Merial
Dog Training Tips Cat Training Tips

Dog Training Tips

Tips for choosing a dog trainer
  • Look for a trainer who emphasizes rewards for good behavior rather than physical punishment for misbehavior.
  • Ask your local veterinarian or animal shelter for recommendations on trainers who use reward-based training techniques.
  • Ask to see the trainer’s qualifications. Has the person taken any courses in how to train dogs, do they belong to any professional organizations, and do they have any formal education in behavior or learning theory?
  • Ask to observe a class before enrolling, so you can be sure you are comfortable with the methods being used.
  • Look for a trainer who allows all types of leads and collars in the class, including head collars.
  • Avoid trainers who won’t allow the use of food as a reward. Treats are a great way to motivate a dog!
  • Don’t allow the trainer to demonstrate something on your dog unless the person tells you exactly what he or she is going to do.
  • Avoid trainers who guarantee they’ll be able to “fix” your dog. Dogs are not toasters, and changing a dog’s behavior is not as simple as changing a plug!
  • Don’t be afraid to tell the trainer to stop if he or she is doing something to your dog that you do not like.
Clicker Training
Have you ever been to a show at a marine park and wondered how dolphins or killer whales are trained to perform? The trainers can’t immediately give the animal being trained a fish each time, so they use a whistle to signal when the animal has done the right thing. You can use a similar technique to train your dog. Instead of whistles, most people use clickers. A clicker is a small toy that makes a loud, sharp noise when you press it.

  • Use a clicker to mark the exact point when your dog does the right thing. You can get a clicker at a pet supply store or toy store.
  • If you don’t want to use a clicker, you can use your voice. Imitate the sound of the click, or pick a short word like “Yes” or “Good.” Just be sure that you’re consistent, or your dog won’t learn what it is that you’re trying to teach her.
  • Start with a pile of tasty food treats. These should be highly desirable, like tiny pieces of hot dog, cheese, or dog biscuits.
  • Pair the food treats with the sound of the clicker. Each time you hand your dog a bit of food, click the clicker or say your word. Once you’ve done this about 50 times, your dog will think of the click as being almost as good as the food itself.
  • Timing is everything. For your dog to learn that the click means food, it has to happen at exactly the same time as the food is given.
  • Now that your dog knows what the click means, you can use it while teaching him other commands. The click will act like an immediate reward to let your dog know when he’s done the right thing. The sound travels faster than you can reach your dog to pet him or give him a treat.
  • Work in short sessions. Your dog will learn faster if you keep training sessions to a few minutes or less. If your dog is easily distracted, it’s time to stop.
  • Practice in many spots in the house. If you only practice in the kitchen, your dog won’t respond as well in other parts of the house or outdoors.
  • Keep distractions to a minimum. This is especially important when you’re starting anything new. If there are other pets or people competing for your dog’s attention, it will be a lot harder to teach her what you want.

Cat Training Tips

Tips for Training a Cat
You might think, “Training a cat? That’s impossible! Isn’t it?” Well, it may not be as easy as training a dog, but cats can be trained using the same approaches that work with dogs. Here are a few tips on how to get started:
  • Use a food treat to get your cat’s attention. Food is one of the best motivators for all sorts of animals.
  • Vary the types of rewards you use. You may need to experiment to see what types of food work best for your particular cat.
  • Include petting and praise as rewards for good behavior. Like many other animals, cats are social creatures and most look at attention, petting, and praise as a good pay-off for performing.
  • Use rewards rather than punishments. As you’ll quickly find out, cats who are punished are most likely to just get upset and leave.
  • Work on your timing. You’ll get the best results by giving the reward immediately after your cat does what you want.
  • Start with simple tricks, then build up to more complex ones if you like. Make it easy for your cat to get it right, by starting with easy tricks like come, sit, or lie down.
  • Practice in lots of short sessions. It’s easier to keep your cat interested if you keep the training sessions to just a few minutes. Make it short and sweet, but practice a lot.

Tips for Litter Box Training a Cat
Cats outdoors will naturally look for a soft, sandy material when they need to eliminate. The normal sequence is to sniff the area, dig a hole, eliminate, cover it by digging again, then sniff the spot again and leave. Here are a few tips that will help encourage your cat to use its litter box.
  • Young kittens will instinctively use a box with litter if you make it easy for them to find. When you first bring your kitten home, keep them in one or two rooms with easy access to the litter box until they have the idea.
  • Use a fine-grained litter material. Clumping litter is a smaller size than the non-clumping type and is preferred by most cats.
  • Use a large litter box. Cats like to stretch out and dig around, which isn’t easy to do if they have a standard litter box. Plastic storage boxes for clothes are large and have low sides, so they make excellent litter boxes.
  • If you have more than one cat, you need more than one box. A good rule of thumb is to have at least as many boxes as you do cats. They should be put in several places around the house.
  • If your house has multiple floors, put a litter box on each floor. A cat who is on the second floor may find it easier to just look for a closet than to go all the way down to the basement.
  • Clean the box daily, if not more often. Many cats will not use a box that isn’t clean.
  • Avoid scented litter. Although it may smell better to you, most cats prefer unscented litters to ones with a scent. The best way to avoid odors is to keep the box clean, not try to cover it up with perfumes.

Tips for Feeding Your Cat
Is your cat a finicky eater? Does she turn up her nose at dry food and only accept canned? Does he like chicken flavored food, but ignore tuna? Here are some tips that may help you to get your cat to eat a greater variety of foods.
  • Start early. This is the best way to avoid owning a cat that will only eat one sort of food and nothing else. If you want your cat to accept a range of foods, make sure you offer a variety when your cat is still a kitten. Cats develop food preferences early in life and may be unwilling to eat something new later on.
  • Offer a variety of types to your cat, including canned, moist, and dry foods.
  • Make any changes in diet gradual. Mix the new food with your cat’s regular food, rather than making a sudden change. Start with a mix that’s ¼ new and ¾ regular for a few days, then ½ and ½, etc.
  • Cats normally eat many small meals throughout the day, so leave the bowl of food out and let your cat choose when to eat.
  • If your cat won’t eat a new canned food, try warming it gently. This will increase the aromas it sends out and may make it more attractive to your cat.
  • If your cat has a favorite treat, like shredded cheese, mix a small amount of that in with the new food.