How to train a dog not to jump on people

A dog that jumps, whether they are large or small, is not only an irritation it’s a danger to people and to itself. Unless taught to do so (perhaps teaching a small dog to jump into your arms ON COMMAND), there is no reason a dog should jump on people – ever!

There are several methods for training dogs to not jump, and depending on the size, age and temperament, one method may be more effective than the others. Start with the gentlest method first, and escalate only if absolutely necessary.

- Method 1 – Ignore the Jumper

If you have a puppy, a smaller dog or if you are big enough to withstand the jumping of a larger dog, the best method to use is turning your back on the problem. Simply stand up-right, cross your arms and don’t acknowledge the dog at all, with eye contact or voice. In effect, you are withholding the “reward” or “reinforcement” your dog was receiving when you leaned down, petted, pushed them down or yelled at them.

When your dog calms down and has all four feet on the ground, slowly and calmly turn back to them. If they stay down, great – pet them and praise them calmly. If they jump, turn your back again.

It’s especially important with this method that everyone in the household and all guests totally ignore the jumping dog. One person breaking the rules will not only confuse the dog, they will immediately undo all the work you’ve already done.

- Method 2 – Buddy System 1

Especially when you are dealing with a large dog, make sure they are on a leash at all times during training sessions, under the control of someone strong enough to keep them from hurting the “jumpee”, who is following method 1. The person holding the leash should stop the dog from hurting the target – they should NOT jerk, choke or “hang” the animal.

- Method 3 – Buddy System 2

Even a well-behaved dog may decide that jumping is acceptable when the door bell rings and guests enter – if this is the case you need a buddy to play “guest”. Have them repeatedly ring the bell or knock when you are there paying attention, and once the dog has calmed when you catch them at it, work on “surprise” visitors. Again, everyone should ignore the jumping dog.

- Method 4 – Alternative Behavior

Always a great option for eliminating a “bad” behavior – train your dog to do something else instead. For example, if you’re dog likes to pounce on anyone coming through the door, teach them to go and get a toy first. Teach them that a “sit” or a “down” gets a really BIG reward, especially if

Are small dogs safer pets around children? – Part 2

Are smaller dogs safer around children?

That is not a question you can ask!

It is categorizing dogs in a wrong way. By its size,

and that is discrimination!

Size doesn’t matter, you should all know that!

It is the breed that counts. At least: can count.

Because you can never tell, can you?

A dog can have such a friendly nature, but it is still an animal.

Animals are always unpredictable and can turn around one day, unexpected,

and attack you or your child(ren).

You never know.

Statistics proof that smaller dogs are more nervous.

My opinion is that that is not a good combination with unpredictable children.

It can make them a lot more nervous. What will make them bark more. And who knows: out of insecurity it might attack.

Statistics proof that smaller dogs bark more.

Is that because they want to be heard? Where are you, my little friend?

They bark out of insecurity.

They also say that they are less friendly.

Has this got something to do with their nervous/insecure behavior and the barking

With children around, this can be a bad combination and create a hectic household.

Still, my opinion is that size doesn’t matter.

You can have a big softy or a small little bitch.

A little friend or a huge aggressive one.

If you’ll have children and dogs together you should watch them anyway.

Especially in the beginning. They have to get to know each other a bit.

The most important thing is if they except & respect each other.

If they do, or it seems they do, it is not necessarily alright.

Make sure your kid is not bullying the dog.

This happens a lot, unfortunately. It will make the dog more aggressive.

It might not be the dogs fault to turn around one day, and attack.

What would you do?

Still, I think it is good for children, growing up with a pet (dog).

They will learn to take care of an animal, learn its needs, appreciate it, understand it,

respect it, play with it and love it.

It can become their best friend.

This, of course, in the best scenario.

The end.

How to find a good home for a pet

Finding a good home for a pet is sometimes very hard to do. There are a few things that I do that helps to screen potential pet owners but in no way will guarantee that a good home will be provided. All we can do is our best.

When I have a litter of kitten or puppies that i need to find homes for, I don’t advertise in a newspaper. This may sound harsh but I have had many people respond to advertisements that I know would not take good care of a pet. This is not to include all people. I know there are a lot of good people who answer those adds but it is so hard to go through them all.

The first place I let a new litter be known about is at my veterinarians office. If you place a sign on the bulletin board at least you know it is being read by someone who is taking care of a pet already or they wouldn’t be at the vet’s office. Your vet and the receptionist, or assistant will also spread the word and will only let people who are of good character know. They would never recommend to someone unsavory where to get a pet.

Another place i like to let it be known about my litter is to my friends who have pets. These folks I have saw take care of their pets and know that they would not recommend to anyone who would abuse or mistreat a pet. I am more apt to be less apprehensive about letting someone who was recommended by any of these adopt one of my pets.

