Training Tip Tuesday: Rough Play Among Cats and Kittens
Training Tip Tuesday: Rough Play Among Cats and Kittens
It can often be difficult to undestand if your cats are playing or fighting, causing concern for a lot of cat owners, foster parents and folks wokring with cats in a shelter or rescue environment. There are a few things you can look for to have a better idea of when to step in and de-escalate or to let them continue playing.
First, it's important to know that kittens are still learning to understand boundaries and one of the ways they learn that is from other cats. Through play, they learn body language, vocalizations and how to create space when needed. In order for that to happen, they may use teeth and claws, often with a lot of vocalization. You may see adolescent and adult cats use the same play style, but there are things we can look for to know if the play is mutual, even if appears as if they're fighting.
One thing we look for is allowing for breaks or space during play. One cat may move away or stop the play momentarily, and if the other cat allows for that, they're communicating well. They may choose to re-engage soon after, but respect for another cat asking for space is a nice indicator that even the roughest play is just play.
Keep an eye on your cats as they play. They may wrestle and kick, biting one another, perhaps growling as this happens, but if both cats are engaged with the same energy, changing positions and choosing to remain engaged, the play is likely mutual.
You may see them take small breaks, re-engaging with a lot of energy, but if both cats choose to engage in this way, it's likely just a very high energy play session. Remember, either cat could choose to move away. If they're choosing to remain in the space with one another, this is likely mutual play. These are likely also cats who seem quite comfortable with one another when not playing, as this respect for space during play indicates that they communicate well and understand one another's boundaries.
The line between
Training Tip Tuesday: No Jumping Up
Training Tip Tuesday: No Jumping on Guests
Does your dog jump up on your guests and visitors? This is a very common struggle. A two-part approach will help your chronic jumper (Warning - there is some brief barking in the video at 5:25).
Part 1 is management. Set your dog up for success by preventing them from jumping on your guests. Use a leash, a crate, another room to prevent them from having access.
Part 2 is training. Train your dog using positive reinforcement and treat rewards to do an alternate behavior when someone arrives at your home. One option is to train them to go to their bed when they hear a knock on the door.
Practice when there are no visitors. Have a helper knock on the door (or ring the bell) and then lure or cue your pup to go to their bed. Do not have your helper come in the door.
If you don't have a helper, you can knock on the door yourself, If your dog gets so excited around the door that they will jump and scratch at it, then you can begin this training in another room.
Let us know how your training goes!
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Join Michigan Pet Alliance to take advantage of free or discounted educational opportunities, from free webinars and roundtables to reduced registration costs for the 2023 One Voice: Michigan Pet Alliance Conference & Expo.
2023 Conference Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for the 2023 One Voice: Michigan Pet Alliance Conference & Expo, taking place September 21-22 in Grand Rapids.
https://www.michiganpet.org/2023conference/
Join more than 300 staff, volunteers and advocates from animal welfare organizations, shelters and rescues throughout Michigan as leaders and visionaries assemble to share the latest research and best practices in animal welfare.
The theme of this year’s conference is Better Together. The in-person event at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel will include ample networking opportunities.
Keynote presentations will be delivered by Dr. Marty Becker, founder of Fear Free Pets®, and Denise Evans, a leader of ideas on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Breakout tracks include:
People Power!
Pet Health & Wellness
Best Practices in Shelters & Rescues
Community & Communication
For those who can’t attend in person, you won’t miss out! Four general session presentations will be streamed live over the two days.
Register now for the full in-person conference or for the livestreamed virtual sessions: https://www.michiganpet.org/2023conference/
Don't miss the Playtime & Enrichment for ALL Cats webinar on March 13 from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
In this webinar, cat owners, in-shelter caregivers and foster parents will learn how to ease common behavior problems by keeping a cat engaged in play and mentally stimulated. Cat behavior expert Jess Vankoningsveld will cover proper play techniques designed to encourage a natural progression of behaviors, allowing playtime to be as effective as possible, whether in a home or shelter environment.
Member Fee: $0 (when registered with MPA account email)
Non-Member Fee: $25
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we will send you a link to the recording.
Register today: www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/online-training-march/
And, if you think about it, you're paying $25 for each amazing webinar when you could just join MPA for $35 a year and watch all the webinars you want for FREE any time. Join at www.michiganpet.org
Training Tip Tuesday: Providing Dogs With Enrichment
Training Tip Tuesday: Providing Dogs With Enrichment
Snuffle mats are a great way to turn your dog's dinner time into an enrichment activity. It provides mental stimulation, slows down feeding and builds confidence.
