Dear Matthew: When my dog was a puppy, one of the cutest things he did was offer a little bark whenever I gave him a command, such as "sit" or "stay." I used to explain to my friends that this was his way of saying "yes, sir" or "of course."
Now, however, I'm starting to think that he might have been saying something else entirely. As he's gotten older, he's become less and less obedient, and his barking is becoming more and more annoying, sometimes accompanied by growling.What am I doing wrong? Is his barking an indication of anger, and if it is, what should I do to solve the problem? Thanks for your help.
- Judith in New York City
Dear Judith: One of the cutest things a puppy can do is bark at you after you give him a command. People fall to the ground in laughter when they see this, and many owners actually regard it as though it were a terrific trick they had taught the dog.
Unfortunately, your animal was probably not saying "yes, sir" - he was probably muttering something along the lines of "up yours" or "just wait till I get a little bigger!" His barking is an expression of defiance and unwillingness to respond to commands, as you're now learning.
Just like a good drill sergeant, you shouldn't tolerate talking back when you give an order. As undemocratic as it may sound, dog training isn't the place for cooperation - it requires unquestioning obedience.
Think of it as canine feudalism. Dogs are totally dependent on their masters for everything connected with their well-being, and a command is almost always in the animal's best interest. Therefore, they must obey; talking back is an indication of disrespect.
If your dog continues to bark, howl or growl when you give him a command, he should be corrected. A corrective jerk on his leash, along with a firm "no!" should do the trick. And don't forget to praise him after he complies.
Dear Matthew: Our family has a 13-year-old cat who seems to be in perfect health, except she spends most of her time lying around the house, sleeping.
In fact, I haven't seen her move more than 10 steps at any one time. It's not that she's crippled or anything; it's just she seems to be getting lazy in her old age. Should I take her to the vet to have her checked out? And how long do cats normally live? We'd be heartbroken if we ever lost her.
- Tim in Port Huron, Mich.
Dear Tim: I'm sure when you get to be in your 80s or 90s, you'll be much less inclined to run around the house, too. As long as your cat gets regular checkups and isn't becoming obese due to lack of exercise, you shouldn't be worried.
To answer your second question, the average indoor cat lives to between 13 and 15 years of age, although some felines reach the ripe old age of 20.
Dear Matthew: My housemate has a 5-year-old spaniel mix. He's trying to train her, and I'm trying to give him advice on how to do it. For the most part, he ignores what I have to say, telling me that it's his dog and he can train her however he wants.
I grew up with dogs, however, and I know some basic rules about dog training. One of these is that you should never use the dog's name and the word "no" in the same sentence - otherwise, it will make the animal associate its name with bad behavior.
So, I'm writing you hoping you can, in your column, tell him to stop saying "Missy, no!" Even if he disregards all the other training tips I give him, at least I can win on this one point.
- Robert in Chicago
Dear Robert: You're absolutely correct. You shouldn't use a dog's name and the "no" command together. The repercussions are enormous. Why would a dog respond to its name if, the last time it heard it used, it was a prelude to punishment?
It sounds to me as though you and your housemate have some issues to work out beyond just the proper use of the "no" command. Perhaps, although you mean the best in your training suggestions, you're making your housemate feel ignorant or pushed around. Might I suggest you buy him a good dog-training book and let him work from there on his own? In the long run, he'll become a better owner, and his dog will be better-trained.