The top 8 pet-owner mistakes
Avoid common errors, and keep your four-legged pal healthy and well-behaved. By Megan Kaplan
Mistake 1: Buying a Pet Spontaneously
Why this is a mistake: That doggie in the window may be darling, but he might not be the right fit for your family or lifestyle.
How to avoid it: Fully inform yourself before you bring home a pet. Every dog or cat has its own needs, some of which are specific to the breed. Terriers tend to dig; Abyssinians explore and climb. If there's a breed that interests you, read up on it (try the website of the American Kennel Club, at akc.org, or the Cat Fanciers Association, at cfainc.org), talk to owners, and get to know someone else's Border collie or Persian. That said, not every dog or cat is typical of its breed, so "ask about the pet's history, health, and temperament," says Stephanie Shain, a director at the Humane Society of the United States. When dealing with a breeder, you should be shown where the pet was raised and meet his parents.
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Mistake 2: Skipping Obedience Training
Why this is a mistake: Bad habits can be difficult to train out of a pet. So unless you have the know-how to school an animal, you need the help of a pro.
How to avoid it: Even before a puppy starts formal training, teach him simple commands, such as sit and stay. A puppy can begin formal training at eight weeks (and ideally before 12 weeks), after he has had his shots. "Between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks, puppies readily absorb information about the world around them," says Andrea Arden, author of Dog-Friendly Training ($13, amazon.com). To help a dog stick with good behaviors, every few years take him for a refresher course. (Find one in your area at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, apdt.com.)
Mistake 3: Being Inconsistent With the Rules
Why this is a mistake: If one child lets Fifi on the bed and another punishes her for it, the animal will be confused. Bad behavior is inevitable.
How to avoid it: Make sure everyone in your household knows―and follows―the rules, says Arden. "You want your dog to sit before eating a treat? You don't want your kitten to pounce on your hands? Then figure out a system that will help your pet succeed." Pets thrive with a sense of order, so discuss with your family when yours should be fed, exercised, and even given a treat.
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Mistake 4: Dispensing Too Many Free Treats
Why this is a mistake: Treats lose their training value if your pet gets them for no reason.
How to avoid it: "Think of treats as currency given to a pet to reward good behavior," says Marty Becker, a veterinarian and a coeditor of Petconnection.com. Assign each type of treat a value, and pay according to how well your pet behaves. Kibble is worth a dollar; a chicken strip, five; bologna, 10. "But it's important to not pay off the good behavior all the time," Becker says. "That way, your dog will always hope he might get that piece of bologna, and he'll eventually perform without seeing a treat."
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Mistake 5: Neglecting to Socialize Your Pet
Why this is a mistake: Pets that aren't exposed to a variety of animals and people at a very young age can develop fears and aggressive behavior.
How to avoid it: Introduce your pet to adults, kids, animals, and environments so he'll take every novelty in stride. It's optimal for a pet to start the process before you bring him home, since the critical socialization period is early in life. "For a dog, it's between the ages of 3 and 12 weeks. For cats, it's between 2 and 8 weeks," says Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in North Grafton, Massachusetts. The breeder or the shelter's adoption counselor can tell you how much socialization an animal has had.
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Mistake 6: Skimping on Exercise
Why this is a mistake: Pets have pent-up energy that needs to be unleashed through physical activity. Otherwise it will be channeled into barking, jumping, or even hostile behavior.
How to avoid it: "Walk your dog at least twice a day for a minimum of 30 minutes each time," says Cesar Millan, host of The Dog Whisperer, on the National Geographic Channel. "To your dog, that's a primal activity―birds fly, fish swim, and dogs walk." Pamela Reid, vice president of the ASPCA's Animal-Behavior Center in Urbana, Illinois, recommends that dogs get at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. "Dogs need more exercise than people do," says Reid. Try running or biking with your dog or playing fetch or Frisbee. With a cat, "you can't take her jogging, but before and after work, give her 10 to 20 minutes of playtime," says Reid.
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Mistake 7: Neglecting to Keep Your Pet Mentally Active
Why this is a mistake: Bored pets are more likely to get into trouble.
How to avoid it: Give your pets something to do. For a dog, that can mean having him hunt for food. Place a meal or treats in spots around the house for him to sniff out, or "feed him out of a food-dispensing puzzle toy instead of his bowl," says Andrea Arden. Keep a cat engaged with simple amusements, like a toy mouse dangling from a string. "You can stimulate your cat visually by placing a bird feeder outside a window, or setting a lava lamp on a shelf," says Arden Moore, author of The Cat Behavior Answer Book ($10, amazon.com).
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Mistake 8: Leaving a Pet Alone for Too Long
Why this is a mistake: A lack of proper companionship can lead to separation anxiety and destructive behaviors.
How to avoid it: "Don't leave a puppy alone for eight hours," says Reid. Hire someone to watch him or drop him off at a doggie day-care center. Your puppy will need to learn how to be alone for a few hours each day, however, so "teach him to self-pacify almost immediately," says Andrea Arden. Put him in a crate (or leash him to a stable object) a foot or two away from you, then gradually increase the distance over the course of a week. Then make sure that he spends escalating amounts of time alone in his crate or confined to a room. Break up the day for dogs of any age with a visit from a dog walker or a neighbor, and give your pet access to toys and visual stimuli. Unlike puppies, kittens can be left alone, but they should have access to toys and visual stimuli.
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