Choices

Here are 3 choices all pet owners should give their dog or cat. 

1. The Choice to be Petted – Or Not

We get pets because we love them, and they have cute faces and soft fur that we just want to smoosh…

But not all pets like to be smooshed… or hugged, or even touched.

And insisting on hugging or petting a reluctant dog or cat is not fair on them and can result in a bite or scratches for you.

It is especially important to teach children how to pet cats and dogs and to give the animal a choice, because children are at greatest risk of dog bites. While most people know they need to supervise children and pets closely, many fail to recognize signs of anxiety in interactions between young children and dogs.   (If you want some tips, see how can I tell if my dog is afraid?).

Always call the animal to you, and if they prefer to stay away, let them. And always give them the chance to move away from being petted if they prefer.

If you stop petting and they want more, they will let you know.

2. The Choice to Go to a Safe Space

When life gets busy and there is a lot going on, it can be stressful for dogs and cats. This is where it can help them to have a safe space to go and hide or keep quiet if they wish.

For dogs, a safe space might be a crate with a nice bed in it, or a dog bed in a quiet room to which they always have access. Make sure it is big enough to allow them to stretch out and turn around. If there are children in the house, you can use a pet barrier or pet gate to keep the dog separate from the children.


Cats like hiding places. Ideally they will have nice cat-sized hiding places, and the best is probably high up since cats like high up places too. A cat bed on a shelf, a cat tree with several levels, or a simple cardboard box might do the trick. (Or if your cat is like my tortoiseshell, the chance to burrow into the pile of clean clothes that are waiting to be ironed). If you have multiple cats, they each need their own spaces to go.

The rule is that the safe space belongs to the pet and no one in the household will disturb them when they are there.

This means they always have a space where they can chill out and relax.

3. A Choice to Train – or Not

Another way we can give dogs and cats a choice is in whether to take part in training or not.

When we use reward-based methods that rely on positive reinforcement, training should be fun.

But it’s up to us to motivate the dog (or cat). Typically, that means using food in training such as great dog training treats.

And if the dog wanders off? That’s fine. Maybe they got tired, maybe something else is more interesting, or maybe we need to use better treats next time. Or perhaps it was too hard and they need the training broken down into easier steps.

It is better to train several short (e.g. 5 minute) sessions a day rather than one long session in which the dog gets bored.

And this applies to cats too. Yes, cats can be trained – training cats to like their carrier can help with vet visits,  and this often means the cat will choose to go in their carrier (perhaps it can be one of their safe spaces?). As well, training tricks can help shelter cats to be more content.

Training isn’t about forcing your dog or cat to perform (or stop) particular behaviours. Think of training as a way to provide enrichment and to help your pet cope with everyday situations.  Click here for full article.

 
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