Training Your Dog to Get Along with Cats

Training Your Dog to Get Along with Cats

There is a common misconception among some pet owners that dogs and cats cannot co-exist together within a house. While there are some breeds of dogs that do not naturally interact well with other pets most breeds of dogs can be socialized to interact appropriately with cats and live together in a house. The way that the two species are introduced to each other as well as the age of both the dog and cat are key. In addition the pets prior history with the other species really makes a difference as well.
Puppies and cats
If you are considering bringing home a new puppy and you currently have cats there are some steps that you can do to provide the best possible first meeting.
· Keep the puppy separate from the cats for the first few days.
· Allow the cats to smell the blankets that the puppy has slept on and vice versa.
· Hold the puppy and allow the cats to smell him or her without the puppy being able to move towards the cats. This is best done if the puppy is held securely on the floor or on a lap.
· Once they have had a chance to see each other when the puppy is under control consider allowing the puppy to walk around the room with the cats.
· The cats should not be held; rather they should be allowed to move away from the puppy when they want.
· If the puppy barks or attempts to chase the cats correct the puppy with a quick "No" and give them an appropriate toy to play with. Soon the puppy will realize that they are to chew on the toy, not try to chase the cats.
· Supervise all interactions between the cat and puppy until you are confident that they are well socialized. This may take several weeks depending on the comfort level of the cat and the size of the puppy.
Remember the younger this process starts the easier it will be. Keep in mind that some breeds are naturally more aggressive, particularly terriers and other hunting breeds such as Akitas, Dobermans, Rottweilers and hound varieties. Some of the smaller and toy dogs are also not well suited to interacting with cats, so research the breed and talk to current owners and breeders before you choose.
Dogs and cats
If you are considering a mature dog from a rescue or private home be sure to ask if they get along with cats. Most mature dogs that have been properly socialized with cats will get along with all cats after an initial "get to know each other" period. Often this is relatively short, lasting only a couple of days. Some mature dogs do very will with cats in the house but will immediately chase the same cat if they are outside. Carefully monitoring the dog and cat for the first few days is key for both safety and security for the cat and dog.
If you are not sure if the dog is socialized with cats assume that they are not, especially for large breeds of dogs or hunting type dogs including terriers. Keep the dog and the cat separate and only try to introduce them if the dog is on a very short leash and you have another adult there to work with the cat.
Often mature dogs will not interact well with cats but may develop an attitude of ignoring the cat. This may be acceptable but does not mean that the dog may not become aggressive towards the cat under certain conditions. Consider crate training or keeping your dog in a kennel or separate room when you are not able to supervise to prevent any fighting between the two species.
Most breeds of dogs do well with cats, especially when they are introduced slowly and at a young age. Proper socialization with other species will make your dog more accepting of all sorts of animals and will minimize their aggression towards others.

Dog Training

Pet Training Tips to Help You Train Your Puppies

Pet Training Tips to Help You Train Your Puppies

Having pets can be a wonderful experience, but of course, part of having wonderful pets is your responsibility of making them obedient pets as well. A pet owner's responsibility is huge and that includes training your pets to become obedient and clean as well.
If you are trying to train your puppies, read on to find few tips that might help you make the training more effective and fast. Pet training can be challenging and if you do not have a good guide to do it, the whole process can be a little difficult. Here are a few pet training tips that you might want to learn to help you make the training a little easier for you and your pet.
1. Don't train in haste.
Pet training is a process and it can be long and challenging. If you are trying to train your puppy, it is important to understand the behavior of the animals to make the training effective. Dogs are animals of habit and thus, you have to be patient about training your pet puppies. Training is not a race thus you don't have to train in haste or else you will make training errors that will later difficult to correct.
2. Start early.Starting early is one of the pet training tips that can be effective especially in controlling behavioral problems with your pets. If you start early, you will also help avoid your pets developing bad habits. The earlier you can start with your training, the easier it will be to train your pets and avoid bad habits. Of course, developing your pet's behavior early will help you introduce good behavior without your pet exposed to bad habits.
3. Socialize your pet.
Aggression and behavioral problems are among the things that you might deal with if you are training your pet. Of course, animals have certain aggression on them and that you may have to deal with it during training. One of the pet training tips that can help you deal with behavioral problems is to socialize your pet and allow them to meet other pets and people as well. You can walk your dog to the park to allow them to meet other animals and allow them to get use to mingling with other animals as well.
4. Rewarding your pet at the right timing.
Another one of the pet training tips that you have to keep in mind is to give rewards to your pets every time he completes a task or does a good job during the training. Giving rewards is a good technique but keep in mind that proper timing is another important element to help make the reward work for your pet. Giving your reward too late can be misinterpreted by your pet and that can lead to miscommunication that may also lead to failure in your training.
5. Stick to a schedule. Consistency is the key.
In training your pets, it is important that you have a regular schedule to follow. Dogs in particular are animals of habit, thus one of the important things you have to do to start an effective training is to have a schedule, stick to it and continue training your pet until he learns the things you want him to learn.

Pet Grooming

Top 5 Dog Training Tips

Your approach to dog training has a big impact on the actual training results that you will get. As long as you have the right mindset about dog training, you can be sure that your puppy will grow into a well-mannered dog that you can be proud of. Aside from having the right mindset, you would also do well to follow the most useful tips and tricks of dog training. Here are the top five dog training tips that will help you mould your dog into a positive addition to your family.
1. Show your dog that you are the pack leader.
Dogs are pack animals and naturally look to their pack leader for guidance. Therefore, you will have to establish your role as pack leader in order to gain control over your dog's behaviour. Pack leaders normally control the food supply, so a good way to establish leadership would be to always feed your dog only AFTER you have eaten. You should also set a feeding schedule and stick to it.
2. Use positive reinforcement.
Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. One of the best ways to ensure success in dog training is to reward good behaviour and ignore unwanted behaviour. This will encourage your dog to repeat those behaviours that earn him praises and treats, and refrain from exhibiting behaviours that get him nothing in return. Be careful not to use punishment in training your dog, as this will only alienate him and make him regard you as an adversary. Rewards and positive reinforcement not only help ensure success in dog training, but also helps strengthen your bond with your dog.
3. Set realistic goals.
You can't ensure the success of your training unless you have a concrete goal to start with. Of course, you will have to keep your goals realistic; otherwise, you will just be setting yourself up for failure. For example, it is okay to expect your dog to master the "sit" command in two to three days, but you can't expect him to jump through hoops within the same timeframe.
4. Learn proper timing.
Proper timing can spell the difference between success and failure, where dog training is concerned. When you see your dog sniffing and circling around, immediately give a firm NO and then lead him to the designated elimination area. If you wait until he has done his business before scolding him, he won't understand that he is not supposed to make a mess inside the house. In the same way, you should praise your dog or give him a treat the very moment he exhibits a good behaviour. This will make him understand that he has just done something that pleases you.
5. Be patient and consistent.
Stay calm even when your dog makes mistakes. Yelling and showing impatience will get you nowhere. Give your dog enough time to learn each command, and always use the same words and hand signals when you give these commands. Consistency and patience are the keys to successful dog training.

Dog Training