Science Explains How It Feels To Be A Cat

There are over 74 million cats in American households. These cute and furry companions light up the lives of cat parents in nearly 40 percent of homes in the United States. If you are one of these passionate cat owners, you know that their actions can be confusing. If cat behavior has you baffled, check out the following science-backed information to learn how it feels to be a cat.

Cats see things that are invisible to us

Have you ever visited a nightclub that uses black (UV) light? This UV light is outside of the range of light that we as humans can perceive. However, when black light shines on an item that contains phosphors, such as laundry detergent, cosmetics, urine or blood, we can see the reflection of the light.

According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, cats and some other mammals can see this ultraviolet (UV) light. Thus, our feline friends can see things that are invisible to humans such as urine trails, flickering lights on power lines and distinct patterns on flowers. This explains why your cat is afraid of the invisible boogieman.

Cats can be neurotic and impulsive bullies

If you are a cat, you feel like a lion. It is not surprising that the domestic cat evolved from the wild cats of Africa. According to a study by the Bronx Zoo and researchers at the University of Edinburgh, domestic cats exhibit personality traits similar to their larger counterparts, such as the Scottish wildcat, clouded leopard, snow leopard and African Lion. Specifically, this study found that domestic cats show dominance, impulsiveness, and neuroticism, much like the larger wild cats. In fact, domestic cats were reported to commonly exhibit traits such as bullying and aggressiveness.

Cats want to kill their toys

Cats are driven by their hunting instincts. According to cat researcher and author of the best seller Cat Sense, John Bradshaw indicates that play behavior mimics hunting behavior. He found that cats prefer furry, feathered toys that represent mice and spiders. In fact, he found that cats interact differently with mouse-shaped toys as opposed to rat-shaped toys. For example, cats are more careful with the larger rat-shaped toys, keeping them at arm’s length, because of their perceived danger. Also, he observed that cats’ enthusiasm for play increases when they are hungry.

Cats can read your mood

If you are a cat and your human returns home grumpy, you might feel like hiding in the closet. According to a study by Moriah Galvan and Jennifer Vonk of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, cats behave differently when their owners are smiling compared to when they were frowning. In the study, when cats saw that their owners were smiling, they exhibited affectionate behaviors such as purring or crawling into an owner’s lap. If the owner engaged in a negatively charged conversation or frowned during the study, the affectionate behaviors of the cats were less likely to occur. Naturally, cats use their emotional intelligence to their advantage. They know when you are in a good mood so they will give you some extra affection in exchange for a special treat.

Cats are just not into you

According to research by Daniel Mills, domestic cats do not show the signs of attachment that you would expect to their owners. In his research, he placed the pets in an unfamiliar room with their owner, a stranger and alone. Typically, with dogs and humans, the owner or parent is perceived as a secure base and the person or pet that are left alone or with a stranger exhibit distress. In the case of cats, they are relatively indifferent when left alone or with a stranger. In fact, the cats were just as happy to play with a stranger than their owner. He states that the human might just be a source of resources, such as food, water and safety to the cat. The good news is because of their independence and indifference, cats are great companions for those who work long hours or travel.

Cat social groups are like high school

Do you remember how it felt to be in high school? This is how it feels to be in a cat colony. We typically think of domestic cats as solitary animals, but according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, they are actually social animals. They form colonies that are similar to lion prides. They have hierarchies and it isn’t easy for a new cat to join a colony, especially for tomcats. New cats are typically driven away when attempting to join in, but can be gradually integrated over time if accepted by the group.

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Featured photo credit: Cat looking up/Barn Images via flic.kr

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6 Halloween Safety Tips for your Pets

Halloween is a fun holiday for many.  It’s a holiday filled with costumes, candy, pumpkins and more other halloween costume ideas. While we often think of safety tips for kids on Halloween, have you considered these for your pet?  Halloween can be a frightful holiday for pets, not just black cats.  We are sharing five Halloween Safety Tips for your pets to ensure 2- and 4-legged friends have a good time.  

