.

Above: Marker brand known as the i-clicker

Clicker fear? Is your pet afraid of the sound of a clicker? Believe it or not, it isn’t that uncommon.

When I first began using secondary reinforcers (or a tool more commonly referred to as a “marker”) there were not any clickers specifically on the market for trainers.

So, we coveted those brass ones from Asia and those little alligator party toys plus any little party toy that we came across.

I still have my brass frog and one of my alligators from the 1970s but my original training bag went missing with my buzzers, large cat chains (leashes for tigers and lions) and sea lion training bucket. *sigh*

Today there are a lot of choices when it comes to clickers but some animals exhibit fear when they first are introduced to the click.

There are a few different solutions but the first thing I want to point out that a marker does not have to be a clicker.

Normally I have people use a particular word to mark the behavior but you can use a tongue click, a click-able pen, or you can get a bit innovative.

Sometimes people mistakenly use the clicker as they would a remote control.

This does not control the behavior of the pet! LOL

But it can scare an animal.

So, the first thing to do is to train the pet to the sound using established associations.

For instance, when you are getting ready to put down the food bowl during feeding time, use a clicker once or twice while you prepare the food if the animal is present, or just prior to putting the food bowl down.

Over time, the click becomes a positive association and you can begin to use it before giving treats and then transition to “charging the marker” (another post for the future).

Also, consider muffling the sound by placing it in your pocket or by muffling it with a wash cloth.

Some trainers have used layers of tape and gradually remove them, which slowly increases the volume of the click.

Today people tend to be a bit polarized and want to label themselves…clicker trainer is one such moniker.

But I want to point out that you can just as easily train an animal using a training whistle, training light, just as easily as you could do something else.

If you want, you can now pick from an assortment of clickers or use the versatile i-clicker. (The Clicker+ is currently off the market but offered a variety of tones to select from.)

I often use a voice marker but my adapted training whistle (on a chain around my neck with a bit of aquarium tubing that allows me to hold it in my mouth and still talk) or the clicker attached on my training bag all can be used easily and effectively.

The key to successful animal training is to be sure that your training subject develops trust and is comfortable so he or she can learn.

Take time to take the steps to develop that trust and be flexible enough to try something else if your pet (or other animal student) is not receptive to the use of a clicker.

Let me know about your successes or challenges in training an animal to accept a clicker in the comments below.

Above: Feline Digital Amputation Courtesy of Maxs House

Not too long ago I posted a link to a blog article and video about cat declawing (Onychectomy) over on my Facebook page.

Cat declawing is not a new topic up for debate–it has been a hot one throughout my career as an animal behavior consultant and trainer and I wrote about it some time back when talking about cat scratching behavior problems.

Early in my career, when I first began to train big cats, it was common practice to declaw the front paws of tigers and lions and all four for leopards.

Then, we were hands on in the movie and television industry and the safety of the trainers and the actors or crew was part of the reason it was done.

But it painful and was horrible for the cats.

Personally, I am against the procedure because I know that cat scratching and clawing issues can be solved easily through behavior modification strategies.

The trick is to start early. Kittenhood is the best time to do prevention work and to train.

Yes, TRAIN your cat.

All my animals get trained and some of you might remember my completely trained cat. He liked to travel and would sit, down and come on command. (Seriously, he did.)

Doubt it?

Did you know that there are many highly trained fabulous felines working in Hollywood?

I happen to have worked with many and know some very famous critters—like Mr. Bigglesworth.

Mr. Bigglesworth fell in love with me the moment he set eyes on me and I hate to say it but when he scratched on my door that night, I let him in and slept with the handsome devil. (For those of you who don’t know, Mr. Bigglesworth is the famed cat of Austin Powers movies.)

Anyway, declawing is an uncomfortable and painful experience.

The amputation and mutilation is akin to removing the tip of your finger back to the joint.

Behavior problems such as scratching or clawing, can be addressed quickly and easily by simple strategies, or by a combination of different methods.

Today there are a multitude of products on the market to help avoid clawing and scratching problems.

Unfortunately, I am sad to report that many pet owners often avoid dealing with situations that involve behavior problems.

In fact I am still surprised at how many people mistakenly think that the problems will just disappear or solve themselves.

The reality is that most problems get worse and escalate in their intensity over time. The become firmly entrenched and so the issues then become much harder to address–and this is when some people opt for the surgical removal of the claws.

Most animal behavior problems, even in severe cases, can be addressed in an eight to twelve week period.

Faster progress is made with professional assistance from an animal behaviorist or coach.

To solve behavior problems it is necessary to target the contributing cause.