Until you buy or make a snuffle mat, you can try the muffin tin game. Take a muffin tin and some tennis balls. Put treats in all of the holes and cover them with the tennis balls. Let your dog find the treats and figure out how to get them out by lifting up the tennis balls.
NOTE: Some dogs skip lifting up the tennis balls and just topple the whole muffing tin upside down. That's OK too, although you can try to prevent it by holding it in place.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Adopting a Second Cat
Training Tip Tuesday: What is the most important thing to consider before adopting a second cat? Here are some things to think about before adding a new cat to your home.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
March 13 Webinar: Enrichment for ALL CATS
REGISTER NOW: https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/online-training-march/
March Webinar: Playtime & Enrichment for ALL Cats, March 13, 2023 noon – 1 p.m. Eastern
In this webinar, cat owners, in-shelter caregivers and foster parents will learn how to ease common behavior problems by keeping a cat engaged in play and mentally stimulated. Cat behavior expert Jess Vankoningsveld will cover proper play techniques designed to encourage a natural progression of behaviors, allowing playtime to be as effective as possible, whether in a home or shelter environment.
This webinar is for all the cats: owners, in-shelter caregivers and foster parents
Member Fee: $0 (when registered with MPA account email)
Non-member Fee: $25
Become a member and all webinars are free! Join at www.michiganpet.org
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we will send you a link to the recording. #catenrichment #cattraining
Training Tip Tuesday: How to Greet a Cat
Training Tip Tuesday: What is the best way to greet a cat you don't know? It's fairly simple! If you use some care and watch their body language, while responding to their needs, you can make a friend for life!
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Advancing Your Dog's Skills
Do you want to take your dog's skills to the next level? It's good for them!
In order for your dog to have skills that work in real life, we need to advance them along. Today on Training Tip Tuesday, we talk about how to go about moving your dog forward.
In this tutorial, Kelly will talk about some tips to help you achieve that success when things get harder.
TIP 1: Know the five levels of difficulty and where your dog is at with each of their skills.
TIP 2: Make sure your dog's skill is rock solid before moving up a level. (This means about 90% success at their current level)
TIP 3: Plan your practice session. Know and plan ahead for the best time, location, distraction level and reinforcements.
TIP 4: Super charge your release cue!
TIP 5: Go at your pup's pace .
Tip 6: Only increase one of the following - distance, distraction, duration - at a time
Tip 7: Start easy in new environments or with an increase in one of the "D"s - one or two correct responses is enough!
Tip 8: Don't be the one holding your dog back - increase your skills and allow them to have some of the responsibiity in a new situation.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Does Your Cat Need a Bath?
Training Tip Tuesday: Does your cat need a bath?
What can you do to help your cat feel more comfortable with being groomed? On this #TrainingTipTuesday, we'll give you some tips on bathing, grooming and nail trims.
End of Week Enrichment: Recycling Restaurant
This week's End of Week enrichment is a great game to let your dog - or cat - play. It's called Recycling Restaurant.
Collect some of your cardboard recycling. This is a great use for all those Amazon boxes! Stack them or pile them up.
Sprinkle some of your pet's daily food allowance into the cardboard stack that you have created and enjoy watching them forage for it.
Tip 1: Make it the correct level of difficulty for your pet. They should have to work a bit for the food, but not so much that they give up.
Tip 2: When your pet is new to the game, make sure they see you sprinkle the food.
Tip 3: It is OK to help your pet if they are not succeeding.
Tip 4: Let them go for it! The mess can be cleaned up. If they are playing all in and really moving those boxes around - great!
This enrichment game is amazing for your pet is so many ways. It helps to build their confidence, it increases calmness, it allows them to practice natural foraging behavior and so much more!
#EndOfWeekEnrichment
Training Tip Tuesday: Cat Clicker Training
Training Tip Tuesday: Cat Clicker Training
Have you ever wondered if you can train your cat? You absolutley can!! We have some tips on how to get started in clicker training and some of the fun things you can learn with your cat.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Calmness in the Crate, Part 2
Calmness in the Crate, Part 2
Is your dog getting pretty good at settling down in the crate, but still could be better! Here are some top tips to get really good crate calmness.
Tip #1: Be calm yourself!
Tip #2: Don't be predictable.
Tip #3: Do be sneaky!
Tip #4: Use the crate when you are home.
