Bringing home a dog when you have another one at home (or two or three or more) is one thing, but bringing a cat into a resident cat's territory is another thing altogether. Besides litter box problems, most of my "cat clients" were about aggression between a resident and an incoming cat. Blending cat families can be almost as complicated and fraught as two adult people moving in together with a group of unrelated and relatively unfamiliar adolescents. Let's just say that if cats could slam doors, they would. But then, who needs to slam doors when you can hiss, spit and attack with five discrete weapon sites on your body? Yes, dogs too can fight and might not get along, but in general it is much easier to add a dog to the pack than it is to add a cat if you have one already. This is Read More
Archives for August 2013
Who is Going to Win?
An alert Facebook reader sent in this video of two dogs posturing over some kibble scattered on the ground. Oh my, oh my, so much to say about what goes on here, but I'm going to hold my comments until you have had a chance to look at it. Here's my suggestion: Watch the entire video before reading any comments, and write down, as soon as you think you have enough information, 1) which dog is going to get the food and 2) why. A couple of points to make before you watch it: First, I'll tell you right off that there is no fight, so don't worry that you are about to watch a canine snuff movie. Second, after you make your decision about who is going to win, continue to watch closely and note all the behaviors that could be communicative in nature. Then play it again (and again) to see Read More
The Animal Behavior Society Meetings 2013
First, a digression: Argh, how embarrassing. Jim just noticed in that last week's post I wrote "Next week I'll write a full report of the talks at the Animal Behavior Society 2013 Meeting in Boulder. I was great, lots to tell you about!" I meant, of course, "It was great". Jim's very words were: "I'm sure you were great, Trisha, but it's not like you to say so." Sigh. I'm not so sure that I was great (I thought my talk was good but not brilliant), but even if I thought I brought down the house I'd never say so. Sigh. But now, here's what WAS great: The Animal Behavior Society Meetings were in Boulder, Colorado this year, and they were a joy to attend. There’s so much information to convey that I’ll never manage doing so in one post, but here’s a start. First off, it has been Read More
Ralphie’s Adventure at Summer Camp
This week, it's all about the farm: (Next week I'll write a full report of the talks at the Animal Behavior Society 2013 Meeting in Boulder. It was great, lots to tell you about!) [I should mention here that I just changed that last sentence on 8-8, after a call from Jim who noticed I had actually written "I was great..." instead of "It was great". He pointed out that that didn't sound like something I would say, and he was right. I meant the latter, not the former. Argh, how embarrassing.] First, although it was lovely to be on Vancouver Island and invigorating to be at ABS in Boulder, it is heaven to be home. Willie is doing well, I'm even giving him a little time off leash, and Tootsie is as adorable as ever. They both seemed awfully glad to see me, but they couldn't possibly have Read More