Beruflich Dokumente
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Consulting:
Theory and Practice
A publication of The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Vol. 4, No. 1
Spring 2008
2
Editors
Beth Adelman, MS, CABC Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC Chris Hamer, MS, CDBC
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice is published in accordance with the purposes of the sponsoring organization, the
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Inc. (IAABC). The IAABC Mission is to assist and educate owners and handlers
of companion animals to prevent problems and to interrupt the cycle of inappropriate punishment, rejection, and euthanasia of animals
with behavior problems that are resolvable. This mission is accomplished by providing state-of-the-art education and training to animal
behavior professionals, so they can analyze, predict and resolve problem behaviors, and by advocating and promoting humane intervention.
Articles are selected on the basis of appropriateness, clarity, significance, timeliness, and contribution to the field of animal behavior
consulting. Authors need not be members of the IAABC to submit manuscripts. No remuneration is paid for accepted manuscripts.
Copyright on all materials published in Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice is held by the authors. Permission to reproduce
such copyrighted materials must be obtained through IAABC and the authors. Requests can be made by emailing journal@iaabc.org. No
portion of an article may be reproduced without permission in writing. Reprint orders for individual articles are handled by the IAABC
business office. If the manuscript contains more than 100 words of material previously published elsewhere, the authors must obtain
written permission from the copyright holder to include this material in publication of their manuscript in Animal Behavior Consulting:
Theory and Practice. Any costs associated with obtaining this permission are the responsibility of the author or authors.
Submission Guidelines
For information on submitting manuscripts to future issues of Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice, go to the IAABC Web
site, www.iaabc.org and access the Journal page to download a copy of our submission guidelines.
Dear Colleagues, and interests. He will help find the committee and/or task that
will match your skills and availability. As with all workloads, the
H appy spring! As we enter this time of renewal and growth,
we want to thank all of you who have offered support,
suggestions, opinions, ideas, observations, and comments as
more members willing to help, the more quickly and effectively
we can progress.
we work to strengthen and improve the IAABC. While doing If the mission of IAABC is important to you and to the
some garden upkeep lately, I couldnít help notice the similarities animals you love, step up and become involved. Have new ideas
between our young organization and a young perennial garden. for projects that need to be done? Have an interesting case or
experience to share in the Journal? Bring those to the table as
You just canít rush natural growth; things take time to
well. Our vision is to have an organization nurtured and loved by
mature. As much as I want bigger and healthier bushes, they just
its members. We all need to tend this garden.
arenít there yet. Wanting things to happen sooner doesnít make
them happen. Your board continues to make progress, but some
processes are going to take longer to mature than anyone would Best,
like, including us.
Janet Velenovsky, MM, CPDT, CDBC-TAC
We had hoped to have the by-laws completed already, but
we found it was in our best interest for IAABC to hire a firm President, Human-Animal Mutualism Chair
that advises non-profits, so they are now helping us with research
and recommendations. By, or shortly after publication time of
And fellow Board Members
this Journal issue, you should see the updated by-laws posted on
the updated web site we’ve all been waiting for. Or perhaps, like Deb Winkler, CPDT, CABC
waiting for roses to bloom or tomatoes to ripen, it may take a little Former President
more time. What patience we can all learn by allowing the time
necessary to do the job right! In fact, we need to remember that
preparing and amending our soil appropriately now will result in Chris Hamer, MS, CDBC
much richer results from our garden later.
Executive Committee, Education Committee Chair
As you probably know, our much-anticipated first official
elections are contingent on the putting the updated by-laws in
place. Once we have ìplantedî them, we can start the process Liz Wilson, CABC
for the election. We are hoping to send ballots by June. We are Treasurer & Parrot Division Chair
proceeding with the preparations that we can make now, in
order to reap the harvest as early as possible. The Conference
Committee has decided on April 23-26 in Houston, Texas, for our Susan Bulanda, CABC
2009 conference, so spruce up your Texas twang!
Vice President, Dog Division Co-Chair
Just as good gardeners know how important it is to enrich the
soil they work, and mulch and weed to keep a good environment
working for them, we IAABC behavior consultants know how Marilyn Krieger, MA, CCBC
important it is to continue our education and to keep ourselves Cat Division Co-Chair
current on new ideas and research. With this in mind, the board
is very excited to announce plans to help further the education of
our members. We are formulating a series of telecourses, available Mikel Delgado, CCBC
at no charge to our associate and certified members (and for a
nominal charge to the affiliate members). Each series will be built Treasurer
around one of the five core competencies. These telecourses will
help to satisfy certification requirements for Associate members Connie Dwyer, MS, CPDT, CHBC
and will enable certified members to earn required CEUs. Look
for messages to the e-mail lists about this exciting new program Horse Division Chair
some time this summer.
As do all diligent gardeners, we in the IAABC will continue
to face long days of planning for future growth, preparation to
make that possible, sowing seeds of cooperation and opportunity,
weeding through problems, and harvesting our efforts. To get done
all that we need to, we are adding and updating committeesówhich
will provide more opportunities for the membership to become
involved. To meet the workload, we need your help! Please
contact Jim Aikenhead, our very own human resources manager,
at bigdogs@neo.rr.com today to let him know about your talents
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
6 Member News and Committee Reports
• Object play (playing with something to take the dog’s stress The problem of wall chewing had not stopped with the
out on it) addition of the Kong, which is why they were referred to me.
Separation anxiety is an issue that in New Zealand is only
• Destruction of items just being uncovered. While many trainers in New Zealand
• Excessive vocalization (barking, howling, whining) may know a little about the problem, many are unsure how to
correctly recognize or deal with it. This is because many trainers
In New Zealand, separation anxiety is a huge problem due
are just realizing that separation anxiety is actually a problem.
to increased urbanization. Because barking is a symptom of
In the past years it had always been thought that the owner was
separation anxiety, many people either hire or purchase bark
collars, which are often recommended by the local animal control not sufficiently in control or the dog was just bored. Over time,
officials. This often creates more stress in the dog, and eventually more research has started to appear regarding separation anxiety
the dog will come to a behaviorist or is left inside to minimize the and veterinarians are accepting that with a behavior modification
barking. program, or behavior modification along with drugs, the chance
of success is much greater than with drugs alone.
Upon arriving at the house, I was greeted by a very friendly
Dalmatian who appeared to be like any young dog—eager to After talking to the owners. I wanted to work out whether the
please and very lovable. The owners and I sat down and discussed problem was separation anxiety or boredom. To do this, we set up
the Billie’s history using a questionnaire that I had designed a video camera in the room where Billie was kept and left him in
specifically for dogs with separation anxiety. This questionnaire the house alone for 10 minutes. Upon our return, we were greeted
looks at areas that may be contributing to the problem. We ask by a very excited dog showing his huge grin, wagging bottom and
if the dog could do the “stay” position, i.e., would he stay in a tail, relaxed eyes and ears, and no doubt very excited. If this is the
different room away from the owner(s)? Other questions include: only behavior we had seen, it would not have been a problem.
What is your daily routine? Has this changed over the past few The owners and I sat down to look at the video and saw that
months? Who lives at home? How much exercise does the dog within 20 seconds of the owners leaving, the dog started chewing
get? What type of food is he given? This questionnaire gives us the wall and did not stop until he heard the front door open. In
an idea of whether we are simply looking at a bored dog or one addition to this, in the first 20 seconds when he did not chew, he
with separation anxiety. was pacing around the house, licking his lips and whining—all
Billie had been purchased from a pet store in Auckland, New signs of a stressed dog. Had we been gone for much longer, I am
Zealand, at the age of 9 weeks. After the purchase, the owners certain that numerous other signs would have also appeared.
took him to puppy classes at the local veterinarian. The owners Upon seeing the footage of their dog, the owners actually
had been to a local dog training school and Billie could sit, stay, started to cry because they were upset at seeing their dog in such
come, walk without pulling and was an all-around well-trained a stressed state. I believe, however, that having actual footage
dog. The one command they had not been able to do with Billie of the dog leads to greater success in the behavior modification
was stay. program because the owners can concretely see the problem and
Billie lived in a small house with two owners, husband and become acutely aware that they have an issue.
