Houston, TX. These questions were answered at the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants 2009 Conference, April 24 to 26, where dog, cat, parrot and horse behavior consultants met for meetings and continuing education. The association provides the tools and resources animal behavior professionals need to succeed to solve animal behavior issues, enhancing the human-animal bond. Anyone can hang a shingle maintaining the title of behaviorist, which has become trendy in recent years. IAABC consultants are certified, distinguishing them from others who may have the words ‘animal behaviorist’ on their business cards, but don’t have the credentials. Learn more at www.iaabc.org.

Q: Our adopted 4-year old Shih Tzu has been a wonderful addition to the family, but she has a very peculiar issue with the car. She’s reluctant to get in, and when she does she shakes. She doesn’t get car sick, but she is very uncomfortable. Do you have any ideas on how to overcome this? J. B., Cyberspace

A: “Maybe her earliest associations with the car haven’t been fun, so we have to change it up with pleasant associations,” says dog behavior consultant Charlotte Peltz, of San Miguel De Allende, Mexico.

Begin to adjust her attitude by taking her to the back seat of the car, and encouraging her to go inside for a treat. Once she gobbles up the yummy, allow her to leave the car. The next step is to actually feed her meals from the back seat; you can even feed her as she’s strapped into a car seat. Car seats are safe for kids, and smaller dogs for the same reason – when there’s a crash, unless they’re strapped in, the child or small animals become projectiles.

This desensitization process can take days, weeks or even longer. When your dog seems content dining in the car, take her to the back seat, buckle her in, and drive down the driveway and now return home for a meal. Once she’s cool with that, head around the block. When you return, always feed her. Make several of these trips, so your pup realizes that car trips are followed a sensational meal (as opposed, perhaps to visits to the vet or boarding). When you think your pup is ready for a longer ride, drive to a dog park, a friend’s house or any destination that to thrill your dog.

Q: We have a 19-month old St. Bernard who’s been to obedience and is well behaved. He’s very good with the grandchildren, but he snaps at adults to want to pet him. How do we correct this problem? B. H., Galesburg, IL

A: The good news according to IAABC Board Member Jim Akenhead of Alliance, OH is that you wrote asking for help, which means you’re not in denial of what your dog might do if given the opportunity.

Marje Alonso, Cambridge, MA-based president of the IAABC says step one, take your pup to a veterinarian to insure there’s no physiological explanation for your dog’s demeanor. Second step, get hands-on help from a dog behavior consultant or a veterinary behaviorist.

Meanwhile, Alonso adds, “Don’t allow your dog to have the opportunity to make a mistake.” You can do that by managing the situation; you do that by closing doors or at least putting the dog on a leash whenever adult strangers are around.

Akenhead adds, “The more practice your dog gets at exhibiting the (aggressive) behavior, the more entrenched it becomes, and the more of a chance of something bad happening,” 

Q: My big black shorthaired cat with the big yellow eyes is about 16 months old, and he’s very skittish, as I understand his siblings were the same way. His buddy, an 18-year old Siamese recently died. He seems sad. And I can’t get near him, or at least pick him up. He runs if I approach too close. Yet, he sits next to me on the couch as I watch TV. He also enjoys when I brush him. What can I to make him feel more comfortable?  K. G., Las Vegas, NV

A: Cats mourn too, and your kitty may feel more withdrawn than usual as a result. Be patient. Cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger says, as for your individual cat’s temperament you may be a part of the problem. Your cat might perceive you as acting too aggressive, or at least rude. Consider the world from your shy cat’s point of view. In general, the rule should be, let him approach you. When he does, offer a treat and talk softly and sweetly. “When you do approach him, try to get down on his level or bend over and then extend your middle finger. If he responds by touching your outstretched finger with his nose, he’s just shaken your hand – cat style.

Krieger says your cat is a perfect candidate to be clicker trained. By offering treats when you click a clicker (available wherever pet supplies are sold), he’ll develop a positive association with the sound made by the clicker. Begin to click and offer a treat when you catch him acting affectionately. Over time, you may shape a more affectionate cat.

Having said that, Krieger, who is in Redwood City, CA says, “Cats are like people, some are more outgoing than others. Some (cats) love to be picked up, held and fussed over, and others would rather call the shots on their own terms.”

