Getty Images
We love our cats and dogs, however sometimes they can be fussy or misbehave. There are some simple things you can do to ensure that your furry friend is the perfect companion.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
The right bed can do wonders for a fussy cat or dog.
Cats love to sleep in places that have a good view of what is happening around them. This is instinctive, and has been learnt through thousands of generations as it gives them the advantage of spotting any dangers.
Cats also love to feel safe, so sleeping in a small-enclosed space is also preferred. Small boxes mean that she only needs to keep an eye on one entry point. Ensure that she is comfortable, as she will sleep up to 16 hours a day. Such a life!
Dogs on the other hand are easier to please, however still need to be comfortable. Choose the right sleep environment, which includes a warm, soft blanket. The bed you choose for your dog depends on the breed and there are plenty of options. Finding the perfect bed will stop the fuss and promote downtime.
ATTENTION
Excessive meowing, crying, barking or other attention-seeking behaviour can be frustrating, but there are some things you can do. And it’s important to be consistent with your training.
When it comes to dogs, there’s jumping up on people, barking and destructive chewing. It’s important never to punish your dog, and ensure that you keep relatively calm.
When jumping up, turn your back and only give him attention when he’s fully on the ground with all four paws. Reward with affection, or a treat.
Dogs bark as a form of communication, expressing boredom, fear or stress, alerting us to strangers and because he’s learnt that barking gets what he wants. Again, don’t yell at your dog as this will achieve nothing. Instead you need to work out the difference in his barking.
If he’s demanding something, ignore until he’s quiet and then reward. Repeat this so that it becomes a habit.
Destructive chewing is usually caused by boredom, anxiety or excess energy in active dog breeds. Give your pup plenty of exercise to use up his energy. Invest in some chew toys, and never leave valuable items in his reach. Good behaviour should get rewarded with praise, and catching him in the act should lead to redirection of his attention. Most problems with destructive chewing stem from the puppy years. We may think that it’s cute when he’s chewing on something he shouldn’t be, but this behaviour will continue later in life if not stopped at an early age.
In cats, attention-seeking behaviour includes scratching, meowing, stealing objects, biting and walking between your legs.
It can be caused by a number of things such as separation anxiety and boredom. Sometimes your feline friend could also be trying to get your attention due to pain or discomfort. If her behaviour is constant and doesn’t improve, then medical assessment should be undertaken so that any medical issues can be ruled out.
There are basically three steps to correcting attention-seeking behaviour in cats. Ignore the behaviour when it’s happening, ensure that your cat has plenty of toys or activities to keep her active and make sure that you’re attentive to her when she’s quiet or behaved.
FOOD & TREATS
Dogs and cats fussy behaviour can be caused by feeding them food scraps from your own meals or giving them too many treats. This can lead to obesity, and also encourages finicky behaviour. Your pet will learn to avoid eating their own food in the hopes of getting something more exciting.
If you have been treating your pet too much, there’s some steps you can take to change this behaviour. During the next meal, leave the food out for half an hour. If it’s not eaten in this time, remove it. Continue this for the next meal, and take it away. Your pet will start looking for treats, but you need to stick with it. And even though you may think that your pet is starving, they aren’t. If hungry, they will eat.
It’s also important to understand that both cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements than we do, so we need to provide them with a meal that is balanced for them.
The Apollo and Your Majesty range of gourmet dog and cat food, only available in the pet aisle at Woolworths, are made from real quality ingredients, and provides complete and balanced nutrition.
There’s plenty of different varieties to suit even the fussiest pooch or puss with both wet and dry food selections.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