Calmness is the crate allows you more freedom, and your dog to get the rest that they truly need. This is a skill to be trained up, just like stay, or walking nicely on leash.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Part 1: https://fb.watch/hSOW1NFFXQ/
Training Tip Tuesday: Cat Carrier Training
Training Tip Tuesday: Cat Carrier Training
How can we make our cats feel more comfortable with their carrier? With just a little bit of training, we can make the carrier seem like a safe and comfortable place for our cats to spend their time. This is critical training since you may need your cats to quickly go to their carriers in case of an emergency.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Calmness in the Crate
Training Tip Tuesday: Calmness in the Crate, Part 1
Does your dog bark or whine non-stop when in their crate? Are they going crazy in there when you arrive home or when you are in another room?
It can be very difficult to use your crate if your pup just won't settle down. The good news is you can train your pup to be calm in the crate.
Tip #1: Build VALUE for being in the crate. Good things - like treats - happen here.
Tip #2: Start with the door open, and let your pup come and go freely. Sit with them and deliver treats into the crate when they go in.
Tip #3: Keep training sessions short.
Tip #4: When your pup is happily going into the crate, start to close the door and toss in some treats with the door closed. Then open the door and repeat. You’re sending the message that inside the crate is valuable, outside is nothing very interesting.
Tip #5: When your pup is happy with the door closed and hanging out in there, you can start to use longer lasting treats, like a stuffed Kong.
Tip #6: Work to move away from the crate in gradual increments as your pup is working on their long-lasting treat.
Tip #7: Go at your pup's pace.
Tip #8: Train your pup for calmness in everyday life. Calmness in the crate allows you more freedom and your dog to get the rest that they truly need. This is a skill to be trained up, just like stay or walking nicely on a leash.
Check back in two weeks for Calmness in the Crate, Part 2. If you start training now, you'll be ready for Part 2 on January 3, 2023.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: Litterbox Basics
Set your cat up for success with the litter box! Check out these simple tips for resolving basic litterbox problems and starting out right with the litterbox with your new cat. Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: My Dog Knows This
“My dog knows this … he just isn’t doing it”
Have you ever said this before? I think we all have. When we've witnessed our dog perform a command many times, it can be tempting to think that they “know” the cue and they are ignoring us when they suddenly won't do it.
It is important to make sure that your dog does, in fact, KNOW the cue. If they are not doing what you have asked, consider:
- Have they learned the skill in this environment?
- Can they cope with this level of distraction?
- Have we done enough homework on this skill?
- Does my dog feel safe here?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” then keep working with your pup to make sure they truly know what you are asking for.
Happy Training! #TrainingTipTuesday
Training Tip Tuesday: 5 Keys to a Happy Cat
It's Training Tip Tuesday where each week we share dog and/or cat training information.
This week, "5 Keys to a Happy Cat:" How to offer your cat the most comfortable and enriched home possible to build their confidence and happiness.
Why are all these people clapping and cheering for this incredibly bewildered, very pregnant woman?
Well, that's Anne Grzywacz and she's about to learn that she's earned the Karen Brocklehurst Volunteer of the Year Award from Michigan Pet Alliance.
“This annual award honors a nominated individual who gives selflessly of their time volunteering in various aspects of animal welfare and who takes every opportunity to learn and know more,” said Joe Dobesh, MPA CEO. “It was encouraging to see how many volunteers in Michigan are worthy of this award, but in the end, the nomination for Anne surpassed all others.”
Anne has spent the last 13 years studying, practicing and teaching all aspects of dog behavior. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology with a focus in animal behavior and cognition, and she has been volunteering in animal rescue since 2005. Grzywacz has hosted animal behavior workshops for the staff of boarding kennels, dog daycares, shelters and rescues to help them develop or improve their own training programs and policies for safe animal handling, including identifying stress in dogs and how best to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Anne's official role with nonprofit Paws for Life Animal Rescue, Troy, Mich., is director of dog behavior and training, but her contributions extend far beyond that. Anne has assisted with TNR community cat projects, fostered behaviorally difficult cats and participated in the Jackson Galaxy Cat Training Program. She serves as a mentor to new volunteers and schedules shadowing and training opportunities for anyone who wants to learn more, so they can do more.
“I am extremely honored to receive an award in Karen’s name,” said Anne. “Karen and I worked closely together for seven years prior to her passing. I am humbled and grateful to receive an award that commemorates the work and dedication of such an amazing soul. I hope that Karen’s life’s dedication to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves serves as m
Our Spay and Neuter Myths: Busted webinar is Tuesday at 6 pm EST, and we cannot wait to share this information with you! We will be joined by Dr Jeff Adams and Jodie Ellison and will focus on taking apart myths surrounding spaying and neutering your pets.
Tune in Tuesday at 6 pm EST.
https://bit.ly/3HMUg5D
