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Pets' Self-Improvement Starts With Owners

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By KRISTEN LEVINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Breezley, a 5-year-old bichon frise from Tampa, needs to learn the meaning of "quiet."

"We're going to work with him more diligently to get that done," promises his mom, Heather Fisher.

Lilly, a 7-month old Lab mix recently adopted by Rachel Surrency of Spring Hill, is a good dog with a bad habit.

"She's already house-trained and can sit and give a paw, but I'm still trying to get her out of the habit of jumping on people, especially my 2-year-old daughter, Kiera."

Leslie Lopez, a dog sitter in St. Petersburg, has two dogs who have made resolutions for 2008.

"Angie, the Rottweiler, and Jake, the basset hound, promise not to dig holes in the yard next year," she said.

And she would like Jake to stop waking her up at 4:30 a.m.

Should your pug shed a few pounds? Maybe the Maltese needs better manners. Many of the resolutions experts recommend for pets are the same ones we make for ourselves: to lose weight, exercise more, be nicer.

Losing Weight

"The easiest way to help shed pounds off your pooch or kitty is to stop giving too many treats - table scraps, cookies, soft chews, etc.," says veterinarian Autumn McKenzie of Oakhurst Veterinary Center in Seminole.

"Each cookie is like giving them a chocolate bar."

She suggests limiting treats to two to three a day and asking your veterinarian about low-fat treats.

Another tip: Cut back on the amount of food to cut calories. Don't always follow suggestions on the bag of dog or cat food because these may be wrong for your pet's body size, stage of life and metabolism. Ask your veterinarian about the appropriate amount to feed.

Also, McKenzie suggests feeding a meal versus buffet-style feeding. "If your dog or cat does not eat their food within an hour, take it away. Feed twice a day," she said.

If necessary, your veterinarian may recommend placing your pet on a prescription weight-loss diet. These diets tend to have a high fiber content to make pets feel full but a low calorie count.

More Pouncing And Playing

Fortunately, dogs love to exercise - I mean to play! Up their activity by taking an extra walk, doubling the length of your normal walk or finding a dog park for special outings a few times a week.

Cats can be more challenging when it comes to exercise, so you'll have to be persistent and creative. Find stimulating activities to reduce boredom and increase their activity.

For example, make mealtime a workout by placing small amounts of food in various locations for your cat to find. This will appeal to its natural hunting instinct and engage its brain and body.

Playtime is great bonding time. Play with your cat for best results. Just tossing it a toy and leaving the room is likely to lead to catnapping instead of calorie burning.

Some pets make great exercise partners for dedicated walkers or joggers.

"Pets embody several qualities that make them ideal exercise buddies, such as consistency of routine, scheduling flexibility and compatible fitness level," said veterinarian Dan Christian, executive director of the Purina Pet Institute. "The benefits of a pet workout partner extend beyond mere exercise to encompass overall wellness."

Not all pets are suited for extensive exercise, so schedule a visit with the vet before embarking on a regime.

Good Manners

What good is it to look great and feel fit when you have the manners of a Tasmanian devil? It may be time to talk to a trainer. Ask friends, family or your veterinarian to recommend one who uses positive techniques and positive reinforcement.

"Make some rules and be consistent," advises Bark Busters' master dog behavioral therapist and trainer Jeff Drier in Tampa. "Dogs, being dogs, expect and thrive on rules."

Consistency is key, Drier adds.

"Don't let your dogs do something today and correct them for it tomorrow. Dogs are lifelong learners. They love learning new things and, if you make it fun and learn to communicate with them on their level, they can learn very quickly."

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