Behaviour Problems in Dogs & Cats, Changing Behaviour with Diet & Training

Behaviour problems ruin more good human-pet interactions than any other problem. Among the most common problems are barking, separation anxiety, jumping up, challenging other dogs, & biting. Fortunately, we can take steps that change our pet’s behaviour.

1. Feed appropriately. When pets are aggressive, cut back on the carnitine and chromium in their diet. I find carnitine and chromium make pets “hotter” and more reactive. Carnitine and chromium are often included in supplements. Fruit (cubes of watermelon, a blueberry) are often better than supplement pack full of proteins and minerals that are not given in the way nature intended.

2. Decrease protein and increase complex carbohydrates such as pumpkin and sweet potatoes. There’s a craze now about high protein diets. For some dogs, proteins at 25-33% are ideal.

3. Feed a natural diet for your pet’s genetics. For example, Yorkshire Terriers, German Shepherds and Rottweilers did not evolve eating ocean fish and should be given meat based rather than salmon-based diets. In contrast, Labrador Retrievers evolved eating fish and a natural diet for Labs should include fish. Supplements for the Lab could include fish oil, but use ground flax supplements for Rotties, Shepherds and Yorkies.

4. Train pets with a quiet, calm (almost a whispering) voice so they strain to hear your words. This is very difficult to do when we’re upset with something a pet has done and want to explode, but the reason we have the pets we have is to learn something. When a pet is driving us nuts, one of things we’re to learn is how to remain calm. When we can talk to our pets with a whisper and they strain to listen, they’ll stop engaging in rambunctious behaviour just so they don’t miss what we’re trying to communicate.

5. Reward desired as though there is no tomorrow. Give great treats, great praise, great play sessions.

6. Ignore unwanted behaviour. If we don’t like what just happened (jumping, barking), that’s the time to turn and walk away.

7. Exercise even more than you ever thought necessary. Make sure your pet is always one step in front, though, rather than dragging behind. Stop and reassess whenever your dog is not walking alongside or a little in front. Dogs that walk behind often have lameness issues. Please do not ask lame dogs to run behind a bike or jog down the street until you put a rock in your shoe and become as lame as the dog. Then, you’ll walk at the right pace for the dog.

8. Keep pets busy with mind games. Cats & dogs love thinking, so challenge them.

9. Treat any medical problems that prevent our pets from expressing the joie de vive that comes so naturally to them.

10. Use Tellington TTouch techniques to create an aura of good energy between pets & humans. To catch up on the latest in TTouch, come to the Saturday Session at WaterWorkz, July 30. There will be an in-depth discussion by Catherine Stewart of the ways to massage, exercise and work with your pet so that it behaves to its full potential. Everyone’s welcome.