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for your curious dog or cat.  Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener ,xylitol, can also cause problems.  Make sure you properly dispose of any wrappers; just the scent of the candy might have your pet interested in them.
2. Don’t leave your pet outside. Have them securely in the house, especially if you plan on leaving with your kids to trick or treat.  Additional activity outside can make pets nervous and you don’t want your pet taken from your property.
3. Pumpkin Safety.  While cooked pumpkin is sometimes recommended for your dog when they have a belly ache, uncooked pumpkin and decorative corn could cause gastrointestinal upset.    Additionally, consider using a battery operated light in your carved pumpkin.  Pets, especially curious puppies and kittens, can easily get burned or start a fire if they bump into a candle lit pumpkin.
4.  Trick-or-Treater Time:  Even if you pet is on the social side, all those door bells and kids can be stressful for your pet.  It is best to keep your pet in a quiet room or on leash when visitors come to the door.  Keeping your pet secured will prevent your pets from getting loose when you greet the trick or treaters.  
5. Collars and ID’s  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

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Thinking about giving out dog and cat treats?  You might want to reconsider. Giving a pet healthy food they aren’t used to could cause GI upset.  I would consider a ball or a safe cat or dog toy as a treat instead.  You can probably find them in bulk at your pet store.

Source: stayingclosetohome.com

Questions About Pet Health Care | Petsmart Coupons Blog

 Questions About Pet Health Care

Decisions about end-of-life care for pets are heart-wrenching for their owners. That’s even more so now than 10 or 20 years ago because new technology and advances in medical treatments have made their way down to pet care, meaning there are more ways to save or extend your pet’s life. But it also means more expense, if you choose to do so.

Here are some questions to consider.

Q.

As a pet owner, am I a bad person if I don’t have the money to do whatever it takes to save or extend my pet’s life?

A.

No, of course not. As long as you’ve given your pet the best life you could, that’s all they ask of you. It certainly is your responsibility as a pet owner to make sure you can provide and pay for basic veterinary care to your animal, along with food, toys, and lots of love. But not everyone can foot the bill for, say, a kidney transplant for their cat, or an amputation for their dog. Could you put it on a credit card? Would that hurt you financially? If you do pay for a high-cost surgery, will you be able to stay with and care for your pet while it recovers at home? You have to make those decisions, in consultation with your vet. But don’t be shy about asking your veterinarian about all the options available to you. You may want to set up a separate savings account, like a pet emergency fund, to prepare for inevitable medical costs for your pet(s).

Q.

What if I feel guilty about not going into deep debt to help my pet?

A.

Again, this is a very personal decision that you have to make, and it’s where a pet emergency fund can help make those decisions just a little bit easier. But if you love your pet, and have given it a wonderful life, you have to trust yourself to make the right decision. As we noted in the story, you also need to consider what kind of life your pet would have even if you pay to extend it through extraordinary measures. You also need to factor in what kinds of spending and saving decisions you will have to make if you do go into debt to save your pet. There is no one right answer for anyone. At a certain point, your heart will guide you just as much as your wallet will.

Q.

Is there any way to keep veterinary costs down without sacrificing care for my pet?

A.

Yes. The best way, just as with humans, is to keep current with annual checkups, and go to the veterinarian as soon as you think there may be something wrong. It’s always more expensive to treat an illness is advanced stages than it is to keep something from becoming a full-blown crisis.

You should also shop around for veterinary care. Call a few and ask what they charge for a basic exam (that is, to walk in the door). Ask friends who have pets what they pay for checkups and emergency care. Based on an admittedly unscientific survey (my friends), the average cost of an annual checkup in my area of Los Angeles is $50. It may be different where you live, but talking with other pet owners will give you a sense of what to expect. The ASPCA has a good breakdown of pet ownership costs, including medical. 

One big medical cost for pets that humans can also relate to is prescription medicine. You can often save money, and avoid a significant markup at the veterinarian’s office, by ordering the medicine online. Or go to a store like Walgreens or Target to have the prescription filled. Target even has a special program called PetRx that includes $4 generics.

Emergency care is another story, though. When your pet is in critical condition, you won’t be in a position to shop around. So look up the pet hospitals nearest you and do some research on your own before something happens to your pet. And never be afraid to ask about cost before your pet is taken away for surgery or any other procedure. For most of us, cost has to be a factor in our decision-making around pet care, and veterinary care providers know that.

Q.

How do I decide whether pet insurance is worth it for my animals?

A.

Pet insurance has had a bad rap for years. In its August 2011 issue, Consumer Reports compared three major pet policy providers and found that “only in uncommon cases, when a pet required very expensive care, would the coverage have more than paid for itself.” And those three providers represent 90 percent of the pet insurance market.

