New Puppy or Kitten?

First steps in puppy and kitten training

Bringing a new puppy or kitten into the home can be extremely stressful and emotional for both you and your pet so it is vital to get things right from the start. We can all unwittingly encourage bad behaviour by ‘rewarding’ our errant youngster with attention when they have misbehaved. Hopefully the tips below will help get you off to a good start and if you have any problems please don’t hesitate to talk to one of our nurses.

Tips for well behaved pups:

• Do allow your puppy to explore their new surroundings in their own time. Don’t force them into situations that they may find overwhelming and provide a quiet place that they can escape to if they wish.  
• Do set ground rules – they may be cute but if you don’t want them on the settee or bed when they are older then don’t let them get on when they are young. Remember also that the tiny pup that cuddles up on your lap now may grow into a weighty adult.
• Do be consistent. Everyone involved must stick to the same rules and routine whenever possible.
• Do provide lots of toys for your puppy. These will provide great stimulus for times when you are busy or not around.
• Do take time to introduce your puppy to lots of different sights (bicycles/horses/wheelchairs), sounds (vacuum cleaner/traffic noise/school playground), people (old/young/hats) and experiences (cars/bridges/pelican crossings) so that these become routine and your pup will not be fearful of them in later life. The range is endless but well socialised puppies rarely develop behavioural problems.
• Do regularly examine between toes, through coats and in mouths and ears. It will help you monitor the health of your pup and also make it much easier to give worm tablets or treat any problems in later life.
• Do exercise your puppy regularly – it will do you both good! If you need guidelines as to what is appropriate at each age please talk to one of the nurses.
• Do start training early – continuously praise and reward good behaviour and if possible enrol your pup in puppy classes.
• Don’t reprimand your puppy for naughty acts that happened in your absence. He will misunderstand and become fearful of you.
• Don’t leave young children alone with young pups.
• Do try to gradually learn your puppy’s body language. Being able to work out if they are happy, sad or uncomfortable will make training much easier.
• Do remember that any changes in your life or routine will also affect your pup.
• Do have a huge amount of fun and if ever you think you’re starting to run into problems do make an appointment to chat to Allison our behaviourist.

Tips for well behaved kittens:

• Do allow your kitten to explore their new surroundings in their own time. Don’t force them into situations that they may find overwhelming and provide a quiet place that they can escape to if they wish.
• Do ensure that your kitten can easily get to their litter tray
• Do gradually introduce any older cats that you may have to the new arrival as cats are naturally protective of their own environment and don’t like sharing their space
• Do set ground rules – they may be cute but if you don’t want them on the settee or bed when they are older then don’t let them get on when they are young.
• Do be consistent. Everyone involved must stick to the same rules and routine whenever possible.
• Do provide lots of toys and scratching posts for your kitten. These will provide great stimulus for times when you are busy or not around.
• Do handle your kitten as much as possible from a young age and introduce them to as many different people as possible.
• Do regularly examine between toes, through coats and in mouths and ears. It will help you monitor the health of your kitten and also make it much easier give worm tablets or treat any problems in later life.
• Do practise putting your kitten in a basket and possibly taking them out in the car.
• Do play with your kitten regularly
• Don’t reprimand your kitten for naughty acts that happened in your absence. He will misunderstand and become fearful of you.
• Don’t leave young children alone with young kittens.
• Do try, over time, to learn your kitten’s body language. Being able to work out if they are happy, sad or uncomfortable will make training much easier.
• Do remember that any changes in your life or routine will also affect your kitten.
• Do have a huge amount of fun and if ever you think you’re starting to run into problems do make an appointment to chat to Allison our behaviourist.