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You Can Teach Your Cat to Sit In 10 minutes!

Think cats can’t be trained? Most cats love being trained, they get to be the center of your attention and eat yummy treats! You can teach almost any cat to sit in less than 10 minutes. The trick is having a bribe (treat) that your cat really really wants. Experiment a bit, there are lots of treats to try, and every cat is different! Of course, you’ll have to repeat the routine for your kitty to remember it. Repetition and consistency are the hallmarks of all good training.

Place your cat on an elevated surface, such as a table. It may assist you if the cat’s back is to a wall. Allow kitty to get a good whiff of your bribe. When the cat shows interest, slowly raise the morsel (you may place the goodie in a teaspoon or between your fingers) along an invisible line from the cat’s nose to a point between its ears. Don’t raise the treat too quickly or too high over the cat’s ears. Say the cat’s name, the command “sit,” and then click the clicker while presenting the reward when kitty does what you want. Now, praise your smart cat, and pet her.

If the cat isn’t following the treat, either your kitty isn’t hungry, you’re waving the treat too high above the cat or that goodie doesn’t smell good enough.

Repeat these training sessions often enough and eventually your cat will sit at your feet whenever he or she is in the mood for a treat. Don’t overdo compliance, or you’ll have a cat who is training you. Ask friends and relatives to command your cat to “sit” for a treat. Soon, Kitty will be more outgoing, and more interested in “sitting” for your guest, hoping for the possibility.

This article is a reprint from our friends over at Purina® Cat Chow® and their wonderful Cat and kitten Care Library.

How Do I Rehome My Labrador Retriever?

If you’re asking “how do I rehome my Labrador Retriever,” you’ve likely decided you can no longer keep your pet. Making a decision like this is not easy and you may be unsure on what your next steps should be. You’ll have a few options when it comes to rehoming your dog, including surrendering her to a shelter, working with a rescue, or rehoming her yourself.

Surrendering Your Labrador Retriever to a Shelter 

This is often the first thing that comes to mind because it’s fast and easy—but it’s important to understand all possible outcomes. Shelters work very hard to find homes for all the dogs in their care, but this isn’t always possible. Talk to the shelter operators about their policies before making this choice.

Working with a Rescue

If you can find a reputable private rescue with space for your dog, this is an excellent option. The problem is that great rescues are usually full and can have long waiting lists. Try breed-specific rescues and keep in mind that you might have a better chance if you communicate with the rescue that you’re able to keep your dog until space opens up.

Rehoming Your Dog Yourself 

Rehoming your Labrador Retriever yourself allows you to stay in control of the situation until you find her a suitable new home. Plus, you’re able to choose the home yourself—and who knows where your dog will be happy better than you?

You might not be sure how to go about finding a new home for your pet, but there are many helpful resources available. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com offers expert advice, allows you to create a pet profile (you can even include a video!), collect applications from potential adopters, and more.

Taking the time to find the right home is the best way to ensure both your dog’s happiness and your peace of mind! 

Why Is My Cat Attacking My Other Cat?

There are many possible reasons why your cat might be attacking your other cat including lack of space, social maturity, a medical issue, or environmental changes. Fortunately, solutions can usually be found that allow the cats to continue to live together and to overcome their aggression.

Since you can’t just ask your cats what’s wrong, pinpointing the reason for aggression will usually be a process of elimination that involves simply trying various solutions. Note that if the behavior started after the cats had been together some time, a medical issue may be to blame. When a cat is in pain or uncomfortable, he/she may show signs of aggression, even if he is typically docile.

Once medical issues have been ruled out, there are other things to try to reduce cat to cat aggression.

Give Cats Their Own Space 

Cats like to have their own space and can be quite territorial. Having to share a small space, food bowls, and litter boxes is a common reason for aggression. While you probably can’t expand your home, you can add space for the cats by providing additional perches, kitty condos, or even investing in an outdoor cat enclosure that allows cats to safely spend time outdoors.

Also, place food and water bowls and litter boxes (one litter box per cat plus one additional litter box works best!) for each pet, so the cats won’t have to share. 