That’s because many policies have long lists of exclusions — illnesses the insurers won’t pay for — and most, if not all, do not cover pre-existing conditions or annual checkups. Pet insurance also operates on a reimbursement model, where you pay upfront and then are paid back after filing a claim.

As noted by Consumer Reports, there are exceptions, mostly when you face extreme situations like a kidney transplant or an amputation. In these cases, having pet insurance may make those decisions a little easier since some of the costs will be defrayed. But be sure you read the fine print if you decide to get a policy, because there are limits on how much the insurance company will pay. And you can guarantee the price of your policy will go up each time a pet needs critical care.

Tell us about your experience in dealing with the medical needs of your pet.

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How to Choose Healthy Food for Your Pet

Pet food labels include a lot of information on nutrient content. However, sometimes it is challenging to understand these labels and here is how to do it.


Choosing the right food for your pet can seem confusing sometimes. Do you even know what labels like “all natural” and “real beef flavor” even mean? It is often the case that animal protein gets added to pet food in the form of byproducts and scraps left from processing of food. Premium dog food often contains chicken byproducts like chicken feet as a source of protein.

Each state has its own regulations on pet food ingredients. Although the national standards for definitions, ingredients, and nutrient levels are regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the body has limited enforcement authority. AAFCO provides standards for what pet food labels should include but it doesn’t regulate pet food. What this means for you is that if you wish to choose the best and healthiest food for your pet, you should not only read the labels but also understand the basics.

Regrettably, food labels for pets are often misleading. The following outlines what you should look for.

– The name indicates what the content includes. Unless it includes 95 per cent pork, a label on pet foot cannot read “Pork for dogs”. If the type of meat is clearly mentioned on the food, it is usually what you get and it is safe to assume so.

– Beware of the word “dinners” on dog food. The 95 per cent rule has exceptions and these occur when manufacturers of pet food combine the name of meat with words such as platter, dinner, formula, nuggets and entrée. When you see such words, have in mind that the percentage of meat behind the label can be as low as 25 per cent.

– Stay away from the words “with” and “flavor” on dog food labels. According to Ulvilden German Shepherds, if a package of food is labeled “Pork Flavor Dog Food”, the food only needs to taste like pork, and it could solely consist of pork byproducts. Both words require from producers to include only 3 per cent meat per food.

– Pay no attention to superlatives. Clever terms like “gourmet” and “premium” are not subjected to regulations and have no meaning whatsoever.

– “Organic” and “natural” are not the same thing. There is no official definition for the term natural, which means it is indiscriminately used. In contrast, there is a strict legal definition behind the word “organic”, meaning the term can only be used if the food complies with the standards of the US Department of Agriculture.

Always be mindful of the health of your pet

Although regulations exist, manufacturers of pet foods use a lot of terms to label their products, and there have been a lot of cases in the past of inferior pet food making pets ill. In 2007 alone, thousands of dogs became sick and some 20 percent died as a result of eating pet food contaminated by melamine.

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Taking Your Pet on Outings & PetSmart Grooming Coupon

Planning to take your furry love along on your hiking or camping trip? Here are some important points to be kept in mind before taking the pet out for trip. First of all take your vet’s appointment & visit him/her before your plan. Because before you take your furry companion outdoors, you should take some steps to protect it against outdoor pests such as, fleas.

• Fleas: To protect your pet from fleas, uses good quality, year-round and monthly flea prevention flea treatment medications such as, Frontline Spot On For Dog & Cats, Frontline Plus, and so on.

• Ticks: Apart from fleas, ticks are also one of the biggest concerns of pet health. Ticks can carry & transmit a lot of dangerous diseases, such as Lyme disease, to your pet as well as to you. Consider using year-round flea & tick treatment for dogs & cats.

• Scabies: Scabies are intensely itchy rashes that are caused by some mites, generally carried on by foxes in the wild.
Wooded or grassy & meadow parts and areas are the good places for scabies and such areas harbor fleas & ticks, too.

Sun Protection

Usually a dog’s coat is enough to protect it from the heat & sunrays, however, if your dog has de-pigmented nose or bare patches, use a good sunscreen lotion for it. And you know your dog best—a hound that lounges belly up in a sunny meadow for too long could get a bit of a burn there, too.

