My Pet World: Don't Go Overboard Sharing Beers With Your Dog
Monaco Torreli even suggests keeping a diary. Maybe on certain days Brewski gets less exercise, and with less to do, he chews more. Perhaps, over time, you can discern a pattern.
As for Brewski walking around with a toy when he's excited, that's a common trait among many sporting breeds and individual 'mouthy' dogs like yours. When people come to visit, teach Brewski to retrieve his favorite plush toy (only if he doesn't chew it up), or a Kong, so he can have something in his mouth (aside from beer) when he gets excited.
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Q: My two 2-year-old cats are littermates. The male bullies the other cat; he'll bite her on the scruff of her neck, which makes her hiss. He's acting out to show he's dominant. He also bullies us into feeding him between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. every day, forcing us out of bed. If we don't get up, he bites at our heads or pulls our hair. This is very frustrating. Any ideas? Would speaking with a behaviorist help? -- K.S., Canton, MA
A: "I don't blame your cat for hissing. I would, too, if someone bit me on the scruff of the neck," says Darlene Arden, of Framingham, MA, a certified dog and cat behavior consultant and author of "The Complete Cat's Meow" (Wiley Publishing, New York NY, 2011; $19.99). If the cats are not spay/neutered, that should be your first order of business.
"You can use a clicker to reinforce the kind of behavior you do want, when they are being friendly side-by-side," Arden explains.
First, teach the cats to associate the sound of a clicker with a treat, by clicking repeatedly and offering treats simultaneously. Soon, you can use the clicker to shape behavior - even by rewarding friendly responses between the cats. With each act of friendship (lying together in the sun, grooming one another, etc.) comes a click and a treat for both cats.
As for the male cat waking you up at dawn, at least you don't need an alarm! Arden suggests playing with both cats (using an interactive toy with feathers or fabric), followed by a pre-bedtime snack. (Note: Don't add to their total food intake; instead, decrease the size of other meals.).
It might be that the cat who awakens you isn't tired enough to sleep through the night, and/or he may really be hungry. In any case, gradually move to a later, more reasonable feeding time each morning. At first, ignore the cat until 5:45 a.m., then 6 a.m., etc., until you get to whatever time you believe is fair for all.
By ignoring him, he may, at first, escalate his efforts to wake you, such as knocking objects off dressers (remove them), or screaming (pull pillows over your heads). If you ignore him long enough, things will get better.
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