I have encountered folks who have complained to me about their numerous (dog) behavior problems. And interestingly enough, I usually discover that most of the behavioral problems are linked to a common factor. That common factor being pet owners all too often miss crucial, pet communication signals because of their busy lifestyles.
What do I mean, "...miss crucial, pet communication signals...?" While many people love the idea of having animal companions, we also have daily responsibilities such as jobs, attending school, families, and other priorities. And usually, our pets end up last place on life's totem pole.
Another issue that certainly plays a key factor in how capable we are to understanding our animals' needs and wants is whether or not we have indoor or outdoor pets. Though indoor pets may pose a little extra patience with regard to training, I highly recommend (as does the Humane Society ) keeping pets indoors with family.
What most individuals do not take into account is that once a collective choice is made to adopt an animal, that is precisely what is being done: we are adopting a living, feeling, creature into our lives; thus, we must consciously realize that by adopting an animal, he or she is to become a permanent addition and family member.
We certainly wouldn't adopt a newborn and place him outside on a chain all day until we returned from work, would we? Therefore, we must always remember to treat our animals just as considerately and compassionately as we would our own children.
Puppies and dogs, like their human toddler counterparts, are innately curious, clumsy and tend to have accidents. When we understand that these commonalties exist and we anticipate this prior to welcoming Rover into our hearts and homes, we are better able to coexist and develop a long-term and loving reciprocal relationship with our animal counterparts.
So step one into understanding our pets is to unconditionally accept them into our homes. Having several, large canine companions, (whom all live indoors with me), I've learned to recognize and distinguish types of body language and visual dialogue that speaks volumes. When our dogs live indoors with us, we can interpret the language of love. Not only do we see their personalities unfold before our eyes, we learn to be intuitive to each of our pets' needs, similar to our own.
From experience, I can literally close my eyes and distinguish each dog's presence simply by touch and sense. Why? Because by having them alongside me, I've learned their individual motions, breathes, sounds and feel. And in turn, they present their comical and goofy sides, their playfulness and their unconditional love for us.
When we invite our dogs into our lives - truly into our lives - we discover a world of fascination, innocence, inspiration, laughter, amusement, and an indescribable love. So how can pet owners learn to better understand their dog's behavior? Give Beethoven a bath, bring him inside and watch how his character evolves. The more time we spend one-on-one with our dogs, the better we are able to recognize specific traits and how to employ gentle behavior training techniques.
Having seven huge dogs, I've come to terms that dogs are one of life's most precious gifts. They are here for just a little while. When we take time to get to know them individually, we gain more than just a pet; we gain a friend for life.
? 2005 - Why Don't I Understand my Dog?
By C. Bailey-Lloyd, aka. LadyCamelot - in conjunction with Holistic Junction
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director & Staff Writer for holistic junction - Your Source for information on holistic junction
Showing off your dog in front of friends and family... Read More
Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More
Caring for a kitten is a lot of work. With... Read More
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, because the disease... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
The first dog trick that is generally taught a dog... Read More
Many people feel that taking the time to train their... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment... Read More
You love your dog. You would do anything for your... Read More
Is your dog due for a makeover? Has she been... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
Man's Best Friend is a great companion around the home,... Read More
If you take a quick look at this species they... Read More
An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual... Read More
Have you ever been to a dog kennel and listen... Read More
Twenty-six percent of the dogs at the six Los Angeles... Read More
Let's face it ? everything is cute when it's small... Read More
Many different skin problems can arise in the aquarium. thankfully,... Read More
Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they... Read More
Should you seriously consider buying a dog health insurance policy?... Read More
A breed of dog called a Boxer is very family-oriented... Read More
Of the thirty-three terrier breeds (most of which were first... Read More
Many people consider their dog to be part of their... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More
Some people are so attached to their pets that they... Read More
The greatest benefits of ownership is knowing that your property... Read More
Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a... Read More
You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More
Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More
Let's think about this for a minute: God did not... Read More
Dog eye problems can occur at any time. You should... Read More
If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More
Doggie day care is becoming more and more prevalent in... Read More
Bringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge... Read More
Have a dog lover on your gift list? Want to... Read More
For Discus fish, there are 2 consideration in tanks -... Read More
Training your dog to obey commands is an important part... Read More
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More
"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More
What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More
Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they... Read More
Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten... Read More
Can you comprehend a time when dog food, cat food,... Read More
The other day I was doing a research online for... Read More
Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More
It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More
Pet |