Tips on having Dogs and Cats live together

Here is a short video and a longer written guide on getting dogs and cats to get along together under one roof. Despite the famous Ghost Busters movie line where Bill Murray is describing the end of the world and throws in the line “…dogs and cats living together”, most dogs and cats get along together in a single house fine. But there are a few tips to make it easier. Bringing a new kitten home to an existing pet is an exercise in patience and understanding. You would need to do things with exquisite care, though, when your existing pets are dogs, as you wouldn’t want your kitten to be hurt by the dogs you have owned for quite a while. You can click on this link to read our article on training your dog which may help you out here as well.

A short Video on how to help your pets get along

Here is our written guide with more information on getting the Felines and Dogs to play nice

You need to find out certain details about your dog before buying a cat or kitten. Some dog breeds are more tolerant of cats than others, and it will be far easier to introduce a kitten to these dogs. If your breed of dog is known for its intolerance, you may want to think twice about bringing a cat home. Also think back to a time when you may have owned some cats with the dog (or dogs) – if they got along fine before, chances are the same would apply with the kitten.

When you bring the kitten home, let the dog sniff the crate, but not get so close that the kitten can scratch his nose. Put your cat in its safe room, and go and give your dog some love and attention. Dogs, like us humans, tend to get jealous if they feel that they don’t get much attention, and can act out by getting violent – this is why this part of the process is especially crucial.

To get your dog used to your kitten’s scent, have it smell you or other items that the kitten has come in contact with. After a few days, take the kitten into another room, and let the dog sniff around the safe room to get used to the scent.

You can let your dog enter a room with your kitten in it a few days later – make sure the kitten is in its crate. As long as the kitten stays in its crate, both animals should remain safe from trouble. Being in a confined space can make cats feel trapped, so don’t do this too often if your cat is getting anxious.

Sit with the dog and have somebody else, say, a friend or family member, bring in the cat to introduce both animals to each other. Make sure an adult is holding both the dog and the kitten and let the dog sniff the back of the kitten while you hold him by the collar. Then start allowing the kitten to wander around with you sitting with the dog so you can hold it back if necessary.

Eventually, once your kitten is used to the house and knows its way about, you will have to let them loose around each other. If your dog shows any signs of aggression, such as growling or its hackles rise, you may have to rethink the new kitten.

Finally, it comes down to patience and knowing the two animals.  Be realistic. If you have a psychotic cat that will claw anyone but you (or including you) chances are its going to do the same to the dog. By the same token if your dog is jealous of anything new in the house and chases anyone and anything that moves, then expecting it to be nice to the cat or kitten is not real. And if your dog is going stir crazy because it gets no attention or exercise, then it is going to be more likely to chase around the cat or kitten.

You can click on this link to go ot our main page to read more articles like this one on Dog and Cats living together.

Our favorite Dog Training Video and Tips!

Here is a great dog training video and after that are five important things you should know before you set out to train your dog. Training dogs is fairly simple. The key to teach them successfully is to be Patient, Positive, dedicated and to know a few tricks! And don’t forget – a puppyu is just like a baby. Don’t expect it to learn tricks or become housebroken until it is old enough to learn!!

Here is our Favorite Dog Training Video. Check it out!

OK, Here are our top 5 Tips (most are in addition to the video above)

Tip #1 - To avoid your dog getting confused and so that they can learn to recognize commands easily only one person should be responsible for training the dog initially. Too many trainers can confuse the dog and set him back on the training.

Tip #2 - Positive reinforcement is positively the best  way to go.You can beat most animals into submission but its not necessary and is often counter productive in the long run. If you believe in hitting, yelling, scolding and beating then you really should not have a dog at all. Animal cruelty is against the law. It is far better to take the positive approach to dog training.  If the dog does something good, you should reward this behavior so that he will know that what he did was right. If the dog cannot understand or follow your commands, never push him. Dogs’ brains are different than humans, and they too make mistakes. What you should understand is that they won’t easily understand your commands in just one teaching, it takes repetition to train a dog successfully. Avoid scolding the dog, since if he becomes fearful he won’t learn as well. You can use treats in order to encourage your dogs, although don’t overdue it.

Tip #3 - Don’t teach a lot of commands at the same time, because it will only confuse the dog. Try to teach him one command after the other. If he cannot absorb it, try to stay on that command only because adding additional commands will just confuse the dog. Start with the basics.

Tip #4 - In executing commands, you should keep your voice cheerful so that the dog will happily follow your commands. Generally speaking, dogs respond better to a low tone and a coaxing voice. He will respond less if you talk to him in a harsh tone and scare him.

Tip #5 - Train your dog in different locations. If you only train your dog in one place, it will be harder for him to follow orders out of that environment. Take him to the park or through the neighborhood. It will be good for your dog to be exposed to other dogs and people.

It will take some time to train your dog, but it is something worth the time in the end. You will love the way your dog responds to you once he is trained. One day your dog might even go as far as saving your life, and pay back all the time you have invested into him.

That is the end of this article. you can click on this link to go to our main page and read more Dog Training Articles like this!

Run out of ideas and trying to find that extra special gift for the dog lover in your life? Never fear. Have a look at these unique dog lover gifts and let them spark your creativity. These gifts are so versatile you can mix and match them for your own special dog breed gift basket – now how about that?

Give a door bell cover emblazoned with a particular dog breed. For the dog lover who has practically every other dog breed gift, this unique door bell cover is a great way to show who helps “rule the house”.

Maybe your special dog lover is also heavily into computers. Then consider a mouse pad adorned with their favorite dog breed. This is a very practical gift that could go a long, long way. You can even email them a screen saver of their favorite pet to give their computer area that canine feel.

For the dog lover and avid golfer, golf club covers in a dog breed theme would be a great touch for any golfer’s bag. What about a golf towel personalized with their pet’s picture and name?

The dog lover and his/her pet will also be happy to receive a gift for both of them. Nothing says it better than dog breed wind chimes. And don’t forget to include a chew toy or any other doggy toy that could allow both of them to enjoy playing outdoors.

To help carry all those doggy accessories like leashes, snacks, and water, consider giving a tapestry tote bag with the dog breed. Your dog lover friend or family member will be doubly pleased if he/she has a tote bag as well, so why not buy two?

You can have a garden flag designed with a dog breed – this is a unique gift that you may also consider. Outdoor statues modeled after dog breeds are a nice gift if you have the budget. Some of the best statues are so uncannily life-like, and they come in different varieties, with one corresponding to almost every existing dog breed.

But probably the simplest and most heartfelt gift you can give is a picture frame for the dog lover. You can make it extra special by having the dog’s name engraved on it.