Pet Talk

“CORONAVIRUS-IS YOUR PET AT RISK”

Who is "alpha" in your house, and does it matter? Facts and myths about dominance. Callers had questions about begging and barking.

How are dogs and cats different? And how different are the people who love them? Listen to today's show to find out. Callers share stories about their dogs and cats watching TV and what shows their pets most enjoyed watching.

Did you know you may only be allergic to MALE dogs?

Today's show featured tips on training puppies. A former student of Laurie's called in to get help with his husky's habit of chasing squirrels, and two more people called in who had either been students or called in the past, to report success stories. A caller wanted to know why her previous dog had the habit of peeing on the floor shortly after going outside. Laurie finished up with funny stories about dogs and cats  together.

Love is in the air, so let's keep those pets safe this Valentines Day. 

We discuss winter safety tips for your pets.

On today's behavior edition of Pet Talk, Laurie recounts unlikely acts of bravery and heroism by cats. A caller was concerned about her Bernadoodle eating poop. A young girl called to ask if it was OK to give her Pug a bath with a garden hose which prompted 2 callers to weigh in on the safety of hoses. A woman needed a suggestion to stop her Bichon from eating dirt out of flower pots, and another caller was looking for advice about a biting Maltese. The last caller shared how he had a bear "friend" who he was feeding and Laurie cautioned him about how bears that become to accustomed to people can end up in danger themselves.

Today's show started with Laurie giving advice to a woman about her daughter's recently adopted heeler mix who was behaving aggressively to men. Laurie discussed the random nature of animal's comfort with different types of people. The next caller wanted help with his Maine Coon cat who was mourning the loss of his Manx cat. The last caller had an 11 year old hound mix who pees in the house and is very destructive. Laurie recounted some of her memories of the most destructive things dogs have done.

We discuss New Years Pet Resolutions for 2020.

On today's show Laurie shared her experiences with her new puppy and stressed the importance of socialization. Callers had questions about; a labradoodle who jumped at the window after squirrels but only when she left the room, and a man wanted to know what kind of pet a Bull Terrier would be for a first time pet owner. 

On today's show:  is this the right time to get a puppy, the right fit for you, and the right fit for your other pets? and ideas to protect your Christmas tree were discussed. Callers had questions about a 4 year old Rat Terrier mix who won't go for walks, introducing a new dog to living with older cats, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who attacks the TV when animals are on the air, and an 8 year old chihuahua who air snaps at her owner's face when she cradles her. And lastly Laurie reminded people to not be embarrassed to get your dog a coat if he seems cold.

Liz Bennet from Bandit's Place shared information about pets she has for adoption including a senior beagle, parakeets, and two five foot long iguanas. The adoptable pets can be seen here. A caller wanted to give an update on his puppy's infected foot. A woman wanted some ideas to stop her dog from jumping up and licking dishes in the sink and Laurie convinced a man to keep his cat. Liz and Laurie discussed things to consider before adopting a pet

We discuss safety tips for Thanksgiving.

November is "Adopt a Senior Pet" month so Laurie listed some advantages of adopting older pets. Laurie shared some unusual solutions for dog anxiety including a bulldog whose confidence was raised from wearing a turtle costume, a pit bull who got comfort from a stuffed shark, and her own dog who had a special blanket.  Hunger4words is blog about teaching a dog to communicate using a sound board which sounds out words when  the dog presses the correct button. A caller was confused and worried about his dogs behavior. Laurie recalled people's frequent misinterpretations of their dog's behaviors.The show wrapped up with tips on dogs with babies and children. Details can be accessed here: http://www.lauriefassdogtraining.com/training-tips/safety-guidelines-for-new-babies-and-young-children/%20%20

What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing dog training in a group class?  Callers had questions about a 9 year old Maltese who was coughing when excited,  a 15 year old Dalmatian who was barking and disoriented, and a 13 year old dog who had developed a fear of the dark. Laurie explained the many reasons why a dog might bark and how each one needs to be treated differently, and shared heroic acts by rescue dogs. The last caller had a 2 year old Siberian Husky who barked and jumped excessively.