Behavioral Counseling

Aggressive behaviors are always serious. The threat of injury to other pets and humans must be dealt with and eliminated. A veterinarian should evaluate the pet and direct the owner to a proper course of treatment.

Feline

Cat bites should be treated by a physician right away.

Feline aggression can be divided into several subcategories.

1. Predatory Aggression is a natural behavior for cats. The target for the predator cat is usually small animals and birds but can also be directed toward human hands or feet.

Treatment may include:

• Place a bell on the cat's collar (to alert prey)
• Redirect cat's behavior to toys or a new playmate (same age cat)

2. Redirected Aggression occurs when the cat is upset by something (environment, trip to vet's) then redirects the aggression to the owner or another target. Place the cat in social isolation until calm.

3. Territorial Aggression is usually directed at unfamiliar cats, people or other animals near the cat's perceived territory. The cat will hiss, vocalize, stalk and may even chase the target.

Treatment may include:

• Neuter intact cats
• Remove opportunity for intrusion by other cats and/or strangers

4. Social Hierarchical Status Aggression. Multiple cats in a household develop a hierarchical ranking. Aggressive behavior is exhibited when 2 cats vie for the same position.

Treatment may include:

• Separate cats
• Place a bell on the aggressor's collar

5. Petting-Induced Aggression occurs when a cat bites its owner while being petted. Owner should watch for signs, tail flickers, ears flatten back, eyes dilate and cat's body tenses. Stop petting the cat when signs first appear.

Canine

Canine aggression may be divided into 4 categories:

1. Dominance Aggression may be exhibited by a direct stare, growling, snarling or high tail. The dominant aggressive dog is usually protecting an object or attempting to control a situation.

Treatment may include:

• Neuter intact male dog
• Attend obedience training classes
• Training Halter (Gentle Leader®)
• Eliminate aggressive games (tug-of-war, wrestling)
• Pet must obey a command before getting desired object (food, walk, treat)

2. Fear-Related Aggression is common at the Vet's. Dogs exhibit fear toward a specific stimuli (vets, children, toe-nail trimmers, etc) It is necessary to identify the trigger then, desensitize dog to that fear (short trips to Vet's for a treat).

3. Predatory Aggression is an instinctive behavior but can be extremely dangerous if the perceived prey happens to be other domestic animals or children.

Treatment may include:

• Confinement and control with training halter (Gentle Leader®)
• Gradually and carefully desensitizing pet to perceived prey-ANIMALS ONLY
• Euthanasia if humans are at risk

4. Territorial Aggression is usually directed at unfamiliar animals or people near the dog's perceived territory. The dog attempts to drive off the stranger with growling, snarling, barking, lunging and/or biting.

Treatment may include:

• Social isolation or confinement
• Training halters (Gentle Leader®)
• Remove opportunities for intrusion by strangers.

Digging

Digging is a normal behavior for both dogs and cats. Cats, and less frequently dogs, tend to dig before and/or after elimination- cats to bury their waste and dogs to scatter their odors (Marking Behavior).

Dogs

Other reasons for dogs to dig include: to regulate body temperature, hunting (especially Terriers), burying items, playing and escaping.

Treatment may include:

• Provide a cool/shaded area.
• Rid yard of small prey. Rat poison kills dogs too! Never allow your dog access to rat poison
• Provide an acceptable digging location
• Determine why dog attempts to escape. (ex. Not neutered)

Cats

Cats tend to "scratch" rather than dig. Reasons for scratching include: scent marking, stretching muscles and to remove the outer sheath of the claws.

Treatment may include:

• Provide a scratching post
• Make scratching location aversive (ex. aluminum foil)
• Trim nails regularly or declaw
• Cover nails with Soft Paws®

Chewing

Dogs

Dogs need outlets for their energy. If dogs aren't given an adequate amount of playtime with appropriate playtoys, destructive chewing can occur. Destructive chewing may also be associated with anxiety or fear. (See Separation Anxiety)

Treatment may include:

• Provide appropriate toys (ex. Kong®, chew ropes)
• Provide an adequate amount of playtime
• Remove unacceptable temptations
• Apply a chew deterrent product (ex. Bitter Apple®)

Cats

Destructive chewing is not a common problem with cats. Young cats may chew electric cords, shoelaces and such during play. Adult cats may chew specific items such as plastic bags or houseplants.

Treatment may include:

• Provide appropriate toys. Never give string/yarn. Ingestion commonly becomes surgical.
• Restrict access to target items.

The Gentle Leader® Headcollar is a safe, humane training tool that works with a dog's natural system of communication. Gentle Leader® is Not a muzzle and has proven itself much more effective than other training tools.

Could your dog benefit from Gentle Leader®? Does your dog:

• Pull when walking?
• Jump on strangers?
• Lunge when walking?
• Bark excessively?
• Assert dominance by ignoring your commands?
• Assert dominance by biting you or other family members?
• Not come when called?
• Resist handling their feet, tail, ears, etc?

How Gentle Leader® works:

Nose Loop - The "pack leader" (dominant dog) may demonstrate its dominance by firmly grasping the subordinate dog's muzzle with its mouth. The nose loop tells your dog, in his language, that you are his leader.

Neck Strap - Has two functions

As a puppy, your dog was carried by her mother by the "scruff" (back of neck). The puppy would instinctively relax. The neck strap applies pressure to the back of the neck, naturally relaxing the dog.

Dogs have a natural "opposition reflex", if you push them, they push back. If you pull them they pull back (try pushing a 100 pound Lab off the sofa.) Collars that put pressure on the front of the neck cause the dog to pull forward. By applying pressure to the back of the head/neck the dog will pull backward, not forward.

Steering- Horses are easily steered with a halter, dogs can be as well. By directing the dog's nose and head (not just the neck) the body naturally follows.

Natural- Not Painful- Other traditional training tools worked (ineffectively) by inflicting varying degrees of pain, choke collars, shock collars, prong collars, and no-pull harnesses. Gentle Leader® works with natural instincts- not pain.

The headcollar Must be fitted correctly to be effective. Many dogs initially resist the collar. (reluctant to give up their dominance)

We have had much success using the Gentle Leader® Headcollar at Towne North. By correcting the dog's behavior, the pet-family relationship significantly improves.