wife. There were no other animals present. There was a yard for We then started to put together a plan to get the dog used to
Billie, approximately 400 square meters (4,300 square feet). The being alone. The first step was to get rid of any cues that may have
owners mentioned that he never went to the yard without them caused the dog stress when the owners started to leave. There
present. were obvious ones, such as the jingle of keys and shutting doors
Billie had a full veterinary check before we saw him—this and windows. There were also a few subtle ones, such as a simple
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
8 Case Study: Billie the Dalmatian
“bye” they gave the dog or getting the dog bed ready. We started Both of the owners participated in the training and were fully
to associate these cues with positive occurrences or an action that committed. Although they were a little skeptical at first, once they
did not include leaving the house. For example, for the keys we saw the small changes that were already happening, they agreed
had the owners sometime hold the keys, jingle them and put them to continue with the training plan.
in their pockets and sit down. Other times they would get the keys At conclusion of the training session, I gave the owners a
and play with a ball. For some of the minor cues, we stopped them full write-up of the program to follow. I was fortunate that the
altogether. For example, before leaving the house the owners no owners were able to take the dog to work while working on this
longer said “bye.” program. The program is outlined below, and is what I use for
We started to teach Billie the stay command. This was done most dogs with separation anxiety. If the steps do not work, I may
by getting Billie to sit and stay, taking a small step back and recommend talking to a veterinarian about prescribing clomicalm
returning and giving him a food reward. The owners had already in association with a behavior modification program. This can be
reported that Billie was brilliant in all aspects in training other useful in increasing the initial stress threshold of the dog.
than the stay command with the owners out of sight. We worked Step 8: Go out the door, shut door, wait 10 seconds and
on stay because if Billie could not even get used to staying while return.
the owners were just around the corner, there was no way he
Step 9: Go out the door, wait 15 seconds and return.
would be relaxed about staying when they were not in the house.
Step 10: Go out the door, wait 20 seconds and return.
After two minutes of working on the stay out of sight with
the owners, we took a break and took Billie for a walk around the Step 11: Go out the door, go to the car, open the car door,
block to so he did not get too stressed out. Ten minutes later, we shut the car door and return.
returned to the house to resume the training. Step 12: Go out the door, go to the car, open the car
This time we extended the time that Billie was in the stay door, leave it open for five seconds, shut the car door and
position. We took five steps back, waited five seconds, then return.
returned and rewarded. We then took this further by taking a step Step 13: Go out door, go to the car, open the car door, start
back for each stay command until we reached 10 steps and we the car, turn off car and return.
were just by the door to the room.
Step 14: Go out the door, go to the car, start the car and
The next step was to start to leave the dog. This was done in drive down the driveway, turn off the car and return.
small steps, in a single training session. The first step was to walk
Step 15: Continue these steps with the owners away longer,
to the door, just past the door and return. Billie was rewarded
the car gone longer and Billie left alone for longer.
with a food treat but was not given a large greeting. The steps that
followed are listed below: This program was given to the owners and I advised them
that if they were able to get to about half an hour with Billie alone
Step 2: Dog is in stay position, owners walk to door, walk
and showing no signs of stress, they were probably done. Billie
past door and then return.
was not expected to remain in the stay position this whole time.
Step 3: Dog is in stay position, owners walk to door, start I have personally found that if a dog is still relaxed in the home
to shut door, then reopen and return to dog. after about half an hour, they can generally last an entire day.
Step 4: Dog is in stay position, owners walk to door, start
to shut the door a little more than in step three, then reopen
Follow-up
and return.
Week 1: The owners said Billie had been chewing the walls
Step 5: Dog is in stay position, owners walk through the
for the first four days when left for short periods. However, he
door, shut it completely, reopen, then return to the dog.
was not stressing out at the sight of the car keys anymore.
Step 6: Dog is in stay position, owners walk through the Week 2: One small hole in the wall found, but nothing
door, shut it completely, wait two seconds, then return to compared to the original problem.
the dog.
Week 3: No holes showing.
Step 7: As in step six, but owners wait five seconds.
Week 4: Still no holes showing, and has been nearly three
Once the dog could stay for five seconds, as in step seven, weeks since Billie has chewed a hole in the wall.
I ended the training session. Even though in the consultation we
ended up with the dog able to be alone for only five seconds, Two months: I received an e-mail from the owners saying
this was as long as Billie could handle before he started to stress Billie had stopped chewing walls and all the walls they had
out. I did not want to do any further training during the session, repaired had, for the first time stayed, the way they were left.
because I wanted to end with Billie on a good note. With other This case was helped by the fact that the owners practiced the
clients we may wait anywhere from five seconds to two minutes, program. Many of our separation consultations have concluded
depending on how severe the anxiety is. This prevents owner and this same way. I find the age of the dog is a big factor, because
dog fatigue. if the dog is too old, the behavior is so ingrained that it takes a
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Case Study: Billie the Dalmatian 9
lot longer for him to learn to relax. But the biggest hurdle I face
is owner compliance. This treatment can take weeks, and some
owners just want a quick fix.
Have a detailed description of the property that will fund the trust. Parrot breeders, who have spent years working with their birds
For example, will the trust be funded from the sale of your home, and keeping good breeding records, may also want to ensure
an insurance policy or a savings account? that their work continues. Even if they do not have a strong
As the person funding the trust, you are the “grantor” of the emotional attachment to their parrots, they may still want their
trust. You must fund the trust with enough property or cash to care work to continue in the hands of a respected colleague. A trust
for your bird for his expected lifetime. The “trustee,” a trusted will guarantee that the birds are not sold at auction and that their
third party will be responsible for making regular payments to research will not come to a halt.
your pet’s caregiver, and must also use the money you left to pay
for any unexpected miscellaneous expenses.
As stated earlier, pet trusts are not legal in all states. One Determining Who Will Care for Your Parrots
reason is that animals cannot appear in court to enforce their own Once you have decided how you want your parrots cared for
trusts. If you live in a state in which a pet trust is not legal, an and how you will fund the trust, you must decide who will be
alternative is a Conditional Bequest. In this Traditional Legal given the responsibility of caring for your birds when you die.
Trust your bird becomes a part of the estate along with the funds When searching for the correct person or facility for your birds,
you specify to care for your parrot. The caregiver becomes consider the following:
the beneficiary; the trustee oversees the trust to ensure that the
beneficiary is following your instructions. It is essential that this There are sanctuaries that keep birds without the intention of
trust is well worded. Other alternatives include honorary and ever placing the bird in a home as a pet. If your birds are elderly
statutory pet trusts. However, a traditional legal trust is much or handicapped, if you want to be certain that the flock is kept
more flexible and enforceable than the other two alternatives. together or if you have one very crabby bird, a sanctuary may be
the right place for your birds.
If your parrots crave human interaction then consider placing
Distribution of Funds your birds with a friend, a relative or a rescue/shelter/adoption
organization that will re-home your birds. The organization you
Money should be disbursed to the caregiver monthly
or weekly and not in a single large sum. The trustee should choose should have a good reputation and should assure you that
periodically check on your birds’ level of care to make sure your they will periodically check on your parrots. Ask them how many
money is being spent according to your wishes. All birds should parrots they have placed and what the success rate is for the parrots
be identifiable, perhaps by a microchip, and medical records they have re-homed. Find out how they determine who will be
should be sent to the trustee. Additional funds should be made allowed to adopt parrots from them and what criteria they use to
available if they are needed. determine if the adoption has been successful. If an adoption has
failed, what protocols do they use to retrieve the birds and what
If your bird dies, the establishment or person taking care will be done with the birds at that point? Adoption services may
of the bird should not continue to receive money for that bird. be provided by local bird clubs.
Unethical persons may take very poor care of the parrots, hoping
the birds will die so that they can collect the entire inheritance. If your parrots are young, healthy and rare or show a strong
Any remaining funds should be donated to another worthy charity desire to procreate, consider a reputable breeder. Breeders should
or project. be evaluated with the same careful scrutiny that you would apply
to a rescue/shelter organization or a sanctuary. Ask the breeder for
Have an alternative care plan for your birds, as well. Provide references and talk to the breeder’s veterinarian. If your parrot is
the trustee with a possible second caregiver. If the trustee discovers rare, the breeder should have succeeded in breeding that species
that the original caregiver is no longer able to maintain the care or a very similar species. Is the facility clean? Are the flights large
you expected for your parrots, he or she can quickly transfer the and roomy? Will the birds be provided with a nutritious diet? How
birds to the care of the alternate. will the chicks be reared and what will become of them? What
will become of your bonded or proven pairs if their mates die? If
your single parrot is paired, what will happen if your bird’s mate
Final Decision dies? If your single birds will not pair bond, what will become of
The final decision that must be included in a trust is what will your birds?
be done with the pet’s body when he dies. After a necropsy has
been performed, you may choose to have the pet’s body buried
in a pet cemetery. If you plan to have your own body cremated
and the ashes scattered, you may decide to have your pet’s body Quarantine
cremated and the ashes scattered in the same location.
