Most of us get pets to enjoy their companionship. Unfortunately, many pets are taken to shelters or otherwise abandoned due to not being educated. Most young animals tend to be ignorant of our house rules. They have not yet learned that it is improper to jump all over people, grab food off of tables, chew on chair legs and race through the neighborhood to locate other animal friends.
Myths abound that you should wait until the pet has reached a certain age before attempting any training. This is totally wrong. Waiting merely reinforces the inappropriate behaviors and creates frustration for you both. The longer a behavior continues, inadvertently reinforced, the tougher it will be to extinguish.
Here are a few examples:
· Jumping Up – Many dogs learn to jump up because that is how they have learned to attain attention. As the dog gets bigger, this can become more annoying. Some dogs who are then ignored when jumping will tend to also mouth because this is a sure means of getting their human companion to react to them.
Learning early, to sit for attention, will make your dog more fun to have around and less annoying to your family and friends. It is as simple as always guiding your young dog into a sit before giving him any attention or food. The same goes for cats. Do not feed them or give them attention when they are not behaving appropriately.
· Chewing Furniture – Young animals go through teething as their baby teeth fall out and their permanent teeth come in. If not carefully observed, they will chew on chair legs, carpeting, even walls. Through careful observation and redirecting your young pet to appropriate toys, you can prevent her from developing a destructive habit.
Some pets will take destructive chewing to alarming levels when left alone for long periods of time. This can be due to either boredom and/or separation anxiety. A well educated pet will be less likely to partake is such behaviors as she has learned appropriate alternatives as well as how to communicate and understand her environment.
· Housetraining – This must be started from day one just for your own sanity! The last thing any pet owner wants is to live in a smelly home, having to constantly clean up after their young pet’s excretions. Would you wait until the pet is 6 months of age before housetraining? No way! This process begins immediately.
Pets need to be educated as much as our children. Training and guiding them into appropriate behaviors from the day they enter your life will insure they remain great companions for many years.