Naming Your Commands

Usually the first commands we teach our pets are sit, down, and stay. These command names are pretty much the standard because they are simple and describe the command perfectly.

There are many other commands that we can teach our pet, such as crawling on the ground, getting off the furniture, and getting a cold soft drink out of the fridge and bringing it to you. But what are the best terms to give these types of behaviors that we want performed by our pets?

Here are some tips to help you choose what to call your commands:

Keep it simple. The more basic the word(s), the easier it will be for your pet to learn and remember the cue. For example, if you are teaching your dog to grab his leash when he needs to go outside, it’s probably more salient to the dog to just say “leash” as opposed to “go get your leash”

Be consistent. Once you choose the name for your command, don’t alter it. If you decide that the command for your dog to jump through a hoop should be “through”, don’t interchange it with “jump”. Also, everyone interacting with the dog should say “through” as well.

Don’t assign multiple meanings to the same command. Mostly everyone will agree that command “down” is for our pets to lie down, but a lot of people will also say “down” when they want the pet off the couch. Then, when the pet lies down, the person gets perturbed because the pet is still on the couch but the pet thinks he did the right thing by laying down, regardless of where he is. So there’s no confusion, try using the word “off” instead when you want your pet off the couch.

 Don’t use something that doesn’t work. This seems like it would be common sense, but there are many times people call their pet to them either using the word “come” or their name and either ignores them when they do come or punishes them for something they did or for not coming to them fast enough. If your cat has associated her name with being squirt with water or getting no benefit for her coming to you (no treats, petting or some kind of likeable interaction) chances are good that she’ll ignore you when you call her name. If that’s the case, switch to another command that is only used for that action and has positive associations to it.

Don’t repeat yourself. If you want the command for your dog to sit up and beg to be “beg”, just say it once and wait for your dog to perform the action. If you keep repeating the word “beg” over and over until he does it, he can either think the command is “beg…beg…beg” or choose to ignore it.

Use words that sound different. Some dogs are able to discern the difference between “down” and “bow”, while to others it may sound like the same command. Instead of saying “bow”, you could try “ta da”, “curtsy”, “thanks” or maybe even using a different language.

Be creative when giving your command it’s name. Animals aren’t born knowing the English language, so feel free to use another language, make up a word, or even be silly by teaching your pet that the command for lying down is “up”. Whatever cues you do choose to use, following the guidelines above can help your pet in learning your command.

What's Up With Cats?

Does your cat do things that you don’t understand, leaving you wondering if your cat is a bit nutty? Well, chances are good that your cat is normal and its behavior is probably very similar to other cats. Here are answers to some of the questions people have about their feline friends.

Why do cats like to kill things?
Although evidence of a cat – human relationship can be traced back to about 9500 years ago, the best evidence of domestication of cats date back to about 4000 years ago in Egypt. It may seem like a long time, but this is relatively recent especially when compared to dogs and horses. Therefore, cats retain many of the characteristics of their feral ancestors and cousins, including their prey drive. Although you may provide food for your cat, the prey drive still remains. Some of them also just get a kick out of playing with their moving “toys”.

Why do cats seem to torture their prey?
Partly out of fun because they are attracted to things that move, but also to protect themselves. Because a cat’s eye is designed to be highly efficient in dimly lit places, it gives up the ability to see objects clearly when they are up close. To ensure that the cat won’t get injured by the prey fighting back, it has to make sure that it is dead.

Why does my cat bring me its prey?
The jury is out on this one, but it could be that your cat is bringing you a present, it wants to eat its prize around you where it feels comfortable, or it wants you to learn how to finish off a kill like a mother would teach its kittens.

Why do cats go crazy at night?
Cats have traits that allow them to travel and hunt efficiently at night. So, especially if you have an outdoor cat, chances are they will be more active at night because they have an advantage over their prey and are less likely to be seen by anything they perceive as an enemy.

Why do cats swat people after purring and nuzzling when they are petted?
It’s believed that the nerves on a cat’s skin can become overly stimulated by being petted, but there could also be a build up of static. So, what feels good at first can suddenly become uncomfortable. In order to avoid being swatted, pay attention to your cat’s tail when you are petting it. If it resembles a flag on a flag pole (upright with the tip folded over), you’re probably safe. But the moment you see the tail start to flicker, your sweet kitty is warning you that its time for you to quit.

