Pets can enrich your life and bring you countless hours of joy and happiness, but they can also be quite the handful sometimes! If you’ve been looking for ways to better your pet’s behavior, we’ve compiled 10 ways to change your pet’s behavior now and keep him or her happy in the long run. Here are some tips you may want to consider next time you find yourself seeking advice on how to improve your pet’s behavior.
1) Change How You Communicate
In order to change your pet’s behavior, it is important that you communicate with them in a way they understand. For instance, if your pet has separation anxiety, try taking them for a walk before you leave the house. This will help them associate your departure with something positive and reduce their stress when you leave.
2) Exercise Your Pets
Exercising your pet is not only a great way to keep them healthy, but it also provides mental stimulation and exercise. Give them a good walk or throw the ball around in the yard. If you have more than one pet, get them all together and let them play! Exercise can improve their physical health as well as their behavior.
3) Remove Stressful Things From Your Home
Every pet owner has a few items in their home that are stressful for their pets. These could be anything from the vacuum cleaner, smoke from cooking or even people who are visiting your home. Remove these stressors as much as possible and you’ll soon see an improvement in your pet’s behavior.
4) Add a Buddy For Companionship
Adding a buddy for companionship is an excellent way to improve your pet’s behavior. Dogs in particular can become lonely and bored when left alone for long periods of time. If you have a dog, the average lifespan is much longer than that of cats, so it can be more difficult for them to adjust to being alone all day. Adding a second dog will add stimulation and reduce boredom and loneliness which may lead to destructive behaviors at home like chewing or barking.
5) Provide Added Playtime Activities
- Provide more playtime activities for your pet. This can include interactive toys, games of fetch and other fun activities. Give them things to do in their downtime so they don’t resort to destructive behaviors like chewing on furniture or digging into the carpet.
- Spend more time with your pet each day. Interactive playtime, walks and just relaxing together are all great ways to get quality time with your furry best friend.
- Create a cozy bed for your pet.
6) Supervise Their Playtime
The best way to stop your pet from playing too rough is by supervise their playtime. If you are having a difficult time getting them to stop, try using a distraction like a toy or treat. Remember that the goal of this is to get them to be able to calm down on their own and have fun without hurting anyone else.
7) Use 'The Look’ Instead of Yelling
It may seem counterintuitive, but giving your pet a stern look can be more effective than yelling at them. Shouting at pets can make them scared of you and not want to approach you. Giving your pet a stern look will let them know that you’re unhappy with their behavior and give them the opportunity to correct it.
8) Stop Barking at People & Other Animals
When you have a dog who barks at people and other animals, it can be frustrating for everyone. It is important that you set boundaries so your dog knows when it is appropriate to bark and when it is not. You should train your dog by first teaching him or her the word Quiet. Next, reward your dog with praise and treats every time he or she doesn’t bark while in close proximity to people or animals. Repeat the process until your dog learns that silence brings rewards.
9) Crate Train Them for Naps & Bedtime
Crate training is often a good option for pets that have anxiety or need a safe place to sleep. However, it can also help with housetraining. You can also use the crate as a time-out spot. When your pet misbehaves or gets into something they shouldn’t, simply put them in the crate for 10 minutes and walk away. They’ll learn that when they get into trouble there will be consequences.
10) Reward Good Behavior with Lots of Love!
Rewarding your pet with lots of love and attention is an excellent way to reinforce good behavior. The key is to make sure that you are giving them the reward at the moment they are behaving well, rather than waiting for them to do it again. This will show them that you notice and appreciate their good behavior, which will prompt them to do more of it in the future!