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Photo: existentist/Flickr 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 ...

Photo: ambiebambie39507/Flickr 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 ...

"This is all mine to scratch as much as I want!" Photo: Mel B./Flickr 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 ...

"Sometimes it's nice to have company." Photo: fofurasfelinas/Flickr 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 ...

"Who me? Digging? Never!" Photo: *ea*/Flickr 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 ...

Some cats love their litter boxes more than we'll ever know. Photo: nattywoohoo/Flickr 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 ...