Why do cats lie in their litter boxes when they are scared?
Many cats see their litter box as a safe haven because they can eliminate there without being bothered. If you are keeping the litter box in a closet or somewhere that is relatively hidden and not out in the open, then it’s a great place to hide from whatever stimuli is stressing them out. Sometimes cats will also lie in their litter box when they are ill or in pain and have to eliminate frequently so it’s best to check with your vet if you think your cat isn’t feeling well.

Why do cats scratch furniture?
Cats like to scratch things to not only to give themselves a manicure, but also to stretch and leave their scent. Without an appropriate place for your cat to scratch, you may find your furniture as the victim. Some cats will stretch and scratch on the carpet, but many find a standing object very conducive to their needs. Some cats have a specific preference for the type of material they scratch, so keep this in mind when choosing a scratching post. The most popular materials tend to be cardboard and carpet.

Why do cats “knead”?
When a cat begins gently pressing its paws on you (similar to someone kneading dough), it’s most likely trying to show you that it’s content or to get some nurturing from you. This can stem from when the cat was a kitten and would use this action on their mothers to show contentment or to stimulate the flow of milk during feeding time.

Why do some cats refuse to drink out of the water bowl next to their food bowl?
Theories abound, but one possible reason could be that the cat doesn’t think the water is fresh. This could be because a piece of food fell in the water before and the cat has a bad connotation of it, or the smell of the food could interfere with the water. Another reason could be your cat doesn’t like the material the water dish is made of. Also, a lot of cats are attracted to running water as a fresh water source, so it’s not uncommon for a cat to prefer to drink out of the faucet or a toilet instead of a bowl. Some cats also prefer not to stick their head down into the bowl and instead prefer drink from a filled glass.

Why do cats eat grass and plants?
There are different theories, but it seems that a lot of cats will eat grass and plants when they need to regurgitate, especially if they have a hairball. While some cats may also eat grass and plants because they like the taste of it or because of the nutrients in plants, they usually can’t digest it. Even though it may be indigestible, there are many plants that are toxic to cats so it’s a good idea to know what plants are in your cat’s environment.


Be sure to check back at a later date for more questions about cat behavior.

Training Games - Put Some Fun Into Your Dog's Regiment

Whenever we think of training, we sometimes tend to focus on teaching our dogs the commands and using them only when necessary. By introducing games into your training regiment, you can reinforce some of the commands your dog has already learned and use them in a somewhat practical situation.

Below are some ideas of how to make training a little more fun. Keep in mind, however, that the games are only fun and work if you and/or the dog maintain interest and don’t get overly frustrated. Always go at your dog’s pace and do not ask your dog to perform a command that he does not know well.

Hide and Seek
This is exactly like the game you played when you were a kid. While your dog is in one room, go hide in another room. This can either be done randomly when the dog isn’t paying attention (preferred) or you can have the dog sit and wait (stay) in an area where he can’t see you if you go around the corner. Once you are hidden, call your dog to you. The hardest part of this game is trying not to give away your location by breathing loud or giggling while your dog searches for you! When your dog finds you, be sure to praise him.

Command(s) reinforced: Recall. Sit and wait (stay) commands if given.
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight, smell and sound.
Practical use: Encourage your dog to come to you when called when you are not in sight.

Caution: If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or being isolated, it’s best to not hide and have the dog find you as this can reinforce his anxiety. Instead, you can have the dog sit and stay while you leave the room and then reward the dog when you go back to him if he remains calm.

Hunt for Treats
Have your dog wait (stay) in one room and hide a treat in another location – either another room or outside. Once hidden, go back to your dog, release him and have him find the treat. You can also use a toy for this exercise. (For more fun, set up a hunt and hide several treats, just like an Easter egg hunt.)

Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight and smell.
Practical use: Enhances your dog’s impulse control by waiting and being released.

