Behaviour
The relationship with our animal can often be a problem. The problems that can be encountered are of various types and have different origins, from the animal’s experience to communication problems. In many cases people and their pets adapt to the situation, without knowing that there is always the possibility of a change that allows a peaceful and happy relationship to be built for both. This applies not only to dogs, but also to cats, rabbits and ferrets.
Through coaching sessions aimed at the person-pet couple, a significant improvement in the relationship and greater complicity and synchrony between them and in the family can be achieved. It is not necessary to experience stressful situations on a daily basis because of your pet’s unwanted behaviour. Today we have the tools to get our four-legged friend to cooperate and behave as we wish; all we need is commitment, perseverance, and a competent and passionate coach to rely on.
My Vision is that everyone can live in harmony with their animal and enjoy all the benefits that these special beings bring to our existence, through a relationship based on mutual respect, trust and love.
My mission, as your coach, is to guide you in managing your animal step by step, with both elements of the couple at the centre. That is why I call myself a relationship coach for pets.
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Education
The education of the dog
The arrival of a puppy in the family: 4 small rules for a happy cohabitation
Puppy education is most effective if it is based on:
- Reward the puppy when it does the right thing (with a “well done!” followed by a food reward).
- Ignore and never punish the errant puppy. If he picks up something unwanted in his mouth tell him “NO” and give him an alternative to that thing (a toy he can bite) = barter.
An example: to teach him to poop outside you have to take him outside often (in particular every time he wakes up) and reward him when he does it outside, but if he does it inside, you either ignore him or pick him up and take him outside (when you catch him in the act).
The puppy between 2 and 4 months (and throughout its first year of life) should have as many experiences as possible, and thus be able to socialise with:
- Several dogs (possibly of different ages and sizes) so that it learns to communicate and play with its peers.
- Different people, in addition to family members (children, the elderly, tall people, …).
- Different environments, not only the park, but also the city, the market, the shopping centres, the station, etc.
Not to mention the importance of taking it by car and possibly also by bus or train.
It is essential to remember that a puppy is like a three-year-old child, and must know the world, otherwise it will be afraid of it in the future. This can then be a problem for a dog that has to live in a society such as ours. In all 3 points mentioned above, it is very important that the puppy marks the new experience positively, so always associate it with a food reward (something pleasant).
From day one it is good to set some handling rules for the puppy. In this way you give him clues so that he understands what his role is within the “group-family” (he cannot be the coordinator of the group).
- FOOD: The puppy receives his bowl with the meal 3 times a day, which is left on the floor for 10 minutes and then removed (he must not be allowed to eat when he wants).
- RESTING PLACE: the puppy must have its own resting place, chosen by the owner, avoiding the central areas of the room and those passing by (it must be rewarded every time it spontaneously goes to the kennel, to educate it to calmness).
- INTERACTIONS: Although it is not very simple, the puppy should not be considered every time he asks for attention. When he gets quiet and ignore the owner, that is the moment to call him to interact/play with him.
- ON THE GUARD: It is important to teach the puppy not to pull, because the owner is the “coordinator”, so he is the one who decides which direction to go in and at what speed.
N.B.: In addition, from 4 months of age, it is also necessary to get the puppy used to being home alone (first only 10 minutes, then half an hour, then more, etc.), otherwise it may not be able to do this afterwards.
Play is an important tool for the dog’s development. By making him play different games, you provide him with new skills, and consequently make him “smarter”. A dog may not only be able to fetch a ball and bring it back, but also to put it in a basket or carry a bag. All it takes is to teach him with a game.
In this regard, we recommend a book full of games to play with your dog. The goal is to have a companion at your side who can do many things, and can therefore be even more involved in everyday life. In fact, the dog is a social animal and is happier if he can cooperate with the group.
Recommended Books:
“PLAYTIME FOR YOUR DOG” di C. Sondermann, Ed. De Vecchi
“DIZIONARIO BILINGUE cane” di R. Marchesini, Ed. Sonda
The education of the cat
To make the cat’s arrival in the family a success
The cat is a hunter of small prey, so it eats small quantities several times a day (even 10 or more). It should always have kibble available, while wet food is at the owner’s discretion.
Cats need play and physical activity. A cat that goes out on its own finds ways of satisfying this need, in particular by hunting. A cat that lives solely in a flat need an enriched environment, adorned with scratching posts, games and climbing structures. There are various books and websites with lots of advice on how to make a flat cat-friendly, here are two examples:
- Book: 50 games to play with your cat, by Jackie Strachan
- Hauspanther.com (website for finding cat facilities)
A tip for cats living exclusively in flats would be to get a second cat to play with. This should, however, be done within the first 6 months of the cat’s life, as later on it may not accept the new companion (cats are very territorial animals).
The cat is a very clean animal, from an early age it learns the use of the litter box and covers its droppings. A cat living in a flat needs two litter boxes (number of cats +1 litter box), as they like to urinate in one place and defecate in another. These must be spacious and with a layer of sand high enough to allow it to cover its excrement.
There may be several causes of inappropriate predatory behaviour, and a consultation with the vet is necessary to identify it and solve the problem.
Cats are crepuscular animals. They normally sleep between 15 and 18 hours a day.
It is important that they have a wide choice of quiet places where they can feel comfortable and doze for hours.
Cats can be solitary or gregarious, depending on how they lived when they were kittens. Also, those used to live with people need to be in contact with their owners. Some felines miss their owners when the latter goes on holiday, and may also manifest this through abnormal behaviour (e.g. licking injuries, inappropriate elimination, etc.).
