Susan C. Daffron

Award-winning fiction & nonfiction author

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November 15, 2003 By Susan Daffron

Sometimes Pet Problems Are People Problems

Many "dog problems" or "cat problems" I hear about stem from a lack of understanding. Many people approach pet ownership as something akin to owning a car: if it’s broken take it to be fixed. If it has too many problems, you return it to the dealer or sell it.

This "pets are disposable" attitude is why so many dogs and cats end up in rescue groups and animal shelters. It’s tragic because almost all problems can be solved with a little patience and understanding. A dog is a dog.  A cat is a cat. It is not a small human, and expecting it to behave like one is unfair.

I should know. I have four dogs and two cats and have lived through and found solutions for the following problems: separation anxiety, barking, submissive urination, excitement urination, jumping on people, destructive chewing, digging, hairballs, clawing furniture, jumping on counters, and many other horrible things that I’ve probably blocked from my memory. Are my pets perfect? No. Am I an extraordinary pet owner? No.

However, I do realize that every pet is an individual and you have to work within the limitations of the animal’s personality. My dog Cami, for example, had numerous behavior problems. We’ve worked through a lot of them, but she is always going to be a shy dog and as such, she’s not fond of new people or places. She is a creature of routine. (I can think of a few people like that too!)

All pets in the household need to learn the rules, but the humans need a few rules too. We all have bad days and your pets will forgive you, but try to remember these simple rules for dealing with your pets:

1. Don’t yell at your pets. They have better hearing that you do and probably hear your normal voice just fine. Yelling just scares them.

2. Don’t try to train your pet when you are sick, angry, or incapacitated in some way. Inconsistent or erratic behavior doesn’t make sense to your pet.

3. Always be consistent with your rules. If Rover is not allowed on the sofa, never let him on the sofa. He doesn’t understand why today you are telling him to "get off the sofa" when yesterday you spent three hours curled up together watching TV.

4. When training, keep your sessions short and end on a positive note.

5. Above all, be patient.

Your pet loves you and the best thing you can do is love him in return. Like any family member, you learn to live with a few foibles because the companionship and love you receive is worth it.

Filed Under: Furry Thoughts, Pet Tails Tagged With: consistent, patience, problem, rules, train, yell

About Susan Daffron

Susan Daffron is the author of the Alpine Grove Romantic Comedies, the Jennings & O'Shea mysteries, and multiple award-winning nonfiction books, including several about pets and animal rescue. Check out all her books on her Amazon Author page.

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