Training do’s and don’ts

BY MELISSA PEZUTTO

What to do

Let’s start with the things we want to focus on doing:

Take baby steps. Have a clear idea of the behavior you want and then break down the training required into small, attainable steps. Dogs learn better and enjoy training sessions more if they are successful and receive a reward. (Hey, who doesn’t?) If your dog doesn’t seem to be “getting” what you’re asking of him, think about how you can make the training process slightly easier. For example, if you are trying to teach the cue “down” and your dog just sits with a puzzled look on his face, start by rewarding him for simply lowering his head and then increase the criteria from there.

Be consistent. Dogs are exceptionally good with details. To your dog, “sit,” “sit down” and “Fido, sit” are different cues. With that in mind, make sure you are using exactly the same cue every time you ask your dog for a particular behavior. This strategy will

Training and Motivating Your Pet

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help to avoid frustration on the part of you and your dog, and will help him to understand what you are asking.

Use positive reinforcement methods. Positive reinforcement means rewarding your dog with treats, toys, praise or whatever motivates him. Just like humans, dogs want some payoff for working. You can’t expect your dog to continually work for nothing. you’re trying to teach your dog to sit, start the training in a quiet room in your home rather than at the neighborhood park, where you’d have to compete with animals, other people and noises for your dog’s attention. Once your dog is consistently performing the behavior on cue, you can start to proof it. “Proofing” means practicing a behavior in different environments and situations, until the dog generalizes the desired behavior and can do it anywhere, even with distractions. Don’t use force, pain, fear or intimidation when training. It can be tempting to push your dog’s butt down when teaching him to sit or to yell “no” when he jumps up on you, but those methods can backfire. Some dogs may react with an aggressive response and others may completely shut down. Plus, it’s not healthy for your relationship with your dog and may even harm the bond you have with him. Training should be fun for the dog, not a scary and unpleasant experience. Don’t get frustrated if you have a bad training session. Learning isn’t linear and your dog may fluctuate in his progress from day to day. Stay calm, keep the big picture in mind and do your best with the dog you have in front of you. If it’s not working, then stop the session and try again later or the following day.

Remember, this is about establishing long-term behavior for a long-term relationship. So take it slowly, and above all, have fun.

Melissa Pezzuto is a certified professional dog trainer and certified Fear Free professional. She joined Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as a behavior consultant in January 2017 and later became a Dogtown team lead, heading the team until February 2020. Melissa specializes in working with shy and fearful dogs and is a proponent of positive reinforcement training and fear-free handling techniques.

For much more about caring for and

training your pets:

bestfriends.org/resources

BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE May/June 2020

Dear Persnickety,

Yes, there is a debate going on about whether to flush or not to flush. The main problem is that cat feces can carry Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that can adversely affect other species, including humans. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in

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people, so pregnant women are advised not to scoop cat boxes. (Using disposable gloves for this task can limit a woman’s contact with the actual poop and therefore allow safer disposal.)

Flushing cat feces increases the potential for the parasite to get into waterways, thereby exposing other animals to an increased risk of toxoplasmosis. In fact, there has been increasing concern in recent years that marine mammals, such as California sea otters and Hawaiian monk seals, might be infected as a result of contaminated rainwater run-off.

The research findings, though, are rather mixed. For one thing, although felines are the only know “definitive host” (meaning the parasite can reproduce within the animal’s digestive system and then be spread via feces), this includes wild felids, too, such as mountain lions and bobcats. (One research study from the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that “spillover from wildlife, not pets” is likely responsible for infection in California sea otters.)

It’s also important to note that domestic cats are exposed to Toxoplasma gondii

only if they encounter the parasite in infected meat. Indoor-only cats are therefore unlikely to be exposed. And exposed cats generally only produce contaminated feces for a week or two, and generally only once in their lifetime.

Even so, for the safety and well-being of wildlife, as well as your pipes and septic system, you should dispose of cat poop and dirty kitty litter via plastic bags put in the trash. Even though flushable litters (such as World’s Best Cat Litter, which is made out of corn) do exist, there’s still the concern about toxoplasmosis.

Regarding your statement about using plastic bags, here are two suggestions to mitigate the environmental impact: Purchase cat litter that comes in a box. Use that box for disposal of the cat poop, then both box and poop can break down together in the landfill.

You can buy biodegradable trash bags. It’s a good idea to leave the bags with the poop in them out in the sun for a day or two before putting them in the trash bin. This activates chemicals that help break down the bags.

BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE May/June 2020