Provide an Escape 

If one cat tends to be passive, install a collar-controlled cat door that leads to a quiet room. Only place the collar on the cat that gets bullied. This will allow him a way to get away from the aggressor and give the bully cat a cooling off period. 

Pheromones 

Many cat owners have had great success by using pheromones to stop one cat from attacking the other cat. These products, which come in spray and diffuser form, calm cats and are, in some cases, a very effective way to eliminate fighting.

Time Apart 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe not, but it will give you a chance to properly and slowly reintroduce the cats. Check out our blog article Introducing a New Cat or Kitten to Your Cats for more guidance. 

If the methods above are unsuccessful, enlist the help of an animal behaviorist. The good news is that in the majority of cases, with time and patience, the issue can be resolved to the point that the cats will be able to live together peacefully—even if they aren’t the best of friends. 

Why Is My Dog Peeing on My Bed?

Dogs may pee on your bed for many reasons including a medical condition, excitement, leaving their scent, or because they are anxious. While it’s frustrating, it’s important not to yell at or punish your dog, as that isn’t likely to stop the behavior. Instead, work to pinpoint the reason for the inappropriate urination so you can address it properly.

How to Deal With Inappropriate Urination 

So you’ve had to strip your bed more times than you’d like this week, and you’ve considered buying stock in urine odor removal products. Whether a new puppy or a dog you’ve had for years, it’s just plain frustrating when your dog urinates where he shouldn’t—especially when it’s on your bed.

Here are some things to consider:

  • If your dog is a very young puppy, there is a good chance the behavior will stop on its own. Puppies haven’t yet learned to control their bladders, so they may urinate anywhere. As they grow and gain better control, it’s likely to stop.
  • If the behavior started suddenly, see a vet right away. When a housebroken dog suddenly starts peeing on the bed, there is a good chance a medical condition is to blame. Diabetes, urinary tract infections, and spinal injuries are a few examples. You’ll want to make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.
  • Note what happened just prior to the accident. As mentioned above, there are many reasons a dog may pee on the bed, including anxiety and excitement. Did you come in the room and pay lots of attention to the dog just before he urinated? It’s probably due to excitement. Did something startle or frighten him just before? It was likely anxious or nervous urination.
  • Occasional accidents can happen with any dog. Even a very well-trained dog may have the occasional accident. If it’s just a one off occurrence, you probably don’t have much to worry about. 

If the problem is ongoing, a medical reason has been ruled out, and you can’t find a solution, enlist the help of an animal behaviorist who can work with you to try and stop the behavior. In the meantime, consider locking the pet out of your bedroom, or only allowing the pet in your bedroom while on a leash or in a crate so he can’t get on your bed. This will protect your bedding and mattress until you are able to resolve the issue. 

Where Can I Put a Shih Tzu Up for Adoption?

You can put your Shih Tzu up for adoption in many locations online and offline. The important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll always want to ensure that your dog goes to the best home possible, and this can take some work on your part. However, you’ll feel much better about the situation when you do.

No one imagines a scenario where they might have to give up their dog, but it happens. Perhaps you have to move to a location that won’t allow dogs– even a small, sweet dog like your Shih Tzu. Maybe you feel that you can’t take care of him properly any longer because of your health reasons or other issues. Regardless of the reason, you have no choice but to give up your dog for adoption. What’s the best way to go?

What Are Your Options?

The first option you’ll want to consider is family and friends. You may know someone in your family who has been talking about adopting a dog. Maybe they would like to adopt your Shih Tzu. This would be a great scenario since you already know whether they would be a good fit for your dog. It helps to provide you with some additional peace of mind.

You may not have anyone in your family or group of friends that can adopt your dog, of course, so you’ll want to find other options. The Internet can help to make this easier thanks to pet adoption sites. Be sure you’re using reputable sites and not classified ad sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Instead, choose Rehome. This is a platform from the largest pet adoption site in North America, Adopt-a-Pet.com. It’s a peer-to-peer pet adoption services that’s easy to use and that provides some features to ensure your dog gets the right new owner. On the site, you’ll fill out a detailed profile of your dog, which is then seen by potential adopters along with any photos or videos you add.

