It's more common for dogs to be taught to come when called but it's also something that your cat should learn too. You may even be surprised to hear that it's quite easy to achieve with a little time, patience and treats. Quite a lot of treats. Reasons to teach your cat to come when called: If you have an outdoor cat you can get them to come inside when you wish. If you can't locate your cat, you can quickly get them to come out from their hiding place. If you have multiple cats, you can check up on them all and make sure none have gone missing. It's fun! How to teach your cat to come when called: Firstly, decide on a treat/s that your cat absolutely adores. It will have to be something pretty delicious and something that they don't ordinarily receive at regular meal times. Secondly, always be consistent. It will be the key to your success! Thirdly, choose a command (their name is a great option) that you will only use when you want your cat to come to you. Make sure your voice sounds positive and maybe a little high-pitched as cats are particularly receptive to high-pitched sounds. And make sure everyone in your home uses the same word! Initially, choose times when your cat is content and receptive to being petted. Whilst patting them, start saying their name. You can repeat this a few times throughout the day as this will create positive associations. After a while, carry on as you have been, but whenever your cat turns to you after you've used your command, reward them and they'll soon learn that it's a good idea to listen up! Once your cat is doing well at this, start creating a bit of distance and see if once called, they look at you. If they do give praise but only treat them if they physically come to you upon command. Soon enough, your cat will realise that responding to their name will result in positive things and you will be able to call them to you whenever you like (even while they nap) from all over the house! Remember, as you work up to each step you should practice it several times a day. Feature image credit

Any dog owner that has spent time watching the Animal Planet network on television is familiar with the agility competitions and dog shows that pets can participate in. Dog shows are a difficult test of the mental relationship between dog and owner, while agility competitions test the ability of an owner and dog to connect emotionally and challenge the dog physically. As a dog owner, have you ever wondered if your beloved pet can handle either of these competitions? Below, you'll get a crash course in both of these competitions, providing information that could help you answer that question.   Dog shows First and foremost, your dog may not even be allowed to participate in a dog show. All American Kennel Club dog shows require entrants to be AKC registered purebred dogs. If your dog is registered with the AKC, there are still a number of hurdles it must clear to enter a show. Dog's participating in a show must be at least 6 months old, be of a breed that has a class offered in the premium listing for the dog show, and cannot be spayed or neutered.   If your dog meets all of these standards, it is time to learn how you can begin showing your dog. A good place to start would be visiting various dog shows and inquiring at club tables or tents about breed handling. Many clubs offer classes to help owners train their pets for participation in dog shows. These classes teach beginner information that helps owners learn how the basics needed for handling their dog in a show.   Should you decide to begin showing your dog, it is advisable to begin with match shows. These shows are commonly used for practice, for both training a dog for the show, and giving novice owners practice handling their dog in a competitive environment. These shows do not provide points toward an AKC title, but do offer a great way to practice and prepare for AKC events.   Agility competitions On the other end of the spectrum, agility competitions require both stellar obedience and the physical capability to succeed in a stressful environment. Younger dogs with active lifestyles are ideal for agility competitions, but physical ability is not enough to succeed. Owners must be able to exercise command over their dogs and need to be able to quickly navigate the course themselves as a guide for their pet.   Getting your dog into an agility competition requires practice, just like dog shows. There are agility camps and classes offered on a weekly basis around the country that prepare owners and dogs for the experience. Dogs get introduced to the concept of using their physical abilities in a focused manner, and teach owners how to use effective commands to guide their dog through each course.   There are agility camps offered by the American Kennel Club, United States Dog Agility Association, and the North American Dog Agility Council. It is advisable for any owner considering agility competitions to have a veterinarian verify that the dog is physically capable of competing. More importantly, it is a great idea to take the time to complete multiple camps to ensure both owner and dog can handle the demands of an agility competition.

If you share a cat with someone and then decide to move house, you may consider the idea of your pet living in two new homes. This is particularly evident when a relationship ends and both partners have a deep attachment to their feline companion. There are also work situations that might require your cat to move back and forth between two different places. While situations like this may work for you, you might wonder whether such an arrangement is really viable or fair for your cat. As it turns out, a lot hinges on the cat's personality and the specifics of your individual situation. If you're trying to make this difficult decision, make sure you consider all of the following. Is your cat an indoor or outdoor pet? If your cat is an indoor pet, you immediately eliminate some of the major reasons why living in two homes might be problematic. If you have an outdoor cat, you need to give some thought to hazards and confusions that can result. Specifically, it might be disorienting for your cat to be shifted from place to place on a regular basis, and some cats might have more trouble figuring out how to return home (or indeed figuring out what counts as home). In addition, reduced familiarity with an area poses more risks in terms of potential road traffic accidents, so there is an argument to be made for exposing your cat to as few outdoor environments as possible. Of course, you could always consider transitioning your outdoor cat to indoor life if you plan to have the pet live in two homes, but not all outdoor cats find this transition satisfactory. What is your cat's personality like? Some cats are laid back, relaxed creatures that will adapt very easily to sudden changes in circumstances (such as moving between two different homes). In contrast, fearful, elderly or clingy cats might find it quite traumatic to be shipped between two places on a regular basis. It's very important to take your cat's unique personality traits into consideration, so try to think about other situations in which your pet was challenged to cope with change. It's also worth thinking about whether two homes will mean more exposure to unfamiliar people, as socially anxious cats might find this jarring and it could promote withdrawn or fearful behavior in both homes. How does your cat react to traveling? Traveling is another important element of living in two homes. Even if your cat is a chilled out indoor pet, the arrangement becomes less viable if your cat hates being in the car. If traveling prompts your cat to yowl and scream, it may not be fair to ask your furry friend to endure this experience on a regular basis. However, if your cat finds car rides exciting or just boring, traveling between two homes may be viewed as no big deal. If you don't know what your cat thinks of the car, try some experimental drives and assess the reaction. Once you've taken into consideration your cat's temperament and ability to cope with change, you should hopefully be able to set up an arrangement that suits everybody! Feature image credit  

