Q–When people visit the house, my 2 1/2-year-old pug goes crazy. She barks incessantly and jumps on them. If I put her in her crate when people are there, she howls. I know she wants everyone to love her as much as she loves them. When we go for a walk, she pulls toward every stranger, choking herself with the choke collar. Can you help?
–Northbrook
A–Training is the best gift you can give yourself and your pug.
“Small dogs need to learn rules too,” says trainer/behaviorist Marge Gibbs of Riverwoods. Your dog’s problem is a sort of pug inflated ego. She knows how cute she is and demands the world recognizes this. Deflate that ego a bit by telling strangers not to pay attention to your dog until she settles down. Your guests should ignore the dog until she follows your lead and sits to be petted.
Another strategy is to ask willing neighbors or friends to come to the door repeatedly and perform the following: Place a leash and flat buckle collar on the dog. Each time a guest arrives, offer the dog a special treat used only for this purpose. Tell your pooch to go to a place at least 4 feet from the door but where she can still see the door. Place a dog bed at this place permanently.
Using the leash and the treat, lead your pooch to the bed when a guest arrives. As the guest enters, give your pug her treat. She may try running to the door but redirect her back to the bed using the leash and tempting treat. This will teach her that whenever someone comes to the door, if she goes to her special place, she gets a treat.
As for her pulling on the leash, remove the training or choke collar immediately. These can cause trachea damage to pugs. If your pugnacious pooch pulls at her leash, turn around and go the opposite direction. Lure her with a goody and your upbeat voice to follow your lead rather than dragging you along the street. Yanking, she will learn, is not necessary.
Q–My 16-month-old African gray parrot, Elmo, only allows me or my wife to handle him. If someone else gets near him, he becomes very upset, screaming and flapping his wings with anger. There is one other person he tolerates–a friend who happens to own a pet store. I would like to hire a housesitter to watch Elmo and my reptile collection when my wife and I go on vacation. How can we get Elmo to enjoy the company of other people?
–Berwyn
A–In the wild, African grays fly with 100 of their kind. Yours has only four in its flock, which is not normal for a gregarious parrot. Teaching a bird adaptability and socialization should begin the moment the pet enters your home. At 16 months, Elmo is still a baby, and with some effort, you can adjust his attitude. You will have to take action, however. This bad behavior is not something Elmo will outgrow magically.
According to Liz Wilson, an avian behaviorist from Philadelphia, the problem is determining whether Elmo is afraid because he has not been socialized or if he simply is acting bratty to get your attention. It is likely Elmo’s behavior stems from a touch of both.
You can teach Elmo adaptability by becoming his personal realtor, Wilson says. Each day, take him to another room of the house, avoiding any wandering reptiles. Spend time there, give him a tour in a calming voice. Say, for example, “Elmo, here we have lots of closet space, notice the pretty view of the trees,” etc.
Eventually, you can begin taking Elmo places, such as the local pet store. (Be aware that birds can pass diseases to one another.) Meanwhile, patient friends or neighbors can visit Elmo. Take the bird into another room before a guest arrives, a room in which he will not be territorial. If he still has a fit when a guest walks in, ignore him. Your guest must be confident enough not to panic when Elmo screams and patient enough to wait for him to stop. If your guest leaves while Elmo is screaming, even for only a short time, the bird will think screaming drives people away–which might be why he is screaming in the first place.
Wilson says owners are appropriately worried that birds having tantrums on a perch will fall, so they run over to the bird to prevent this from happening.
“You have just given your bird what he wants–attention,” Wilson says. “Place pillows around the perch, or put the bird on the floor.”
Don’t yell at Elmo–all parrots thrive on that. Spraying water at him, playing disco music or whatever else you think will torture him will not work. Your only option is to wait until he stops making noise. Reward Elmo with lots of sweet talk when he quiets down. Have your guest inch closer and perhaps even nonchalantly drop a treat.
Building trust is a laborious process at first. Please don’t push Elmo. At this stage, it would be offensive for anyone unfamiliar to him to attempt petting him. Elmo does need to learn good manners, however. It may benefit you to contact experienced African gray owners and/or a local bird club. Many clubs have programs for socializing young birds.
Q–Over the years, I have always declawed my cats. I am getting a kitten soon, and this time I want to teach him not to scratch. How do I do that?
–Indianapolis
A–Don’t think of it as teaching your cat not to scratch but teaching it where to scratch. Provide at least one standing scratching post with sisal or bark (not carpet) for vertical scratching. Although a 1-foot post may suffice for a kitten, remember cats stand on their hind legs to scratch. Sometimes they will not use a post because it is not tall enough. Secure the post or buy one with a heavy base so it won’t wobble or fall over.
Many cats also enjoy a good horizontal scratching frenzy. Horizontal corrugated cardboard scratchers are relatively inexpensive. There also is a third choice: a new combination vertical and horizontal scratcher made by Cosmic Pet Products. Combined, the three scratchers may cost you $75 to $100, but that is far less expensive (not to mention less painful) than declaw surgery or reupholstering your sofa. If you happen to be handy, save money by building your own vertical post. Use heavy-duty rope if you can’t find sisal.
Extra scratchers–such as the kind that hang from door knobs–are fine but not essential. Position your three primary scratchers in a room or rooms you occupy frequently, not in a corner of the basement. Catnip included in the Cosmic Pet Products for the horizontal and combination scratchers encourages a kitty to scrape like crazy. For all scratchers, especially a vertical post, show your cat what to do by scratching the post yourself. Gently take your cat’s front paws and make a scratching motion with them on the post. Using catnip spray on a vertical post entices most cats to do a scratch dance.
Dangle interactive toys, such as the Cat Dancer or fishing pole-type toys, around scratching areas. When you catch your new kitty using a scratcher, praise it for a job well done. If the cat begins to use a sofa, chair or something else, sternly say “no” and place her at a scratching area. Do not yell or spray water at your cat. This only will create anxiety. If the cat insists on scratching somewhere she should not, either use double-stick tape, a product called Sticky Paws or a spray called Keep Away (available at pet stores) as a deterrent. Meanwhile, clip the cat’s nails weekly so it will not feel compelled to scratch as often.
Q–I’m thinking about getting a bearded dragon as an alternative to an iguana, which you have said is a challenge to rear. I would like to read about these pets before I buy one. What books can you recommend?
–Henderson, Nev.
A–Check out “General Care and Maintenance of Bearded Dragons” by Philippe de Vosjoli and Robert Mailloux (Advanced Vivarium Systems Inc., $8.95).
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Steve Dale welcomes letters. He cannot reply individually but will answer those of general interest in this column. You may write to him in care of the Chicago Tribune, Home section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Or send e-mail to TribHome@aol.com. If the problem is urgent, consult a veterinarian immediately.
