National Pet Month
May is National Pet Month, which aims to:
- Promote the benefits of pet ownership, including happiness and health benefits pet owners experience.
- Support pet adoption, giving homes and families to pets who don’t have a home of their own.
- Promote responsible pet ownership, including meeting health, diet, and exercise needs.
- Increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals including veterinarians who provide treatment for a myriad of illnesses and health issues.
- Raise awareness of the role, value, and contribution to society of working companion animals who are trained to assist people with disabilities.
Adoption
Before you adopt a dog, here are some things to consider:
- Owning a pet can be expensive. Do you have the financial resources to pay for the necessary food, accessories, and veterinarian care?
- What type of dog is right for your family? Carefully research a variety of breeds to assess the right one for your lifestyle. What size dog can fit in your residence? How large is the yard? How much will the pet be left alone? How active is the owner? And the list goes on.
- When you begin working with a shelter, have a list of questions that are important to you, like why the dog is up for adoption, what his temperament is like, whether he is good with children, his age, his medical history, etc.
In addition:
- Be familiar with local animal control laws before you adopt.
- If your new dog will be interacting with your children, make sure you teach them how to treat him or her. Children do not naturally know what is okay and what is not.
- Before you bring your dog home, make sure you have the necessary supplies—visit reputable sites for a complete list.
Once home:
- Give your dog space to get used to his new surroundings.
- Schedule a vet appointment for a thorough health exam.
- Develop a routine and stick to it, to help him adjust.
- Consider enrolling a new dog in obedience classes.
The Business of Pets Doing Their Business
Housetraining
It takes time to housetrain a puppy and your most important tools are patience, patience, patience!
To be successful at housetraining your puppy, you need to invest quality time with him or her. You must supervise your puppy closely, use confinement to teach, and lots of encouragement.
A Place to Go
You are in charge of teaching your puppy where you want it to go to the bathroom. So choose a spot in the yard that's appropriate and easy for the puppy to get to. Then, every time puppy goes outdoors, go with him or her. Praise him or her when sniffing around. And when he or she finally DOES go, praise enthusiastically and warmly!
Time to Go
Much like human babies, puppies thrive on a schedule. He or she will learn how to control their urges if you schedule a potty visit:
- After every meal.
- As soon as you let the puppy out of its confined space, crate or room.
- After playing, sleeping, or drinking.
Most puppies will need to go to the bathroom within an hour of eating. Keep things under control with a feeding schedule.
- Serve meals about two or three times a day.
- Make mealtimes the same time each day; no longer than 30 minutes.
- Be sure the last meal of the day is 3–5 hours before bedtime.
- Do not feed right before the puppy goes in his or her crate for the day.
Lead the Way
Until your puppy is housetrained, you must provide constant supervision to help him or her learn not to go to the bathroom indoors.
When you can't be there to watch your puppy, keeping him or her in a confined space can help. Choose a safe, comfortable place, and play with him or her there when you're home to help it associate good things with the space.
For overnight, you can use a crate or kennel. If you're going to be gone for a long time, use a small room or exercise pen. Your puppy should have enough space to eliminate if needed. Put paper where he or she goes to the bathroom; make sure it is a few feet away from where he or she rests or plays.
Keep Your Cool
Mistakes are inevitable. Remember, a puppy is a BABY dog; he or she is learning to control its bladder. And anything you do more than a few seconds after the mishap is useless.
IF you catch your puppy IN THE ACT, make a mild, startling distraction and take him or her immediately out to their "toilet" in the yard.
Punishment is the least effective way to housetrain. Never rub your puppy's nose in the pile or puddle; it won't do anything but confuse and frighten the puppy. It may make your puppy afraid to go to the bathroom in front of you, negating all your efforts.
Preventing Relapses
Puppies will continue to visit previously soiled areas for the same reason they'll use the "toilet" area in the yard—they smell the urine or fecal odor.
- Use an effective product to remove odor from previously soiled areas.
- Close doors or use a baby gate to keep the puppy away from the area.
- Move furniture over the spot so the puppy cannot get to it.
- Feeding, placing water bowls, bedding, or toys may help; pets do not want to eliminate where they eat or play.
Love That Litter Box
Start with the right litter box and potty training your cat should be relatively easy. Most kittens automatically naturally prefer litter (except maybe plant soil; keep them out of reach) over other surfaces.
