Correcting Your Pets Bad Habits
We know pet parents love their dogs but do not love all of their behaviours. Correcting bad habits can oftentimes be overwhelming and feel like you failed. We are here to say bad habits are not a failing of the pet parent, it just means some extra love, attention, and training is required. That is why we asked our staff what the most common behavioural questions they are asked and what products they recommend. Here are their answers!
How do I get my dog to stop pulling while walking?
Dogs pull on a leash for many different reasons, the most common is that they believe that is how they are supposed to walk. If you continue walking behind your dog as they are pulling this indicates to them that pulling works and it is how they move forward. There are a couple of different tools you can use to help correct this behaviour. The first is a harness. A harness is more comfortable than a collar, especially because it does not put pressure on a dog's throat. When your dog pulls forward, stop walking and wait until they sit or the leash relaxes. This will teach your dog the only way to move forward is if they walk with you.
If your dog is an aggressive puller to the point where you feel as though you are going on a drag and not a walk, a harness and a head halter in combination will fix this issue. A head halter is a strap that goes over the muzzle and clips to the back of the head, and is similar to the head harnesses that horses wear to be led. The combination of the two gives you control of both the head and body allowing you to teach your dog to walk beside you. Head halters can sometimes feel forgien to your dog and they may try to remove it by pawing at their face or rubbing their head on the ground. It is important to then desensitize your dog by putting it on then taking off periodically throughout the day while rewarding them with treats.
How do I get my dog to stop chewing on my furniture and shoes?
Many dogs love chewing because they find it fun and it stimulates them both mentally and physically. And the ends of furniture and rubber souls have nice textures that dogs love. When you catch your dog chewing on something they are not supposed to, tell them “no” firmly and then give them something they are allowed to chew. For example if your dog likes chewing on wooden legs replace it with a wood gorilla chew toy. It will satisfy their craving to chew on wood while protecting your chairs and couches. It is not unusual for your dog to sometimes try to go back to chewing your furniture. That is why spraying your furniture with bitter spray is a great tool to use in combination with chew toys as it will ensure your dog stops going after your belongings.
My dog never listens to me. How do I change that?
There are a couple different reasons why your dog may no longer be responding to your commands, but the good news is each is easy to fix. The first may be due to confusing messaging. If your dog was first trained to come to you when you said “come” you may have started to add words to the command like “come here” and even go as far as changing the word altogether to “here”. The changing or adding of command words often leave your dog confused which results in them not completing the command. The second reason your dog will not listen to you is because the reward for listening is too low. For example if your dog has something they should not have they will not want to leave it because they value what they have over your command. That is why it is important to have treats they see as a high reward.
My dog eats too fast and always chokes. How do I get them to slow down?
Many dogs eat quickly because of a hereditary feature left by their ancestors who had to hunt and eat their food quickly to ensure another predator did not take it away. To help your dog slow down and ensure their food is being properly digested we suggest either a slow feeder bowl or a feeding ball. Slow feeder bowls have what looks like a maze inside which forces your dogs to eat slower. If your dog eats quickly and is also high energy, ball feeders are a great tool! You can fill the ball with some or all of your dog’s meal and they have to push the ball around in order for the food to fall out.
My dog hates baths and is always stinky. How can I get them in the bath?
Bath time can be tricky for dogs, even those who like the water. Some dogs can feel trapped in the tub which can cause anxiety and invoke a feeling like they need to escape. The Aquapaw slow feeder helps distract dogs that are in the tub by slowly feeding them a treat like peanut butter. Aquapaw has a full line of products that will make bath time a breeze!
My dog is nervous around people and dogs. How do I fix this?
When a dog is nervous around other dogs it is a signal of low confidence which can then lead to social anxiety. The best way to combat this is by socializing your dog with people and other dogs. This can be done at a dog park or at any Ren’s Pets location.
My cat keeps scratching my furniture, how do I make them stop?
Scratchers can provide your cat with a great outlet to mark their territory and satisfy their natural instincts, but if they don’t have access to one, they can become stressed or anxious. Thus resulting in them going after your furniture. From inclined and curved scratchers to cat trees and condos and more, there are a wide variety to choose from and it’s important that you select the one best suited to your cat’s personality. By watching where, when and how your cat prefers to scratch at home, you’ll be able to pick out an appropriate scratcher that will allow them to fully satisfy their need to scratch. Cat toys, such as balls are also a great way to stimulate your cat both mentally and physically, which means your furniture is safe.
My cat will not use the litter box, how can I change that?
Cats don’t enjoy using a dirty litter box and having to do so can cause them to get stressed and act out. Be sure you are scooping your cat’s litter box regularly or consider using a self-cleaning litter box. Not only can a self-cleaning litter box make your life easier, but it can help make sure your cat remains in a good mood by ensuring they always have a clean space to take care of their business. If you find your cat is still refusing to use the litter box, consider changing the brand of litter you use. The texture or scent could be causing them to avoid the litter box.