The primary goal of all rescues, shelters and sanctuaries
should be to provide a healthy atmosphere for all their charges.
Therefore, their first objective should be to build a state-of-the-art
Pet Trusts Are for Breeders, too quarantine facility. In recent times, more than one rescue center
Pet trusts are not just for companion parrots owners. has allegedly suffered major outbreaks of fatal and contagious
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
12 Preparing Your Parrots for a Future Without You
diseases. Anyone acquiring a new bird has a responsibility to parrots, you have the right to ask them to voluntarily allow you
quarantine. to review their finances so that you can be reasonably certain the
facility will not fold while your birds are in their care.
Quarantine is an even greater responsibility for those who
have been entrusted with someone’s dear lifetime companion. As
people grow older and cannot care for their parrots, they place
Conclusion
these birds with others that they feel will cherish their parrots. A
lack of quarantine and good medical upkeep violates this trust. Do There are no rescues, shelters or sanctuaries that cater to
not leave your birds with anyone who is not providing adequate parrots that have a long-running history. So leaving your parrots
quarantine. to one is a gamble. Once you are gone, your birds’ life will be
different. Schedules will be changed, food will never be exactly
It is unwise to leave your parrots with anyone without the same and no one will have the same relationship with your
seeing their facility. It is important that the facility is clean and parrots that you have. Yet, different is not necessarily bad. It is
that the parrots they keep appear healthy and, hopefully, happy. just different. If you do your research, make preparations and
However, do not allow the presence of feather-picked birds to carefully plan your parrots’ future, your parrots can have a full
color your judgment. Many people give up their parrots because and happy life.
they are feather picking and this is in no way a reflection of the
care the facility provides.
Kashmir Csaky is an international speaker, writer and
behavioral consultant. Her papers have been translated into
Management of the Facility Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Polish and
Czechoslovakian. Her articles have appeared in Bird Talk,
When researching a facility, ask for references and check out
Companion Parrot Quarterly, Parrots Magazine, Parrot
the references. The facility should have at least two veterinarians,
Information Pages, Psittascene, Watchbird, the German and
so that one of the veterinarians will be available in an emergency. Czech publications Papageien and Nova Exota, and in numerous
Speak to the veterinarians and get their honest evaluation of the newsletters and journals. She has advised zoos and private
facility. aviculturists on breeding Macaws, artificial incubation procedures,
Sanctuaries need a large staff due to the nature of the birds in hand-raising chicks and parent-rearing chicks. Kashmir was the
there care. I recommend two resident full-time caregivers and one first breeder known to co-parent Hyacinth Macaws.
part-time worker if there are 30 birds or less. Additional part-time
personnel will be required in larger sanctuaries so that the ratio of
birds to part-time workers is never more than 30 to one.
When interviewing the people who will care for your parrots,
make sure they are knowledgeable about the species of parrots
you have. They should be aware of and able to satisfy the different
requirements of each species they keep. A solid background and
knowledge about handling behavioral problems is essential. An
evacuation plan in the event of a disaster is imperative. They
should know the signs of illness and how to detect it.
methods were chosen instead, it would be reasonable to assume One section of the test requires the trainer to switch to a different
the aversive conditioning process would lead to training sessions reinforcer such as a toy, so a squeaky stuffed bird on a string
becoming an undesirable activity. But Jazzmanda has given no and plastic pole was chosen. Jazzmanda did not appear thrilled
indication of this. with this change of reinforcement, as demonstrated by her lack of
Instrumental conditioning, the main focus of this project, interest in the toy and continued search for a food treat.
concentrates on the effects consequences have on their preceding The test performance was recorded on a Sony home digital
behaviors (Powell, et al., 2004). As Jazzmanda performs a desired video recorder, transferred to computer and burned to a CD the
behavior, it is reinforced by delivering a reward she desires, evaluator could view.
thereby increasing the likelihood she will repeat that behavior. In
Procedure: The CAP requires the use of the clicker to train
general, negative reinforcement was not used during this project,
three behaviors to a consistent quality, with reliability to cue. It
with the exception of a head turn away and withdrawal of reward
also requires the trainer to develop more complex behaviors by
for incorrect responses to a cue (only after the cued behavior
free shaping.
had been learned and generalized). This negative punishment—
removal of desired attention—was done as a way to manage The first behavior was required to be trained by targeting,
Jazzmanda’s tendency to throw out random behaviors in response with the target subsequently faded out and the behavior cued
to a given cue and to anticipate which cue might be given next. verbally. I chose a recall for the targeting behavior. This behavior
was shaped using a Premier Clik Stik, a collapsible target stick
A secondary, conditioned reinforcer was an integral part
with a built-in clicker, beginning at fully extended length, about
of this project because the CAP evaluates the trainer’s skill at
one inch in front of Jazzmanda’s nose. As she sniffed at the target,
using the clicker to mark and reinforce an animal’s behavior. The
the marker was clicked and she was rewarded with a small piece
clicker sound becomes a conditioned reinforcer through multiple
of chicken treat. This was repeated approximately three times
pairings with a primary, unconditioned reinforcer, such as food.
before the target stick was moved farther away from her nose as
The clicker can also become a generalized secondary reinforcer
well as at different angles.
through association with other reinforcers, such as play and
affection, if those are desired by the trainee (Powell, et al. 2004). Within one five-minute session, the target stick could be
(See the Glossary for more information on terminology.) moved while she approached, therefore beginning a follow
behavior. Reinforcement was on a continuous schedule with
The extrinsic reinforcers, food, affection and play, were
each nose target. Jazzmanda generally showed very limited or no
obvious reward choices during this project, but at least one
post-reinforcement pauses, possibly in part due to the low level
intrinsic reinforcer was used as well—the “bang” behavior. This
difficulty of the target behavior paired with the high desirability
behavior consists of a fall over on the cat’s side from a stand,
of the chicken treats.
and was easily captured due to high frequency of occurrence and
obvious enjoyment Jazzmanda had in performing the behavior on After a few trials with success at touching and following the
her own. The “bang” behavior was then useable as an additional target stick, a verbal signal of a tongue “tsk” sound was added
reinforcer following a less enjoyable task or to end a difficult that would become the recall cue after the target stick was faded.
session with a success. As Jazzmanda approached the target stick, the sound was paired
with her movement, the marker clicked as she touched the target,
and she was reinforced with chicken treats.
Training Method Jazzmanda had been previously trained to sit on a mat, and
Participant: The female domestic shorthair calico cat trained this was used as a sit-stay cue to precede the recall cue in this
for the CAP 2 evaluation was approximately three years old at the project. After variable time (approximately two seconds through
beginning of the training sessions. She was adopted based on her 10 seconds) on the mat, I made the “tsk, tsk, tsk” cue sound
gregarious nature from a humane society about 10 months before and she moved to the target, being held at variable distances
the evaluation. (approximately one foot to 14 feet) away from the mat. The
marker was clicked and Jazzmanda was reinforced with chicken
Materials: Two different sound markers were used for
treats when she reached the fully extended target.
training purposes: the plastic hand held i-Click made by Karen
Pryor; and the target stick/clicker-in-one, Clik Stik, made As each stage reached a consistent response of eight correct
by Premier. The Clik Stik was used for the targeting behavior out of 10 attempts, the criteria was raised by increasing distance,
because it is easier to use than a separate target stick and clicker moving out of the cat’s line of sight and gradually fading the
combination. Though it does have a very similar sound to the target stick by making it smaller, until the behavior transferred
i-Click and Jazzmanda did not appear confused by the difference, to a pointed index finger and finally to no target at all, only the
it is generally easy to change marker sounds if needed by simply verbal “tsk.” Reinforcement was maintained on a continuous
reinforcing the new sound. schedule throughout this testing.
