Behavior Problems - Who's Really to Blame?

Pets are relinquished to shelters for a variety of not-very-good reasons - "he got too big," "she scratches my furniture," "he's too hyper," "I just don't have time." These are not good reasons because, with a little forethought and effort on the part of the owner, each of these situations could have been avoided.

BEFORE ADOPTING:

Begin by reading "Alone Again" from the Animal Adoption Center of Garland. Think about your personal circumstances, both now and in the future (remember that cats and dogs live 10-15 years.) Do you have the time, the room and the money for a pet? Are pets allowed where you live? What if you move? Are your children old enough for a pet? What if you have a new baby? Do you have other pets? How will they react to an addition to the family?

Remember that puppies and kittens grow up. If you have a particular size or personality type in mind, consider getting an adult. By the time a dog or cat is 6 or 8 months old, you will have a much better idea of its size and personality. Getting a purebred puppy or kitten isn't necessarily a good alternative. While certain breeds may tend to exhibit certain personality traits, each animal can be different. Also, it's sometimes difficult to visualize a little 5 lb. bundle of fur weighing 80 lbs. in a few months. The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dog, yet shelters are full of labs, relinquished because they "got too big."

Finally, are you willing to commit the time and energy required to train your new pet? Yes, even cats can be trained to be well-behaved members of a household. One of the main reasons owners relinquish pets is behavior problems, yet one study showed that 96% of dogs left at shelters had had no obedience training. Everyone who is considering adopting a pet should be required to read "The Life and Death of an Untrained Dog" from the Pet Action League. Children are not born understanding the words their parents speak to them, knowing how to use the toilet, or hundreds of other details of civilized behavior. They have to be patiently and lovingly taught. The same is true of pets.

AFTER ADOPTING - TRAINING YOUR PET:

One of the first things any new pet owner is concerned with is training the pet to eliminate in the proper place. Both dogs and cats are instinctively clean animals and will avoid soiling the area where they sleep or eat. Do not give them free run of the house until you are comfortable they will use the proper place. When the pet must be left alone for any length of time, confine a dog to a crate and a cat to one room, with litter box at one end and eating and sleeping area at the other. Praise your pet when he does right, DON'T punish when he does wrong. Remember, a puppy can't go more than 4 hours without relieving himself.

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