With the early release of the pumpkin spice latte (PSL), fall is coming faster than ever. Though your dog can’t enjoy a PSL, there are other fall foods that are okay to share with them. The following fruits and vegetables are considered in season for fall according to this site here. Of course there are many more produce items on the list, but these fives are the best ones to share with your dog: 1. Apples Apples are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Feel free to leave the skin on too; it’s full of plant chemicals that are thought to be cancer-fighting. The only part of the apple your dog can’t have is the core, which has seeds containing cyanide. They are only toxic in large amounts, so if they happen to eat a few, there’s no need to panic. 2. Beets Beets are packed with nutrition including vitamins A, B, C, iron, potassium, and magnesium, among other vitamins and minerals. If your dog has liver issues, beets are particularly beneficial because of their detoxifying qualities. 3. Cranberries Cranberries are rich with vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. They also promote urinary tract health, helping prevent UTIs. Too many cranberries could make your dog gassy, so only allow them to be eaten in moderation. 4. Green beans Green beans are filling and low in calories. In fact, they’re often fed to dogs as a main component in their diet to help with weight loss. 5. Pumpkin Pumpkin from the can is tasty and healthy, making it the ideal snack for your dog! It’s loaded with fiber and beta-carotene, and does wonders for the digestive system. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or constipation, consider feeding them pumpkin. Remember, human food is best shared with your dog in moderation! If you’re ever unsure of what people foods are okay to give your dog, hold off until you do your research.  

Human beings have a number of nervous ticks that are easily noticed by other individuals. One of the most common is biting finger nails. Many individuals associate this behavior with nerves or higher levels of stress. Extraordinarily, this same behavior is exhibited in dogs. Have you ever noticed this behavior in your dog?   Dogs, like other animals, are constantly grooming themselves by licking various regions of the body. You'll notice your dog licking its paws, legs, hindquarters, and even its nails. However, there is a difference between regular grooming and chronic behavior. Dogs prefers to have their nails kept at a shorter length, so sometimes, chewing nails is a sign that it's time for some regular grooming. In this case, trimming your dog's nails should solve the problem.   However, if trimming their nails does not resolve this issue, it is time to consider a few deeper problems that could be causing this irritation.   Your dog spends the day roaming through a variety of natural environments. Between playing outdoors, running around the house and eating, your dog can be exposed to a number of different allergens. Allergies to grass, pollen, and specific ingredients can leave your dog with itchy paws and nails. In order to relieve that itch, your dog is going to chew at the source of the problem.   Likewise, whilst playing around outdoors and running through the house, it is possible for your dog to pick up small injuries or fungal infections. If your dog suffers an injury to their paw, the open wound could become infected and lead to nail chewing. Signs of an infection include red, swollen, or sensitive nails.   Sometimes, like humans, nail biting is a sign of a mental health issue. Your dog may have neurotic tendencies, feel anxious, or even just be bored and find nail chewing as a good use of time. Separation anxiety could lead a dog that is left home alone to chew their nails to relieve nervousness. Likewise, dogs with pent up energy may chew their nails out of a lack of anything better to do.   How you deal with your dog's nail biting and chewing depends upon the root cause of the behavior. For dogs with allergies or infections, a visit to the veterinarian's office is the best way to discover the source of the problem. In the case of infections, your vet will be able to treat the wound and provide any medications necessary for continued treatment of the infection. A vet may have a hard time identifying a specific allergen, which means you will need to begin paying attention to interactions (food or environment) that bring out the behavior in your dog.   When it comes to mental conditions, the power to curtail the biting behavior is entirely in your hands. If your dog suffers separation anxiety, you'll need to work on reassuring them each time you leave the house and providing toys for them to chew on instead of their nails. If your dog chews out of boredom, the best course of action is to introduce more exercise, as well as physical and mental stimulation into their day. Feature image credit  

What do you do on the weekend? Do you catch up with friends and family, take a nap, or go grocery shopping? Maybe you try to keep fit and active by partaking in some exercise? If that's the case, we've uncovered what surely should be a new craze: exercising with your cat! Maybe it could be called catercise. Or cataerobics? Either way, it certainly makes breaking a sweat much more fun and the cats seem to enjoy it as well!    

