A quarterly training publication by
Phins with Fur Animal Training
Tips from the Pool Volume II, Issue IV
Fall 2013
Special points of interest: Be Your Pet’s Advocate Housing Help for Small Pets New! The Toybox Holistic Training
Inside this issue:
Few Minute Sessions
2
NEW! The Toy Box: The Muffin Tin Game
2
Trick Corner: Basketball
3
Holistic Training
4
Your Pet’s Only Voice Recently, my sister and I had a discussion about her wanting to take my rabbit to see her boyfriend’s young nephew. I have spent months building a trusting relationship with Hemingway, a rescue, by not forcing him to do anything that makes him uncomfortable, and have been able to acclimate him to many things he previously needed restraint for, such as allowing petting, grooming (including pulling out mats!), and accepting medications from a syringe. I said absolutely not, of course, as he has not yet become accustomed to traveling, grabbing, or rough handling by young kids. Appalled, she said “He’s not like a wild animal that needs to be managed in that way-he just needs to get used to it!” Stop and think: how many times has a family member, trainer, or even a complete stranger suggested to you
that your dog or other pet simply needs to “get over it” or “get used to it?” Anyone that owns or has owned a dog has heard this at least once. But wait a minute-if you are afraid of heights, Hemingway is not amused by the thought of an ambush! how much would you like the person who pushed you out of a plane? Even if I didn’t end up hating them, I would be choice but to “accept” the stressor and stop responding, a phewary of any person who attempted to nomenon called “learned helpforce a spider on me! lessness.” Many times, forceWhat we must remember when work- based trainers market a dog’s ing with our pets is that however trivi- lack of reaction as “submission” or even the elimination of the al a fear may seem to us, it is VERY real to them! To many people, a fear of fear, but the dog has slipped into a state where it feels that nothsnakes is common and understandaing it does will help. This pheble. To snake handler, it may seem ridiculous and overdramatic. If a per- nomenon is also common among abused children. However, it is son afraid of snakes was approached by a harmless corn snake or a menac- hardly referred to as “submission” or no longer minding cobra, however, it could lead to ing the abuse. several reactions: fight, flight, or learned helplessness. You may atIf your dog is afraid of thundertempt to harm the person with the storms, people in hats, people of snake in an attempt to escape, or you may run away to put distance between certain genders, other animals, etc., keep this snake-fear exthe two of you. What if you are chained to the wall? You have no (continued on pg. 2)
Putting the “How” in Housing for Small Pets Housing small pets is becoming more difficult as new recommendations for space are being made. 7.5 sq. ft. is the new recommendation for two guinea pigs, and it’s hard to find a cage that size in a pet store! Smaller pets, such as gerbils, mice, and hamsters, are somewhat easier to find homes for because of their size. But rats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, and rabbits need
more space than most pet stores can provide, so do-it-yourself enclosures are becoming more and more popular. The C&C Cage is the most popular new design for housing guinea pigs. “C&C” stands for cubes (wire shelving) and coroplast (the material used to make signs). These easy-to-use products are perfect for creating an appropriately-sized cage for your guinea pig or rat.
Wire shelving is easy to snap together and is capable of creating multiple sizes. You can easily add extra “cubes” to facilitate a second story, an exercise pen, or any other additional area you want to create. For rats, smaller sized cubes are a must, or adding some mesh fencing to the perimeter with zip-ties can make (continued on pg. 3)