Preventive Products & Their Application

Consider using good quality pet health care products such as, Frontline Plus, Fiprofort Plus, Advantix and so on for an effective pet flea tick control. You can get all such quality pet flea control products online at PetCareShoppe at affordable prices.

Also, if you have any doubt or your pet is already undergoing some other treatment, consult with your vet and ask him/her to recommend the best suitable product for your pet to prevent ticks & fleas, according to your pooch’s activity levels & the place where you are planning to travel with the pet.

Medications

Remember to take any medications that your canine friend takes daily because packing your pet’s medications is just as important as packing your own.

Overall Pet Health

Also ask the vet if your furball is up to the levels of the activities you have planned for it or to do with it; especially if the pet is undergoing any treatment.

So remember these points while planning an outing with your furry family member to make your trip safe & pleasant for you and your pet.

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Pet Care Tip : Giving Your Pet A Treat

Giving your pooch something special or rewarding it with delicious treats from time to time is not going to do any harm to you or your pooch and,in fact, can be useful in pet training sessions. However, giving these treats appropriately is important, too. Here are a few tips to mind while giving your pooch any treat;check it out:

Keep It Moderate

If treats are given in extra amount (no matter whether it is from your plate or store-bought) do not make a healthy diet for the pooch. So, if you are feeding your pup too many treats, it is going to only harm your furry friend.

Avoid Some Foods at Any Cost

Many people use human foods as pet treats, which fine to some extent because some people foods—for example, grapes, chocolate, raisins, onions, & garlic—are toxic to your furry love. Foods that are spiced too much can also upset the stomach & digestion process of your pup, resulting in causing vomiting, diarrhea, or even some dangerous illness such as pancreatitis.

Think before Giving Treat

If your pet gets its treats from your dish, your dog might trouble you every time you have your meal. And if your dog’s supposed to be losing weight, don’t give any treats at all.

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What to Look for While Getting Treats for Dogs

While choosing treats or chews for dog, be sure that you are getting something that your pup will love to eat and something that is appropriate for your dog’s health. When buying treats and/or food your pet (do not buy any cheap quality dog food online), check out the ingredients list of the product.

If the list includes ingredients you do not recognize or even can’t pronounce; it might just not be good for your pup. So be careful. You can try the Gourmet Dog Treats—Apples & Cheese Please which is totally a safe product for pets which contains no harmful chemicals or artificial coloring & fragrances. The product has a delicious taste that your pup will love! You can get this one of best dry foods for dogs online on PetCareShoppe at reasonable price.

So, always keep in mind the points mentioned above about dog treats and never feed your fur ball any human food that can be toxic for it or treats in excess amounts. As a pet owner, it’s all your responsibility how much & how healthy your canine love eats!

Source: blog.petcareshoppe.com

Easy Spring Pet Care Tips

Spring is here and so is many good and bad things related to it.

While good thing is the pleasant change of the weather and surroundings for humans and pets, still some bad news about is the range of diseases it has brought with it, especially for your adorable pets.
Don’t fret to allow your dogs and cats a free walk outside of the home’s vicinity to play and enjoy as by following some easy tips, you can even make spring a great joy for pets.

Look Out For Mood Changes/Behavioral Changes In Pets

A jolly and happy dog if suddenly loses its cool and stops reacting to your orders or even for foods, it’s time to rush him to a known pet vet and check for possible allergy reactions and more.

Dog Scratching Too Much

While a bit of scratching is a part of their daily chore, too much of scratching must be seen with observing eyes as it could be some allergy reactions bothering or even worse, yes, the flea & tick attacks. Keep a known flea medicine such as Frontline Plus For Dogs keep out all kinks easily sans side-effects.

Dog Down & Out

Dog may not be that spunky in spring and it could be due to decreased energy levels or dehydration. Make sure you are providing it adequate water and pet vet approved food supplements to keep him going, perk up its immune system to beatcommon diseases.

Sometimes It’s Cool & Sometimes Gold

Yes, sometimes spring feels like a cool breeze and sometimes too hot, especially during the day. Thus, try to care about its clothing especially during night and don’t let temperature fluctuations hamper its health.

Thus, what are you still waiting for? Simply ensure that you are following aforementioned inexpensive and easy-to-follow spring pet care tips.

