Posts tagged "proplan"

Before bringing your puppy home, you'll need to "puppy proof" your house. Puppies are like babies: they want to explore every corner of your house, and they want to put everything into their mouths.

Poisonous household items
Make sure all poisonous household items are securely stored out of the puppy's reach.
Place all household cleaners, insecticides, fertilizers, mothballs, antifreeze, insect poisons, rat poisons and other items in cabinets or on high shelves. Remember, as your new puppy grows, he will be able to explore higher places and be tempted to jump up on shelves.

Check your plants
Many plants in and around your house can be harmful to your pup. Did you know that the pits of apricots and peaches, as well as spinach and tomato vines, can make your puppy sick and, in large dosages, can even be fatal? Click here to learn about the plants that should be kept away from your furry companion. For a more complete list of plants that are dangerous to dogs, consult your veterinarian.

Click here for more puppy-proofing tips.

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Preventive training means you try to prevent your dog from exhibiting inappropriate behavior by keeping an eye on him when he is with you, or by keeping him in his crate or a puppy/dog-proofed area when you cannot keep an eye on him.

The methodology behind this type of training is if your dog does not get an opportunity to exhibit an unwanted behavior, you do not have to modify his behavior or use negative training methods. This type of training requires more participation from the owner as far as constant supervision and consistency, but in the long run, preventive training is far less stressful on both owner and dog. This training method has two advantages:

1. It sets you up immediately as the pack leader; and
2. It expedites the bonding between you and your new "friend."

If you bring your new puppy home and just turn him loose in your house, in a matter of maybe five minutes he will have carried off as much as he could stuff in his little mouth, and chewed up what he could not.

So what should you do? Click here for tips.

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Scratching
Scratching is important, biologically, for your cat. So you can't really punish her for clawing the furniture, unless you have provided her with an alternative like a scratching post. If your cat has already scratched something, cover the item with plastic and she will likely turn to the post instead. When you catch your cat scratching furniture, try squirting her with water from a squirt bottle and use a firm "no." When she scratches her scratching post, reward her with praise.

Spraying
Both males and females spray urine to mark their territory, although the behavior is much more common in males. One way to address this is to spay or neuter the cat. Generally cats will exhibit this type of behavior when they feel their territory is threatened, such as bringing a newcomer onto the scene.

Consult with your veterinarian about possible health problems that may be causing this behavior.

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Cats like stability so an environmental or social change may have a pronounced effect on their behavior. Your cat will adapt, but it may take some time.

Tips for Introducing a New Cat to Your Old One
Chances are your cat will react to a newcomer by distancing herself. She may hide for a few days refusing to acknowledge the newcomer, or she may act up in an attempt to persuade the newcomer to retreat. Here are a few tips to ease the transition:

- Give your new cat an area where she can retreat if she becomes threatened.
- Putting her in a spare room with the door closed for the first few days will give both cats the chance to adjust to each other's scents without hurting each other.
- Give your newcomer a litter box in her area along with food and water.

Selecting a New Cat
A kitten is an ideal choice, but should you want to introduce an adult cat, try to find one that has lived with other cats. A cat that is similar in age and sex to the resident cat will be accepted more readily.

Click here to read about multiple cat households.

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Biting and Chewing
Dogs often chew to relieve stress and excess energy. If your dog chews on something that is off-limits, say "no" or "eh" in a low voice, then immediately give your dog a safe chew toy. Praise him for good behavior. Remember to give your dog safe chew toys instead of old household items like old shoes, because that could encourage him to also chew on new shoes. You will also want to avoid rough play and games like "tug of war" as this can encourage aggressive behavior.

Digging
Just as there are many reasons for digging, there is no single solution for changing this particular behavior. In some instances, the instinct to dig is the heritage of the breed. Some dogs, regardless of heritage, may be more inclined to dig if they are left alone in the yard for long periods of time. Without the stimulation provided by regular play and exercise, dogs often turn to digging or other forms of "misbehavior" to alleviate their boredom.

A dog that is pushed outdoors after he misbehaves in the house may continue his misbehaving by digging in the yard. Controlling your dog's behavior inside addresses that problem as well as unacceptable digging outside.

Click here to read some solutions.

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Litter Box Training
Cats are not born knowing how to use a litter box and will need you to help train them. When your cat begins nosing around in the corners of your home or squatting, put her in the litter box. Gently scratch her front paws in the cat box filler, so she realizes this is the place to deposit and cover waste. Should your cat have an accident, wipe it up with a paper towel, and place the towel in the litter box. Then place her in the litter box and scratch her front paws in the cat box filler to reinforce the idea that this is where the waste belongs. Do not punish your cat for having an accident. This won't help her to learn to use the litter box, it will only teach her not to eliminate in front of you.

When your cat begins to get the idea, don't take her good behavior for granted. Continue to praise her for using the litter box.

Litter Box Behavior
If your cat's litter habits change, have her examined by a veterinarian to first rule out any medical problems. Then check to see that it's not the litter box itself that is dissuading your cat. Is it clean? Is there something about the location that your cat doesn't like such as new people or pets in the house? Once your cat has adapted to the change, she should revert back to her normal litter habits.

Click here to read about litter box basics.

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Barking that is a behavior problem may result from one of several different issues. The key is to first identify the cause of the barking and then to change your dog's triggers.

Loneliness Barking

When loneliness is the cause of incessant barking, giving your dog more attention may solve the problem. In a family situation, encourage family members to take turns playing with your dog and taking him for walks. When he is left alone, provide toys for him to amuse himself.

Sometimes more attention won't solve the problem. If your dog has developed a habit of barking, place some pennies in a can and tape it shut. When he barks, shake the can near him and say "quiet" in a firm voice. The purpose of shaking the can is to startle him. If the barking resumes, shake the can again and say "quiet." Keep the can away from him so he does not consider it a toy. As your dog catches on, your verbal command "quiet" should stop the barking.

