Animals Unfolded

If you look at the shelves of any pet store, the programming on some television channels or browse your social media streams, it’s clear that we find living with dogs to be rather difficult, at least part of the time. Difficult enough to look for a solution outside of our collective wheelhouses or levels of patience. It seems like every time I walk into a pet store, there are more new products promising to correct behavior that we find objectionable, lined up next to the bark collars or spray, every conceivable walking contraption, products to stop coprophagia, prong collars, books and magazine articles whose information is antiquated or is written by charismatic-but-unqualified authors, shock collars intended to correct any number of behaviors and finally, the crates that promise that your frantic dog won’t be able to escape from it. Let’s not forget the television shows touting to teach you to be a pack leader (dogs don't need pack leaders, by the way), Facebook pages emphati...

I'm always on the lookout for interesting ideas to help create a better life for companion animals.  While I was in a local pet store picking up a couple of things this week, I stumbled on one new product— Inaba Ciao Churu treat paste—and I think it would be a terrific tool to accentuate your efforts in training your cat using positive reinforcement.  Also, I touch on another possible use for this product, which is available locally at stores like  Huron Pet Supply  and Dexter Mill  (where, as I understand, it got the stamp of approval from the mill cat, Leo!) as well as why you might want to seek out free samples found in better pet stores. Lorrie Shaw is a freelance writer and owner of  Professional Pet Sitting . She has been a  featured guest on the Pawprint Animal Rescue Podcast,  talking about her career working with companion animals and writing about her experiences. Shoot her  an email , contact her at  734-...

Play is something that we often forget about participating in as we age. We usually are reminded of how good it feels to partake in it when we have children, or for a lot of us, when we have pets. With that in mind, it's helpful to turn the tables and be mindful of how beneficial it is for our pets. As ethologists have learned from discoveries in their research, play isn't just a fun thing to do — it's vital. You see, as humans, during the process of play we learn, grow, think, reason, step outside of our comfort zone and acquire new skills in the process. We know from research that's been done that this is the case with animals, too. Learn more about how play is integral in brain development and enhancement by clicking here . And, as Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. — an author and researcher — indicates, depriving young animals of play puts them at a disadvantage: it affects the maturation of the brain. His research showed evidence that the simple act of play increase...

There's a neighborhood I walk a client in on occasion that boasts many homes with canine family members, and by and large, it's pleasurable and safe to walk in for both me and my charge, a young dachshund. There is one house that I avoid walking directly past without fail and for good reason: a potentially dangerous situation looms every time. Upon passing the home, I witness a sight that I see often on my travels (just one reason that I don't walk distracted by my phone or otherwise), and it always gives me pause. An adult German shepherd inside the home, gustily plants their body atop the back of the couch that is situated in front of a single-pane picture window, growling, vocalizing, clearly not able to control them self at the mere sight of my client and I making our way down the sidewalk. A less-out-of-control golden retriever always joins in within seconds and most definitely seems to follow the lead of their housemate. Unfortunately the location of my clien...

"Rabbits can be taught to use a litter box?" Those not familiar with bunnies often respond with that question if the topic of these cute, furry creatures enters a conversation that I'm engaged in. Many people that I meet think of dogs and cats when they envision what I do in my day-to-day, and they're surprised to learn that I'm a caregiver for other species, like rabbits and exotic birds. Bunnies are a popular pet with families with school-age children, and they're actually a lot of fun and easy to care for, so long as they are given the diligence and attention that they need. People are generally intrigued when they think of a rabbit having the capacity to go to a litter box to do their business. After all, when a lot of us envision a rabbit, we think of those brown-flecked, skittish creatures that we see in our backyards early in the morning. But in using our long-eared friends' wild instincts when it comes to elimination, training them to have indoor m...

People have a hard time understanding my disdain for retractable leashes . It's certainly understandable, considering how much the pet product industry has lauded them in an effort to sell. In theory, they certainly do have attractive qualities: they allow a dog to remain tethered to its person while being able to get some distance so that the dog can try to find just the right spot to relieve itself, or while snooping around in a safe proximity to its human in an open area, like a field or a beach. Another aspect of these leashes is that they come with a trigger lock that can be easily pushed with the thumb, to keep a pet from moving any further away from you, should the need arise (and if they're used correctly). The use of retractable leashes have increased in the past few years, and it's understandable on the part of the dog owner. In a world full of leash laws, they appear to make everyone involved happy: the animal can stay safely tethered to its human while ha...

One topic that I frequently find myself troubled by is the training of canines. As someone who works with dogs every day, I see all sorts of living arrangements, behaviors (some quite normal, some not-so-normal) and approaches (again, some good, some downright horrible) in finding a happy medium in co-existing with dogs. I can see that the main problem with dogs today, isn't with dogs - it's with people... they're the root of the issue. It's always been the case, but now, it's amped up. With today's way of living, which in my opinion is for some dogs nothing short of chaotic and counterproductive to the nature of dogs, it's no wonder that dogs can't settle down or walk on a leash when they do get to go out for a walk, behave, not chew things and forget what they've been taught. We've asked a lot of canines . Too much. In fact, because of humans, dogs have had to be the fastest evolving and adapting species in the world. flickr photo co...

In training puppies and dogs, there are a few things to remember - consistency, keep the sessions short, a good sense of timing and most of all, use really yummy treats... and just tiny bits of them. In keeping your dogs attention during training sessions - we can use all the help that we can get! I see many people buy expensive dog training bits and treats, but to me it seems a bit silly. You can use things like hot dogs , sliced thinly and then cut into quarters - or you can make homemade liver training treats for just pennies. Best of all, in the latter case you have control of what ingredients are in the treats and most dogs love liver. Start with organic calf liver (this is important as the organ acts as a filter to mitigate toxins from the body), boiled for a few minutes in water to cook (10 - 15 minutes), then rinse off to get rid of the scum that accumulates. Dry with a paper towel, then place the boiled liver onto a cookie sheet, completely flat and into a 225 degree ove...