Episode 37

The Dog Puts the Cat's Head In His MOUTH! (Dog and Cat Chat with Josie)

Naomi chats with Josie in this Dog and Cat Chat about her adolescent dog Kinai and his wildly different interactions with her two cats. How much of this behavior can be attributed to general environmental stress or something else entirely?

Time Stamps:

[00:31] Introduction

[01:13] The cast of characters: the dogs (Nimeria and Kinai)

[01:37] Background of relationship between Kinai and the cats

[02:06] The cast of characters: the cats (Anya and Prudence)

[02:48] Background of reactive interactions between Kinai and Anya

[03:59] Background of Kinai’s high prey drive towards Prudence

[04:30] Kinai inconsistently redirecting reactive behavior onto Prudence

[05:47] Why saying a dog is “good with cats” or vice versa is misleading

[06:40] Current history of Kinai’s reactivity to environmental contrasts and changes, surprises and strange animals

[08:22] Changes in behavior after neutering/during adolescence

[10:10] Trigger stacking effects on reactivity

[10:43] The cat’s response to Kinai’s reactive behavior

[11:21] Disentangling multiple cases within the same group of animals

[12:10] Stressors that can affect behavior indirectly

[14:30] Developing a plan for Kinai’s reactivity to stressors

[14:36] Decrease environmental stresses

[15:12] Record keeping - behavior tracking

[15:36] Developing a plan for Kinai’s anxiety with Anya

[16:22] Developing a plan for Kinai’s interactions with Prudence

[17:41] Some behaviors aren’t as scary as they look

[18:38] Record what the difference in behavior when humans are present and not

[20:26] The importance of who is initiating interactions/contact

[23:02] Working on Kinai’s redirection cues

[24:37] The importance of video footage of behaviors

[25:37] Adjusting your environment

[29:06] Benefits of relaxation protocols/training

----------

About the Podcast

Show artwork for It's Training Cats and Dogs!
It's Training Cats and Dogs!
The podcast for cat-AND-dog people.

About your host

Profile picture for Naomi Rotenberg

Naomi Rotenberg

MA, KPA-CTP
specializing in cat and dog integration

Hi! I'm Naomi, and I'm a "cat-and-dog person" 👋 My goal with this podcast is to speak to people with multi-species households who currently feel alone. There are lots of highs and lows when trying to manage the relationships between your animals. This podcast will give you clear, actionable information and guidance about the unique issues that come up between cats and dogs. And the monthly interviews with my fellow trainers who have cats and dogs will definitely help you realize that you aren't alone!

A bit about me: I'm a certified professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP) and have my MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation. I live in my own multi-species household in Philadelphia, PA with my husband, two human kids, Uri (a mini American Eskimo Dog), and Rio (a domestic shorthair cat). I also LOVE Twizzlers (the original kind, NOT pull-and-peel).

I look forward to getting to know you and your pets on your journey towards a more peaceful and safe coexistence!