positive way.  Take a look at her website and contact her for your dog’s training needs.  You and your dog will be much better off for it. Click here to learn more about Rebecca Mandell and Dog's Best Friend Training.

Sharing is Caring!

If you are a new cat owner, you will be bringing your new feline friend into a warm, loving household.  Everything is exciting and new to your new family member.  However, there are many items that are not good for your cat and can actually harm him or her.  It is important to be mindful of the below items so your cat won’t get into them and/or you will use them correctly.

Flea or Tick Medication

One of the most common medications or treatments that can harm your cat is when a new cat owner uses the wrong flea and/or tick medication.  Always talk to your veterinarian before starting any kind of flea or tick control treatment.

Human food

There are certain food items such as grapes, raisins, avocado and sugar-free gum that can seriously hurt our furry friends. One of the worst offenders, chocolate, contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which if ingested in significant amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

Plants

Common houseplants such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, and lilies are often found in homes and can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.

Human Medications

Cats often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor, so it's essential to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.  As any cat owner knows, our feline friends can jump high and are curious about everything!  Even if the medication helps you, it is likely to hurt your cat.

Household Cleaners

It is commonly known that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to adults and children, but few of us take precautions to protect our pets from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. These products, when inhaled by our cats, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract. Additionally, cats that lick their paws after walking on a floor treated with household cleansers are vulnerable to poisoning.  So, be careful, even when you clean.

Garden Products

It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer and garden products can cause problems for outdoor cats.  Fertilizer exposure can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

Dental Floss and Thread

Cats love string games and they are quick to pounce on any string whenever they see it. However, if your cat swallows some thread, it can cause severe intestinal damage and may require expensive surgery to remove.

Treated Toilet Water

Keeping an automatic cleanser in the toilet is convenient for you, but it can be deadly if your cat drinks it. The best solution is not to use that method to clean your toilet. However, if you have to use it, make sure to always keep the lid down on your toilet.

Rubber Bands

Some cats love rubber bands, but if your cat swallows one, it can be life-threatening. Keep them out of kitty's reach and in drawers.

Plastic Bags

Cats can suffocate themselves with plastic grocery bags or dry cleaning bags, so make sure to keep them out of reach.  I know Sammy had a plastic bag wrapped around his neck once and it wasn’t easy to retrieve, so be careful!  He was just as scared as I was!

If you are careful with the above items, you kitten or cat should be more than safe in your home.

Come and join, Sammy, the site administrator for petpav.com, and he will be your first friend!

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If your dog won’t stop biting you or anyone else, it can be much more than an annoying habit. A biting dog can become a huge problem and a liability. If your dog is still a puppy, it is part of a puppy’s nature to nip during playtime. Although this is a natural behavior for puppies, it is important to train your pup not to do so to avoid bigger issues when your dog is full grown.

Below are some ways to stop your puppy from biting.

Communication

Communication is a key element in learning for dogs just as it is with humans. When it comes time to train your dog to stop biting, try to communicate to your dog in his or her language. Dogs understand tone of voice rather than the meaning of the words you say. When the dog bites during playtime, try yelping with a high pitched “ouch” and don’t raise your voice.  The yelping is understood as a painful response and will encourage your dog to stop biting.

When you use the above technique, make sure to stop all playing immediately and turn your back on your dog. Tone and body language are important to your up.  Your dog will eventually come around and when he does, reprimand him in a firm tone with a command such as “bad dog” or “don’t bite” and he will quickly get the idea.

Divert Your Dog’s Attention

Another way to stop your dog from biting is to divert his attention from biting you to something that he can chew on, like a toy. By giving your dog a chew toy (such as a kong) each time the he or she turns to inappropriate biting, your dog will get the idea that your hand is not meant for biting. Remember to have the chew toy ready if your dog resorts to biting during play again to reinforce the habit.

