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)
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T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L
V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I V
Be An Advocate Continued from front page
-ample in mind. Forcing your dog to interact with something scary does not reduce his anxiety and can lead to panic or even a bite.
called “perch work.” The dog places its paws on a small, raised surface (in this case, a dog bowl) and learns to pivot in order to work on proper heeling position. I decided to add some traction to the bottom of the bowl, and was surprised that Maddie was a little fearful of it! Rather than insist she perform the exercise as before, I helped her become comfortable with it at her pace. I began by reinforcing her for looking at it, then placing her paw towards it, pawing it, placing one paw, then two paws, and finally the perch work!
So, what do you do? Avoid these things forever? Of course not! You can work through these issues slowly and carefully. The fancy, long name for this process is systematic desensitization and counterconditioning. It is a long way of saying expose your pet to whatever scares it in small amounts, and then pair it with great things! For example, I began teaching my dog, Playful, goofy behavior around a prop could Maddie, an exercise mean the dog is unsure!
If your dog has a serious fear, it will take much longer. You will absolutely need the help of an experienced positive-based trainer. He or she will help you find the dog’s
A Few Minutes Goes A Long Way
comfort zone, and you will gradually expose your dog to the scary thing in tiny bits while rewarding him with treats he really loves! This helps him to learn that what previously scared him causes you to dispense his favorite treat! Eventually, you will be able to fade the treats, but this process can take a long time. Remember, though, your pet’s trust is worth it! No matter what the situation, remember you always have the right and the responsibility to stick up for your pet. Never allow anyone to bully your dog (or you!) into something you don’t think is right! You are your dog’s only voice, and if you don’t feel it is right, it probably isn’t! Your dog will love you all the more for it! If you would like to see video of Maddie’s desensitization training with her perch, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=4hqLqHteKVA
tween sessions!
What if you don’t even have that? You can sessions don’t even have to add up accomplish a lot in a session that lasts only a few minutes! Oftentimes, when I work to more than 10 with my small animals, who have minutes! small attention spans anyway, I will When I visit clihold sessions that last no longer than 5 ents, I often enminutes! Cramming a lot into a little courage them to isn’t the answer. Pick one or two key practice during TV skills you want to work on, and after a While working with your dog 3-5 commercials. It’s few great responses, end on a good times a day may be ideal, it may also an easy way to note! It’s a great way to keep your anibe unrealistic if you have a job, a multitask, and it’s mal enthusiastic about training while family, or even multiple dogs! There a great way to fitting it into your schedule! are ways to easily incorporate trainSometimes puppies only have an teach your dog attention span of a few minutes anying into your daily life, and those 3-5 to relax beway! Something that many trainers repeat but that often goes over the head of pet owners is that 3-5 short sessions are much better than one long session. This is true, but thinking about stopping to train 3-5 times a day is overwhelming for most people!
Introducing the Toy Box! “The Toy Box” will be a new, permanent feature in issues of Tips from the Pool. In this section, we’ll discuss enrichment items, activities, and products you can use to stimulate your pets! We will also provide links to videos of pets playing with these toys! The first feature functions as
The muffin tin game allows you to discover how your pet approaches problem solving tasks!
both a toy and a puzzle. The Muffin Tin Game is a favorite of many positive dog trainers. It’s easy to create and fun to watch your dog problem-solve!
balls on top. Present to your dog and enjoy!
Place treats inside of the holes, then place the tennis
http://youtu.be/6pQQHr2sQZY
For smaller pets, you can use a plastic egg crate (Styrofoam is easy to bite pieces off and may contain salmonella from the egg shells.) and For dogs, you’ll need a muf- practice golf balls or ping pong balls. fin tin (the kind used for baking) and as many tennis To watch video of guinea pigs playballs as you have space for ing the Muffin Tin Game, visit the muffins. link below!
V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I V
T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L
Housing
rabbits readily litter-train, so either can be equipped with a litter box!
Continued from front page your cage more secure. Coroplast, or corrugated plastic, is more difficult to find. You may have search around sign supply shops to find a full sheet (4’x8’) to work with. You can, of course, order it, but ordering a full-sized sheet necessitates special shipping, which negates any savings made online. Coroplast is used to create the cage base, and it is easy to clean. While you cannot spray it down with the hose, you can easi-
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As for substrates, wood shavings are becoming less popular, as they release ly wipe it down with vinegar, which serves as a disinfectant. That way, you phenols that can irritate the respiratory system and leach oils from the never have to move your cage, which will be very cumbersome if it is of the coat and feet. Aspen or pine are acceptable, with aspen being the best. appropriate size! Cedar should never be used. Paper Chinchillas can be pulp works well, but can be expenhoused in a storesive. The newest trend is utilizing bought, multi-level fleece with an absorbent layer beferret cage. Coroplast neath it, such as a layer of towels. can be used to make Fleece, after being washed 2 or 3 a base to contain the times, wicks away moisture, leaving bedding material. the bottom of the cage dry!