A round, wicker table placemat from Crate N Barrel was During the initial training stages, only one behavior was
used as a station area for the stay behavior followed by evaluated practiced or learned in each training session. However, several
recall behavior. Reinforcement was primarily Halo Liv-a-Little short sessions were held each day, so different behaviors could
dehydrated chicken treats, concurrent with praise and stroking. be learned or practiced on the same day. No behavior was
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) Level 2 with Feline Jazzmanda 15
completely generalized and under solid stimulus control before pattern, I took my hand away and waited for her to calm down
another behavior was begun. Once fluency and consistency were before beginning again. With continued sessions, these instances
achieved with a behavior, it was put into future training sessions became less and less frequent until they were not exhibited even
along with a novel behavior, in part to maintain Jazzmanda’s in the presence of a competing cat or dog.
interest in training and avoid boredom, and also to require more A verbal cue was added, but was not used during the CAP
discrimination between actions. For example, after Jazzmanda had evaluation because the fact that the paw wave was chosen to
a session in which she began learning a paw wave, the mat was satisfy the “visual cue only” behavior requirement. In fact, I made
brought out so she could run to it and sit on it for reinforcement. a mistake on this part of the test, saying the verbal cue “wave”
The go-to-mat behavior was the first behavior she was taught and while giving the visual cue. I noticed the error immediately and
had become highly rewarding, so it was used to end the session repeated the visual paw wave cue without the verbal component.
on a high note. The mat was then incorporated in a later session
by asking for a paw wave behavior while Jazzmanda was sitting The CAP 2 requires each of the three chosen behaviors to
on it, thereby furthering generalization of learned behaviors. be repeated six times in a row while the handler varies body
position and the animal’s location. This test was videotaped in
The second behavior chosen was “bang,” the play-dead type my house primarily in the kitchen and living room. I varied my
behavior described earlier that Jazzmanda frequently displayed body position, for example standing on one leg, facing away from
on her own. The training process with this behavior used capture Jazzmanda, and moving my arms around.
techniques by clicking and reinforcing Jazzmanda when she lay
on her back. Training began on a rug that Jazzmanda frequently All behaviors were performed on cue as described earlier, with
the addition of a novel visual signal for “bang” to demonstrate a
lay on to increase odds that she would volunteer a lying down
cue change. This was done by presenting the new cue (right hand
behavior, which was then markable. This is precisely what
held out in a claw shape) followed by the old verbal cue, “bang.”
occurred, and initially the click was sounded as she lay down in
After a few repetitions, the new visual cue was presented without
any position. As Jazzmanda began to deliberately demonstrate
the old verbal cue. Jazzmanda anticipated the presentation of
the down behavior, the marker was withheld to initiate the next
“bang” and performed the behavior. A few more repetitions on
approximation of the “bang” position.
visual cue only, no verbal cue, were performed with 100 percent
Within the first training session of approximately ten accuracy.
minutes, the “bang” was fully formed on a verbal cue on the rug.
The final aspect of the CAP evaluation—free shape a novel
I attempted to keep out any visual cueing to avoid confusion at a
behavior and then add movement—was the most challenging for
later time—when the “bang” would be switched to a visual hand
Jazzmanda and myself. The activity I chose was to jump onto a
cue that would first be seen by Jazzmanda during the CAP test.
small stool and then turn in a circle. Free shaping uses the clicker to
Future sessions concentrated on generalizing the verbal “bang”
mark any small approximations towards the desired end behavior.
cue in multiple locations throughout the house while contorting In this instance, the behaviors marked were: looking toward the
my body in strange positions, again to avoid confusion of a visual stool, stepping toward the stool, pawing at the stool, putting a foot
cue and achieve saliency of the verbal cue. on the stool, and so on until she actually stepped up on the stool
The third behavior chosen for the CAP evaluation was a paw with all four feet. This was highly rewarded with praise and treats
wave, which needed to be on a verbal-only cue reliable in multiple while she was on the stool, then a treat was thrown off the stool to
locations. The visual cue was chosen based on my hand position get her to jump off and repeat the behavior.
during a lure motion, which was used to initiate a paw wave as the This was done many times before moving on to try for the
cat attempted to reach the treat. Specifically, the cue consisted of spin on the stool. The spin was very difficult, possibly in part due
my right index finger held up and repeatedly flexed up and down to the extended length of time Jazzmanda had been performing
while my other fingers and thumb were held closed. behaviors for the CAP video. By the time I began free shaping the
The treat was shown to Jazzmanda, then put under the closed spin on a stool, Jazzmanda had been working for approximately
fingers and held above paw reach length in front of her face. Any 20 minutes with no breaks, which was much longer than she had
approximation of lifting a foot to reach toward the hand was ever done in the past.
initially marked and rewarded. Then, progressively, only more The shaping session was ended after 10 minutes because
accurate actions were reinforced. If Jazzmanda sat up on her Jazzmanda was exhibiting stress and was not interested in
back feet with both front feet leaving the ground, no marker or continuing. This left the spin unfinished. There was enough
reinforcement was given, the treat was moved away and placed video of the shaping techniques to pass the section, though. The
a bit closer to her head so she was less likely to rise up. This a evaluator commented that Jazzmanda was pushed too long on the
process, in which small approximations are rewarded until the shaping segment.
desired, more complex behavior is achieved, is called “shaping.”
Jazzmanda did have a few challenges with the wave behavior,
possibly due in part to her tendency to hoard food. The food held Results
over her head occasionally triggered a reaction in which her Dee Ganley evaluated my CAP 2 test through video burned
pupils fully dilated, she broke position and she tried to grab my to a CD. The test went well except for the previously mentioned
hand. As soon as I noticed the signs signaling the onset of this issue with the length of the shaping portion. Full points were not
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
16 Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) Level 2 with Feline Jazzmanda
Gordon, Anne. Show Biz Tricks for Cats. Holbrook, MA: Adams
Media Corporation, 1996.
minutes, leaping and chasing, stalking and pouncing, before he Within 17 seconds, he was attempting to get on the lap for cuddling
started getting a bit ‘lazy’ about the play. He stayed on his rug without solicitation (seven and eight).
and I moved the toy slower, until I let him play with it on his
own. He scooped it in his paws and chewed at the toy for several
minutes, until he seemed done. Shortly after this, (another staff
member) entered the room and we talked without paying attention
to him for a few minutes. He was very curious about people in
the hallway. He jumped up on her lap. Without much petting, he
suddenly lunged and bit at her arms several times. When he got
no response, he gave up briefly and got down on the floor and did
the same at her legs, biting and kicking. At this point he seemed
like he was not going to calm down. He again jumped on her lap
and went to lunge at her face, which she stopped with a scruff
hold. We left the room after this” (author’s notes). 7 8
Video Stills of Robbie
More typical behaviors in the home environment include
The first two show Robbie receiving petting during temperament
extreme resistance (possibly accompanied by biting) to being
testing.
moved off a lap. These cats may also aggress when being picked
up and moved off other surfaces, such as furniture or counters.
They may also lie in a doorway, blocking the owner’s access
to free movement within their home. They will often choose to
lunge at and bite the human who walks by. In other situations,
these cats will be territorial toward or protective of certain pieces
of furniture or bedding, such as a cat condo or fleece bed. They
may also be difficult to groom or medicate.
1 2
The third through fifth show him aggressing two seconds afterward
and the resulting hiss one second later (still number six).
picked him up, returned him to the office, and put him on top of How Does Aggressive Behavior Develop in Cats?
the cat condo that had been placed there for Simba’s use. Simba
Feline aggression is typically classified into one of three
immediately started swatting, then came down from the cat tree
categories: offensive, defensive and predatory. Different sources
and jumped on the attendant’s leg, biting. The staff member was
will list anywhere from four to thirteen sub-types within these
able to quietly withdraw and leave the room.
broad categories. Predatory behavior is hardwired in cats because
Later that day, a volunteer allowed Simba onto his lap (which they are obligate carnivores. As territorial animals who are both
Simba was soliciting), and when the volunteer picked him up to predators and prey, it is not surprising that they would display both
move him off, Simba turned and attacked. The volunteer yelled, defensive and offensive types of biting, scratching and aggressive
which seem to further antagonize the cat, who started yowling and warnings toward other animals.
chuffing. The bites and scratches broke skin, and it took Simba a
Aggression may be related to genetic or biological factors.
few hours to calm down. At that point, we had to more strictly
Some studies show that confidence and sociability with humans is
control Simba’s environment and interactions with people, while
related to how “friendly” the cat’s father was (Turner, 2000). Other
still meeting his need for attention and mental stimulation.
research demonstrates that in some animals, a lowered level of
Over the next 15 months, Simba’s behavior did improve serotonin may be associated with increased aggression (Edwards,
significantly. He was still very pushy and insistent on being on 1997). Some authors claim a correlation between early separation
laps. He would bite for attention when ignored (such as when staff from the mother or siblings and aggression toward people and lack
were doing phone consultations), and was resistant to grooming of inhibition when biting (Horwitz, 1993). Dominance aggression
and restraint. With gentle petting, plenty of exercise and continual develops in dogs during social maturity (Overall, 2000), and this
careful behavior modification, we were able to get Simba adopted may be similar in cats.
into a very experienced, quiet home where he would be the only
It is interesting to note that almost all the cats exhibiting this
pet. He is doing very well with his new adopter, and no significant
behavior in the shelter (and through consultations) were males,
aggression problems have been reported.
often young adults. There may be some genetic or biological
Another common behavior in the status-aggressive cat is predisposition toward status (or other forms of) aggression that
resistance to correction. They may outright ignore it, or may show unfolds with maturation or when triggered by environmental
even more agitation afterward, including becoming aggressive. factors.
