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How to Have Nice Holidays With a Naughty Dog

November 18, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

I have a naughty dog. His name is Skipper and no, he is not a puppy. He is also not “going through a phase” as I told myself (and my family) for way too long. He is simply naughty by nature and living his truth.

Let me clearly state here that Skipper is not a bad dog. He loves his family fiercely and displays an inspiring zest for life. If I were stuck down a well he would absolutely run to get a rope. Then he would probably stand 10 feet from the top of the well and stare at me while I called his name over and over and over again. Then he’d zip around in circles near the well to try to get me to chase him and play tug-of-war. Yes, he has a mind of his own, loads of energy, and no particular desire to please humans before himself— but he’s not bad. 

My dog’s rejection of the “Very Good Boy” lifestyle has caused me more than a bit of embarrassment at both personal and professional gatherings. As a veterinarian, I have felt the eyes of other doctors on me at the staff picnic while their dogs sat attentively at their feet and mine ran away with a crying child’s Nerf gun. My extended family members alternate between reveling in how much more trustworthy their pets are than mine (it’s always hilarious, the veterinarian with the ill-behaved pooch) and helpfully offering suggestions about how I might get Skipper to fall in line. My mother frequently suggests that I take him to see her vet, because, and I quote, “She’s really good.” 

Over the years, I have spent countless hours working with this dog. On my podcast, where I interview renowned veterinary specialists, you better believe I’ve asked a few behaviorists about “hypothetical” problems for a “theoretical” mutt. I once even broke down and sent him to live-away training camp. My wife called it “doggie reform school,” and my kids cried when he left. I have not shied away from doing the work to nurture a well-behaved dog. That’s just not what Skipper is.

I’m not sharing all this because I want to defend my dog (or myself), not really. I’m sharing this because I know there are other naughty dogs out there, and the holiday season is coming, bringing with it a whole extra set of challenges for dogs who haven’t earned a good-as-gold medal. If your naughty dog has seen a few holidays already, you’ve likely used some of the same excuses I have: “He’s just really excited,” and “There are just so many interesting things to see and smell,” and “Well, kids’ toys do look a lot like dog toys.”

I feel you. And fortunately, from my own experiences with Skipper and from counseling an unending stream of pet owners in similar situations, I can offer some tried-and-true advice. It’s a five-step program for owners of naughty dogs that will help make the holidays as enjoyable as possible. Here goes:

Step 1: Acceptance

Every self-help program begins with this, and for good reason. Start by accepting that your furry friend operates according to his own agenda, not yours, and go from there. You’ll have far more success and peace than if you try to convince him to behave in a way he has shown you he has no interest in doing. Love your dog for who he is… and proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Planning

Now that you have accepted that your dog is not going to change who he is for the holidays, it’s time to make a plan. The biggest mistake naughty dog owners make is simply releasing their dog into holiday chaos with a vague idea that everyone will work together to keep him out of trouble. Please know this never works. Whether it’s just your family around the table at home or you’re safely gathering with a pod of friends or extended family, consider having an assigned person “on duty” at any given time to oversee your dog. Take a look at the calendar in advance, whether you’re dealing with one festive day or a whole week of revelry, and block out the days in terms of what your dog will be doing and when. If you’re taking your dog with you to someone else’s home, plan to bring his crate. You might even talk to your veterinarian in advance about calming supplements or medications.

Step 3: Exercise

A tired dog is a better dog. You cannot control what your sister does with her kids, what your brother drops on the floor, or what ideas spontaneously pop into your dog’s brain. You can, however, do everything in your power to make sure your dog is too exhausted to achieve Loki-level mischief.

Scheduling dog park visits, leashed walks with alternating family members throughout the day, supervised playtime in the yard, and/or dog daycare stays can make an enormous difference to stress and energy levels. Don’t skip this investment in your sanity and your dog’s happiness.

Step 4: Problem Avoidance

I once had a pet owner tell me her dog completely loses his mind whenever they walk past the downtown holiday ice-skating rink. She asked me what she could do. I told her, “Don’t walk past the ice-skating rink.”

Sometimes the easiest way to help your dog avoid trouble is simply not to put him in situations where trouble will arise. In the case of holiday gatherings, this may mean considering a boarding or pet sitting service. If you are going to be stressed by your dog getting into things, and he’s going to be stressed by being locked in a back room or stuck in his crate, then maybe the best thing for everyone is for him to be safely somewhere else. Depending on your dog’s temperament, he may love staying at a kennel where he’ll play with other dogs all day or with a pet sitter who has no plans other than playing and relaxing with him.

Step 5: Rejection of Guilt

Guilt is an ingredient baked right into the holiday bread for many of us. It’s easy to feel guilty because you can’t please everyone all the time. You might feel bad that your dog is sitting in his crate while you’re cutting the turkey, because he’s staying at the kennel while you’re out enjoying fall foliage, or because you and your dog are at the park throwing a ball instead of watching the family’s favorite holiday movie on TV. The key to a great holiday is thinking ahead and looking at the big picture. Make decisions that honor the greater good for you, your pet, and the rest of your family. Then consider all that forethought a wonderful holiday gift for your dog — and yourself.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Care

Not Just Bad Dogs

October 20, 2020 by Jamie Holms, RVT, CPT1

Are you ready for this truth bomb?