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Source: blog.petcareshoppe.com

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10 Differences Between Dog Lovers And Cat Lovers

A tale as old as time: cat lovers pitted against dog lovers in a battle over who’s really got life figured out. Assumptions have been made and stereotypes created in attempts to settle the score in the past, but science has come to the rescue to set the record straight. The definitive answer? Well, it’s still a bit biased depending on your stance. Why? Because just like they do in pet preference, cat and dog lovers seek and prefer different qualities in life and relationships than dog people. In a study of 600 college students, researchers found that each group shared similar (maybe controversial) characteristics according to their furry friend of choice. Allow me to explain with a list of the 10 most significant differences between dog lovers and cat lovers that were pulled from this study!

1. Dog lovers listen
Not too surprisingly, dog people tended to be more obedient in nature. According to an article in the Huffington Post, dog lovers “followed the rules more closely”, while cat lovers “tended to be non-conformists, preferring to be expedient rather than follow the rules”. Those of you who’ve ever tried to call your cat to you when you have company over probably understand this one.

2. Cat lovers are smart
This is where things get controversial. In the study, cat people scored higher on the test of intelligence than dog people. While this doesn’t necessarily hold true to all people in each group, higher intelligence test scores tended to fall within the cat-people category.

3. Dog lovers keep things lively
Live Science’s article on this same study also noted that dog people were more lively. Meaning that they were friendlier and more energetic. Cat people, on the other hand, didn’t seem to carry the same qualities as frequently in the study.

4. Cat lovers keep an open mind
As with the intelligence finding, this doesn’t necessarily mean that dog owners are the opposite. Rather, cat people were more consistently found to be a bit more open minded than were the dog lovers. This was based on general appreciation of art, unusual ideas, adventure, and an overall sense of curiosity and experience.

5. Dog lovers love people
It’s no secret, cats can be a bit standoffish. In this same way, their owners tend to be less outgoing as well. Dog owners, however, were found to enjoy the company of others more. A potential reason for this was offered by the Huffington Post, noting that the lifestyle of a dog owner is a bit more active to begin with as owners take their pets outside and to parks where they have more opportunity to socialize with others.

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6. Cat lovers seek affection, dog lovers look for companionship
Maybe not so surprising but interestingly noted in the Live Science article was that cat people seek affection from their pets while dog people were more after companionship. Study researcher Denise Guastello notes on this that “It’s possible that people may select pets based on their own personality. For example, cats are often seen as independent animals that keep to themselves, and are cautious of others.”

7. Cat lovers are sensitive
Often times, people see sensitivity as a bad thing. This isn’t necessarily the case. Cat people were found to be more sensitive in this study, while dog owners showed fewer signs of sensitivity in provided tests.

8. Dog lovers represent a larger portion of people
Live Science reported that 60% of study respondents said they preferred dogs while just 11% reported a preference for cats (the rest said they either like both animals equally or didn’t like either animal). Looks like dog owners win the popularity vote!

9. Cat lovers prefer solitude
According to research reported by Modern Dog magazine, cat owners were one third more likely to live alone and twice as likely to live in an apartment or flat. Dog ownership was more closely related to living in a house with a spouse and/or family members.

10. Dog lovers are dominant
In the same study reported on by Modern Dog magazine, researchers noted that cat owners tended to possess fewer qualities associated with dominance than dog owners. These qualities included assertiveness, self-confidence, forcefulness, and persistence.

Source: lifehack.org

How to Get Kids to Take Care of Pets

“What do I have to do to get Austin to feed the dog?”

“I’m so sick of having to walk the dog. Sophie begged us to get a dog. She said she’d do all the work. Now I end up doing everything. I’m tired of it.”

“We’ve tried bribes, a sticker chart, taking away privileges … nothing works. I’m at my wit’s end with Tyler. Max is HIS dog! Why can’t he understand that?”

“Hailey runs off to play with her friends and just leaves everything for me to do. I’m tempted to stop going behind her to make sure it gets done. If she doesn’t feed the dog, he doesn’t get fed. Period.”

“If the girls aren’t going to take care of the dog, we’re just going to take it back.”

I’ve heard this type of comment from frustrated moms repeatedly over the years. There’s one thing that eliminates all this stress and drama. It’s the one solution you probably don’t want to hear, but here it is.

    Mom, no matter whose dog it is, it’s your dog. If you don’t want to take care of a dog, then don’t get a dog.

Ouch.