Telling a cat “no” for biting may cause them to pause briefly
Aggression toward humans is often related to learned habits.
but aggress again. Such was the case with Buck, a six-year-old
The behavior may be reinforced when owners encourage rough
neutered male, who was in the shelter for six weeks. Buck was
play with their hands or play chase games. Owners who do not
living in the Public Relations Office temporarily, so he could
recognize early signs of overstimulation and overhandle their pets
get more exercise and lose some weight before undergoing a
may “train” their cats to bite when irritated. A lack of exercise,
dental procedure. Unfortunately, the environment was both very
play and mental stimulation can lead cats to direct their playful/
stimulating (with frequent office visitors, including dogs) and one
predatory behavior toward moving body parts such as legs,
where people were trying to work rather than focus on Buck’s
eyelashes or hands. The response from the human, although often
need for attention.
intended to be punitive, may be exciting enough to allow the
His behavior escalated over the course of a few weeks, as he behavior to continue, especially in a very bored cat.
started climbing up on the office workers desks, quickly becoming
There are a few other ways owners may inadvertently
overstimulated from petting, and jumping on people’s legs when
reinforce aggression in their cats. Given the possibility of a
they left the room. By the time behavior staff was notified of the
predisposition toward aggression, certain environments may
situation, the problem was quite severe. A typical scenario was
make the problem worse. One of these is a household where there
that Buck would sit in front of a computer, the worker would tell
are both many rules for the cat and few opportunities for natural
him “no,” put him down, and he would immediately jump back
behaviors. These are the households where the most common
up again. This would be repeated until finally Buck would bite the
word spoken to the cat is “no.”
human.
One example is a shelter cat, Swiffer, who was fostered out
When I checked his behavior, he solicited petting and seemed
with his siblings as an underaged kitten. Swiffer was adopted in
quite needy, but becamed overstimulated almost immediately and
June 2004, shortly after reaching two months of age. When he
gave a firm bite. When I told him “no” in a stern voice, he backed
was approximately 11 months old, his owners contacted the SF/
off for a moment and gave me a hard stare with constricted pupils,
SPCA Cat Behavior Program for help with a severe aggression
then launched at my arm, this time biting much harder (author’s
problem. His foster parents noted on his return that he “had issues
notes). Buck was removed from the office and given some time
with dominance” and that “he may do best as an only cat” (foster
to calm down, and then we instituted a behavior modification
parent notes).
plan that included regular attention and exercise, as well as
consistent handling. His adopters were given specific information Swiffer was a very active and curious cat who frequently “got
on working with attention seeking behavior and preventing into” things—knocking items off shelves, getting into garbage cans
aggressive episodes in the home, and on follow-up, things were and chewing plants. He was getting aggressive with his owners
going very well. and visitors, sometimes stalking and pouncing, although most
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Beyond Bossy: Feline Status Aggression 21
as factors that may have reinforced the behavior will prove more they should encourage the cat to move of his own volition. This
helpful than focusing on how the cat may perceive the owner. could be done by luring the cat with an interactive toy, by rattling
A general lack of bonding will require additional suggestions a treat can, or by tossing a small stuffed toy mouse. Even better
for positive interactions between the owner and the cat. If the would be to train the cat using either a clicker or voice command
owner is used to having cats of a particular personality type, they to do an incompatible behavior, such as “go to mat.”
may need to get comfortable with some other ways of having a
Some believe that clicker training and trick training will
relationship with their cat, such as interactive playtime instead of
help the cat learn that they must defer to the owner for rewards
cuddling.
(the “nothing in life is free” principle) (Overall, 1997; Johnson-
Unfortunately, the term “status aaggression” or “dominance Bennett 2007). The stereotype of cats being less motivated than
aggression” tends to bring up a certain image in people’s minds. dogs to please humans, if in fact true, could make training an
There is also a serious lack of information available about this uncertain fix for status related aggression. Regardless, training
behavior. These are important reasons to not casually use this is a good way to provide mental stimulation. There are many
term. A common misconception among the public is that the resources available on clicker training, both in print and on the
best way to fix dominant behavior is for the human to somehow Internet. Classes on clicker training for cats are becoming more
become assertive over the animal. However, attempts at physically available to the public as well.
punishing or intimidating a cat who is displaying status aggression
will likely backfire. The biggest risk is that the cat will escalate the Scheduled feeding is helpful for many types of behavior
aggression, seeing their human’s behavior as more of a challenge modification, and can be used in combination with training
than a threat. to reinforce the cat seeing the owner as the source of food. In
general, it is a good idea to increase environmental enrichment
Because feline status aggression is rare, be sure to first rule out (solo play toys, food puzzles, cat grass, bird feeders to watch, cat
other types of aggression. The most common overlapping types of condos, etc.) and provide the cat with as much interactive exercise
aggression are play/predatory aggression, overstimulation/petting as possible. Not all cats with status aggression are playful, but
aggression, territorial behavior and redirected aggression. (Pain or owners should be encouraged to try several different interactive
general “irritability” due to other animals in the environment may
toys.
also be overlapping factors.) Recommendations for modification
of these behavior problems will, in most cases, coincide or help If the owner is constantly engaging negatively with the cat
with working on the status aggression. over certain behaviors (such as furniture scratching, counter
climbing, etc.), these problems need to be addressed separately.
Be sure to obtain a thorough history of the behavior problem,
The frequency of “no’s” tends to increase the cat’s frustration
emphasizing information about body language both before
and perhaps his desire to have control over his environment. The
and after the aggression. Explore the owner’s reaction to the
owners may want to “choose their battles” and prioritize what
aggressive incidents as well as to other misbehaviors and find out
issues they would like to work on first. For example, the cat may
what rules or restrictions the owners expect the cat to conform
to. Consultants should not ignore another important piece of be allowed on the computer desk but not on the dinner table.
the puzzle—the cat’s daily routine, including how and when the Alternatives for climbing and scratching must be provided. The
owner interacts with the cat. goal is to prevent or, if necessary, correct a situation where the
owners are constantly saying “no” to the cat. It’s also important
not to forget rewarding positive behaviors! Treats, praise, play or
Behavior Modification a special toy can all be used to reinforce good behavior.
A behavior modification plan for cats exhibiting status If the cat tends to become overstimulated quickly or want to
aggression will focus on prevention as well as giving the cat some “call the shots” when being petted, the owner should keep petting
other things to do besides bossing their humans around! Clients and handling to a minimum, always leaving the cat wanting more,
should avoid physical confrontation with the cat whenever rather than less. If the cat allows a few pets without any aggressive
possible. If the cat is on their lap and they need to move, they moves, the owner can reward him with a treat. The owner should
should stand up slowly, letting the cat fall off their lap, rather not risk seeing “how far” they can get with the cat, i.e., testing the
than picking the cat up or pushing him off their lap. If the cat is cat’s reaction to more petting or handling of sensitive areas. This
sitting on a piece of furniture that the owner would like to use, will likely lead to a bite and the interaction will end not only on
A few things to look for when assessing status aggression:
Overstimulation with hard bites Constricted pupils
Demanding to be on a lap, even when clearly agitated Upset when moved
Mixed signals, such as lots of ear movement, cranky vocalization Upset with restraint
or tail swishing yet still soliciting attention Aggressive with verbal correction
Very focused on faces Attention-seeking behavior that includes hard bites
Intense, prolonged staring Challenges owners
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Beyond Bossy: Feline Status Aggression 23
a negative note, but also with the cat controlling when the petting has been that cats can notice hesitation and uncertainty in their
session ends. Desensitization and counter-conditioning can be owners, and will soon learn how to alter human behavior to suit
helpful in increasing tolerance for petting, but would probably be their needs.
safer when aggressive incidents have been reduced.
