36 ~ Sunday, October 24, 1993 — North Shore News Pupp hands that feed i nen TREVOR, one of my Susbaid’s best friends, just got a puppy. Kya is 2 golden retriever — the attention-gctter that every guy dreams of (fortu- nately Trevor is married). At seven weeks old Kya wins the cutest puppy in the world award, hands down. With that puppy breath, downy soft fur and big brown cyes, puppies are so cute they couid get away with murder. One puppy behaviour which starts out innocently enough, but could be referred to as murder, is puppy love biting. nthe beginning this. and nibbli up" "5 jaws ger 2 uw nd .those puppy t bigger those cute are now inflicting bad enough to bandages. - nis is usually the time J rs; in order to stop you'must first find out. avis causing it... - : With Pey biting,’ a f fv haviour is done Jan canine connection to relieve the discomfort of tecthing. Puppies tecthe until all their aduit teeth are in, usually at around six months of age. For teething pups, what ! suggest is to wet a small stuffed toy with water, then place it in the freezer. Once the toy is semi-trozen, give it to the pup. The cool will. : soothe the discomfort of teething and the crunchiness ‘of the cloth will soothe the - need to chew. The other reason pups naw on human hands is ecause they are beginning to test the dominance level of their new pack members. ‘Pups learn to test their ‘litter mates’ ranking within othe pack by participating in * this type of dominant mouthing behaviour. The biting is then unfortunately “reinforced by the new pack ‘members when they begin co respond to the pain by giv- ing a velp, then pulling their hands away. The pap learns that when they assert theni- selves, the other pack mem- bers back down, and the dominant dog status is established. This quick retreat of the hand may also trigger 2 hard-wired behaviour called the prey drive. This means that the fast fleeing object (your hand) will be instine- tively pursued by the pup until it is caught. A game of cat and mouse or dog and hand shall we say. So, now that we know what is causing it, how do we stop it? First, never hit or slap your pup at anytime for any- thing, ever! Hitting creates a feartul, mistrusting dog. And never grab your pup and shake it. When a wolf or wild dog wants to kill its catch before it eats it, it shakes it violentiy. So if you shake your pup, you are telling it you are going to kilt it. This again instilis fear . and mistrust. . There are positive meth- ods, all which work, but they require consistency, time and fairness on the part of the See Consistency page 37. ‘e4 speed automatic * Air conditioning * Keyless remote * part time 4wd a ese . .- © Power steering ~ Air conditioning _.» Power windows .- and loéks" ° Cruise control * Keyless remote,’ . anti theft system * AM/FM/CD with Talking to your pei dog would ask Vittat’s autheney pet cag aid howe in sober fs peubhers questions your cat would ask What's tothenng your: Cat ond how to solve m1 probleri . Cruise control * Power windows .. and locks ¢ CD/AM/Fivi stereo Terzy Peters Contributing Writer EVER wished you could sit down and realiy talk to your pet? Find out exactly why they behave the way they do? It’s unlikely ‘that’ you'll ever hzve that opportunity, bur with these books recenily available on the market, you might just come close to fig- uring it out on your own. Bt The Tarantels Whisperer, by Dr. Laura Pasten, Conari Press, 192 pages, $18.95... There was ,panic in Mr. Stevenson's voice * as. he explained over thé phone how bis pet Tarantula was hocked onto his ear. and wouldn't ket 0. Dr. Laura Posten had never heard this one before but her suggestion to “go:stick your head in the -fridge®- was the right onc. ‘That-story opens her book, The: Tarantula Whisperer, but ic isn’t the only: : tale of strange id: odd behaviour. Paster starts cach chap with an ‘anecdote ‘and. segues into au elaboration ‘on. why. pets behave in. certain’ way cand. how we can better:relate ~ to our pets.’ From horses’ to- reptiles with many: dogs and cits thrown in,:: Paster. fe treated. them all, andiad 14 -S-int..as, ‘vet’ for: the Alorris the Cat: ' Her gentle ap care is full of compassion and : common sense; with! “ relating to the animal world: An entertaining read, Th Tarantula Whisperer. ip you look ‘at your: pet: in’ new. Would... Ask, by. Dennis; and ior. Your Cat Would: As2; ae ry. Honor. Head> and: Helen Dennis, _Educational Series, :/ 1 does it mean when “Can I have cat food i instea of dog food Using - photographs-: and: ple ill: re fe tothe: answers of:many pe *. care concerns. : - Written in a: traightfor ward manner, the author. ge! quickly to.the point on cac! issuc. Diet,. exercise, - behav: _ioural problems, emergencie: and: much more ‘are Pet owiiers will: find con cise answers to’ the. ma!