Beautiful Hungarian Vizsla puppy and its owner during outdoor obedience training. Sit down and direct the side view.

Owning pets means sharing our lives and homes with animals. There are many benefits, from having a constant animal friend by your side, to being encouraged to walk with your dog, to the fun of putting a purring cat on your lap. However, there may also be negative aspects, usually related to the way the animal behaves. Pets are sentient creatures, but they are not as rational as adults. You cannot expect them to take the initiative to act according to your wishes. If you want to have a well-behaved pet, it is up to you to train them.

This week, I am writing about the first three behaviors I teach dogs and cats to help you create an orderly family where people and animals share.

It is never too early to train a dog to become well-behaved. From the day the puppy arrives at your home, you can begin to teach the simplest basics of good behavior. And it’s never too late: it’s a myth that old dogs can’t learn new tricks.

The two most common causes of poor dog behavior are that people don’t know what to do, and then they don’t spend enough time training their pets.

The first problem is easy to solve: In addition to the large number of excellent dog trainers in our community, there are thousands of free dog training videos online.

The second problem can be best solved by arranging dog training time. To maintain optimal behavior, ideally, dogs should receive 15 minutes of long-term training every day. This doesn't need to be done all at once: five minutes, three times a day works well. Incorporate this into your dog's daily routine, such as before meals, at the beginning of a walk, and before bedtime. If you can do this, you will notice rapid improvements

A reliable so-called "recall" is the most important order. In addition to simple courtesy, dog owners are obliged to "effectively control" their pets under Irish law. You need to be able to stop your dog from causing trouble to other people, whether it's barking at them, jumping up, or even approaching them when they want to be alone. The simplest answer is to always keep your dog on a leash, but this seems too strict in many places: dogs like to run freely, whether in the park, on the beach, or in the woods. Another method is to teach your dog to conduct a bulletproof recall.

In many cases, your dog's natural enthusiasm and curiosity can cause social problems. They may jump on people, cross the floor with muddy feet, or just run around the room dizzy, making some people feel uneasy. The simple command "sit down" is a quick way to control this situation. You can then take other steps, such as attaching them to a belt, to maintain order.

Dogs have a big appetite and easily eat everything that should be left alone: ​​from someone’s picnic to another animal’s dinner to the dirty substances they encounter in the park. The Leave It command means that when you say these words ("LEAVE IT"), your dog will let go of what they are doing and look at you for further instructions.

Cats are not usually as rough as their canine cousins, but when their behavior is not ideal, they can still cause anxiety and pain. Like dogs, training can begin when they are very young. It does not take much time to teach cats; the main challenge is to be consistent and always encourage good behavior, not just do it when you remember.

Kittens usually start using litter boxes as early as 4 weeks of age: they are born to scratch and bury their feces. Owners only need to make sure that they provide the right location, type and number of garbage pallets. The general rule is one litter tray for each cat in the house, plus one. These should be placed in a quiet place so that the cat will not feel stressed when using them. The best litter matrix varies: some cats like loose particles, while others like clumpy gravel. Finding the right method for your cat may require trial and error. It is important to clean the tray regularly: no cat likes to squat on the soiled trash.

Most cats are benign creatures, but it should be reminded that you cannot use claws and teeth. Encourage gentle interaction by touching the top of the cat's head, shoulders, and tail. Even if they turn on their backs and show you their belly, don't try to touch them here: cats usually react by scratching violently with their hind legs, and some may even bite their teeth into your body. If your cat has done this before, please exit and ignore. When cats know that bad behavior will lead to neglect, they are less likely to repeat the same mistakes.

Don't climb on the counter

Cats like to climb, and if there is an opportunity for delicious snacks on the kitchen counter, they will jump up and walk around looking for snacks. So, first of all, don't miss any delicacies within reach, and second, if they do appear on the counter, please always put them down. Provide alternatives, such as cat trees or cat stands (such as the Catipilla series) so that they can kill time in high places. When they use these, pet them and treat them kindly, they will soon learn to like them.

Read morePet pets: The best way to keep pets comfortable this winter 

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