Pet Care Archives

Why You Shouldn’t Scold Your Pet

Posted on June 26, 2020June 19, 2020 by admin

Scolding or yelling at your pet when they misbehave might seem the appropriate way to get them to behave appropriately, but it has the opposite effect. At first, this would seem to be the best way of dealing with the situation. Nonetheless, yelling at your pet as they commit mistakes is not a successful way to discipline them. If it’s disruptive biting, peeing anywhere, or jumping unnecessarily, your response shouldn’t be to scold the pet. The issue with scolding your pet is that you don’t really educate your pet much, and you may also develop some type of long-term behavioral issues with your pet. There are indeed many better and more effective ways to teach your pet rather than just start yelling at them.

· Fear
Think of it this way, when parents yell at their kid, the kid gets scared of them, and they fear making the same mistake again. And while this is a somewhat effective technique for children, it doesn’t seem to be working for pets! Although some pets may tolerate rough handling, most pets will start to develop more issues, such as servile urination. Some pets become vulnerable and stop tolerating any kind of behavior. They get overwhelmed with anxiety, and do not realize the positive conduct that you want them to follow instead of the harmful actions that you scolded them for!

· They’re Not as Understanding
Scolding is something that we have grown used to doing with other beings. Even though it doesn’t make people feel better, if it’s targeted at us, we can learn from our mistakes. But your pet will not have the ability to reason, and that’s something people seem to forget, so scolding doesn’t have the same influence on them. Even if you yell at your pet to stop a certain behavior, your pet may stop that behavior, but only for a short time! Since you’re not teaching them to do something like sit down, that exact behavior is likely to happen again. Rather than shouting at your pets for performing anything unpleasant, instruct them the actions you want them to follow instead.

· They Just Want Attention
For certain pets, any attention from their trainer is safer than being neglected. Behaviors such as stealing things from the dining table that make you chase them across the apartment, climbing up to get the attention that ends up with you shouting in neglect. Dogs bark because they’re upset, and you encourage the barking by yelling at them to be silent are also both things that indicate that your attention-seeking pet is getting some sort of attention they desire from you. Instead of yelling, you have to find out what exactly the cause of this behavior is and then resolve it.

· They’re Confused
If you come back home to a hole created in your lawn, your first impulse may be to scold your dog for it. The challenge with this strategy is that your dog is not going to associate punishment with the crime. Yeah, your dog is going to send you the best relaxing postures as you yell at them hunched back, tailed covered, eyes downcast, yet at that moment, your dog is responding to your frustration. It’s not “shame” or admission of misconduct, your dog’s action is simply an effort to relax you.

Although it may be tough to avoid scolding your dog once you’ve already fallen into the habit, altering your behavior would be rewarded. You will establish a closer relationship with your pet!

Why Your Cat May Be Stressed

Posted on February 21, 2020February 6, 2020 by admin

Stress can have a lot of negative effects on a human’s mental and physical health. Just like that, stress also negatively impacts a cat’s health as well. Just like it affects human relationships, it can also have an impact on relationships with other pets. Because of stress, you might notice a lot of changes in the behavior and physical condition of your cat. Cat owners soon learn many things that cats do when under stress.

Chronic stress is the number one issue that can cause health problems in your cat. You will notice sleeping patterns changing, aggressiveness increasing, behavior patterns shifting, energy levels decreasing, and loss of appetite increasing. These symptoms are common for cats that are under stress. There are several reasons and sources as to why your cat might be stressed out. It’s always important to remember that while cats always help us with our stress, it would always be healthy to check up on them and their behavior, as well as they, might be stressed too.

Many stress factors are involved which cause health issues in cats. As a cat owner, it’s your responsibility to figure out the sources of stress. Cats aren’t fond of change. They don’t deal well with it. External sources of stress can be as followed:

Vet visits

Vet visits stress out cats a lot. Many cats go through anxiety during veterinary visits. Make sure you always calm your cat during such situations by putting a soft fleece on them and carrying them in a crate. This will make them feel much safer.

