Ireland has one of the world’s heaviest rainfalls. If you see an Irishman with a tan, it’s rust.
QUOTABLES
Training Time
—Dave Allen
By Sandy Modell
King Street Cats is proud to be the only all-volunteer, cat-exclusive, no-kill rescue facility in Alexandria, Va. Because we are a free-roaming facility, you can come visit with the “cat-friendliest cats” in town.
To meet a King Street Cat, please email contact@kingstreetcats.org. BISSELL Male, age 7 months World’s cutest and most playful pocket-sized kitten loves feline friends
BOO BOO Female, age 2 Shy, lovely young mom seeks love as your “one and only”
BOSTON CREME Male, age 8 Well-mannered boy seeks out and thrives on human affection
HENDERSON Male, age 10 months Cutest kitten adores people and wants a feline friend to play with
LITTLE BITS Female, age 3 The sweetest heart beats inside this shy, lovely young girl
ROBERTA Female, age 4 Blue-eyed beauty seeks a softspoken, gentle kitty mentor to help her blossom
SCHATZI Male., Age 7 Shy yet devoted family boy seeks “one and only” bond with gentle purrson
Contact Us at Kingstreetcats.org and We’ll Schedule a Safe and Convenient Appointment Where You Can Meet Your New Furry Friend(S!)
KING STREET CATS
25 Dove Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 www.kingstreetcats.org
66 ZEBRA PRESS
Indoor Games to Teach New Skills and Tire Your Pup Out BY SANDY MODELL Spring may be around the corner, but it is not here yet. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail are good reasons to stay inside. Although you may be able to sit around the shanty and relax, read a good book, or watch TV, your dog may find these activities boring. When boredom sets in, dogs will often turn to behaviors to get our attention or get some action. Behaviors such as demand barking or stealCourtesy of Chewy, Unsplash.com ing items of value because Dogs in bed with a Kong. they smell like you or smell like food, or have the right chewy texture. They’re not Once he learns this, ask treats only under some of being “bad” dogs, just going him to target your hand the tennis balls, using a 12a little stir crazy and looking from a distance. Give this cup or larger muffin tin. for some fun. behavior a verbal cue, like Keep your dog working to To prevent these behaviors, “touch.” Targeting can befind which holes have the preempt them by engaging come another way to call treats! your pup in fun indoor activiyour dog—practice target- 6. Tug and Fetch – Tug and ties that can work their fetch are classic games brains, provide needthat don’t require much ed mental stimulation, room. Hallways are and tire them out so great for fetch games, then the two of you can and tug can be played chill on those chilly and virtually anywhere. rainy or snowy days. Playing tug with your 1. Play Hide and dog for 10 minutes can Seek! – Hide and burn good energy and seek is a great way to offers good impulse control training. To exercise your dog’s mind and body while teach your dog to drop working on their rethe tug toy on cue, ofcall skills. Each famfer him a treat. When ily member grabs he drops it, wait for calm behavior such as some small treats. Hide in different sit before tugging again. Courtesy of Crew, Unsplash.com rooms and one at a Eventually, you won’t time, call your dog. Shall we dance? need the treat because Each time he finds he’ll learn the verbal drop cue. someone, that person gets very excited and reing on walks to keep his 7. Release – Always rewards the dog with treats. attention on you instead of member to give your dog When the treats are gone, the environment. a release word, such as “all say “all done!” Then the 4. The Find It Game – Find done” when you want to It is easy to play as you can’t next family member calls end the training session, him. go wrong when food is inso he understands that it’s 2. Treat-Dispensing Toys volved. Show your dog a break time. – Treat dispensing toys are tiny treat. Say “Find It!” These activities will get boredom busters. Use them and toss the treat low and your dog thinking and movaway from you. When he ing when you are stuck inside. to work your dog’s mind and develop problem-solvcomes back to you, mark it Don’t forget to add a little ing skills. Stuff a rubber by saying “yes!” and toss a body handling and massage at Kong with treats and freeze treat in another direction. the end to help your pup reit. Ask your pup for a good The treat you toss is his re- lax and chill. Have fun with ward. After you mark his your dog! behavior, such as sit, down, or eye contact, and rereturn, to make the game ward with the Kong. Food more exciting, run away Sandy Modell, CPDT-KA, dispensers like the Kong from him before tossing is the Founder, Owner, and Wobbler or the Bobalot the next treat. Head of Train-ing at Wholistic dispense treats slowly and 5. The Muffin Tin Game – Hound Academy, Alex-andria’s challenge your dog’s mind. Put a treat in each cup of a award-winning, premier canine 3. Targeting - Teach your 6-cup muffin tin and put a training and learning center -- ofdog to target the palm of tennis ball on top of each. fering classes and private lessons your hand or two extendOnce your dog uncovin puppy train-ing, adult dog ers the treats, start hiding ed fingers with his nose.
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