Buddy & Porky’s Pet Advice: Heeling A Dog, Bringing A Cat Indoors
By Buddy & Porky and the Oswego County Humane Society
Dear Buddy,
How do I teach my new puppy to heel when we are walking?
Mike
Dear Mike,
Thanks for writing. I am not sure you want your puppy to heel, which means that he matches his shoulder to your knee perfectly. I will assume you want to leash train him to walk nicely with you, not yank and pull you down the street. The best way to train is through praise and reward. The reward for walking without pulling on the leash is praise and the walk you are taking him on. The opposite would be to stop the walk when he tugs the leash, wait for the leash to loosen, then praise him and begin the walk again. Another way to show you are in charge is to turn direction when he tugs, and a firm “No†for his pulling. Lavishing praise and affection when he loosens the leash is the best reward for him. If he’s young and resists the collar and leash, know he’ll get used to them in a short time. Whatever you do, don’t pick him up and carry him, and don’t let him walk beside you without the leash until he has been successfully leash trained. You will create an uncontrollable situation with your dog. With patient training, in a short time, he’ll be walking nicely with you and you can really enjoy your walks. There is new research that suggests not using a choke collar to train; it seems many dogs will just live with the choking, coughing all the way through the walk and not learn to walk properly. Never use a choke collar on a young puppy or dog that may have neck or throat problems. There are head collars, or head halters that will train even the strongest leash puller more easily. Begin with a shorter leash of 4 feet for young puppies. The sooner you can begin with your puppy, the easier it will be to train him. Good Luck!
Dear Porky,
I adopted a cat, and I want to keep it inside, although it’s been an outside cat. Can I do that? I heard that once they go outside, you can’t keep them inside?
Eve
Dear Eve,
Thanks for your letter and thanks for taking one of us home!
The truth behind making an outside cat an inside cat is that it’s totally possible with patience and persistence. Begin by making sure he has lots of toys, a clean litter pan, and your attention. Have a place he can sun himself near a window, and watch the doors when open to prevent him from escaping. Over time, he’ll adjust to being a house cat and you will be happier knowing that he will not be run over, poisoned, or stolen. He won’t suffer the dangers of rabies, fleas, ear mites, or other internal parasites. He won’t suffer at the paws of other cats by fighting, or be chased away from your home by dogs or wild animals. And your neighbors won’t complain about him if he’s never outside.
If someone has a kitten they are bringing into their home, the best thing they can do for it is to make it an indoor cat only. One that has never gone outside will not want to go out. You can leash train your cat to go outside, if you are going to be outside with it, but never leave it on a leash without direct supervision. Good luck and remember to keep a close eye on your guy until he no longer runs to the door. He will adjust in time.
The Oswego County Humane Society provides information and referral to all pet owners in Oswego County, humane education programs and publications, low cost spay/neuter services for cats in low income households, and fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need. We are located at 265 West First Street, Oswego, New York 13126. Phone: (315) 207-1070. Email: ochscontact@hotmail.com. And you can see our pets for adoption at www.oswegohumane.org.