In some cases, careful re-homing should be considered. Some
A cat with a history of aggressing should not be allowed to get
cats at the shelter were deemed unsafe for adoption. Gerald, for
close to his owner’s face. If he is climbing up on someone’s chest,
example, was placed on a farm where he would have his basic
he should be gently discouraged, again by luring or by moving
slowly in a direction that will make it less desirable or possible needs met but close contact with humans was restricted. Other
for the cat to be in their face. Some cats can be discouraged from cats may not fare so well. But if you have resources for your
approaching faces by blocking them with open arms, if this can clients, status aggression need not be a death sentence for a cat.
be done without physically touching the cat. Owners should also
be discouraged from allowing these cats to mark them by rubbing
excessively on hands, chins, etc. After one or two rubs, the owners
should slowly and gently withdraw if possible (and safe).
A large component in working with aggressive behavior in
cats is minimizing or eliminating the human’s response to the
bites, including, in most cases, correction. Status-aggressive
cats do best with confident cat owners who are not intimidated
by their cat’s bossiness. Karen Overall (1999) has noted that “…
the response of the challenged cat determined the hierarchical
relationship. It is unclear whether the individuals had higher
status in the system because they had made the required response,
or because they were capable of making other animals respond to
them. The latter appears likely…” (p. 72). This could help explain Gerald: a little too interested in faces.
why many cats seem to target members of the household who
have a larger reaction to their aggression. Since many of these
Feline status aggression is a fascinating subject. As we
cats also engage in attention-seeking behavior, it is possible that
continue to learn more about the social structure of cats and how
any type of correction may be reinforcing.
humans can fit into this structure, we will undoubtedly have a
Reducing reaction to aggression is difficult, as most people better understanding of this behavior. In the meantime, we have
have an instinctive response to being bitten, which is to pull away the tools we need to work with and significantly improve this
and cry out. If the biting is predictable, owners may need to “brace behavior, as well as to educate the public about reducing and
themselves” for a bite and try to control their response. Another preventing aggression in cats.
option is to wear padded and protective clothing around the house,
such as wildlife gloves, leather, a heavy jacket or ski pants (if you
can convince your client to do so). Double-sided tape placed on Mikel Maria Delgado, CCBC, worked as a full-time Cat
the arms and legs of such clothing, while not changing the cat’s Behavior Specialist at the San Francisco SPCA from 2002
motivation for the aggression, will make it less enticing. to 2008. In addition to behavior consultations and adoption
counseling, this job entailed staff and volunteer training,
A water spray bottle can be used in extreme cases to stop a community education, temperament testing and behavior
cat from attacking. The owner will need to carry the spray bottle modification of shelter cats. She is now a partner in Feline Minds
around with them, but it is important that they do not punish the (www.felineminds.com), a San Francisco Bay Area cat behavior
cat too early. If the owner is very frightened of the cat, they may consulting business. Mikel serves on the IAABC Board of Directors
tend to punish body language rather than a behavior. Certainly, as secretary and is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. She lives
for some cats, body language is the first sign of aggression, but in Berkeley, California, with her two cats, and is currently a
the owner must be certain that they are interpreting the body psychology major at Cal State University.
language correctly. The cat who is being punished for no reason
will undoubtedly become more stressed out and is less likely to
form (or re-form) a positive relationship with their owner. References
Dodman, Nicholas H. Tufts University School of Veterinary
Medicine Animal Behavior Course. North Grafton, MA: Tufts
Successful Resolution
University, 1999.
Success is related both to minimizing the owner’s fear and the
severity of the bites and scratches. An experienced cat owner who
has previously dealt with aggression in their cats may be more Edwards, Donald H. and Edward A. Kravitz. “Serotonin, social
comfortable with a behavior modification plan that relies on their status and aggression.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Vol 7
ability to stay calm during an aggressive incident. My experience (6), (Dec 1997): 812-819.
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
24 Beyond Bossy: Feline Status Aggression
abnormality, although behavior modification and appropriate housesoiling in the geriatric cat.
pharmacological intervention can help normalize the animal on a
neurochemical level.
Aggression Disorders
Medical differentials for some of the common categories
of behavior problems in cats are outlined below. These are the Aggression is affected by a variety of physiological
medical conditions that should be investigated and ruled out when problems, including disease and drug administration. The trigger
dealing with these behavior issues. for the aggression can indicate the areas to concentrate a medical
investigation. For example, a cat who is aggressive when being
handled around his head and neck may need careful otoscopic
Inappropriate Elimination (ears) examination, oral examination and evaluation for cervical
spinal pain. In young animals with aggression, other medical
In cats, by far the most common medical factor contributing to
causes to consider include congenital neurologic disease (such as
inappropriate urination is sterile cystitis (that is, idiopathic, or
hydrocephalus), portosystemic shunt, storage diseases (although
interstitial, cystitis) and other lower urinary tract diseases. In
rare), infectious diseases (viral such as FeLV, FIV, FIP; protozoal
young cats, pain (and abrupt litter changes) due to declawing
such as Toxoplasmosis, Neospora; rickettsial such as Bartonella)
surgery can trigger housesoiling. Primary urinary tract disease,
and toxins. Of these, the most commonly identified are congenital
including kidney or bladder stones or kidney infections, are
neurologic disease, particularly hydrocephalus, and infectious
common causes of inappropriate urination.
diseases (FIP, FeLV or FIV).
Disorders of incontinence must be differentiated from true
Middle-aged to older animals should be evaluated for arthritis,
inappropriate elimination, because the former is always a medical endocrine disease (hyperthyroidism, adrenal disease, diabetes),
issue. Any drug or medical issue that triggers increased drinking neoplasia, primary neurological disease (neoplasia, granulomatous
and/or urination (including diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney meningoencephalitis, feline ischemic encephalopathy, parasitic
disease/failure) may also initiate urination outside the box. brain migration, seizures [uncommon as a cause of aggression]),
Urine spraying is not generally associated with a medical infectious diseases (viral, protozoal, rickettsial, fungal), ocular
condition (for example, cystitis will not make a cat urine spray). disorders (cataracts, uveitis), and cognitive dysfunction.
However, medical disorders may affect a cat’s relationship with Evaluation procedures are described earlier in this article.
other cats in the home and indirectly trigger urine spraying. Acute or chronic pain often plays a role in aggression.
For fecal housesoiling in cats, the cat should be evaluated Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) is frequently associated
for food intolerance/allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable with aggression (as well as other symptoms, including excessive
bowel syndrome, constipation/megacolon, parasitism, neoplasia grooming, twitching of the skin over the back, tail chasing,
(such as gastrointestinal lymphosarcoma), metabolic disease episodes of spontaneous growling and running through the house).
(kidney, liver, pancreas), endocrine disorders (hyperthyroidism), FHS has been associated with a variety of disorders, and in many
pancreatic insufficiency, and other malabsorption syndromes. cases the cause is unknown. However, the cat should be carefully
Medical evaluation is particularly crucial if the cat’s feces ever evaluated for neurological and dermatological disorders, anal sac
appear abnormal in texture, color, or consistency. If the cat is disease, and pain syndromes.
dropping feces as he moves or stands (true fecal incontinence),
rather than posturing somewhere outside the box, the problem is Drugs that have commonly been implicated in inducing
medical in origin. or exacerbating aggression include glucocorticoids (steroids),
theophylline, benzodiazepines, and acepromazine.
Geriatric-onset housesoiling in cats is almost always
associated with an identifiable disease process.