            Q: Our two cats will only sit on a lap if it is their idea. And at that time, they are very demanding to be petted, meowing, rubbing, bumping our hands – anything and everything. But if they don’t want to be pet, forget it. My mom’s two Siamese are much better about it. They will come occupy your lap and just sit there politely to be petted. I want to enjoy my cats, but they are so annoying. C. R, Suffolk, VA

            A: So, your cats are in control? That sounds perfectly normal to cat behavior consultant Pam Johnson-Bennett of Nashville, TN. “If they are really going overboard, getting obnoxious if you can’t give them attention, just ignore the cats. It’s interesting that the cats actually seem to be conspiring to work together.”

Johnson-Bennett, author of “Cat vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat” (Penguin Books, New York, NY, 2004; $15) says you can clicker train the cats. Click the clicker, and offer a treat for the type of behavior you want. “You can really shape the behavior,” she says. For details on clicker training, “Clicker Training for Cats,” by Karen Pryror (Sunshine Books, Waltham, MA, 2001; $12.95) is a great resource.

Also, consider that your apparently pushy, but loving cats are never going to be like your mom’s cats.

            Q: We’re proud parents of a 4-month old Newfoundland puppy. He is lovable, except whenever he wants to play he starts nipping and biting. We’ve tried everything. What do we do? K. C. C., Dunfermline, IL.

A: Dog behavior consultant Jim Akenhead, an IAABC board member says, “Your puppy deserves an Oscar (as in Academy Award). Right now, your dog is a human trainer. Much better to take your puppy to a dog trainer. Understand, that dogs do whatever they need to get what they want. And very often dogs simply want our attention.”

Aside from going to school, Marjie Alonso, IAABC president and a dog behavior consultant in Cambridge, MA says do your best to ignore the behavior your don’t want. “Disengage with the puppy as she’s about to nip you. Just walk away and do your best to ignore your puppy.”

Akenhead, who is in Alliance, OH agrees, but points out that when you ignore these sorts of behaviors – at first your pup will try even harder, ever more desperately to engage you.

“That’s right, people tend to give dogs attention for what they do wrong, but not for what they do right,” adds Alonso, “So, do teach your dog what you do want.”

It’s also important that your Newfie learns how to entertain himself with a Kong or Busy Buddy toys, many of which you can put biscuits or kibble inside for him to work on.  And while Newfoundlands don’t need a ton of exercise, all puppies require some.

            Q: Our 12 to 15 year old Nanday conure is very annoying, obnoxiously squawking way too much. Newtie is pretty much a one-person bird, attached to my wife. So, he squawks most annoyingly whenever my wife leaves a room. What do we do about this habit? B. H., Mapleton, IL.

A: Get a hamster. Sorry for the sarcasm, but a part of the problem, well, isn’t truly your bird’s problem. It’s about your unrealistic expectations. Your parrot is simply doing what rather boisterous, screechy nanday conures do when a member of the flock disappears from sight. Having said that, parrot behavior consultant Jamie Whittaker says your wife can adjust your bird’s behavior some. In fact, if your wife is a very good trainer she can even adjust your bird’s ‘where are you’ call.

Have her begin by teaching Newtie a conure version of a whisper. Choose a soft sound the bird can easily replicate, like a kissing sound, a click or soft whistle.  To teach, it’s all about repetition. You can play a role in this too. Bird training often goes better when another person (or another bird) is there to compete. So your wife will repeat the kissing sound, and then reward you with a treat when you make that sound Newtie will be more motivated to catch on if a rival is present. Of course, your wife should tell Newtie what a good girl she is and offer a yummy as she learns the soft sound. Now have your wife ask Newtie to make the soft sound, as she begins to walk off. When Newtie makes the sound, she immediately returns. Soon, the new gentle sound becomes the default for calling your wife instead of a loud squawk.

“If your bird reverts to screaming, tell your wife never return to him under those circumstances,” says Whittaker, who is in Humble, TX. “And don’t holler at him for screaming, it will only further reinforce the behavior you don’t want. Your bird doesn’t care if you’re angry, she only enjoys that you’re screaming right back at him.”

©Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services