DogTrainster.Com

Source from: stabroeknews.com

By Eileen Cox

The Guyana Society for the Preven-tion of Cruel-ty to Animals has kindly provided an article on ‘How to be a responsible Pet Owner.’  This is not the be-all and end-all of the subject.  As is stated in the article, there are books and material on websites for those who wish to derive the utmost benefit from owning a dog. Here goes:

How to be a responsible pet owner

Owning a dog brings many benefits, including, as some studies have found, a healthier and happier life for the owner. However, becoming a dog owner can also add many responsibilities to your life. A pet needs proper food, veterinary care (when necessary) and a safe environment to live in. This safe environment is one that has no place in which your dog can get hurt (by getting stuck or falling), and should also ensure that your dog is not able to roam freely in the public domain. If you own a dog or are thinking of doing so, make sure you can meet your responsibilities as a pet owner.

Preparing a safe environment for your pet

Before bringing a pet into your home, prepare a special place for it to eat and sleep. At first, try to maintain the animal’s daily schedule for play, eating, and answering the call of nature. You should pet-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be removed from potential contact with your pet.

Housebreaking

Housebreaking should be started as soon as a puppy arrives in your home. Young puppies cannot suppress their need to urinate or defecate for long periods of time. Therefore, as soon as they can walk properly, they should be taken out multiple times during the day (almost every hour at first and especially after periods of play, naps, and mealtimes. You should take the puppy to the same area each time and praise it immediately and enthusiastically when it eliminates. Do not play with, or talk to, the puppy until after it has urinated or defecated.

Obedience training

One of the first steps a responsible pet owner should take is to train his or her dog in basic obedience.

Many times, a dog exhibits “bad behaviour” simply because it did not receive basic obedience training. Pet owners can work with a professional dog trainer or can even train their dogs themselves.

Dogs are social animals and will display certain instinctive behaviour like digging holes in your yard, soiling your belongings and even biting people and other animals. While this is all normal behaviour for a dog, it is possible to prevent or treat certain canine behaviour problems so that they become acceptable in the usual domestic setting.

It is very important that the owner establishes a social hierarchy with the dog in which the animal understands that it plays a subordinate role. This may be done by teaching your dog to show submission through various obedience “tricks” like shaking hands (raising a paw), rolling over and the “sit” and “stay” commands. A properly trained dog will also go to its owner when called.

While some puppies may be at the age where they are easily distracted (and harder to train), most dogs will learn at any age. However, be warned that training a dog takes lots of patience and does not involve hitting the animal or any other violent techniques.

It is beyond the scope of this brief article to impart dog training skills. However, there are lots of good books written on this topic and many websites with good material for you to use. In the end, a well-trained dog is a joy to own and it is easier to control than an untrained one.

Source from: canada.com

By Alex Frazer-Harrison, For Neighbours

For Erin Jordan, opening her home to a pet for the first time was a huge decision, and one she doesn’t regret for a moment.

But Jordan wanted to make sure she made the right decision in finding a pet compatible with her lifestyle.

“I always wanted a pet, but I didn’t have one as a kid we didn’t have the time; both my parents worked full time,” she says. “Eventually, when I moved out on my own, I had a cat-friendly apartment and I started looking about a month ago.”

Jordan chose Bullwinkle, a domestic short-hair she adopted from the Calgary Humane Society.

“I saw one cat I wanted, and I didn’t know if it was the right time for me,” she says of her decision. “A month later, I went back and I decided I couldn’t let this cat go.

“Even though I’ve never had a pet, I feel like I have the pet-owning instinct. And he kinda tells me what to do. I work 10-hour days and I come home and he’s happy to see me … he’s the cuddliest cat ever.”

Getting a pet for the first time can be an exciting experience, but one with some challenges. You have to acclimatize the pet to new surroundings, and if the pet is young, you also have to contend with things like potty training.

“The first thing to consider (when deciding to get a pet) is to examine your lifestyle and that of whoever you live with,” says Jessica Douglas, spokesperson for PetSmart. “You have to ask, is there room for a pet to have a loving home, and then look to see if a dog, cat, bird (or other animal) would be the best fit.”

If you have an active lifestyle, Douglas says, perhaps a dog that enjoys a run in the park is a good idea. Or, if you aren’t as active, a smaller dog or cat that doesn’t require as much exercise might be the choice.

The decision to get a pet shouldn’t be taken lightly, says Cheryl Wallach, manager of communications for the CHS.

“You don’t want to do something impulsively,” she says. “Young adults may have had pets all their lives, but not necessarily the responsibility of having a pet of their own.”

Both Wallach and Douglas recommend new dog owners arrange for obedience classes — which are as important for “training” the owner as it is teaching Fido how to behave.

“Since our society is shifting towards accepting pets as part of the family, and pets become more ‘humanized,’ it’s necessary for these pets to function as good members of society,” says Douglas.

Wallach says teaching discipline is the first step in making your pet a part of the family.

“Obedience classes are important for getting information and building a relationship and bonding with your dog,” she says. “The majority of the time, we’re training pet owners on animal body language and how to interact with them.”

When bringing a pet into a new home, it’s important not to overwhelm them with their new surroundings, Wallach says; give them time to get used to things.

“They need time to adjust and settle in,” she says. “Don’t have all your friends over to meet the new puppy the first night home. Socialization is important, but it’s important to do it in stages.”

Wallach suggests starting a new cat out in a separate room with everything they need, until they’re comfortable and are ready to explore.

“It’s important to know they have a place of their own,” adds Douglas. “A place they can go (and) retreat if they feel overwhelmed with the new surroundings.”

Jordan says Bullwinkle took to his new home quickly.

“He explored for 20 minutes and he was happy,” she says. “I think he’s more adapted to me than I’ve adapted to him.”