The right litter box is easy to clean, with low enough sides so that the kitten can climb in and out easily. A plastic litter pan, with unscented or clumping litter (some cats don't like scented litter) is a good place to start.
Cats like privacy, so keep the litter box in a quiet place, near where the kitten sleeps. If you have other cats, be sure each new kitten has a new box.
Kitten Training
Keep an eye on your kitten to make sure it is using the litter box. Place him or her in it when the kitten wakes up, after meals, or if he or she suddenly stops playing and starts sniffing around. When he or she goes potty in the box, praise him or her extravagantly.
If you'll be at work or otherwise gone for a while, place the kitten in a safe area with the litter box. It should only take about two weeks for your kitten to learn to use it regularly.
- Avoid sudden changes in the location of your litter box or the type of litter.
- Keep the litter box clean, removing waste and litter clumps frequently.
- If you change litter types, place a new box with new litter next to the old, or phase out the old by gradually adding more of the new.
- Make litter associations pleasant: Don't scold or give your cat medicine near the litter box.
- Keep the litter box in a relatively peaceful area, where there won't be sudden, startling noises.
The Usual Suspects
If your kitten begins using the bathroom in any other spot than his or her litter box, try to identify the problem and correct it immediately. He or she probably doesn't like something you've done:
- Not cleaning the box often enough.
- Using or adding scented litter.
- Brand of litter changed.
- Too much noise or traffic around litter box.
- Scary experience in or near the box.
- Medical problems.
Preventing Relapses
Keep your kitten from revisiting a previously soiled area by covering it with some two-sided tape, a piece of plastic carpet runner, or a spritz of perfume.
If odor is a problem, you can use a covered litter box. If your kitten balks, help him or her adjust by putting a very large cardboard box over the litter pan. Use progressively smaller sized boxes until it's about the size of a covered box; then switch to the covered one.
Remember, punishment is the least effective way to train your kitty. Don't rub their nose in anything or swat them. Keep an eye on your kitten, keep the litter pan clean, and use positive reinforcement with treats or special toys.
Keep Spraying at Bay
This form of territorial marking usually stops after neutering, but it can persist. If it continues, talk to your vet.
Additional Dog Training
Help your dog learn to behave properly in different situations by spending time training together. You will become the pack leader and it can help you and your new friend bond.
- Supervise your puppy and only allow him or her in the room you are in.
- Have a supply of chew toys on hand to keep her occupied when you're on the phone or watching TV.
- Say "NO" firmly when you catch him doing something he shouldn't—like chewing the leg of the sofa. Offer a chew toy and praise him so he'll associate the toy with being a good boy.
Speak.
Different tones of voice mean different things to your puppy. Use them appropriately and you're on your way to some meaningful communication.
- A high-pitched, enthusiastic tone reminds her of her littermates and is useful when you want your dog to come when called.
- Use a direct, moderate tone for giving commands. Be matter-of-fact, like a dog’s bark, not excited or fearful.
- Lower your voice to reprimand. Like a mother dog's growl, this tells your puppy to stop whatever it’s doing immediately.
Eye contact is important; a good, long stare after a scold lets her know you mean business. A loving look into his eyes will be returned during more relaxed times.
Getting Social
A friendly, well-adjusted dog starts by exposing your puppy to the sights and sounds of the outside world as soon as your vet says it's ok. Between 8 and 11 weeks is probably too young; phobias can develop at this age. Don’t stress out your little pup with large crowds or very loud noises.
- Take regular car rides. Restrain her in a carrier.
- Try to let your puppy meet five new people a week.
- Take your puppy to visit about three new places a week.
- Regularly brush your puppy, using lots of reassurance and affection.
- Give him an all-over massage, paying special attention to paws. Say "no" firmly if he fusses.
More About Cats
To keep your kitten's interest, make training sessions a game. Cats love games, and positive reinforcement with a treat or special toy goes far.
Cats in the movies and on TV often are clicker trained, in conjunction with tiny treats. The clicking sound signals the cat he's done something right and the treat reinforces the behavior. Eventually, the cat responds just to the clicker.
Sensitive Types
Everyone talks about being allergic to cats, but often we don't realize they have pretty delicate systems and they can be allergic to:
- Soaps, carpeting, grass, poison ivy, and plastic.
- Pollen, ragweed, house dust, mold.
- Proteins in meats and grains in their food.
- Flea bites, which may show up as upset stomach or a skin problem.
Talk to your veterinarian if your cat shows any signs of sensitivity like sneezing or scratching.
miles