Older cats may begin housesoiling due to arthritic conditions Anxiety Disorders and Phobias
that make accessing the box difficult. This may be because the In very young animals, serious anxiety disorders, fears
sides of the box are too high or because the box is located in an and phobias are likely to be related to neurodevelopmental
area requiring physical exertion for the cat to get there (such as issues, prenatal and postnatal stress, socialization deficits, and
jumping over a dog gate). Other conditions such as obesity may learning events. However, congenital disorders (hydrocephalus,
also make box access difficult, particularly if the box is small portosystemic shunts) and infectious disease (feline viral,
and/or covered. Similarly, sensory decline, especially visual, may rickettsial, protozoal diseases) can influence the animal’s behavior
make box access difficult if the box is located in a cramped and/ and development (by sensitizing the cortisol-stress [HPA] axis to
or poorly lit area. The cat’s failing senses may make the cat more hyper-respond to stress and threat signals).
sensitive to potential environmental danger and shift the cat’s box
In adult animals, infectious diseases, endocrine disease,
preference to a more private or more open location.
chronic pain (such as spinal pain, intestinal cramping) and
Viral (such as FIV) or other infectious diseases may cause neurological disorders can mimic or worsen anxiety states. Some
marked or low grade encephalitis which can impact the cat’s episodes of spontaneous panic may represent limbic system
cognitive function. Additionally, cats do suffer from cognitive (temporal lobe) seizures. Hyperadrenocorticism, although
dysfunction syndrome, similar to dogs, and this may trigger uncommon in cats, can readily mimic or worsen an anxiety
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Medical Evaluation of the Feline Behavior Patient
References
Landsberg, G., W. Hunthausen, and L. Ackerman, L. Handbook
of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed. Philadelphia:
Elsevier, 2003.
Introducing Yourself to Local Veterinarians in a lint roller! View this as a job interview.
Your relationships with local veterinarians are crucial to Be respectful of the veterinarian’s time. Explain your
establishing and maintaining your reputation and acquiring services, your experience, offer references, and efficiently answer
client referrals. Ideally, the relationship will benefit everyone— all questions. Some veterinarians will welcome your services with
veterinarian, behavior consultant, and client. Although you can’t relief because they’ll recognize the value of having a behavior
control how willingly a veterinarian may embrace the idea of expert as a part of their extended practice. Some veterinarians
using your services, there are numerous things you can do to will politely (or not so politely) say thanks but no thanks. Many
introduce yourself as a professional. The more professional and veterinarians will be interested but unsure. For them, you may
experienced you are, the more likely a veterinarian will recognize want to offer one or more complimentary consultations. The time
the value of your service. investment you make will pay off when a long-term professional
relationship is established.
Don’t underestimate every aspect of how you present yourself
and your business. Everything matters—from the look of your Some veterinarians may have concerns about whether you
brochures to the way you dress. If you don’t take your appearance are someone who crosses over into inappropriate territory and
and marketing materials seriously, neither will veterinarians and attempts to diagnose medical conditions or bypass veterinary
prospective clients. medicine altogether. Be familiar with the IAABC Code of Ethics
so you can explain the high standard to which you are held as
a member of the IAABC. Invite the veterinarian to learn more
The First Meeting about the IAABC.
Don’t just stop into a veterinary clinic unannounced and ask Have your brochures and business cards with you so you can
to leave brochures there. That’s for pet sitters and people looking leave them with the veterinarian, if requested. Some clinics prefer
to adopt out unwanted puppies or kittens. You’re offering a very to display pet service brochures in their waiting rooms, while
specialized service and the veterinarian needs to meet you and others prefer to hand out information as needed. Keep track of
gain a full understanding of what you do and why you’re qualified the methods each clinic uses so you’ll know approximately how
to do it. The veterinarian’s relationships with his or her clients many brochures you’ll need to print in the future. Some clinics
are important, and you can’t expect that to be jeopardized by a only want business cards and some may prefer to simply keep
referral based solely on a stack of business cards or brochures left your name in their Rolodex.
on the waiting room table. Follow up your introductory meeting with a thank-you letter
The veterinarian’s time is limited. Your requested meeting and an offer of availability for any additional questions that may
should be short and scheduled at a time that is most convenient come up.
to the veterinarian. You can request this appointment by either
calling to ask for a brief meeting with the vet, or you can write an
introductory letter. If you chose to write a letter, keep in mind that Consultation Follow-Up
this will be your first professional impression. Use your business Your professional relationship with veterinarians doesn’t
letterhead and include a brief description of your business, end with the referral. Be diligent about providing written follow-
professional affiliations, and a brochure (if you have one). up reports. This is important for three reasons. First, it provides
Don’t write a two-page letter that explains everything the veterinarian with valuable information regarding the quality
you’ve ever done. The introductory letter should be just that—an of your services. Second, it allows the veterinarian to monitor
introduction. Put enough information in the letter to explain that the animal’s progress during future clinic visits. And finally, it
you are an experienced professional and why your services are becomes a written record should the client be non-compliant.
valuable, but save the very detailed information for your face- This can be very important if one of your non-compliant clients
to-face meeting where you can answer specific questions the reports back to the veterinarian that your methods didn’t work.
veterinarian may have. If you have brochures, information sheets, All client follow-up reports should be in writing. Even if a
or other marketing materials, put them together in a professional- veterinarian wants you to call after a consultation, it’s wise to
looking folder with the introductory letter on top. follow that with a written report. A written report protects you, it
When you meet the veterinarian, dress as a professional. If protects the veterinarian, and ultimately, it protects the pet.
you want to be viewed as a professional, then look like one. Invest The report should be efficient and consistent. You can write it
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
30 Establishing Professional Relationships with Veterinarians
on your letterhead in letter form, or you can create a template for involved in properly evaluating and handling a behavior problem,
follow-up forms. Make the form easy to read with well-defined the more likely it is that you’ll raise their awareness of the value
sections for your evaluation, behavior modification plan, and of certified behavior experts. The seminar should also cover the
follow-up instructions. In your follow-up, remember to thank the issue of when it’s time to contact a behavior expert.
veterinarian for the referral and invite him or her to call you with In-clinic seminars give you valuable face-to-face time with
any comments or questions. Follow-up reports should be concise. the staff, and that’s how you develop relationships and build trust.
Don’t write a book. Veterinarians want to be informed but they The staff members are more likely to refer you after they’ve met
don’t have the time to read six single-spaced pages. with you personally and are confident you’ll be a valuable asset
If you’ll be consulting with the client on several occasions, for their clinic. Compare that with the “behavior expert” who
don’t send a follow-up for every visit. Set up a schedule for merely asks the receptionist if he or she can leave brochures in
follow-up reports that cover multiple visits, or as requested by the the waiting room.
veterinarian. On your final visit to the client, send a final report Consider offering new pet classes at the veterinary clinic.
to the veterinarian. Some veterinarians may request customized New puppy classes are always needed. If you work with cats
follow-up procedures, so keep a written record of individual and you want to offer an extremely beneficial service, consider
preferences. If a veterinarian prefers to only receive phone teaching a kitty kindergarten class at the veterinary clinic. New
follow-ups, or if he or she doesn’t want any follow-ups (gasp!), parrot or horse classes would be very valuable and in many cases,
create a written follow-up for your own files that details what you and you could create a unique service if there aren’t any such
discussed with the veterinarian during the phone call. classes currently in your area.
This may seem obvious, but before you send off your written
follow-up report, proofread it carefully and then make a copy for
your own files.
Maintain Professionalism with the Veterinarian’s
Clients
One of the quickest ways to damage your professional
Professional Courtesies reputation is to speak poorly about a veterinarian during a
Veterinarians often call me to reaffirm basic behavior advice consultation. A client has no obligation to uphold confidentiality,
they plan on giving their clients or to discuss whether a case needs and anything you say might get back to that doctor, a member of
to be referred to a behavior consultant. I have also consulted with the staff, or other veterinarians. If a client asks for your opinion
veterinarians regarding their own cats. I offer these services at regarding a particular veterinarian, remain professional. Don’t fall
no charge. Extend a professional courtesy to veterinarians as an prey to gossip or anything that will cause you to lose credibility
effective way to demonstrate your expertise. with the doctors in your area. Listen to your clients’ concerns
and offer suggestions to help them better communicate with the
veterinarian. If they’re unhappy with the veterinarian, tactfully
Offer Additional Services suggest that they have the option of getting a second opinion.
This is where you can really work with the veterinary clinic A client’s relationship with the veterinarian is very complex.
in a way that benefits everyone. Start by creating client handouts It isn’t just based on the quality of care the animal receives.
Clients choose a particular veterinarian for a variety of reasons—
on basic training or certain common behavior problems. These
convenience, personality, gender, referrals from others, and so on.
should be either one-page sheets with training or behavior tips
Keep in mind that there are two sides to every story.
(usually done in bullet points) or, if your budget allows, create
brochures on single-topic issues. Include new pet topics as well.
