Over the last 10-15 years, there has been a growing trend and obsession to have skinny cats, ironically at a time when the human population has gotten fatter. The eating habits and metabolisms of domestic cats are very different than those of humans and dogs. Cats naturally eat 10-20 small meals a day. They [...]
Don't carry kittens by the scruff. Many of us have been taught to scruff kittens (to carry and hold kittens and cats by the back of their necks) because this is how the mother cat carries her kittens. This is not the correct way to carry and hold kittens. Kittens need to [...]
Many people may not know what FIV+ means. An FIV+ kitty is a cat who has the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus is specific to cats. It is similar to HIV in humans. FIV does not frequently make a cat sick. Some cats will live their full life expectancies – up to 20 years [...]
Passive learning is inherently how dogs learn, 24/7. Understanding how to implement passive dog training effectively will open new doorways of communication for you and your dog. Passive dog training is wonderful for dogs with all sorts of personalities, especially for dogs who are fearful or traumatized, including aggressive and reactive dogs, and for [...]
Learn gentle cat handling techniques, feline body language, the use of towels, and humane approach with Alana's Cat Behavior & Handling Tutorials. Alana Stevenson, cat behaviorist, and Dr. Sally Foote, DVM discuss the importance of humane feline handling and low-stress veterinary care. Interview Highlights Alana: What do you think stands out the most about [...]
At times, I do use the clicker and have taught with it. This is how I started. Initially, in 2003, my human students learned how to use the clicker to teach their dogs and the dogs learned how to respond to it. In my FAQs, there is a brief reason for why I don’t [...]
Should you make your dog sit before giving anything such as affection, dinner, treats, opening doors, or putting on and taking off leashes? This is often part of a "no free lunch" training strategy. I’m not a big fan of "Sit," nor do I use it often—mostly, because dogs already know how to sit [...]
I fully support rescue and adoption. There are too many cats and dogs in need of homes. However, you may want to rethink the reason for getting another cat. Many people who have two cats, after one of their cats passes away, adopt another cat because they feel their remaining cat is lonely. This [...]
Christmas is around the corner and the New Year is quickly approaching. You might be thinking about some New Year’s resolutions to start off 2019. Here are a few tips and ideas to make your cat happier. Of course, your cats will be happy if you start implementing some of these New Year’s resolutions [...]
Christmas is around the corner and the New Year is approaching. You might be thinking about some New Year’s resolutions to start off 2019. Here are a few ideas for making your dog happier. Start passive training. Reward your dog for behaviors you like — without giving a command. Passive training is happening all [...]