If the can does not work, use a squirt bottle to squirt your dog's legs and back accompanied by a firm "quiet" command.

Please remember - any action to deter your dog from barking must be made while he is barking. After-the-fact corrective action only confuses him. Use a strong, firm voice. Avoid yelling, which can be stressful to a dog.

Click here to read about other types of barking.

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First, it's great that you want to share the responsibility of pet ownership with your children. However, it's important that you assign age-appropriate tasks. Here are a few examples of what you may expect:

Toddlers
A toddler can help parents with pet care simply by being involved - "helping" a parent fill food and water dishes, grooming, going with parents to take the dog for a walk or to the veterinarian. Another good trick is to have the toddler give the dog a treat for good behavior, i.e. gets in bed or crate before family leaves the house. The toddler and the pet both enjoy this special job!

The 5-7 Year Old
This age group is capable of doing some of the tasks above (feeding, watering, grooming) without parental help. Still you can't expect that a child this age will remember to do these jobs without friendly reminders from Mom or Dad.

The 8-12 Year Old
Parents still need to supervise children in this age group for some tasks, like walking the dog. Before a child is 10-12 years of age it's not advised that they walk a dog without adult supervision. But the child can feed, water and play with the dog alone (depending on the dog's temperament and area for exercising).

Teenagers
Depending on your teen's maturity, you can sometimes allow him/her to take full responsibility for the dog, including feeding, cleaning up after, driving to the veterinarian and exercising the pet. Allowing the teen to take the dog to obedience classes can also be a good activity for both.

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Come

When using the "come" command, the owner should first call the dog by name followed by "come." This will help get the dog's attention so that they will be more attentive to the next command. It will also let the dog know that the owner is speaking directly to them and not to someone else.

Always encourage your puppy to "come" with enthusiastic praise and lots of encouragement. Keep in mind that no two dogs or puppies are alike so you will have to adjust your training methods according to the individual. Try to avoid calling him in a threatening tone as he may associate this with being scolded.

If he begins to ignore you and act as if he does not hear you, attach a long leash to him so you can reel him into you after you give him one command to "come." This way you are not repeating the command and your dog will learn to come when he is called.

Click here to teach your dog to heel.

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Although some cats will respond to positive reinforcement, most cats generally do better if they are working for food rewards. If you use soft moist cat food or dry food as a treat, you will lessen the chance of disturbing a properly balanced diet. If your cat has performed a certain task you have asked of her, make sure you not only reward her with a food treat but with verbal praise as well.

You will have more success if you work with one command at a time. As with any kind of training you have to be consistent and let your cat work at her own speed. When you see even the slightest glimmer that your cat understands the behavior you are trying to teach, reward her enthusiastically. Here are a few you may want to try.

Come
Try teaching this one at mealtime. Use your cat's name followed by the command "come." If necessary, tap on her food bowl to get her attention. When she comes, praise her lavishly and then give her the food. Eventually, your cat will associate the food with the command and then you will be on your way to owning a trained cat.

Shake Hands
With your cat sitting in front of you, touch her paw and say, "shake." As soon as she reacts and lifts her paw, shake it and give her verbal approval along with a treat. Remember to be consistent and repeat the command the same way each time.

Sit-Up
Place your cat into sitting position. Hold a treat over your cat's head and say "sit-up." Do not give her the reward if she stands or grabs at the treat, just repeat the command and wait for her to try. When she does accomplish the desired behavior, give her the treat right away and repeat the command several times.

Wave
Swiping at a morsel of food is a natural behavior for a cat. Hold a treat in your hand. Place it in front of the cat's nose but just out of reach of her front paws. Then, move it back and forth with your hands in a waving motion while telling your cat to "wave." As your cat reaches out for the food, it will appear as if she is waving. Once her motion simulates the waving behavior, praise her and give her a treat.

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Crate training is not putting your dog/puppy in a "cage" or "jail," and you are not being cruel if you follow these tips. Dogs feel secure in small, enclosed spaces, like a den. Dog crates make excellent dens.

A crate offers your dog security, a den with a roof, and a place to call his very own where he can go to get away from it all. It is also a safe place for him to stay when you're away or when you cannot watch him.

There are basically just a few steps in crate training and they are as follows:

1. Choose a crate the same size as your puppy/dog. He should only have enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down. His crate is for sleeping or for a safe place to be when you cannot be with him. If you have a large breed puppy, you may have to buy two different size crates or purchase a crate with a divider you can move as he grows.

2. Use a single-word command for your dog to enter his crate and throw in a treat or piece of kibble. When he enters, praise him and close the crate door. Gradually increase the time he spends in the crate before you let him out. Remember, your dog still needs time to play and eliminate. Maintain a regular schedule of trips outdoors so as not to confine him too long.

3. As a general guide, your puppy can stay in his crate comfortably for several hours, depending on his age. Take his age in months, add 1, and that's how many hours he should be able to stay in his crate (up to about 8-hours). For example, a 2-month old puppy should be comfortable in his crate for about 3-hours.

4. Providing your dog or puppy with a crate that is way too large may allow him to relieve himself in one end and sleep in the other. Placing food or water in his crate will allow him to fill up his bladder and bowel and he will have no choice but to relieve himself in his crate. Make sure you take your dog or puppy outdoors to eliminate on a regular schedule and especially prior to being left for prolonged periods of time. Always take your dog outside on a leash to the same area in your backyard to eliminate so you can praise him when his job is finished. This will take the guesswork out of his visits to the backyard.

Also, don't forget to play and exercise with your dog. He needs this kind of stimulation for his mental and physical wellness.

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