Many veterinarians have new puppy/kitten packs that they hand
Show Appreciation
out to clients that include pet food samples, information sheets
on vaccinations, and some marketing material. Your handouts, Even though veterinarians will be receiving your follow-
behavior tip brochures, and/or general business brochures could up reports, everyone in the clinic will appreciate knowing that
be included in there. If new pet packs aren’t available for a their referrals are acknowledged with gratitude. Remember every
particular species, this is a great opportunity for you to create clinic at the holidays with something special. Whether you choose
information to be handed out. cookies, candy, or other gifts, the thought will go a long way in
showing you appreciate the trust they’ve placed in you.
Offer to teach seminars at the veterinary clinic. You can do
basic training seminars as well as specific topic seminars based If you want to go beyond the typical cookie or candy-type
on what the veterinarian feels would be most appreciated by his gifts, search on the Internet for companies that supply corporate
or her clients. In addition to seminars for clients, the veterinarian gifts. For the veterinarians who provide me with most of my
may welcome a seminar for the veterinary staff on basic referrals, I arrange for the clinics to have lunch delivered. So as
behavior problems. We don’t want technicians inappropriately not to get lost in the Christmas gift-giving chaos, I often schedule
dispensing behavior advice, but the more accurate they are when the lunch deliveries for Valentine’s Day or simply an ordinary
recommending basic techniques, the better. My experience has weekday.
been that the more you inform the veterinary staff about all that’s Remembering birthdays and other special personal days will
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
Establishing Professional Relationships with Veterinarians 31
Recommended Reading
Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New
York: Free Press, 2004.
This classic book is a guide to personal change and growth. Its
lessons will carry over into your professional relationships.
and veterinarians. If there are emergency clinics for people and drill.
animals in the area, include the name, address, directions and As part of your on-going preparedness, be sure to keep all
phone numbers for these.
perishables fresh by rotating them regularly. This also applies to
4. A recent photo of each family member. Include photos stored gas, which must be rotated every month or treated with a gas
of pets and other identifying marks/numbers. Attach these to the stabilizer. Run generators periodically to be sure they will operate
medical records, so it’s clear which record goes with each person when needed. Keep a supply of fresh batteries for flashlights and
and pet. lanterns. You can purchase survival candles at military or outdoor
5. Human and pet bedding and towels. You’ll want supply stores.
something that you know is clean and dry. Include at least four Be sure to spend some time in the safe area with your pets so
bath towels for each person and pet. These are used to wrap the they feel comfortable there. Consider camping out in the safe area
pet, if needed, as well as to dry him. The towels also provide extra as part of a drill. Make it fun and the pet will enjoy going there.
cushioning to lie or sit on for everyone. In some cases, they can Do this every few months.
provide extra warmth.
With the proper preparation, riding out the storm can be safe.
6. A confinement system (such as a crate or cage) for the However, always be aware of the condition of the storm and be
pet. Some animals can become very panicky at the noise of a ready to evacuate if advised. Do not try to ride out the storm if
severe storm, even if they are in “their” house. Putting them in a there is risk of injury to both people and pets. Be sure to have an
crate or cage will help keep them safe and prevent the pet from emergency evacuation pre-plan.
getting loose and possibly running out of the house. If the pet is
taken out to eat or relieve himself, he should always be on a leash
or line, no matter how well trained he may be. Pre-Plan Two: Evacuate!
7. Extra collars, harnesses and leashes for pets. The most important part of this pre-plan is to decide when you
8. Toys and games. Plan to have some toys, games, etc., for will evacuate. Some people feel better leaving at the first storm
the humans, and some chew toys such as a Kong for a dog and watch or warning. It is always better to err on the side of safety
play toys for cats. then regret it later. Whatever the family decides, they should not
wait to see if the situation will improve!
9. A list of emergency contact people who do not live in
your area. Keep in mind that it is much more difficult to travel with pets
and find a place that will allow them to stay. Pet-friendly hotels
10. Clean-up supplies. Often in a disaster, the area outside will fill up first. The safest and perhaps the easiest thing to do is
or the part of the house with bathroom facilities is not usable. to implement the pre-plan when the first storm watch is issued,
Therefore, have enough paper towels, odor neutralizer (best kept before the official evacuation orders are given.
in a spray bottle for easy use), and zip-type plastic bags to clean
and store any accidents the pet may have. Think of a way for the The evacuation pre-plan should include the following steps.
humans in the family to handle toilet issues. 1. A supply of gas should be ready for a generator as part of
In a multiple-person household, make each person responsible pre-plan one, and rotated monthly or treated with a gas stabilizer.
for a particular pet or a specific job. Post the assignments as part People tend to wait until the last minute to get gas. This creates
of the pre-plan. If all family members are not at home when the shortages and long lines. Having enough gas handy saves time
first warning is issued, decide at what point everyone should go and guarantees that it will be available when you need to drive
to the safe area. away. If the power goes out, you will not be able to pump gas at
the gas station.
Secure any items outside of the home that could cause
damage. You can put these items in the house, a garage or a shed. 2. Collect and store valuables in waterproof plastic bags, and
A lawn chair, for example, could be blown against a house and put them in plastic containers with secure lids. You will leave
break a window. If you cannot put things away, tie them to a tree these items behind. You can keep them in a safe or hide them in
or even together to keep them from blowing away. Be sure to put your house in the most secure area. Be sure that each bag and box
these items in a place that will not block your ability to evacuate, has contact information in it.
if necessary. If possible, keep all identity items, such as credit card
It is important to let someone outside your area know that numbers, receipts, bills, etc., in a secure locked place in your
you are riding out the storm. You should establish: home. This will help keep them safe and protect against identity
theft. If the area is prone to frequent storms, it might be wise to
• A contact schedule so that they know you are okay. You store these items in a safe deposit box in a bank.
must consider how you will make contact if phone lines, cell
towers or other means of communication are not available. Too many times, people waste time and space in their vehicles
trying to gather and save these things. You should only take items
• A plan in case you lose contact. that you need for survival and safety. Nothing else!
• Emergency numbers to call, if necessary. 3. Valuable documents such as birth certificates and insurance
And the most important: Practice your plan. Hold a disaster policy information (account number and phone numbers) should
Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice
Spring 2008
34 Being Prepared for Disaster
be stored in a locked box designed for this purpose. This box must Susan Bulanda, MA, CABC, is vice president and Dog
be kept in a place where you can take it quickly. Include phone Division Chair of the IAABC. She is an author, speaker, search
numbers, copies of veterinarian records, identification photos, and rescue incident commander, and adjunct Professor at
and other identifying information for your family and pet. Load Kutztown University. (www.sbulanda.com)
the box in a spot in the vehicle where it cannot be accidentally lost
or dropped.
4. Secure any items outside that can cause damage or prevent
evacuation.
5. Be sure to keep pets in a crate or cage for smaller animals
and a canine seat belt for larger dogs, so that they cannot escape
and can be kept safe (in a crate/cage) at the destination. If you
have to stop along the route, be sure to keep all pets on a leash and
never open a vehicle door with a loose pet inside.
6. You’ll need a destination. Make a list of friends, relatives,
and pet-friendly hotels located out of the danger area, with
directions and phone numbers. If you plan to go to a hotel, make
reservations when you get the first storm watch or warning. Don’t
worry if you do not need to go to the hotel. It’s better to have to
cancel a reservation and even pay one night fee than be left with
no place to go.
7. Have maps in the vehicle so that detours can be
navigated.
8. Pick one or two people to keep in touch with as you
evacuate. Give them updates as you travel and when you arrive at
your destination.
9. Store about a month’s worth of food, medications and water
in a safe, secure place in your home. Often, when you return there
will be a shortage of supplies and you may need these items.
10. Have a disaster evacuation kit. The kit should include but
not be limited to:
• Enough water (about one two-liter bottle per 35-pound pet,
per day) for a few days of traveling, and food to last at least
a month. For humans, take enough bottled water for the trip
to the destination.
• A month’s supply of medications for everyone who needs
them, including pets.
• Extra leashes, harnesses, and collars for pets.
• For the children, books, games and other types of entertainment
that do not rely on a power supply.
• Toys to entertain the pets.
• A medical first aid kit, as listed in Pre-Plan One.
• Paper towels, odor neutralizer (best stored in a spray bottle
for easy use) and zip-type plastic bags. These will be used to
clean any accidents the pet may have while traveling or at the
destination, of if the children get sick.
No one ever wants to go through a natural disaster, but being
prepared will help your clients have a well-thought-out plan
should the unthinkable occur. It will also give them—and you—
peace of mind.
Book Review:
The Emotional Lives of Animals by Mark Bekoff (New World Library, 2007)
Reviewed by Tonya Sakadinsky, BA, CDBC