How to control a dog who’s trying to control you

Dear Cathy: We rescued a miniature poodle in 2016. He was 5 months old. It has been a trying 18 months. We took (obedience) training with him and he got the basics. He just turned 2 and no longer eats everything he finds. But he has bitten my husband and me on multiple occasions. I’m at a loss as to what to do. I have had poodles all my life, so I’m familiar with the breed.

This is my third rescue. All my others are, and were, very sweet. He is a loving lap dog, but if you move while he’s on your lap or if you close the dishwasher while he’s licking something he will bite and draw blood. He also watches TV and attacks it whenever there is an animal on the screen. I use a water spray bottle to discourage this behavior, but he still goes right back to doing it. He is also getting very aggressive and attacking us when we put him in his crate. Any suggestions? — Liz, West Islip, N.Y.

Dear Liz: Your dog is trying to control you. For now, the best way to halt this behavior is not to allow the triggers to occur in the first place. That means he doesn’t get to come into the kitchen to lick the dishes while you are loading the dishwasher ever again. Take him to his kennel. Toss in a stuffed Kong or other treat, so he wants to go into his kennel. (The kennel should always be a place of reward, never punishment.) Then, do the dishes completely before letting him out again. See, no more biting you around the dishes.

As for the lap, he doesn’t get the privilege of sitting in your lap if he is going to bite you later. Put a pillow on your lap and make him sit beside you. As for the TV, nix the spray bottle and reinforce your original obedience work. Practice calling him to you and giving him a treat throughout the day for several weeks. Then, when he attacks the TV, say “here” or whatever phrase you use to call him to you. The goal is to get him to stop and look to you for the treat. Make him sit before giving him the treat.

While there is no actual cure for dog aggression, there are medications that can help when combined with a behavior modification program. So, if these

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strategies don’t work, talk to a veterinarian and animal behaviorist for help. This is not dog training; it’s behavior modification, which is designed to desensitize your dog to his triggers. A behaviorist will either observe your dog or interview you over the phone and will outline a plan of action for you to follow closely. Occasionally, biting dogs may have to wear muzzles until they learn to relax around their

triggers. A basket muzzle is not a big deal. Dogs can drink with it on and it can be removed at mealtime.

During this time, make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Also, ask your veterinarian about putting him on a low protein/high tryptophan diet. Studies have shown that increasing the amount of tryptophan in food may help reduce aggressiveness in some dogs.

Dear Cathy: Our cat stopped using its litter box. She will now target left-out blankets or coats. — Carl, Oak Park, Ill.

Dear Carl: You don’t leave me a lot of bread crumbs to follow, but I think I can help you.

Litter box problems are common and often the result of several factors, from where the litter box is placed and the type and depth of litter being used to someone accidentally scaring the cat near the box so the cat is afraid to go back. Your cat could also have a urinary infection. In fact, sometimes the only way you know a cat has a urinary infection is that he or she stops using the litterbox and begins using blankets, clothing or any other material left on the floor.

Take your little girl to the veterinarian to make sure she is OK. It could be as simple as getting her on antibiotics. If she’s healthy, add a second litter box someplace else in the home until you figure out what’s happening with the first box. You can also buy a litter box attractant to entice her back to the box.