But think about it. Dads and kids love their dogs, but no matter whose dog it is, mom is the one who makes sure it’s fed, takes it to the vet, remembers vaccinations, remembers to refill the water even when everyone else forgets, housebreaks it, notices every limp and bump … even fixes a comforting place for the dog to stay during fireworks and trick-or-treating.

We can either resent this responsibility and create all sorts of drama for everyone, or we can embrace it and be not only better dog owners, but better wives and parents, too.

What if we looked at pet ownership as a great opportunity to train and teach our children, and walk alongside our kids as they learn? When children are raised with dogs, they learn about treating animals with compassion. They learn about the circle of life. And yes, they learn about responsibility. But putting an eight-year-old in charge of another living thing is not the way to teach these things. It’s unfair to both the child and the dog.

Here’s how to raise your kids with dogs and let them take part in their care.

YOUNGER KIDS

If your children are under 10, give them jobs to do that you can do with them. If your son’s job is to feed the dog, be sure you do it with him so you can see how much food he’s giving the dog, and verify that the dog has been fed. There’s no opportunity for him to forget. He gets into the healthy habit of doing something faithfully every day. It’s enjoyable, and he has the security of knowing that you’ll ensure that the two of you get it done. Feeding time turns into one-on-one time with mom, which totally rocks. Your son will look forward to this special time when you and he do something together, and you’ll find that he guards that time fiercely. As you do, there will be dozens of conversations about dog health, how the digestive system process food, why we all need food, how a dog’s diet differs from our diet … and so much more. This is good talk time. And when he’s older, you’ll be glad you got him in the habit of working and talking together.

OLDER KIDS

If your children are old enough to do some of the dog’s care duties by themselves, that does’t mean you abdicate responsibility for them. Check behind them. Verify that the job has been done. Every time. Every day. Not in a nagging way, but with a heart that says, “The kids help, but this is my responsibility.” Accountability will help your children to avoid the all-too-common slide into the habit of not doing something if they don’t feel like it.

When it’s time to feed the dog, a child can focus on the job, or she can focus on whether she feels like doing the job. If she focuses on her feelings, she’ll almost always talk herself out of it. Teaching children to act on their values rather than their feelings is very difficult in today’s culture. If she doesn’t learn to do the right thing in spite of how she feels, how will she ever do anything long enough to get good at it? How will she do her history homework on time? When she’s an adult, how will she get up every morning and go to work? How will she stay faithful to her husband? How will she restrain herself to a healthy diet, or get to the gym?

Show your child she must follow through on her responsibility to feed the dog. Don’t give her a way out. Help her develop the habit of rain-or-shine dependability. It’s better to verify that it’s done every day than to disengage from the process and then punish when it doesn’t get done. When you help her to remember every day, you’re on her side. You’re helping her. You’re teaching her. When you leave it up to her, and then take away privileges when the inevitable neglect occurs, you’re teaching her to resent the dog, the work, and you. Instead of seeing the dog as a beloved family member and taking pride in her role in caring for it, she’ll start resenting responsibility, which will set her up to be a child all her life.

“GIVING UP” TEACHES THE WRONG THINGS

Some parents at the end of their rope desperately cast about for big-impact ways to show their kids how important it is to care for their pets. They threaten to stop feeding the dog if the child forgets, or they threaten to give the dog away. These solutions are not fair to the dog and they’re damaging to kids.

Giving up on a pet weakens a child’s sense of security. Your kids need to know that you’ll be there for him no matter what. When you demonstrate a lack of concern for the health, comfort and security of a pet, the child will internalize it. He’ll start to wonder, “If I’m too much trouble or expense, what will happen to me?” Is it rational? No. But children aren’t rational. The younger they are, the more feelings-driven they are. And they need security more than almost anything else.

Isn’t it better to teach them how to be faithful to another living thing? Isn’t it easier on the parents, too? There’s so much less drama, fewer arguments, lower stress, less anger and less resentment if mom just takes responsibility for the family dog.

Parenting is tough. I think we get into a habit of looking for solutions that will give us less to do. This one takes more time, and we don’t like solutions that take more time. But it does make our lives easier, our relationships closer, our kids better, our self respect higher, and our dogs happier.

Let’s all stop worrying about what’s fair and do what’s best.

And you know what? At the end of the day, the dog knows. She know who loves her, who watches out for her, who knows her best, who’s always there. The hidden blessing peeks out when your dog curls up on your lap and looks up at you as if to say, “Thanks, mom.”

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Source: funstufffordogs Blog