Another place that is good to advertise is at the local humane society. I know they wish to adopt out their own pets but at times they will have people who want a special breed of dog or cat or any other pet. When this happens they will recommend you if they know you have and will take care of your pets. If the humane society recommends someone it is usually someone you can trust since normally these pets are paid for.

I like to ask questions of potential pet lovers. I want to know things like what other types of pets they have, any experience with pets, how many people and the age range of members of the household and who will take care of the new pet should they become ill or have to travel. These are just a few but don’t be afraid to be nosy. You want someone who will take care of the little critter.

Just remember you need to feel comfortable with whomever you let have one of your pets. If you can’t feel comfortable how would you expect a small animal to feel comfortable. It is our job as pet owners to help in abolishing animal cruelty. So, do your part and screen those potential owners!

Friendlier cats: Male or female? – Part 3

Male vs. Female: What truly is the pick of the litter?

To say a female cat is friendlier than a male cat or vice versa is like saying women are friendlier than men or vice versa. People and all other animals, are products of their environment and learn to behave accordingly. Abused children usually turn out damaged in one form or the other, as do any abused animals. We are all products of our upbringing and training. The problem lies mostly in how people train their cats, and whether this training is conducive to good behavior. It is not a gender issue.

Cats, like children, require a lot of attention at early stages in order to bond properly. Child psychologist proved long ago that a child given a great deal of love by holding and playing with them while they are babies usually turn out to be well-adjusted adults. The same holds true for cats, whether they are male or female.

Love, attention, proper handling, and understanding are the keys to having a successful relationship with your kitten. If a cat is held and picked up a lot while it is a baby, under six weeks old, and this treatment is continued through the various stages of adolescence, the cat will more than likely turn out very loving.

It is important then to choose a kitten from the litter that is gentle and well loved. If the person that raised the kittens from birth held and loved on the babies, then they will be friendly even at a very young age. After that first initial step, proper handling and training becomes the key to good behavior.

Many people love kittens because of their prowess and playful behavior, but a kitten’s playful behavior, like a child’s behavior, needs guidelines. One of the biggest mistakes cat owners make is playing with a kitten with bare hands or with feet.

This all seems fun at first until the kitten begins attacking at will. Anyone that lived in a household with a kitten raised like this will tell you that you never know what to expect next. In order to avoid walking down the hall in the middle of the night and being attacked, it is necessary to let the kitten know human hands and feet are not toys.

This may seem hard, but it is actually a very simple lesson to teach a kitten. First, never use your hands or feet to play. Always use a cat toy of some kind. If the kitten attacks your hands or feet, immediately correct it by giving it a toy. Because kittens are like children, toys are a necessary part of developing motor skills, but if

Humorous cat behavior – Part 2

I have a cat, but I think growing up as a kitten in a dog-dominated household has really made her quirky.

When dogs need to go outside, they wake up their owner by pouncing on the bed or barking very loudly. I have a cat who thinks it is her duty to wake me up about 5 minutes before my alarm goes off for work. She may have slept peacefully the night before at my feet, but I awake to licks on my face or a cat on my head as if she knows my schedule (I don’t get this on the weekends).

So, that may not be too much like a dog, but once I get up, she follows me everywhere I go. I thought cats were to be independent, but she only knows that where I am, she wants to be. She also answers and comes when I call her. I’ve learned that some people have success with this by training cats, but this was automatic when I got her and not something I trained her to do.

When I get home at night, she is waiting at the door (on the bookshelf, so not trying to escape), and she jumps on me and rides on me until I force her down. She’s also scared of nothing and nobody (except helicopters I found out).

But, the weirdest thing is her standing on her hind legs. She can do this for several minutes before she tires (I assume). One of my friends termed her “prairie dog” because of it. It looks like she might think there’s something there that warrants her batting at it in the air, but really, she just likes begging in that way.

I’m glad she still has some cat qualities, but as a dog person, I love that she’s as dog-like as she is.

