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Stitch and her friend Toffee (pup in green) go to work every Friday.
Stitch seems to love her pal and they share almost everything (more like Stitch taking Toffee stuff, but..whatever).
They wee and poo on the same pads, Stitch sleeps on Toffee’s bed (like in the picture), and would even take Toffee’s foods. But all these didn’t seem to bother Toffee, which Jessica (Toffe’s owner) felt strange ’cause Toffee doesn’t seem to have that “sharing” nature in her.
I asked Stitch: Stitch, why are you taking Toffee stuff?
Stitch: She lets me do it. She is ok with it.
Just when I thought Stitch was lying, I met Toffee at work and asked Toffee if that was true.
Toffee: Yeah… I let her.
Me: Really? Why?
Toffee: Oh, I got lots of those foods, just take them, I’ll get more from mom. It’s fine for Stitch to take my dog foods, but not the chicken!!! Do not take my chicken!
Hm… so that’s why! No wonder Stitch is so happy when she sees Toffee!
Many pet owners would ask me questions like: “Can you tell my dog to stop wee-ing on the carpet?” or “Can you tell my cat to stop scratching the sofa?”
I understand how frustrating it is to see your pet doing annoying stuff and no matter how many times you tell them to stop but they just never listen. BUT one thing I want to point out is that, I talk to pets, but I can NEVER alter their behaviors unless they want to. The negotiation process is just as hard for pets as for humans!
Use my chihuahua, Stitch, as an example.
She is a big foodie, and she gets really (over) protective of her foods, to an extend she would growl and bites if you get close. My boyfriend has recently gotten into a “cold war” with Stitch because he thought offering Stitch the foods was a nice gesture, and the growling and the biting just doesn’t show her appreciation!
Here is the conversation I had with Stitch:
Me: Stitch, why aren’t you talking to William?
Stitch: Because he doesn’t want to talk to me.
Me: Really? Why is that?
Stitch: I don’t know, may be he was angry?
Me: He is angry. Because you bit him when you were eating the foods he gave you. Did you bite him, Stitch?
Stitch: Yes.
Me: Do you know it was wrong?
Stitch: Yes.
Me: Are you sorry for what you did?
Stitch: Yes.
Me: Do you want William to play with you again?
Stitch: Yes, sorry William. It won’t happen again.
Problem is, even if Stitch really meant what she said at the moment, it doesn’t mean next time when she gets her favorite foods, she won’t do it again! Sometimes, it’s really just the character of the pet, or sometimes, it would require revisiting the issue over and over again, until they get rid of their bad habits.