Recall Relay
This exercise involves two people. Standing on opposite ends of the room, one person should call the dog to them. Once the dog gets to the person who called him, he should be rewarded with praise or a treat. Once rewarded, the other person should call the dog towards them. When the dog reaches the other person, that person should reward the dog. This process can be repeated several times, however the dog must respond appropriately to the person calling them before someone else can call the dog. If the dog accepts a treat from a handler and then immediately turns and proceeds to the other handler before being called, the handler that the dog is not paying attention to should call the dog. Once the dog is proficient at the current distance, you can increase the distance between the two people or add an additional person into the mix.

Command reinforced: Recalls
Practical use: Enhances the dog’s compliance with recall when there is another person serving as a distraction.

Go Wild and Freeze
Get your dog really excited by running around, jumping up and down, using a high pitched voice, etc. Once your dog is pretty riled up, ask him to sit or lie down. Once he complies, reward him.

Command(s) reinforced: Sit, down (if given).
Additional benefit: Bring the dog’s mind from an excited to a calm state.
Practical use: Gain dog’s focus when he is distracted or overly excited.

Puppy Push-Ups
Begin by putting your dog in a sit position. Then give your dog the command to lie down. Once he lies down, give him to command to sit again. This will complete one “push-up”. Keep doing this in repetition and see how many can be done in one minute.

Command(s) reinforced: Sit and down.
Practical use: Helps the dog learn that sit and down are two separate commands.

The Waiting Game
Ask your dog to wait (stay) in either the sit or down position. Put a treat or a toy down on the ground and continue to have the dog wait (stay). When you are ready for your dog to get the toy or treat, give him a command such as “get it!” Instead of releasing the dog, another option is for you can pick up the object and reward the dog with something else the dog likes. Both of these options can be used during a single session as long as the dog is somehow rewarded for compliance. Keep in mind, however, that if your dog gets the item before you’ve given the release command, you have lost the game!

Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefit: Teaches the dog impulse control
Practical use: Helps to prevent a dog from immediately grabbing an item falling on the floor without permission.

Obedience Course
Pick two or three areas for your dog to perform different commands. At first, you can reward your dog at each station, but eventually you can reward your dog at the end of the obedience course. If your dog is good at commands such as “over”, “under” or “through”, you can add the appropriate obstacles.

Command(s) reinforced: Any commands you give.
Practical use: Allows you to change up requests as needed, keeping your dog focused on the command itself and not a pattern. Also, this helps if you are looking into getting your dog involved in Rally events.

The more fun you can make training, the stronger the bond you can build between yourself and your dog. Feel free to share if you have any games that you like to play with your pup.

Happy training!

Trainer Grace

Getting Kids Involved in the Training Process

Many of our pets see kids as a completely different animal than adults. They are smaller, sometimes more awkward, make funny or more high pitched noises, and tend to be more curious and/or tense than adults around animals.

In order to establish an owner-pet relationship between kids and pets, it’s important to get the kids involved in training your pet so they are not seen as a threat or as a fun toy to play with. Including kids in the training process can also build a bond between kids and pets that make both acceptable to each other.

Safety First!

Before involving kids in interactions with pets, parents and kids must understand safety around pets. The following precautions should be taken:

1. Kids and pets should never be left unattended no matter how well-behaved the animal is. An adult should be present during all interactions.
2. If your pet exhibits aggressiveness or shyness towards kids, assistance from a behavior specialist should be sought prior to involving kids in the pet’s training.
3. Kids should not attempt to retrieve food, treats or possessions (toys, chew sticks, etc.) from a pet’s mouth or vicinity.
4. Training should not take place with any pets that are injured, sick, or tired.
5. Kids should not engage in any physical behavior with the pet that the pet may find as aversive (e.g. pulling on tails and ears, patting on the head, hugging the animal around its neck, throwing items at the pet.)
6. If using treats as part of the training, kids should be taught how to properly give a treat to a pet when an appropriate behavior is emitted from the pet. The treat should be placed in an open hand with palm facing up. This will prevent the animal from biting a child’s fingers when trying to take the treat.

Simple Steps

There are simple things that your child(ren) can do to build a bonding, owner-pet relationship that doesn’t require any training on your pet’s part at all.