Creating your own cage allows you to provide much more space than a pet store cage!
Rabbits need either free range or plenty of “floor time.” You can use a dog kennel or puppy play pen as an area to close them off when they can’t be supervised. Most
It is important to note that no matter how big the cage, floor time is critically important for any small pet! It provides a change of scenery as well as an opportunity for exploring and exercise! For instructions on how to build your own C&C cage, visit cavycages.com
Trick Corner: Basketball Maddie, my Labrador Retriever, loves to learn new tricks. In the Trick Corner, we’ll discuss our recent trick-training adventures, and give you some tips on teaching them to your dog. you can slowly back your hand out of the equation, eventually A kid’s basketball set allowing it to serve A somewhat deflated basketball (for as a “target” or easy grabbing!) “bring the ball here” sign for your dog. At Prerequisites: this point, you will Retrieve likely need to stay Now, she just needs to learn to shoot 3-pointers! by the hoop for your Take/Hold an Object stand by the hoop in order for dog to continue to bring the ball there. As your dog to put the ball there! Basketball is a great crowd-pleaser: your dog drops the ball in the hoop, add your Gradually, back away from the cue. Ours is “put it!” Gradually, fade to just everyone will be impressed when pointing at the hoop with the verbal cue, then hoop little by little. It will be helpyour dog dunks the ball! ful to your dog if you offer guidnot using your hand at all! ance by pointing at this stage. You can begin the trick in different Eventually, you can fade out the You may not want to have to toss the ball to ways depending on you and your point entirely, if you choose! your dog each time. For Maddie, it was easy dog’s preferences. For Maddie, we for me to transfer to just taking the ball from built off of her retrieve: I would first If you have an adjustable hoop, toss the ball near the hoop and cue my hand since she knew how to “take” an you can encourage jumping and her to “fetch.” I would then ask her object from my hand under the cue “take it,” dunking, just make sure to keep it so we simply began using that cue rather to deliver the ball to my hand which safe-don’t let your dog accidentalthan tossing the ball each time! She is also was over the hoop. As she dropped able to do all her own rebounds using this cue ly pull the hoop over on itself, or it in my hand, I let it fall in the hit its chin on the rim! You can as well! hoop! also teach “cheating” by placing a step stool near the base!! Of course, you will probably not want to After practicing this several times, What You’ll Need:
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Training. At Phins with Fur, we believe in humane, effective training. We rely on the science-based training that is used with dolphins. The best thing about these techniques is that it doesn’t matter what breed or species you are working with, because all animals learn the same way! We also focus
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It’s Dolphin Training...for Dogs! portant part of keeping your pet’s brain and body active and healthy! Providing toys and activities to encourage play, interaction, and foraging help develop When most people think of problem-solving skills and strengthen “holistic,” they think of a hippie-like the brain! Not to mention that working existence or an all-natural diet. for food or having a fun toy is great for “Holistic” actually refers to “whole.” Great nutrition is a part of great your pet’s overall happiness! Food enWhen I think of holistic training, I healthcare. Animals obviously need to richment is great, too, as well as playing think of approaching the animal as eat the right food in order to learn games with YOU! a whole: having great nutrition, well! I am shocked by how many owngreat enrichment, and, of course, a ers complain to me of their dog’s over- Playing games is a great way to build a healthy state of being. relationship, which is the most imexuberance or even angst, yet, they are feeding poor quality dog food. You portant part of the equation. While Simply approaching training as acdon’t have to spend an arm and a leg achieving a behavior goal is often the complishing a behavioral goal, such “goal” of the session, remember that you to purchase a good food, but the as teaching your dog to sit or your can’t accomplish much if neither of you cheapest foods will always be, well, guinea pig to hop on the scale, are having fun! You may even accomthe cheapest foods! leaves a lot to be desired plish your goal that session, but good Artificial dyes, excess in your training sessions. luck keeping up the momentum! You can grains, and even exI firmly believe that have a behavior goal, but remember that cess proteins cause many factors enable you hyperactivity and oth- if your session stops being fun, you are to have a great training losing your animal. Your pet should love er issues! Variety in session with your pet, training and performing the behavior as the diet is also even though operant conhealthy, and mentally much as you love training it! Building a ditioning is a straightforrelationship outside of sessions is imstimulating! ward science. portant, as well. Play games with your Speaking of mentally pet, talk to them, and just enjoy them! The first is, perhaps, the most obvious. If your pet Many aspects contribute to achieving a stimulating, enrichThe feeling will become mutual and your training goal! ment is such an imis feeling ill or is not training will be successful! healthy, he is not in the best state of mind to learn! Luckily, through training, you are spending so much time learning about your pet’s behavior that you can pick up on abnormalities more quickly!
Training Holistically