Pet Care

Socialization

It’s a simple, easily-done thing to do with a dog, and the one thing that every pet owner should know about and take seriously. It is far more important than formal obedience. Before you do anything else, you should thoughtfully plan on socializing your dog, no matter what the age. If you have a new puppy, you have the opportunity to install a learning process that will benefit the dog for its lifetime. Older dogs can be “made” into much better pets through socialization.

Veterinary Information Network

For the most current data, look to the Veterinary Information Network

Housetraining

There are a few basic things that a puppy needs to learn in order to become reliably housetrained. Dogs
have no idea that humans consider pee and poo in the house reprehensible! There is no natural instinct that tells the dog not to go in your home. Here are the three basic things you need to teach your new puppy:

Links

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Spraying, Scratching & Litter Box Training

Spraying: Both males and females spray urine to mark their territory, although the behavior is much more common in males.

Scratching: Scratching is important, biologically, for your cat. So you can't really punish her for clawing the furniture, unless you have provided her with an alternative like a scratching post.

Litter Box Training: Cats are not born knowing how to use a litter box and will need you to help train them. When your cat begins nosing around in the corners of your home or squatting, put her in the litter box.

Crate Training

Crate training is like a playpen for a baby…a place to be safe while Mom needs to do something else. Puppies in particular can learn to be housetrained in only a few days when a crate is used properly.

Introducing Dogs & Cats

Cats and dogs can live together in harmony, but there are some things to think about before you try it.