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The companionship, fun, and unconditional love of a pet can be one of life’s greatest joys, but if you find yourself constantly struggling with undesirable behaviors (Ripped up shoes? House soiling? Aggression towards other animals?) you may be wondering if all the trouble is even worth it.
Pet training and socialization are among the most important aspects of responsible pet ownership, and they go hand in hand with proper nutrition, exercise, and affection in raising a well-rounded pet.
Why Pet Training And Socialization Is A Must
Well-behaved and socialized pets are more confident, are happier, and pose less risk to themselves and others. Trained and socialized pets are easier to control, and thus are able to enjoy a wider range of experiences with their human family members, which not only makes them happier but can deepen the bond with the family.
Untrained and poorly socialized pets are among the largest groups of animals surrendered to shelters each year. Pet training and socialization can help keep pets at home, where they belong.
Socialization
Socialization is the process of teaching a dog or cat to live in human society by exposing them to new environments and situations. Ideally, socialization of a pet should begin during the “sensitive period”, which is between 3 and 9 weeks of age for kittens, and 3 and 14 weeks of age for puppies. However, socialization is possible at any age, even when a pet is much older.
Help your pet become more familiar with his or her world by encouraging the following activities:
- Interaction with you and your family
- Interaction with other people, especially children
- Exposure to other animals
- Exposure to new places, such as other homes, your vehicle, and the veterinarian’s office
- Getting your pet used to being touched and handled
- Learning about appropriate responses to environmental stimuli.
Training
The benefits of training for pets are far-reaching. Not only does training support your pet in becoming a happy and well-adjusted member of your family and of society in general, but training also offers your pet the opportunities for mental stimulation, exercise, and even fun!
When done properly and ethically, obedience training can not only teach your pet the basic commands necessary to participate in the daily routine, it can also help to correct unwanted behaviors including jumping, digging, chewing, barking, and house soiling.
Older pets can also benefit from a humane and professional training program. A little obedience training may be just the thing to help your pet get a little exercise and enjoy some quality time with you!
Don’t hesitate to contact your team at True Care Veterinary Hospital with your questions about pet training and socialization.