How do I choose the right pet for me?

Too often people make this choice by going to a pet shop, breeder or shelter, and “falling in love” without enough investigation of the animal’s history and temperament. Prior research is important too.

While each individual is unique, there are genetic traits associated with the various breeds that will influence the temperament and behavioral tendencies of the animal. Have an idea of which breeds might best fit your situation and household, even if you aren’t necessarily going to bring home a purebred. If you do want a purebred, be aware of physical and temperament problems associated with a particular lineage. Common sense is useful too.

A big active dog isn’t the best choice for an apartment dweller, and a person who works away from home might consider adopting a pair of cats rather than just one.

Katherine is available to help you select a service animal or pet that’s right for you and your situation.

What are the basics that I need to provide for my animal?

The basics are - of course - food, water, shelter, attention, adequate exercise and stimulation, healthcare, and protection. There’s a huge amount of literature available on all of those topics — and so one more of the “basics” is learning enough about each of them to provide educated care for the animals you own. Rudimentary behavioral training is an essential as well. Having a pet who’s a good citizen in your household and in your neighborhood will make your life and your pet’s life easier and better.

Your website mostly talks about dogs. How do you approach behavioral modification with horses or cats? What other animals do you work with?

As dogs are genetically hard-wired by centuries of dog pack dynamics, horses are genetically hard-wired to herd behaviors. Relocation is particularly traumatic for horses as they form a strong bond with the people who care for them and other animals they live with. Cats, on the other hand, are more self-sufficient and solitary.

A happy day for them will include some time away from people and other pets. Understanding the genetic framework that underlies the animal’s perceptions and behavior is an important first step to increasing communication with that animal and bringing about remedies to behavior issues.

Katherine works with all animals, large or small, warm or cold-blooded, to increase communication and harmony and bring the animal’s environment more in sync with its intrinsic needs.

My six-year-old is begging for a puppy or a kitten. I said she could have one when she’s old enough to take care of it. Just between us grown-ups, when exactly is that?

Having a pet is a great experience for children, teaching them responsibility and empathy, and giving them a great deal of fun and happiness in the process. But parents should oversee all pet care, even when older children and teens are involved. Pets are not toys and shouldn’t be made to suffer if your child forgets to perform a daily task.

Bringing an animal into a household with children makes it that much more important to get the right dog or cat from the outset, and to have a plan for integrating your new pet into your family.

Is aggression a reason to remove a dog from my home?

Each instance is a little different, but an important thing to know is that aggression — untreated — always escalates, so this is a behavior you never want to ignore. A dog who growls this time (at your toddler or a houseguest or the neighbor’s dog) is likely to bite the next time.

In most cases, dog aggression towards humans can be alleviated by tactics that reinforce to the dog that people always “outrank” dogs in the dog pack order. These tactics are gentle and humane and over time actually increase the dog’s sense of security and position.

Aggressive behavior is more often prompted by fear and insecurity than it is by a desire to dominate. Aggression can also be caused or increased by brain imbalances.

Katherine can test your dog for this and provide treatment with flower essences as part of an overall program to end aggressive behavior.