We've all seen a cat with its back arched, ears flattened, mouth wide open, with their tail flicking behind them. But why? A cat’s hiss is a way of informing you that it’s agitated and doesn’t want you to come any closer or something worse will happen. Many experts believe that cats hiss to mimic snakes- with the hope that it leads to the animal to back off. Your cat may feel that they, or something they're protective of, is being threatened. To alleviate the hissing, it’s important to observe your cat's situation next time they are hissing. Ask yourself questions like: Does this behavior occur when strangers come over? Do thhe only hiss when you are handling him?  Common reasons for why your cat may be hissing include: Introducing a new pet such as a cat or dog Redirected aggression Being in pain Over-petting Poorly socialized when young Strangers - both humans and animals alike Once you identify why your cat is hissing, you can work towards preventing it. If your cat is hissing at a guest in your house it may help if you allow your cat to smell something that that person has handled, so they become used to their smell. If your cat is hissing while you pet him, it's possible they're in pain so schedule an appointment with your vet. Lastly, if the hissing seems to be directed towards a new cat, keep them segregrated and provide them with seperate litter boxes, bowls, and toys. Eventually your resident cat will warm up once they stop feling threatened. Remember that when your cat starts hissing, the best thing you can do is to let them calm down on their own. Give your cat some winding down time, and try talking to them in a soothing voice which could help reduce the anxiety they feel when hissing. Feature image credit

Eye contact has significance with dogs just as it does with humans. The meaning of eye contact differs between the human and dog worlds however. With people, making eye contact is simply politeness. It indicates you are paying attention and interested in what they have to say.   Dogs use eye contact instead as a dominance behavior. A stare is a statement. It declares: I am higher in the pack hierarchy than you. It is meant as a form of intimidation. Two dogs standing still, locked in a stare, usually explodes a few moments later in a flurry of growls and teeth.   A dog that purposefully makes eye contact with you before eating their dinner is likely warning you subtly away from their food. It is a threat, warning that if you come closer, they will defend their meal. Food possessiveness is a natural and common canine behavior but is to be strongly discouraged, as is the attempt to ‘overthrow’ you in the pack hierarchy.   One technique which can help dissolve food guarding is to ask your dog to sit before every meal. Until they follow your command, they will not receive their food. Then, serve only a quarter of their meal. Stay while they eat and finish what they have. Then approach, ask them to sit, and place in the next quarter. Repeat this process until they have finished their meal. Your dog will soon grasp they must be respectful to you around dinnertime and your approach likely means they will receive more food, not have it stolen.   Feature Image Credit

Hiding is common cat behaviour. However some overly shy and anxious cats can take to hiding constantly, and not just from strange visitors to the house but family members as well.     Reducing the stress levels of a timid cat is the best way to encourage them to emerge from their hiding places. Ask yourself what might be discomfiting them in your household. Is there another cat that might be bullying it? Or a dog? Are there loud noises outside due to construction next door?   If possible, remove the environmental factors that might be causing your cat distress. If you are unable to do so, try blocking it out. Playing slow rhythmic music has been suggested as a feline stress reliever which has the added benefit of masking outside crashing and banging. Strategically placed curtains can remove the sight of other cats and the view of strangers walking past the house that may be upsetting your cat.   Playtime is also important to relax nervous cats. Playing releases happy hormones that assist with reducing stress hormones. Plus – a cat that is fixating on a feather on the end of the string has less time to fret about the barking dog next door.   Pheromone technology can be a vital tool for cat owners with timid pets. By mimicking natural pheromones that relax cats, products that dispense the substance have been found to reduce anxiety related issues. Pheromone products include plug in diffusers, sprays, collars and wipes.    Feature Image Credit  

Bringing a new dog into your home can be a stressful as well as joyous occasion when you already have a ‘pack’ in residence. Your current dog or dogs make take some time to adjust to your new family member, especially if they are older and set in their ways.   The best time to bring home your new dog is simply when you have the greatest amount of time on your hands to dedicate to the introduction process. It is crucial the introduction be done carefully to diffuse the likelihood of your already established dog attacking the ‘intruder’ in their territory.   It is recommended the first meeting of the dogs take place away from your home, in a neutral area like a park or anywhere else your dog is unlikely to feel territorial over. Lead your dog and get another person to bring along the new dog. Allow the dogs to sniff and get to know one another. Go for a walk together, letting the dogs sniff where the other has walked.   When at home, it is advisable to only introduce the dogs for quite some time in controlled circumstances when you are present to watch them interact. Set the new dog up in a room of their own, such as the laundry, allowing the old dog to roam the places they used to freely. Alternate the dogs so the new dog has some time to explore their new home and the old dog some quiet time in confinement. This will allow them both get used to the smell of the other.   Let the dogs meet face to face only when you are present to divide them if aggression develops. If your new dog is a puppy, your adult dog will need plenty of timeouts even if they get on well immediately – puppy exuberance can be exhausting!   A cautious and patient approach can help establish a long-lasting friendship between pets with as little conflict as possible. With understanding on your part of the dog’s natural territorial nature, most dogs acclimatise to having a new friend join the family, and begin to relish having a new playmate to spend their days with.  Feature image credit