Local Value Veterinary

Tag: training

  • Cat Training

    Cat Training

    Tips for Cat Training and Behavior

    For new pet parents, it might seem overwhelming to understand all the subtleties of your cat’s behavior. Luckily, there are easy ways that you can learn how to interpret your pet’s body language and communicate better with your cat. It includes learning what different vocalizations and body postures to avoid misinterpretation and miscommunication, which can compromise the human-pet bond. Here are some practical cat training tips.

    Start with Training the Cat on Using the Litter Box

    The priority in your cat training must be to teach your pets about how they should properly use their litter boxes. Fortunately, cats pick up quickly on this training. However, the major mistake that many new pet owners tend to make is that they have insufficient litter boxes around the house. Veterinarians recommend at least one more litter box for every cat, which means that if you have two cats, you should get three litter boxes.  

    When buying a litter box for your cat, ensure you consider the size of your cat and also place the boxes tactically around your home, not clustered together. Look for finely grained cat litter that is clumping and unscented. Heavily-fragranced litter boxes that mask odors could end up deterring the cats from learning how to use these critical tools.

    Be Alert and Prevent Any Unwanted Behaviors.

    To prevent common cat training problems, like peeing outside the litter boxes, it is critical that you are proactive in maintaining tidiness. Ensure you keep the cat’s box clean through scooping daily and washing and refilling it with fresh litter every two weeks or so.

    The other familiar, frustrating cat behavior is their tendency to scratch up your curtains or furniture. To solve this issue, you must offer the appropriate scratching accessories and posts. Cats instinctively like to scratch for various reasons, including stretching their limbs, marking their territory and also removing the worn-out outer claw layer.

    Offer Enough Environmental Stimulation to Your Cat.

    Besides giving your cats a nice place for scratching their nails along with the necessary litter boxes, it is vital to ensure your pets are mentally and physically stimulated. Your cats require sufficient enrichment to help in satisfy normal behaviors like scratching, climbing, playing and hunting. When your cats do not have the best outlets where they can perform these natural behaviors, then it leads to unwanted behaviors. Some of the solutions include food puzzles, interactive toys and also interacting with your cats regularly.

    References: Pet Coach, The Spruce Pets, Anti Cruelty

     

  • Build Boundaries for your Dog

    Build Boundaries for your Dog

    It is vital to give your canine friend rules, limitations, and exceptions. Your dog ought to know what they can or cannot do, and where not to do it and, for how long, if they have to do it. Here’s a quick primer on how to socialize your dog by imparting the sense of boundaries in them. 

    1. Claim your Space and Don’t Relent or Back Down on it 

    Your barking buddy is a territorial animal, regardless of what you would like to believe or how domesticated you think they are. And you’ve ever observed dogs interacting; then you must have noticed their tendency to claim their space. They will often do this either physically or through their body language or primal energy just to lay out the message that a certain space belongs to them, even without barking, gnarling or ‘showing their teeth.’ The same way your pawed friend might claim a food bowl or dog toy by only standing over it, you should control access to certain aspects of your home by authoritatively denying them entry. 

    2. Learn to take the Lead 

    One of the best ways to assert your authority is to form a habit of taking the lead, at all time. Not only does this emphasize that you’re the leader but it also trains your barking friend to learn the virtue of learning how to stop and wait for your instructions, at every threshold. This way, you can have some degree of authority over the animal, and he will always look up to you for guidance and direction. One of the best ways of doing this by taking your dog for regular walks and insisting that you walk behind you all the way through. 

    3. Correct Misdemeanors Promptly, Swiftly and in Time

    If you’re trying to teach your dog how to stay away from your furniture, then the best time to prohibitive the displeasing behavior is when he just about to jump on the sofa and not when he is already on it. In other words, he will be able to connect the improper behavior with your corrective action. And with time, this will be firmly established in his mind. The key to creating a concise and an almost palpable boundary to timing your correction with when he is just about to commit an error. 

    Go beyond

    Once you have succeeded in teaching your dog what isn’t allowed and what is allowed, don’t stop there yet. Go a step further and be consistent with a few things: For starters, maintaining these preset boundaries. Secondly, the exceptions to the rule to trespassing your boundaries.

    SOURCE: Cesars Way
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  • This is National Train Your Dog Month

    This is National Train Your Dog Month

    Find Out A Few Benefits Of Having A Well-trained Dog.

    According to pet statistics, 37-47% of households have dogs in America alone. That’s why, when it comes to living with a dog, there are a lot of things that a dog owner must do to ensure that their dog is always on its best behavior in and out of the house. One of this things includes training the dog. With The National Train Your Dog Month just a few minutes away, it is critical all dog owners learn a thing or two about the importance of having a well-trained dog.

    Here’s a fun fact about man’s best friend; did someone just say, “it is raining cats and dogs??”

    Well according to English history, this phrase came from the fact that during the 17th century, heavy rainstorms in England used to drown homeless animals (cats and dogs) leaving their lifeless bodies scattered all over the streets. That’s why people would assume that it had actually rained cats and dogs.

    You should note that homelessness is often brought about by the lack of proper training and care. In most cases, untrained dogs do the following things;

    • Wonder around only to forget their way back home,
    • They can cause harm to innocent passers-by,
    • They can damage property,
    • They can harm themselves,
    • They can even cause harm to you.
    • Those are just a few disadvantages of having an untrained dog.

    Since, dogs are meant to live harmoniously among human beings, then their behavior and interaction with their surroundings must be acceptable to you and those around you.

    Dog Training; Something you should note!

    Dog training is usually recommended during their puppy years. This is because it’s easier to teach a puppy new things than it is to teach an old dog hence the phrase “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.” Remember that dogs are very keen animals, that’s why it’s easy to train them than other household pets.

    Also during training, dogs (puppies) often “learn how to learn new things” making it easier for them to learn faster and better as the training progresses.

    Here are a few Reasons why it is important to train your dog.

    1. Training helps to boost your communication with the dog. Therefore, it will be easier to interact with the dog at any time.

    2. Training also improves your dog’s behavior in and out of the house. This means that you won’t have to worry about how he’s (she’s) going to behave when you take him (her) out for a walk.

    3. Improved Socialization Skills is also a critical benefit of training your dog. This is because your dog will be able to socialize and interact with people and other pets without getting angry or defensive.

    These are just a few benefits of dog training. In fact, dog training merits are extensive. Therefore, take advantage of the National Train Your Dog Month to train your dogs (puppies) if you want them to grow to be adorable and loved members of your household.

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