Essential training for rescued dogs

Once you have adopted your new furry friend, behavioral training is essential. In order for you to develop a happy relationship , you both must begin to understand one another. Rules must be set and boundaries applied. It is important to do this with positive reinforcement, as your rescue dog is already going to be nervous, stressed and uneasy in the beginning weeks.

HOUSETRAINING.

To begin, house rules are the most important to be set down. Housetraining should begin as soon as arriving home. Once bad habits are in place, they are harder to break. Crate training is often recommended, as the dog will not want to “go” in the place where they sleep. The crate should be big enough for the dog to stand up fully and turn around without restraint. A crate is also helpful for rescue dogs, as they like a safe place to call their own. If you don’t want to crate your new dog, consider leaving them in a small room while you are away, or at night. This will prevent them from developing the bad habits of having accidents.

SIT/STAY.

These two commands are generally the easiest of commands to learn. When you tell your dog to “sit”, gently press down on his haunches. Immediately upon sitting, offer him a treat. Repeat this often. Repetitiveness is key. The “stay” command should be next, and is taught to the dog for safety reasons, as well as behavioral reasons. Once you dog has learned to sit on command, you can move on to the “stay” command. Have him sit, tell him to stay, while you walk a few steps away. Reward him when he obeys. Should he not obey, take him back the same spot and have him sit again. Once he begins to pick up on this, gradually increase the distance between you and your dog. Remember to use positive reinforcement when teaching commands.

COME.

This command is definitely a safety issue. If your dog takes off in the direction of a busy road, you should be able to yell, “Come” and have him run right back to you. Once you have taught your dog to stay, the “Come” command is obviously the next one to learn. This is usually easy to learn when you are training with treats, but take him outside in the yard, let him run, and then test him. This command is very important, even if you don’t plan on having him off leash. You never know what can happen, or when a dog can get loose.

Once your new dog has learned a few commands, the learning process will be easier. You and he will have developed a trust and a bond with each other, and he will aim to please you. If you are not comfortable teaching all the commands yourself, considering hiring a training or joining in on a training class. Your local pet stores or veterinarian can usually recommend someone.

The training process for rescued dogs is critical for a few reasons. First of all, it begins to help develop the bond between dog and owner, and will in turn provide the dog with a trusting relationship, one he may likely have never known prior to being rescued. Secondly, a properly trained dog is less likely to become lost, or develop further issues which may impede his life with your family. Lastly, there will be less issues to deal with in the home, such as chewing, “potty accidents’, and destructive behavior, making for a more enjoyable time with your new family member.

The popularity of cats as pets in the U.K

Cats are usually so intelligent that they have you hooked under their velvety paws before you know it. There are more pet cats than dogs in Britain at present and here is why…You get one and before you know it…you cannot live without another..etc..etc…etc.. Cats know how to arrange themselves beautifully, and are far more of an asset than any exquisite, expensive accessory for the home. They rarely break things, the exception being my Maine Coons as they are the lumbering clumsy giants of the cat world, but not too often. Cats are home-lovers and so if you have reliable back-up then days away shouldn’t be a problem. How did I end up with 3 Maine Coons and 2 moggies. Well, they needed me is all I can say. What better way to wake up than with a rumbling purr beside you, well, two or more rumbling purrs!

Now comes the difficult bit, cats don’t smell. I love dogs but..however clean you are, and however hard you work at it a dog has an oder about it. It’s meant to. Providing you’re cats are neutered and spayed, there is no smell of cat. Cats don’t bark, or jump all over you’re guests, however they make take a liking to an individual and curl up on a knee. They are in control and you obey, however, if peace is what you want, then give them a hearty meal and they will sleep it off for most of the day. Cats don’t require walks on a dreadful, wet, cold, January evening, instead they will gaze at the unlit fire and will you to turn it on. They know whats good for them. Yes cats deserve their popularity…..Long Live the Cat..