Positive Reinforcement

An effective way of training your dog to stop biting is by using positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement rewards the good behavior with something positive.  If your dog does not bite during play time, make sure to give him praise during play when he does not bite. The praise could be a pat on the head, a belly rub, a treat, or extra attention. Positive reinforcement is a great way to show your dog the type of behavior that you prefer.

Touch Your Dog’s Nose With Your Index Finger

If your dog begins to bite or nip, quickly tell him to sit. Once he is seated, take your index finger, hold it in front of his nose, and then tap him on the nose as you say “bad dog” in a stern voice. Just remember, the tap itself is not the punishment, so it should not be particularly strong. It is just meant as a starting point to stop the bad behavior. Eventually, your dog will come to understand that raising an index finger is an indication to stop a behavior.

Avoid Biting and Nipping Games

A good way to stop a dog from biting is to avoid biting and nipping games in the first place. If you don’t encourage these types of games from the start, your dog will not be prone to biting and nipping in other situations.  Try tossing a ball with your dog so he or she knows the ball is OK to chew.  And, by giving your dog exercise will wear him or her out and he or she will be less prone to bite.

Biting during play can quickly turn into a serious problem, which is why consistency is a key way to stop this from happening. It is important that you stop the biting behavior as soon as it starts, and discipline for the bad behavior while reinforcing the good.   If you follow the above tips, it should stop your dog from biting.  Good luck!

My cat, Sammy, has been known to playfully bite me on occasion.  It is his way of playing with me.  However, some cats can be aggressive and bite their owners and/or other people all the time. Whatever the reason a cat has for biting, it is important for cat owners to know that they can stop cats from biting them.

Cat Biting

Biting is one of the most common behavior issues that people have with cats. Cats bite, scratch and roll around with their playmates. This type of aggressive play trains kittens for a time when they grow up and are learning their defense mechanisms.  It is therefore important for owners to train their cats to know which behaviors are acceptable and biting is not one of them.

Let your cat know that you are in control

It is important for your cat to know that you are in control and won’t accept the biting or unwanted behavior.  That doesn’t mean that you have to be mean or aggressive; it just means that you need to set the rules for them to live by so they know where the lines are drawn.

Behavior modification

When a kitten is young, he or she learns how far he or she can push other kittens by testing their boundaries.  He or she bites, scratches and play fights with his siblings until the other kittens try to stop him.  After a couple times, the kitten realizes it can’t bite too hard or scratch too much before getting an unwanted response.

The same behavior applies to cat owners.  When playing with your kitten and he or she bites you, it is important for you to respond in a way that he or she doesn’t like. This doesn’t mean that you have to go to extremes or be abusive. You just have to give a response that your cat dislikes.

The spray bottle method

The spray bottle method is an effective way to modify your cat’s behavior.  Simply spray your cat with water when he bites you or someone else. This can be a good method of behavior modification if the spray bottle is always around and you immediately respond to the biting with a quick shot of water.   Just make sure to keep the water away from your cat’s ears.

Ignoring your cat

One of the reasons your kitten or cat is biting you is that he or she is trying to take control of the situation. If your cat bites you, it could just be that he or she doesn’t like the way you have pet him or some sort of unwanted action.  If this happens, then the best recourse you can have is to ignore him and obviously stop petting him or her.

Reinforce positive behavior

If you spend time daily brushing your cat and making sure he knows that you are on his side, he or she should behave better. Take time to point out the times when your cat is behaving well and rewarding him by petting him, talking to him or giving him a treat.  As always, positive reinforcement goes a long way toward getting your cat to behave the way you want him or her to.

Cats, like dogs, have the basic need to fit in and be loved. The best way to stop a cat from biting you is not to tolerate it from the beginning. If you or someone in your family is being used as a pin cushion for your cat, then you need to take action to stop the biting immediately.  By using the above methods, you can get your cat to stop biting you and/or other people.

Come and join, Sammy, the site administrator for petpav.com, and he will be your first friend!

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