Episode 4

Meeting the Needs of a Suburban Herding Dog

How do you provide enrichment for a highly active herding dog while you’re living in the suburbs? Naomi talks to Kristina Mok about her cattledog pup Lexa and her elder cat Pippi.


In this episode we discuss:

Our cast of characters: Lexa and Pippi

  • Lexa is an Australian cattledog pup, full of excitement and energy     
  • Pippi is a former rescue cat that’s been part of Kristina’s family for thirteen years

Starting Problems

  • A very activity driven puppy and an old cat sharing a household
  • Living the suburbs
  • First-time dog owners
  • An older woman means running with a cattledog is not her forte

What did Kristina think Enrichment meant before joining the Club?

  • Hadn’t done a lot of reading but what she’s read said there was more than just running your dog.
  • Use its brain and then it will be more tired.
  • Needs more activities to play and use her brain
  • Dogs get naughty when they’re bored

What kinds of Enrichment has Kristina been doing with Lexa

  • A lot of sniffy walks
  • Slept really well after walks despite not doing any running            
  • Training during walks
  • Stop/sit at roads
  • Release of food items she finds
  • Activities at home
  • Snuffle mats
  • Food dispensing toys
  • Hiding things in yard to sniff out
  • Paper bags to rip apart to find things

Working backward to develop Enrichment

  • Didn’t realize how to work backward until learned in the Club
  • Learn what she needs in her day rather than just giving her all the things to do
  • Focus more on the behavior/needs
  • Think about the times of day and what she might need
  • First thing in the morning playing some tug before she eats
  • Keeps agitation down because she’s had a play and Kristina can continue on with her day
  • If she’s overstimulated
  • Scatter feed, snuffle mat to help bring her back down with focus activities
  • If she’s chewing on things she shouldn’t
  • When did she last have her bone?

Enrichment is not for us, but for them

  • Shift the focus to their needs, not the behaviors that we want to see
  • Satisfy their needs and then the good behaviors will come
  • Develops good communication
  • Agency for the pet. Give them some choice
  • Allows you to understand pet’s needs more

Enrichment is not just for dogs

  • Pippi the cat also benefits from enrichment though it takes a different for to Lexa’s
  • Quiet sitting and companionship (social bonding)

Enrichment catered to the individual

  • Give the option of different activities but allow them to guide what they like the most
  • Different animals enjoy different things
  • Eg. Social bonding over physical activities (play)

Next Enrichment projects?

  • Lexa: Canine nose work classes
  • Pippi: Building some places for her to go up high and safe

Enrichment: one step at a time

  • Take it one activity at a time
  • No need to overwhelm pets with lots of different enrichment plans

Who’s in this episode?

Naomi Rotenberg

https://www.instagram.com/praiseworthypets

https://www.praiseworthypets.com/                                    


Kristina Mok

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!