New animals or people

Cats react differently to new faces in the household. A sudden introduction of any pet or human can startle a cat. They might need time to adjust and they might feel less important. As a cat owner, you should understand the huge change your cat is facing. They need you to make them feel still as important. Handle them with patience and accept that they will be working on their relationship with new pets or people at their own pace. Don’t rush them.

New residence

Moving can be stressful for anyone. Cats are super sensitive to changes and surroundings. Constant changes can make your cat feel uncontrolled. They might feel under pressure to always keep up with changes and new things in the household. Your cat’s life will be as disrupted as yours. Which is why it’s important to make them feel comfortable during the move. Always keep your cat with its favorite toys, blanket, and food in another room while you unpack and start shifting. Having their own stuff in the house will make them feel more at home. Your cat should feel loved and cared for in the new house.

New routine

Changes in daily routines can cause disruptions. Plan ahead and take things slow while introducing anything new in your cat’s daily routine. Even if it’s as simple as getting them a new toy. Cats need to adjust at their own pace to certain things.

Seasonal changes

Your cat mood is also affected by temperature changes, seasons and environments. Changes in the weather, the temperature, the environment can greatly impact the cat’s mood and energy. A pleasant sunny day can reduce the stress levels of your cat. Anxiety and stress can greatly decrease if the weather is sunny and breezy. Letting your cat run around freely in lovely weather will make your cat feel energetic, positive and full of life. This is why weather is a huge stress factor involved when an animal or human feels a lot of pressure.

Potty Training 101: How to Get Your Dog to Go in One Spot

Posted on February 7, 2020February 6, 2020 by admin

Dogs are adorable, but let’s all admit it that when they relieve themselves whenever and wherever they want, it becomes a huge mess. Training them isn’t the difficult part. When you first get a dog, they are not always potty trained. Without being trained, it will probably go all over your shiny clean floors, your backyard, the sidewalk and many other possible places. It’s always nice to know your dog won’t pee anywhere or everywhere whenever it wants. Training your dog to go in one spot requires a lot of persistence. It’s not a pleasure looking at discolored furniture and brown colored grass because of dog pee. It’s not sanitary for the kids or parents to always look after the dog whenever it’s done with its business wherever it wants.

Luckily, training a dog isn’t that challenging. All you need is an exceptional level of dedication. When your dog is being potty trained, it can develop a certain preference or attachment to a certain place or surface. If you want your dog to be trained well, then supervision and a good treat is a must!

Pick a good spot first!

IF your dog thinks it’s okay to pee on all green grass, then chances are, picking a certain spot can be quite difficult but not impossible. All you have to do it introduce the dog to a certain spot, without letting them near their favorite part of the backyard or lawn. Your dog probably has some favorite corners or surfaces already. When choosing the spot, keep in mind the appropriate size of your dog. Small areas are perfect for small dogs. Big dogs will need bigger surfaces. If your dog has its own spot, then try making that spot the toilet area for the dog. Make sure the spot is always cleaned, doesn’t smell and is suitable for the dog and the people around you.

Teach these rules

Don’t let your dog out of your sight: There are no more unsupervised breaks for the dog. It’s the most important rule to potty training your dog. You cannot let your dog go anywhere without management and supervision.

On-leash all the time: Take your dog to the spot with a leash on. This will enable the dog to follow you to the designated area. Letting your dog run around freely means you cannot control where it relieves itself.

Wait with your dog: Stay in the designated spot until your dog relieves itself. You will ultimately reward your dog with treats when they pee. The best strategy is to simply stay and wait with your dog until it goes. Make it comfortable. Don’t hurry or force it.

Treat your dog: If your dog goes into the right area, you can offer it a treat and let it have some fun time off-leash. For some dogs, this will encourage them to pee in the chosen spot only and make them recognize the gesture. They are quick learners.

Use command

Train your dog to always go on command. Just say the word and take it to the spot. Treat your dog to a little something after it is done. This will allow the dog to have its own little routine. Once you figure out the pattern and certain behavior of your dog, you will be able to tell what the cue word or gesture might be that leads the dog to go into that certain place. Supervising and reading the dog’s body language will make the whole training a lot easier for you. Many dogs follow certain words or signs and then relieve themselves.