An orange tabby known as Josiah was fearful and disoriented, and he would nip at people who came too close. Volunteers at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) alerted Behavior and Training Manager Joe Miench, who determined that this was a cat who would need some extra attention.

Miench quickly noticed that the cat’s whiskers had been trimmed, sometime before he arrived at the AWLA. Whiskers are critical to cats’ most common actions, helping them navigate their environment and supplement their blurry close-up vision. Josiah appeared to be compensating for the loss of his whiskers by using his mouth to analyze his surroundings.

Fortunately, by making some modifications to a basic training protocol, Miench found ways to interact with Josiah that made him feel more comfortable, and through trust the cat stopped his mouthing behaviors. After a few weeks he found his new family.

Dogs and cats who exhibit seemingly aggressive or fearful behavior at the AWLA often meet Miench, who helps analyze actions that may not be appropriate in a home environment. By working individually with these animals, he can help to address the behaviors and provide critical information for potential adopters about that pet. 

“With fearful dogs or cats, I often spend the first sessions with them not working on anything specific — just observing,” Miench said. “Does the dog sniff, play or seek other dogs’ attention? Does a cat like playing and respond to treats? It’s also important to read the animal’s body language.”

For anxious cats, Miench then employs a confidence-building protocol, beginning by just dropping treats in front of a cat’s kennel and walking away. The next time, he remains at the kennel as the animal munches. Next Miench establishes eye contact with the cat, rewarding them if they move toward him. After that he employs a special “target stick,” drawing the animal closer. Finally, he moves toward petting the cat. “How quickly this all happens depends on the cat,” Miench said. “Ninety-nine percent of them respond to this.” A similar process is used for frightened dogs.

Many dogs struggle with impulse control, he said. These dogs typically respond with the canine equivalent of screaming, “Give it to me!” such as jumping, lunging, barking or mouthing when confronted with something they want. Teaching these dogs the dog version of asking “Please?” politely when confronted with something desirable can result in a huge improvement in quality of life and a reduction in stress for the dogs and their human companions, Miench says.

Miench has developed extensive protocols for specialized AWLA volunteers to follow during the training process. Easy-to-access information on working with cats and dogs is also available to the public on the AWLA website at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Behavior. Miench also oversees a hotline for people who have questions about their pets, whether they came from the AWLA or not. He can provide guidance on unwanted cat behaviors — such as furniture scratching or not using the litter box — and undesirable dog behaviors, such as excessive barking, separation anxiety and aggression toward other pets and people, as well as helping pet owners determine when it’s time for one-on-one sessions with a local trainer. He also advises on how best to introduce new pets into the home.

A white terrier mix called Butter posed an unusual challenge for Miench. Butter tended to jump up on people and use his mouth inappropriately but was not responding to the tried-and-true training techniques. For a while, Butter made no progress. Finally, while working with him one day, Miench realized the reason for the problem — Butter was deaf. The clicker signals and verbal cues he had been using had been going unheard. Miench quickly pivoted to using hand signals, coupling them with treats, and Butter quickly responded. While in the AWLA yard and on walks, Miench kept the dog close enough to touch, tapping him to get his attention and rewarding him with treats when he looked at Miench. “Butter turned out to be one of the easiest dogs I’ve worked with,” he said. Butter has been adopted and now happily coexists in a family with a child and even a few cats.

“You have to let the animal be your feedback,” Miench said, “and even if you’re doing the same thing that’s worked with dozens of animals before, change it to fit the animal.”

To contact the behavior hotline, call 703.746.5654 or email Behavior@AlexandriaAnimals.org. 

This story was originally printed in the Alexandria Gazette on June 16.