10 Behaviour Myths in Dogs: # 9

Myth # 9:  He has a behaviour problem.  Send him to a trainer!

The behaviour of all animals is a result of complex interaction among genetics, early development, and environment. For this reason, behaviour problems can vary greatly in their underlying causes and must be treated appropriately.  If your pet is fearful, aggressive, destructive or is eliminating inappropriately, we recommend you see your veterinarian first. Some of these issues may have underlying medical causes which need to be eliminated first.  We often work in conjunction with trainers or will be able to recommend a trainer for you.  Many people are not aware that there are veterinarians who have specialized in animal behaviour.  These individuals are board-certified and have received the same rigorous advanced training that any specialist would receive. Dr. Gary Landsberg is one such person.  You may be interested in his website at Animal Behaviour Resources Institute

FACT: It is important to be aware of the variety of professionals available to help with your pet’s behaviour problem.  If we are unable to help your pet, we will send you to someone who can!

Call Royal City Animal Hospital today, to make an appointment to discuss your pet's behaviour.

10 Behaviour Myths in Dogs: # 8

Myth # 8: Dogs chase their tails or spin in circles because they are bored.

Repetitive behaviours such as pacing, spinning, tail chasing, and foot licking have many causes.  To infer they are caused by boredom oversimplifies a complicated problem.  These behaviours may be caused by frustration or conflict.  They may be secondary to certain medical problems that cause itching, pain, or discomfort in a body part.  Sometimes they are caused by seizures or other forms of brain dysfunction.

FACT: Repetitive behaviours are complex problems that require evaluation, diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Please let us know if you are concerned about any of these behaviours in our own pet.

Cold Weather Life Saving Tip

Royal City Animal Hospital would like to remind everyone, that as the cold weather approaches, please bang on the hood of your car before you start the engine. 

You could be saving a life. 

In the cold weather many outdoor cats seek warmth and refuge from the elements by jumping up into the engine of cars. This can lead to injury or death if they are there when the car starts. In addition, some cats will be under the car, and can easily be run over when you move the car. 

Halloween Costume Contest

Royal City Animal Hospital will be holding a
Halloween Pet Costume Photo contest. 

How to enter: 

Join our Facebook page and submit a photo of your pet dressed in a Halloween Costume,
 and you will automatically be entered in the contest. 

The photo that gets the most "Likes" will be the winner.
It is as simple as that. 

The prize is a gift bag of pet related items - books, poop bags, treats, etc. 

Submit your entry today. 

World Rabies Day September 28th

September 28th is World Rabies Day. This is a day set aside to promote awareness, education, and work to promote the eradication Rabies world wide.
At Royal City Animal Hospital, we are committed to informing our clients and the public about the threat of Rabies, and what to do to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.




Get the Facts about Rabies by checking out these links:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/articles/diseases/rabies/

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #7

Myth # 7:  If you use treats to train a dog, you will always need them to get the dog to obey your commands.

The principles that govern the laws of learning have shown this to be completely untrue.  Treats are an excellent means of reinforcing a behavior. Clear and consistent reinforcement is necessary when you initially begin teaching any animal a new behavior.  For some animals, a vocal reward, toys, or petting may serve as good reinforcers, but food is for many animals the most salient reinforcement there is.

courtesy of Shutterstock

The rules of learning show that when first teaching a new behavior, reinforcing every single time the behavior is performed on cue will lead to the fastest rate of learning.  This is known as continuous reinforcement.  Once a behavior is learned, intermittent reinforcement is the best means of maintaining the behavior and making it most resistant to extinction.  This means you only need to use treats periodically once the behavior is learned,

People who believe that an animal is not responding because it knows there is no treat available have usually failed to use reinforcement appropriately or don’t realize that the pet has actually not learned the behavior.  It is common for pet owners to think that an animal has learned a command long before it actually has!

FACT:  When used correctly, positive reinforcement training with food rewards is far more likely to be effective and has less chance of doing harm than most other forms of training.

stay tuned....another myth coming soon

Did you Know?

Did You Know.....

On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. 

That means a 9 year old cat has been awake for only 3 years of its life.1

Midnight - taking one of his many cat-naps