You must take the time to create a detailed profile that highlights all of the wonderful things about your Shih Tzu, as well as some of his “not so great” quirks and behaviors. For example, if he doesn’t get along with other small pets, this is something you’ll want to note. After all, you won’t want him in a home where he won’t feel comfortable and where the family might have to turn around and give him up.

Can Dogs Be Adopted from Shelters and Rescues?

Dogs are often adopted from shelters and rescues, but it’s never a guarantee. When you take your dog to a rescue, as long as they have available space for your dog, they’ll house him until he’s been adopted. However, there are not always enough people looking to adopt. With shelters, they’ll hold your dog for a certain period. After the period has passed, they may need to euthanize. Shelters try their best to find people to adopt, but it doesn’t always happen.
Always take the time to consider what’s best for your dog and help find him the perfect new home. 

How Do I Find a Good Home for My Golden Retriever?

You can find a good home for your golden retriever by being patient and taking the time to find the right adopters before rehoming her. Golden retrievers are popular dogs because they’re fun, friendly, and always adorable. While this often makes it easier to find good homes for them, you’ll still have to put in some work to ensure that you find an ideal new owner. Let’s look at some tips on how you can make sure you find her a great new home.

Consider Whether You Could Keep Your Golden Retriever

Giving up your golden retriever is sad, and it’s probably something that you never thought you’d have to do. However, you might feel like you don’t have any other choice. Before you give up hope, consider why you need to give her up, and see if there are resources available that could help you keep her.

For example, if you have to go out of town for work for a month or two, rather than rehoming her, see if you know anyone who could watch her for that time. If she has some behavior issues, consider hiring a trainer. If you’re having financial trouble and worry about caring for her, you can reach out to animal welfare organizations in your area to see if they know of pet food pantries or have other programs for owners facing hardships.

Of course, if you’re in an inflexible situation and you know you cannot keep your golden retriever, you’ll want to put in the work to find her a great new home.

You Know Your Dog Best

You know your dog better than anyone else, so you’ll know the type of home where she’ll do the best. Does she need to get out and get a lot of exercise like most dogs? Does she love spending time in or near water? Does she have any health issues? Maybe she had a bad experience with a cat when she was younger.

Consider all of the facets of your dog’s personality as you look for a potential new home for her. You want to be sure that she’ll be happy and will do well with her new family.

Look to Family and Friends

If you know anyone in your family who might be looking to adopt a dog or someone in your friend group that’s mentioned it, talk with them. They might want to adopt your dog. Golden retrievers have a great reputation as being friendly and great family dogs, so you might have some people already in your life that would love to have her.

Try a Pet Adoption Site

You can also find a range of pet adoption sites that can help you find potential adopters. It’s important that you rehome_research the site you’re considering first, and that you choose an option that won’t require you to pay anything to give up your dog. The rehoming fees should only be charged to those who adopt her.

Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is a reputable and easy to use option. The peer-to-peer adoption service is free to owners and will allow you to post your pet directly on Adopt-a-Pet.com for millions of pet seekers to see. You can create a profile for your dog with a bio, photos, and videos. This will let the potential adopters learn more about her before filling out an adoption application. Rehome allows you to review the applications and finalize the adoption contract, they’ll also provide tips along the way to help you determine whether an applicant is a good fit for your dog. You won’t be left will all the guess work and uncertainty of trying to rehome completely on your own. 

Do You Have to Pay to Rehome a Catahoula Leopard Dog?

If you’re the owner, you won’t have to pay to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog. Instead, the rehoming fees are paid by the person who will be adopting your dog. The only time that an owner might have to pay when they’re giving up their dog would be when taking them to a shelter or a rescue. These organizations will often charge surrender fees. The cost of the fees will vary, but they generally start at $50.

Why Charge Rehoming Fees?

If you’ll be giving your dog to someone you don’t know, you’ll want to charge the new owner a rehoming fee. You might be wondering why you should charge a fee if you’re desperate and need to have someone take your dog quickly. Wouldn’t it just be easier to give your dog away?