Veterinary Behaviorists aren’t just for bad dogs!

I know, I know, a radical concept. The truth is, after fighting with my cat, who’s too smart, too fast, and far too beautiful for her own good over a peanut butter sandwich I reached my endpoint. Once I’d wrestled it away from her, I didn’t have the joy that normally comes with winning – after all, she’s seven pounds and sixteen months old – it’s not really the greatest of victories. I’d not been my best self in the moment and I won’t share what I said to her because, frankly, I’m embarrassed to repeat it.  I felt like a terrible pet parent, maybe even a terrible person. I am so tired of feeling this way every time I have a snack.

When I reached out to The Behavior Clinic, they asked me who was causing the problem, after all, I have 2 dogs and 3 cats. I hung my head and admitted, I was. After all, she’s sixteen months old and I’m the one who’s responsible for creating the monster she is now – there’s been inconsistent messaging all along – and some of the behaviors that cause trouble were pretty funny in the beginning. We both got a good laugh out of the brutal truth of that moment. They assured me that there was “cat-mom training” available to help me and that, thankfully, I had reached out in time, I was not yet a lost cause. 

I’ve been in therapy and I know that the only way to make progress is to be honest, especially about the things you are least proud of. That’s my plan, to approach this like therapy, after all, I want to be a better person. This cat, she’s wicked smart, I’m the one who needs to get it together. I know it’s a process, but thanks to veterinary professionals who dedicate their time and energy to improving the human-animal bond through veterinary behavior, I know, I am not alone. The veterinary community is vast and contains a wealth of resources. You aren’t alone either, no matter the struggle, reach out.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Care

Your Scratching Post Isn’t Enough (HDYTT)

October 10, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

What counts as “enrichment” versus what is just basic necessity for a cat? When a cat owner is convinced that their cat has all the “enrichment” he can handle, but you only see the basic boxes checked, how do you treat that???

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 049: Your Scratching Post Isn’t Enough (HDYTT)

HELPFUL LINKS:

Vertical spaces for cats – www.fundamentallyfeline.com/shop/vertic…components/

Placing Environmental Enrichment Items – www.fundamentallyfeline.com/meeting-cat…-placement/

Catios – www.fundamentallyfeline.com/catios-opti…ng-a-catio/

Scratching – www.fundamentallyfeline.com/shop/scratching/

Cat Wheels – www.fundamentallyfeline.com/how-to-enco…-cat-wheel/


ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Ingrid Johnson is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) through The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is employed at Paws Whiskers and Claws, a feline only veterinary hospital and has been working exclusively with cats since 1999.

Ingrid operates Fundamentally Feline, providing in home and phone consultations for clients experiencing behavior challenges with their cat(s). In addition to behavior consultations, Ingrid publishes educational content on her site, but also manages Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, makes her own line of feline foraging toys, scratching posts and vertical space, and litter boxes. She lectures on cat behavior at veterinary conferences such as AAFP, VMX, ACVC and the like.

In the Fall of 2016 a paper she co-authored, Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional well-being, was published in the JFMS and to compliment it she co-developed a website called FoodPuzzlesforCats.com. Ingrid’s home, cats, and environmental enrichment expertise has been featured on Animal Planet’s Cats101 show. She filmed for the website WebMD and has created a series of educational How-To videos of her own, viewable on Fundamentally Feline’s website. She is Co-Director of Paw Project-Georgia, working towards ending the cruel practice of de-clawing cats.

Cat Fancy magazine’s 2008 “Home Issue” showcased her feline friendly accommodations and the aesthetically pleasing ways you can provide for your cats innate basic needs while still having a home the humans can enjoy.

Ingrid shares her home with husband Jake, seven rescue cats, and Sebastian, a rescued Great Pyrenees Dog.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Care

Best of the Cone of Shame Podcast: Cat Behavior

September 1, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

Cone of Shame Episode 7: Scarf and Barf Cats (HDYTT)

In this episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with feline behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson to talk about cats that eat too fast and then throw up. There’s a pet owner in exam room 2 who wants you to tell her how to stop her beloved feline from puking all the time. So… How do you treat that?

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 007: Scarf and Barf Cats (HDYTT)


Cone of Shame Episode 10: There’s A Cat Who Is Destroying The Furniture – HDYTT?

Cat scratch

There’s a cat in exam room 3 who will NOT stop destroying furniture. The owner is about to give the cat up or find someone who will declaw it. It’s YOUR case! How do you treat that??

