Happy Pets

In the interests of maintaining good hygiene, it’s important that your cat has its own food and water bowls (separate ones are more practical than combined versions) rather than borrowing a saucer or dish from its human family. These are available from pet shops and should have a heavy base so that they won’t tip over when your cat is eating or drinking. Battery-operated, covered food bowls are another option, many of which contain a type of cooling system that keeps food fresh in hot weather or over extended periods and may also incorporate a timer that you can set so that the lid springs open at a certain time when you’re not around to feed your cat. (more…)

The Puppy’s Bed: Buy a hard plastic bed for your puppy. I have tried all types on my own dogs. When Bracken came to us at the age of six weeks, I bought a large and rather expensive basket. I never thought for one moment that a tiny, six-week-old puppy could destroy such a large bed, but Bracken proved me wrong. Within fourteen days he had chewed the whole thing. I then provided him with a comfortable, soft foam, bed. This didn’t take him as long to destroy as the basket. Within one night he’d shredded it into one inch square pieces of foam. Then I discovered the hard plastic dog beds which are still in my dog room, unchewed.

Try to find an out-of-the-way, secluded, draught-free, spot for your puppy’s bed. The most sensible place is the kitchen, or utility room if you have one, where floors are uncarpeted and easily washed. (more…)

With the puppy sitting on your left-hand side, give a quiet, but firm, Wait command. Do not use puppy’s name. Puppy should always associate his name with coming to you and we do not wish him to do that on this occasion. Take one small pace to your right, count one second and return to your dog and praise him. He shouldn’t have had time to move. If he has, just patiently put him back into the Sit position and try again. You are only expecting puppy to wait there for one second. Extend your puppy’s waiting time very gradually. If you rush it, puppy will want to come to you and you have achieved nothing.

Many puppies lose their confidence if they think their owner is leaving them. It’s not a bad thing that your puppy wants to be with you constantly, so you must build his confidence up. (more…)