By Cindy Cook Abby is a smart bundle of happy energy and she doesn’t shed!
My daughter Jill and I got Abby at 8 weeks old from Kinston, NC. She stole our hearts from the get go. She is an F1 Schnoodle meaning that her dad is a poodle and her mom is a Schnauzer. That makes her a great dog for allergies, for she doesn’t shed and her dander is very low.
Abby is so smart and loves to learn new things like playing peekaboo and is becoming a calm walking partner thanks to Crockett’s Critter Care. She is full of energy and loves her walks, will do tricks for treats, and is always ready for snuggles. Her intelligence amazes me every day. Her favorite toy is a worn out stuffed cat named Maw-Maw and her other loves are cheese, duck treats, and Mom’s cooking. For us, she is a small child in a “Fur-Suit” and we could not love her more.
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I love Walker Hounds. They are quiet, kind, and athletic. Plus, they get along well with other dogs, children, and adults. They are easy, no muss-no fuss, pets who like to cuddle and relax on the couch. When I adopted my first Walker Hound, I found out just how misunderstood they are. I was told by a breeder that they don’t make good pets, are difficult to house train, and would probably be an escape artist.
I met my first Walker Hound, Savannah, standing by the trunk of my car. She approached me cautiously as I carried a bag of dog food to the house. She remained outside my front door so I went to see if she had any ID on her collar. She did. I called, left a message, and never received a call back. I gave her some food and water, brought her into the house, gave her a bath, and let her stay. True to her breed, she did try to get out of the yard a few times by literally climbing up and over the fence. Once out she was a blur as she sped away. I made a point to go out with her after that.
Ginger Bowing
When our dog park opened, we were a regular. She would run around the perimeter faster than any other dog in the park. She was fast. Mostly she was very quiet. On special occasions (meeting her first turtle) she would let out a melodious bay. She was my first hound dog, and I was hooked on hounds after that. When she passed, I knew I would have another Walker.
I went to Colonial Capital Humane Society to see if they had any. Sure enough – they had several. One of them was so shy it hid behind the foster mother. I thought that she would be overlooked by others wanting a pet so I said – I want that one. I put her in my car, changed her name from Jackie to Ginger, and added her to my pet family. In a few days, she was at ease and enjoying her new home. Ten years later, Ginger is still very shy, doesn’t like noise, and prefers to stay at home. But in her zone, she has a ton of personality and brings so much joy to my household.
She is smart and can hold her own in a class of German Shepherds and Boarder Collies. Her recall is the fastest in the class. If she were more at ease with new sights and sounds, I think she would have made an awesome agility competitor. But I have learned to love her as she is and not flood her with too many triggers. It doesn’t bother me if she is shy. We still fit in three walks a day – short, sniff sessions instead of endurance walks. She’s content to spend time on the couch or the bed and the highlight of her day is mealtime when she lets out a roaring bark. Ginger turned out to be a happy and delightful pet who is adored by her owner.
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Maxi is a star in my neighborhood. He is a hound of uncertain registry. His owner, Fiona, dotes on him and takes him for walks all over the county. I know him well. He bays when he sees me and trots over for some treats. Ginger, my hound, is quite smitten with him. We occasionally join them on walks.
Maxi came into Fiona’s life about twelve years ago when a co-worker asked her if she was still thinking of getting a dog. She replied with an enthusiastic, “Yes”. The co-worker then asked if she was interested in a puppy – to which she emphatically answered, “No”. This small, pathetic looking puppy arrived at the office the next day and stole Fiona’s heart and changed her life.
On their first day together in Maxi’s new home, they made a special trip to PetSmart where it was discovered that Maxi loved balls. He chose a little green one and proceeded to carry it everywhere he went. Over the years his ball collection grew as he found more balls on his trip to the park. In fact, Fiona’s car is full of balls because Maxi’s philosophy is that every stray ball needs a home with him.
Maxi is Fiona’s first dog. It is amazing to me to see the joyful bond between them. True to his “hound” nature, he is a “good dog ambassador” to all of the children in the neighborhood who can’t resist giving him a pat on the head during his daily walk. He has made a long and successful journey from his pathetic puppy beginning to a charming happy hound. Woof woof!
What is your proud pet story? Contact us so we can all hear it.
~ Submitted to Crockett’s Critter Care by James Mallory.
KitKat, our Ginger boy, came to us unexpectedly about seven years ago. While we were visiting family out of state, a little kitten ran into their garage and wouldn’t leave. He was all alone and only about four weeks old. We waited to see if his mother or siblings would join him – but no one did. That weekend we opened our heart and home to a new furry companion.
He has remained an indoor kitty but still retains his outdoor instincts which we indulge by taking him for a lot of rides in his outdoor kitty carriage. A great way to keep him safe and secure while still enjoying the outdoors.
