While there are many books on parenting, there are very few on the proper ways to own a dog or any other pet for that matter. Each one of us handles things differently and just goes with the flow. However, there are some mistakes that we all end up making which are not good for the animals.
Cuddling And Kissing
Each one of us has that incessant need to just grab and hug our pets any chance that we get. However, it can turn out to be a very stressful situation for the pets since there is no hugging in the animal world. You can train your pet to respond to a command ‘up’ and be ready to be picked up and hugged.
Waking Them Up All The Time
You should respect your pet’s comfort and be as quiet around them napping as you would be around a baby. Waking up suddenly can be quite a stressful moment for your pet. You should always let your pets wake up on their own.
Staring At Them Constantly
When someone is staring at you constantly, you feel the need to get up and confront them for making you uncomfortable. This is true in the animal world as well, only it is more of a sign of danger. The pets will prepare for a fight when they are being stared at constantly.
Scolding Them For Stealing Food
This is a problem faced by almost all pet owners. There are many times when you leave food out at the counters and come back to find them gone. You should never scold your pets for behaving according to their natural instinct. Instead, lock your ‘human’ food in fridges or cupboards.
Confusing Them With Multiple Commands
When you are training your pet, they register the commands according to the action associated with them. For instance, if you tell them to ‘fetch’ when playing fetch, they will associate the phrase with fetching the ball. However, if you say ‘go find your ball’, they will get confused as to what to do.
Letting Them Be Lazy
Pets require physical exercise on a regular basis. If they just laze around all day, it can lead to obesity and joint problems as well. You should take your pet out at least once a day so that they can play and run around in order to maintain their shape.
Using Comforting Words
There are many pets who are scared of taking a bath. However, if you start to tell them that it is okay and it is gonna be fine, they will begin to associate these comforting words with traumatic experiences. Even if there is nothing bad coming and you try saying comforting words to your pet, they will get scared. Simply go with the flow and act naturally.
Sharing Food With Them
Human food is not suitable for animals. If you want your pet to remain in good health, you should not share your food with them. The best option would be to go to a pet doctor and get a diet plan for your pet so that you know all the things that they can eat.
Using One Tray For All Pets
If you have multiple cats in your house, it can be very convenient to have a single kitty litter box for them all. However, it can be very harmful for the kitties since each of them require their own personal space. You should buy multiple litter boxes in case you’re planning to adopt multiple cats.
Yelling At The Pets
Even though they might not be able to communicate properly, pets have feelings too. They can understand when they are being yelled at for doing something wrong. They feel guilty and ashamed. Try to teach them about right and wrong with a calm tone and do not scare them with harsh words.
Letting Them Eat In Excess
You should not leave excess food for your pet when you go out for work. While it may seem like a thoughtful situation that you do not want your pet to go hungry, it can lead to obesity and related health problems. Pets eat food every time they see it, even if they are not hungry.
Training Them Late In Life
Just like humans, the pets have a learning period in their lives as well. The time for their training is when they are young. It is easier for them when their brain is still learning but that ease decreases as they grow older. Train them young so that they know what is right and what is wrong.
Leaving Them Alone For Long Periods Of Time
Many of us think that the pets can entertain themselves or sleep when we are away. However, this is not true and while the pets can be alone for a short period of time, you should not leave them alone for more than a few hours. They get nervous and sad and are in desperate need of company.
Forgetting Their World Revolves Around Us
Your pets need all your attention. You have to feed them, take them for a walk, play with them, and sleep with them. Their entire world revolves around your life. You should not forget how important you are for your pet because they will get sad when you do not treat them as if your world revolves around them.