Lesson 2: Responsible Pet Ownership
Pet Manners
If pets are to share our homes, life will be much more pleasant if they observe some manners. You don’t want your cat walking on your keyboard or scratching furniture, but these annoyances can be simple to handle. To keep your cat off your keyboard, blow up several balloons and pop them near him, until he learns to despise them. Then simply tape a couple to your keyboard while you are away. You can also use this idea to keep him off the kitchen cabinets, or you can leave a pizza pan there filled with water to give him a surprise landing. Inappropriate urination can be dealt with by using a squirt pistol or placing a carpet runner with the spike side up in the area he is using. Leave several litter boxes in easy to find places and be sure to keep them clean. Ferrets and rabbits can also be litter box trained.
To prevent inappropriate scratching, plastic nail caps may be glued on the claws, or citronella spray can be used in the areas you want him to stay away from, and place several scratching posts in areas where he spends the most time. Some veterinarians will declaw cats but several countries such as Great Britain, Australia, and Brazil have banned this procedure. The surgery removes the claw along with the last joint of the toe. Sometimes one or more claws will grow back and there have been reports that some cats, with their means of defense removed, turn aggressive and bite. Cats with claws removed must never be allowed outside.
Dogs benefit from obedience classes where they learn socialization with other people and animals. They also learn commands which will help with many behavior problems. For instance, if your dog rears up on visitors, you can tell him to sit instead.
Most dogs love to go for walks and get very excited at the prospect. They want to go as quickly as possible and end up pulling your arm off. One way to stop this pulling is to simply freeze. Calmly wait until he settles down, and then start again. If after several times he continues to pull, just put away the leash and go about your business. After about 15 or 20 minutes, try it again. It may take a few times, but he will realize that pulling only slows things down.
Crates are not cruel. Have you ever noticed that dogs love to nap under the bed or table? They naturally seek out dens, and a crate can be your dog’s den, a place of security and retreat. Dogs should not be crated for long periods of time and crates should not be used as punishment, but they can keep your dog safe just as a playpen keeps a baby safe. The crate should be a pleasant place with clean bedding, toys, and treats. Dogs do not like to soil their den so alternating den time with outside time can be an effective method of house training.
The “whisper” training methods have been proven to work well for many types of animals and leave you with a more trustworthy and emotionally stable pet.
Young children should never be left alone with a pet. They must be taught how to properly handle and respect an animal, and to recognize its warning language. Dogs view the family as a pack and may regard children as peers or subordinates, and may not obey them. Dogs may be possessive of food or toys around children. Teach children to never surprise a sleeping dog or approach one who is caring for puppies. Children should never tease any pet and should be cautious around strange dogs. They should never scream or run from a dog, as this may trigger its predator instincts. If a dog approaches aggressively, the child should freeze and avoid eye contact. As the dog loses interest, he can back away slowly. If it attacks, teach him to “feed” it a jacket or anything else available. If the child falls, he should curl into a ball, cover his ears, and remain still and quiet.