When you give away your dog, though, you never know who will come to get him. Although most people don’t like to think about it, some people are looking for free dogs for nefarious purposes. They might want to sell the dogs to a lab. Others might be looking for fighting dogs. When you charge a rehoming fee, it can cut these types of people out of the equation. After all, they don’t want to pay for the animals they get. They’re looking for free options instead.

The rehoming fees are there to help keep your dog safe. If you feel bad about making money when you give up your dog, you can always donate it to a rescue or an animal charity.

Do Shelters and Rescues Have Rehoming Fees?

You’ll find that shelters and rescues that sell or let people adopt charge fees, too. They often call them adoption fees, but they’re the same thing and they serve much the same purpose. Additionally, the fees charged by these organizations are typically used as a way to help the facility stay afloat.

The cost of the adoption fees and rehoming fees can vary based on the shelter. They’ll generally start at $50, but they can be quite high for purebred dogs, particularly those that are still young. If you’re going to rehome your dog on your own, learn what the common rehoming fees are in your area and charge something similar.

Use Rehome to Make the Process Easier?

If you would like to make it faster and easier to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog, consider using Rehome. This is an online pet adoption platform that lets you have control over who adopts your dog. You can create a bio, add photos and videos, and upload them to the site. People who are interested in adopting can then check out the site and peruse the profile. If they feel they’ll be a good match for your dog, they’ll fill out an application that you can then review.
The site is free for owners to use, and the adopters only have to pay a small rehoming fee similar to what they’d pay at a shelter or rescue. This way, you aren’t responsible for collecting the rehoming fee. It’s fast, easy, and helps to keep your dog safe. 

Photo credit: John

Why Is My Dog Peeing a Lot?

Common reasons for your dog peeing a lot include diabetes, urinary tract infections, and aging. Certain medical conditions can be treated, which will often alleviate the frequent urination. Other causes, however, such as aging, may not be resolved. The first order of business when you notice frequent urination, or any other change in your pet’s bathroom habits, should be a visit to your vet for a thorough exam. 

Is Frequent Urination Dangerous? 

On its own, frequent urination isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it could be, as mentioned above, the sign of a potentially serious medical condition. Your vet will know exactly what to screen for, so you’ll be able to quickly find out if a particular medical problem is causing the condition.

If it is, treatment may be able to help with the issue. Some conditions may require simple treatment, such as a round of antibiotics for a UTI. Others, such as diabetes, may require ongoing medication and other treatment.

What If The Problem Can’t Be Corrected? 

Many pet owners live with aging dogs and those who suffer incontinence for various reasons. This alone isn’t necessarily impacting the dog’s quality of life, and it’s a pretty easy situation to handle. Solutions could be as simple as installing a doggy door so your pet can go out whenever he needs or just taking him on more frequent walks.

Another option that works for busy pet owners is to purchase belly bands for male dogs and diapers for female dogs. Both reusable and disposal belly bands and diapers are available. While it may take a little getting used to, this is a simple way to deal with living with an incontinent pooch. 

Can An Aggressive Dog Be Rehabilitated?

In most cases, an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated. Even when the aggression stems from long-term abuse, there is still hope with the right treatment.

First Steps in Rehabilitating an Aggressive Dog  

If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, be hopeful—but don’t ignore the problem. Aggression isn’t going to go away on its own. You need to actively deal with the issue and find the right help from your vet or a skilled, experienced animal behaviorist.

The first thing you need to do is find professional help, and let them guide things from there. Look for someone who specializes in working with aggressive dogs. A general dog trainer may not have the skills to handle the needs of an aggressive dog.

Note that if the behavior came on suddenly, it’s likely a medical issue. In that case the aggression will likely cease once the medical problem is addressed.

Until you can get help, keep your dog away from the situations that trigger the aggression. Also, isolate your dogs from other people, children, and other pets. The last thing you want is for your dog to attack or bite someone. Protecting your dog from situations in which that could happen is the responsible thing to do.

Be patient with your dog, follow the advice and guidance of the animal behaviorist, and give your dog every chance at the happy, healthy life he deserves.