How to be a responsible pet owner

When choosing your pet whether it is a dog or cat first you must know does anyone in the household have any allergies which could prevent you from owning a dog or cat. Ask yourself do I have the time and space needed for your pet.For example you would not want a medium to large size dog if you live in apartment or small house with no yard or land for the dog to run. These types of dogs need room to run and get their exercise they need. So choose your pet wisely. Remember dogs and cats have feelings to. Are you getting the dog or cat for the right reasons or just to satisfy a need or want.For example do not get a cat for the sole purpose of being a mouser because you have a problem with mice. Do not bring home a dog if the main reason is for security purposes. Bring them into your home only if you truly care for the dog or cat. Dogs and cats should be treated as part of the family and require your love and attention just as a child would. Dogs and cats must be loved and wanted. You must keep the dog or cat up to date on their shots .They must be bathed as needed some dogs requiring more than others. I know my dog was allergic to her own flee bites and had to have a bath once a week especially during the summer. They must have they necessary room to grow. So please make sure you have what it takes to be a pet owner before bringing the dog or cat into your home. Make sure your pet has a name tag which has your name ,address and phone number on the tag in case something should happen so they will know who to contact in case your pet should ever get lost. Remember only bring a dog or a cat into your home for the right reason and give it the love and attention they deserve. Make sure to have your cat or dog neutered or spayed which ever the case may be. There are so many unwanted dogs and cats already.Remember a responsible dog or cat owner takes time and effort on your part. You must have the patients to house train a dog or litter train a cat. If you work and have a dog do have some else responsible for letting your dog out while you work so it can do what it needs to do outside. Most shelters will not even allow you to adopt a dog if there is no one home for more than an hour or two. These shelters believe in a dog being an inside dog and will not alow you to adopt one other wise. So choose wisely on the dog or cat you are bringing home. Another words be a responsible pet owner.

Tips for litter box training kittens – Part 4

Cats are very clean and have a natural instinct to eliminate to sand and soil. Kittens learn where to appropriately eliminate by watching their mother and usually start learning at about three to four weeks of age. You should not have to do much to train your kitten to use the litter box. However, there are some steps you can take to insure success. Litter box issues and elimination disorders are the main reasons cats are given up to shelters so success is important.

Household Introduction –

Once you have introduced your new kitten to the household take her to the litter box and gently place her inside. Take her front paws and show her how to scratch the litter. Repeat this routine throughout the day. Once she uses the box leave her alone. Cats like their privacy when using the box.

Until you are sure your kitten is using the box, confine them in a smaller area with access to the box. Do not allow them to find alternate places to eliminate.

Keep the kitten away from houseplants. The dirt around the household will be hard to resist .

Litter Box –

A good rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat in the household, plus one. Some cats will not use a box that has been used by another cat.

A new kitten should have a new, smaller, litter box that they can access easily.

The box should be located in quiet area with little foot traffic. It should be placed away from the kitten’s food and water supply. It should be easily accessible.

The litter box can be cleaned with a water and vinegar mixture.

Litter –

There are many types of litter currently available. Many cats prefer unscented litter with a sandy texture. However, there are litter versions which come in pellets and other shapes which can be successfully used.

Try to start your kitten off with the litter used in their previous environment and if necessary switch them over slowly to the type preferred in your household.

Avoid clumping litter which uses sodium bentonite. It can cause intestinal issues if ingested.

Litter should be scooped daily and the full box of litter should be switched to fresh litter at least once a week.

Mistakes –

Determine the reason your cat chose to eliminate outside of the box. Is the box clean enough? Cats can be very fussy about the cleanliness of the box. Did they have access to the box? Is the environment quiet? Has something changed?

Clean any mistakes immediately with an enzymatic cleaner designed to work with cat urine and odor. If spots are not thoroughly cleaned your cat may return to the spot for future elimination.

Do not punish a cat for not eliminating in the box. Instead show them the box and praise profusely when used.

If accidents continue, this could be a sign of a urinary tract disease or intestinal parasites and they should see a veterinarian.

Offer your kitten a calm, clean and quiet environment for their litter box. They should easily learn the appropriate spot to eliminate. Once settled into a successful litter box set up do not make any unnecessary changes.

Coping with the loss of a dog

When I first experienced the loss of a pet dog, I was hesitant to get another one. I mean, was I really ready to move on…? What if something happens to the new on…? I had to convince myself that I was only wasting my time, and missing out on a new friend. So if you’re dealing with the loss of a pet, this may help you:

Go ahead and cry! Let all your sadness out. Don’t hold it it because it will all build up, and you’ll have a complete meltdown unexpectedly.

Don’t replace your friend, get another one. Never think of buying a pet as replacing your previous one. You are simply making a new pal.

Understand that pets do not last as long as humans do, and when you are getting a pet, death is going to occur sooner or later.

If you have a child in the household, explain to them what has happened and let them be sad. But don’t let it keep them in a drag for longer than a week.

If you had to put your pet to sleep, make sure you get in a few great last days. This can be very depressing.

Unexpected pet deaths are horrible! You didn’t have a chance to tell your pet you loved them. But don’t worry, dogs know that their owners love them.

I know that the death of a family friend is tough, but it is impossible to avoid. I hope these tips have helped you if you are experiencing this now. I wish the best for you!