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 010: HDYTT There’s A Cat Who Is Destroying The Furniture


Cone of Shame Episode 20: My Cats are Fighting and Peeing Outside the Box

Cat pee litterbox

This week on the cone, Ingrid Johnson, CCBC, is back!!! She’s talking litter boxes and fighting between cats. Gang… she dropped knowledge that I honestly did not have. This is a great and wildly useful episode. Check it out!!

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 020: My Cats are Fighting and Peeing Outside the Box

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.


ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Ingrid Johnson is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) through The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is employed at Paws Whiskers and Claws, a feline-only veterinary hospital and has been working exclusively with cats since 1999.

Ingrid operates Fundamentally Feline, providing in-home and phone consultations for clients experiencing behavior challenges with their cat(s). In addition to behavior consultations, Ingrid publishes educational content on her site, but also manages Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, makes her own line of feline foraging toys, scratching posts and vertical space, and litter boxes. She lectures on cat behavior at veterinary conferences such as AAFP, VMX, ACVC and the like.

In the Fall of 2016 a paper she co-authored, Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional well-being, was published in the JFMS and to compliment it she co-developed a website called FoodPuzzlesforCats.com. Ingrid’s home, cats, and environmental enrichment expertise has been featured on Animal Planet’s Cats101 show. She filmed for the website WebMD and has created a series of educational How-To videos of her own, viewable on Fundamentally Feline’s website. She is Co-Director of Paw Project-Georgia, working towards ending the cruel practice of de-clawing cats.

Cat Fancy magazine’s 2008 “Home Issue” showcased her feline-friendly accommodations and the aesthetically pleasing ways you can provide for your cat’s innate basic needs while still having a home the humans can enjoy. Ingrid shares her home with her husband Jake, seven rescue cats, and Sebastian, a rescued Great Pyrenees Dog.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Care

Can We Fix a Naughty Cat? (HDYTT)

August 23, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

This week on the Cone… Dr. Andy Roark and feline behavior expert Ingrid Johnson discuss what to do with a naughty boy who bullies, tears open food bags and says offensive things (well, we don’t know what he says, but we bet they are NSFW). Can we “fix” cats like this??? Let’s get into it!

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 042: Can We Fix A Naughty Cat? (HDYTT)

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.


ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Ingrid Johnson is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) through The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is employed at Paws Whiskers and Claws, a feline only veterinary hospital and has been working exclusively with cats since 1999.

Ingrid operates Fundamentally Feline, providing in home and phone consultations for clients experiencing behavior challenges with their cat(s). In addition to behavior consultations, Ingrid publishes educational content on her site, but also manages Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, makes her own line of feline foraging toys, scratching posts and vertical space, and litter boxes. She lectures on cat behavior at veterinary conferences such as AAFP, VMX, ACVC and the like.

In the Fall of 2016 a paper she co-authored, Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional well-being, was published in the JFMS and to compliment it she co-developed a website called FoodPuzzlesforCats.com. Ingrid’s home, cats, and environmental enrichment expertise has been featured on Animal Planet’s Cats101 show. She filmed for the website WebMD and has created a series of educational How-To videos of her own, viewable on Fundamentally Feline’s website. She is Co-Director of Paw Project-Georgia, working towards ending the cruel practice of de-clawing cats.

Cat Fancy magazine’s 2008 “Home Issue” showcased her feline friendly accommodations and the aesthetically pleasing ways you can provide for your cats innate basic needs while still having a home the humans can enjoy.

Ingrid shares her home with husband Jake, seven rescue cats, and Sebastian, a rescued Great Pyrenees Dog.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Screen porch

Catio

Strollin’!

Finn demonstrates “recall”

Yard fun!

Summertime enrichment

More on catios

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Care

Thunderstorm Phobia Dogs (HDYTT)

August 2, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

This week on the Cone…

Dr. Andy Roark talks with Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Lisa Radosta about thunderstorm phobia in a 4yo MN Vizsla. How do you treat that?

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 039: Thunderstorm Phobia Dogs (HDYTT)

HELPFUL LINKS

Blunt Dissection Podcast: www.drdavenicol.com/single-post/202…ch-more-besides

Noise aversion checklist: www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/si…ic-checklist.pdf 

Vetgirl webinar on how/when to prescribe Psychotropic medications: vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/psycho…picmedications/

Dr. Lisa Radosta: www.flvetbehavior.com/
Dog Nerds: dognerds.thinkific.com/pages/welcome
Fear Free: fearfreepets.com/
Fear Free Happy Homes: fearfreehappyhomes.com/

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.


ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Radosta is a board certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service since 2006.

She lectures nationally and internationally for veterinarians, their staff and lay people. She has written book chapters for textbooks including Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat; Blackwell’s Five Minute Veterinary Consult and Canine and Feline and Small Animal Pediatrics and is the coauthor of From Fearful to Fear Free.

She has published scientific research articles and written review articles several publications. She podcasts and does webinars for VetGirl and Dog Nerds.

Co-author of From Fearful to Fear Free, the Ultimate Guide for Fearful dogs.
Co-founder of Dog Nerds, the best place for online help for troubled pets.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Care

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