Mealtime – Have the child prepare the pet’s meals. If the pet eats only dry food, show the child how much food the pet should receive and have them scoop it, place it in the food bowl and set the bowl down for the pet. If the pet eats wet or cooked food, adult assistance may be required, but allow the child to put the food into the bowl and on the ground. By allowing the child to participate in meal time preparation, the pet can begin to see the child as a provider.

(Please note that kids should be instructed that once the food is placed for the animal to eat, they should not attempt to pick up the food.)

Brushing – Many furry pets enjoy getting their fur brushed. If your pet enjoys being brushed and is used to it, allow your child to brush the pet. The child should be shown the proper pressure to apply and direction to brush the pet. Care should be taken that the child does not attempt to brush the pet in areas close to its eyes to prevent the child from accidentally poking the pet in the eye.

Bathing – If the pet does not find getting a bath as something aversive, have the child assist you the next time you need to give the pet a bath.

Walking – Allow the child to accompany you when taking the pet for a walk. While going for a walk is great for both pet and child, it is not a good idea for a small child to hold the leash of the pet during a walk as injury could result if the pet decides to pull or chase after an object.

Take it Easy

Kids can easily get frustrated when trying to teach a pet a command or trick, especially if the trick is rather difficult for the pet to accomplish. When involving kids in training, the following tips can make lessons less frustrating for the child and the pet.

1. Have the child begin by giving commands the pet has already been taught. This will help the pet get used to the child giving commands and receiving positive rewards for complying.
2. Let the child teach a command for something the pet already does. For example, most dogs and cats sit and lie down on a regular basis. If the child can give rewards for when the pet exhibits that behavior, it’ll make the pet more prone to repeat that behavior for the child.
3. Do not allow the child to reinforce a pet’s bad behaviors, such as jumping on them to greet them.
4. Children should not physically maneuver the pet into any type of position, including pushing a dog into a sit position or forcing a cat to lie down. Many pets don’t understand why they are being touched and some find it very aversive and act out by mouthing, biting or scratching.
5. Some commands kids can help teach pets that are relatively easy for a pet to pick up are “sit”, “down”, “look” and recall. These commands are relatively easy for a pet to learn as it requires little work on their part and are things they naturally do.

What’s Next?

Once your child has built a bond with the pet and the pet is pretty reliable in following the commands given by the child, explore other activities that they may enjoy. Many of the people you see involved with dog and cat shows, training, and canine sporting competitions developed an interest when they were kids themselves. Below is a list of some resources to check out for activities to get your child and pet involved in:

United States Dog Agility Association Junior Handler Program
(https://www.usdaa.com/rulesReg_CertProgs.cfm#JHP)

Classes are geared to encouraging youth involvement in the sport of dog agility as a fun, recreational family sport and teaching responsible pet ownership.

American Kennel Club Junior Showmanship
(http://www.akc.org/kids_juniors/jr_getting_started.cfm)

Children must be a minimum of 9 years of age. This program allows a child to learn more about dogs and dog shows, develop handling skills and learn about good sportsmanship.

American Kennel Club Junior Handling in Companion Events
(http://www.akc.org/kids_juniors/companion.cfm)

Junior handlers can compete in Obedience, Agility, Rally and Tracking events.

Dock Dogs
(http://www.dockdogs.com/)

This sport involves dogs jumping off a dock into water in several types of competitions: Speed Retrieve, Big Air, and Extreme Vertical.

North American Flyball Association
(http://www.flyball.org/)

Two teams of four dogs compete against each other to see which team is the fastest in retrieving balls while jumping over hurdles along the way.

Cat Fancier’s Association
(http://www.cfainc.org/)

Learn more about cats, cat shows and cat agility training.

One Final Note

Training sessions should not be too long, as both child and pet may get bored, thus hindering the session. However, repetition and consistency are important. Try to incorporate short training sessions throughout the day (5 minutes two-three times a day).

In closing, training is something that should be fun and bond building for both kids and pets. If either becomes frustrated or seems overwhelmed, allow a break from the training so they can relax, play, or do something not as taxing.

Happy Training!

Grace Follis, CPDT-KA

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Happy water dogs

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Yours in Pet Training,

Grace