ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

I need help. I have a four-month-old male Cocker Spaniel who insists on biting and nipping. I’ve tried everything and have been telling him “no biting,” and “leave it.” He went to puppy school where the instructor said to give him toys and hard chews. I’ve been doing that since he came home. He’s sociable with both humans and other dogs. I want him to break this habit before he gets much older. What more can be done?

— Sharon, Northampton, Pennsylvania

Dear Sharon,

At four months old, your Cocker Spaniel is teething and still learning bite inhibition –something puppies usually pick up from their littermates. If he didn’t get that early feedback, he may not yet know what’s too rough. The good news is that this phase is normal and temporary, though it can last several more months as his adult teeth come in.

You’re already doing a lot right by giving him toys and chews to meet his need to bite and chew. To build on that, stay consistent with two things. First, when he nips, say “Ouch!” in a firm but natural tone – sort of like a yelp another puppy might do if nipped. Second, immediately stop all play and turn your attention away from the puppy for about 10 to 15 seconds. That brief break helps him learn that biting ends the fun and interaction with you.

Add in lots of basic training or short obedience games that make him think and focus. Puzzle toys that require him to figure out how to get treats out are also great for burning both physical and mental energy. Keep rotating his toys to keep them interesting and offer frozen teething toys to soothe sore gums.

Finally, arrange safe, supervised playdates with other puppies or check to see whether a local dog daycare offers puppy play sessions. Puppies learn bite inhibition best from one another through play.

Do all this and your puppy will grow out of this stage and into a well-mannered young dog.

Dear Cathy,

Is there any way to get a cat to stop scratching furniture? We adopted a five-year-old street rescue cat and signed a no declaw clause. We trim her nails weekly without problems. But we cannot pick her up and redirect her to all the scratching posts in our house. One is right next to the couch where she scratches and it is vertical, which is her preferred shape. We have posts in every room in our house, and she uses all the vertical ones except this one. Sprays, treats, making loud noises, nothing has stopped her. Please advise? 

— Meg, Papillon, Nebraska

Dear Meg,

Thank you for honoring your adoption agreement and choosing not to declaw your cat. Scratching is a natural feline behavior that keeps nails healthy, stretches muscles, and marks territory, so the goal isn’t to stop it entirely but to redirect it to acceptable spots. Since your cat already uses her scratching posts elsewhere, it sounds like she’s formed a special attachment to that particular couch as her scratching spot, likely because of texture, stability, or scent.

I know some of what you have tried has not worked, but sometimes you just have to find the right combination of things.

Start by covering the couch temporarily with something unappealing to her paws, such as double-sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, a plastic furniture protector (some are made for just this purpose), or a fitted blanket or couch cover to change the couch’s texture – and appeal.

In addition, rub catnip directly onto the scratching post and/or spray feline pheromones to make the scratching post feel safe and familiar. Don’t try to startle her unless you move the scratching post as this will send a mixed message.

Trim her nails weekly as you’ve been doing and consider using soft vinyl nail caps for a few weeks while retraining her. These blunt the claws and protect furniture without hurting your cat.

Finally, make sure she has plenty of outlets for play and exploration. Aim for three short play sessions a day with wand toys or anything that gets her running and pouncing. Regular play helps relieve stress, burn energy, and satisfy her natural hunting instincts – all of which can lessen unwanted scratching.

Keep in mind that cats take longer to train than dogs, so patience is key. Over time, your consistency will pay off, and she will learn what’s hers to scratch and what’s not. You’ve already shown wonderful dedication to giving her a loving, humane home, now just give her time to catch up to your good intentions.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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