KitKat loves to play and his orange tunnel with his spinning ball is his favorite toy. When he is not keeping us company, he likes to hang out in “his” sunroom where he can keep an eye on the backyard birds.
His small circle of friends outside of family includes our pet sitter – his loyal caretaker since we brought him home.
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I was a lucky winner of a raffle drawing at the Pet Sitters International Conference this year. My prize was a forty-five-minute consult with Marci Kosti, PHD, a well-known cat behaviorist. I prepared ahead and asked my Facebook friends and colleagues what their most pressing cat concerns were. Some of the concerns went beyond the scope of an introductory consult but other issues fit easily into a Q & A format.
Here is a summary of the answers to my questions with Dr. Marci:
When pet owners consult with you, what are the topics they want to discuss most often? The top concern is from pet owners who have cats that are not getting along and are looking for ways to create cat harmony in their household. The second most frequent topic is house soiling.
How important is early interaction between kittens and humans regarding their friendliness toward their owner and other people throughout their lifetime? The sensitive socialization period for kittens is 2 to 8 weeks. Studies have shown that kittens that have been gently handled (even just 15 minutes a day) are more likely to be friendly, more willing to explore, and more able to handle stress as they develop. Exposure to more than one person, other pets, environments, and situations provide kittens with positive associations that will last a lifetime.
As a pet sitter, we often administer medications to cats. What are some of the best methods that you have found for cats to accept this process? Less handling is better when giving medicine to a cat. For pilling, the best treat that Dr. Kosti has found is whipped cream cheese because it is sticky and yummy. Place a pea size portion with the medicine tucked inside on the very end of a knife or spoon. When the cat goes to lick it, it sort of sticks to the cat’s tongue and then goes into the mouth to be swallowed. To get the cat to accept this, start with a few portions of the cheese without the pill and then the one with the pill followed by one more lick without the pill. This way the cat doesn’t suspect the medicine each time. Some other good choices are Churu’s, Albacore tuna, marsh mellows, Easy Cheese cheddar and bacon, canned salmon, baby shrimp, Bonita fish flakes, anchovy paste, and Fancy Feast foil packets of any flavor. We also talked about adding medicine to a liquid paste in a syringe and letting the cat lick it off the tip of the syringe. Both of these methods can be completed without any hand holds so the cats aren’t stressed and look forward to medicine time. Dr. Kosti shared a great video by Feline Fundamentals that shows positive ways to medicate your cat which I thoroughly enjoyed watching. You can view it on Youtube.
What are the best ways to deter a cat from scratching the furniture? Scratching posts placed near the furniture that the cat is scratching. Make sure it is the right size and is sturdy. If the cat is reaching up then the post should be one that matches the cat’s height preference. The same applies for cats that scratch the carpet. These cats prefer scratchers that lie on the floor. There is a variety of scratchers to chose from. Consider buying several. Initially, you can sprinkle cat nip on the scratcher to get the cat’s attention.
What are your thoughts about cats exploring outdoors in a stroller? Dr. Kosti loves it and has tried it with all of her cats. However, only one of them took to it after training. It needs to be properly introduced with gentle training. If a cat doesn’t like it and growls, hisses, trembles, freezes, snaps or swats – then stop. This is not going to be a pleasant experience for that cat.
Feeding stations vary a lot from one house to another. Sometimes food bowls are close together near the litter box and other times they are spread out. What do you advise your clients to do? Cats are very fussy about this. They don’t like their food bowl near the water or the litter box. They also don’t have a drive for thirst even though they need water. I have found that the best feeding station is one that has the food apart from the litter box and away from the water bowl. It’s also a good idea to have several water bowls in areas that the cat is near because they may drink more water that way. This is especially important for senior cats.
Dr. Marci Koski
Litter box issues are complex issues that can’t be addressed in this format. Dr. Kosti gave a ninety-minute presentation which I found valuable on litter box issues and house soiling at the Pet Sitters International conference. The first step in resolving these issues is a veterinary check- up to determine that the problem isn’t medical. Then a review of litter box basics (location, design, type of litter, and maintenance) and some simple adjustments may be all that is required for your cat to behave appropriately. As a pet sitter, I have a lot of experience in this area and may be able to help.
When it comes to cats that don’t get along in their multi-cat household – it may be time for you to reach out to a cat behaviorist. Dr. Marci Koski, a Certified Feline Behavior & Training consultant, successfully helps cat owners restore harmony in their homes. The testimonials on her website are from satisfied customers who wish they would have contacted her sooner. I am very impressed with her understanding of cats and her willingness to share her knowledge with me. I highly recommend her to you. She is amazing and will be happy to talk with you.
What is your proud pet story? Contact us so we can all hear it.
As the owner of Crockett’s Critter Care, I want you to know that you can reach out to me directly with any question, compliment, or concern you have about the care of your pet.
As the owner of Crockett’s Critter Care, I want you to know that you can reach out to me directly with any question, compliment, or concern you have about the care of your pet.