Once the reason underlying the symptom (problem) is determined, the situation can be resolved.

There are a variety of reasons why a cat will begin to engage in clawing and scratching behavior.

A behaviorist can pinpoint the problem and understand the motivation behind the behavior so you can pick the right solution.

Unfortunately, rather than deal with these situations early, pet owners will wait and then, in desperation, take drastic measures that may hurt, maim, or psychologically impact their animals for life.

Consultants in animal behavior see the negative repercussions of such extreme actions such as declawing.

Other behavior problems often follow the procedure and many declawed felines suffer from litterbox avoidance, psychological trauma, and day-to-day frustrations that prevent them from marking territory, protecting themselves, and helping them to align their spines.

Many declawed cats bite more—as it is their only line of defense.

They often have a difficult time with other animals because they feel vulnerable and so their aggression often escalates.

Is there a time I would recommend declawing?

Not really—and I never have.

Pet owners who are unwilling to work to make sure that their pet is properly schooled and trained or who are unwilling to keep an animal in the home for the duration of his or her lifespan are not the type of clients I see.

Okay, okay. Don’t get defensive on this issue.

This is not an ideal world and some exceptions may come up.

So, in an extreme case where it is necessary to insure an animal stays in the home, I might ponder it and a lot of people believe that is the only time it might be an option.

However, understand that the owners must have spent the necessary time working on the issue with a qualified animal behaviorist without success to receive such a recommendation.

Did you know that there are nail covers and other more palatable options to try before pondering such a recommendation?

It is important that you understand that declawing a feline will make that animal unsuitable for other homes making placement or adoption nearly impossible.

The procedure would also put the animal at great risk if it escapes or meanders outdoors.

Finally, you might not agree with my professional opinion and that is your prerogative.

Below I have attached some links to the commentaries of some of the larger professional groups and clubs so you could read other opinions on the topic and have also attached some videos that were shared with me last week.

• Maxs House on Declawing
• Cats International Declawing Commentary
• Cat Fancier’s Association on Declawing
• American Veterinary Medical Association’s Declawing Position
• Petside Article on Declawing

Below: Cat Declaw Surgery

Okay, your turn to chime in via the comments. What do you think about cat declawing?

Above: PFW Lifestyle Award Winner 2010

So when someone asked me about Pet Fashion Week, I realized that I dismissed it again this year.

Probably because I don’t particularly care for it.

Then I saw the headline, Pet Fashion Weak and thought perhaps I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

The headline made me laugh but also made me want to ask, Do you find pet fashion dignified or disgusting ?

I first mentioned Pet Fashion Week here on the blog in 2007 but the problem was that by 2008, Pet Fashion Week still wasn’t a week but only a couple of days and there were a lot of other things about it that disturbed me beyond the misleading moniker.

Perhaps I am not a pet fashonista partially because I’ve lived most of my life in animal friendly uniforms.

You know, the safari garb or jeans type of gal who wears sensible shoes and shirts that make it easier to wash away dirt, drool and other substances that come along with living and working with critters.

I started my career with things that could kill you with the swipe of a paw or the flick of a trunk–so that upbringing has kept me aware of just who and what animals are and those relationships are dependent on a solid, sensible view–otherwise you might end up maimed or dead.

But my theory behind the trend of pet fashions?

We’ve lost our minds.

Seriously, we just get further and further away from appreciating animals for who and what they are.

We seek to connect but do a terrible job of it and then subject them to all kinds of odd things.

Even pet behavior problems are on the rise.

Problems I used to only see in my more affluent client cases are today common within the general population as well.

It seems that people have ideas about who and what animals are but seem to miss the very essence of their beings.

Now I’ve been in the pet industry a while and have seen a lot of changes.

I’ve seen the specialty products increase, matching human and pet wear fashion set emerge, and then the rise of higher end pet fashions.

Now some pets enjoy being fussed over and dolled up but many do not.

What disturbs me is that many pets are being treated more like toys and accessories instead of living creatures from a fascinating array of animal cultures.

These pet lifestyle industry trends were discussed at length in One Nation Under Dog.

What rang true was that the theory that the author posed, “In an atomized era, the growing amount of time and money we collectively spend on pets is an indication of how much we thirst for community, leaning on animals for support once provided by other humans. And the specifics of how we treat those pets no longer just reflect what we think is appropriate for animals. From the popularity of pet antidepressants to the rise of pet-custody divorce settlements, the way people interact with their pets says a great deal about two-legged society.”

So basically, it isn’t about them–its about us.

Wow, what a surprise.

But I still have the same question, is Pet Fashion Week dignified or disgusting? Let me know how you feel in the comments.