People often define themselves as either a cat lover or a dog lover, but the question remains can a cat lover ever love dogs? Or, dog lovers ever love cats? It takes a lot for a person to change even in the simplest of ways. This seems to be one of the many difficult ways because of the huge investment people put into their pets.

The Dog Lover

The dog lover often loves their dog for many reasons. Dogs are playful and attentive to their owners. They love to spend their time hiding under their owner’s chair or chasing their tail. It just seems as if they are fun loving creatures. Sure, they bark and they can be very annoying when they want your attention even when you are busy. But, they won’t fail to greet you when you come home and you are where their loyalty lies no matter what.
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If you have a cat and a dog or are planing to have both, you need to know how to make them coexist. The phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” didn’t come up as someone’s idea of a joke just for cartoons (Tom and Jerry comes into mind). Dogs are often territorial and will fight not just new cats but other new dogs as well. They tend to mark their territory and will fight anyone who invades their space. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they are smaller than to dogs, they will scratch and fight for their territory.
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With the dog, man seems to have made his peace early. Man understands dog. He is comfortable with dog. He appreciates dog’s loyalty, courage, intelligence and — again — obedience; particularly obedience, for however sentimentally men and dogs view their abiding friendship, it is not a relationship of equals.

Dog is essentially a servant. His feelings toward his master are comradely and his manner familiar; he enjoys the master’s affection and regard. But his place was fixed long ago when man told him, “Don’t call me. I’ll call you.” Furthermore, since man always has had difficulty with foreign languages, the channels of communication have been a one-way street.
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Your Pets Divorce Therapy

With the stress you’re under and all the issues you must
deal with, a valuable member of your family is neglected.
Your pet. You still provide the basic necessities, but you
probably don’t realize that divorce affects them as well.

You are their world. They watch you closely and they feel
the tension and upset of the household. The crying,
arguing, loud noises affect them deeply, making them
frightened and insecure.

While your pet’s stress level is increasing, the attention
you give them is decreasing. At a time when the last
thing you need is more problems your pet gives them
to you.

Behavior problems vary in decree such as chewing,
barking, digging, soiling in the house, perhaps even
snapping from the nervousness they feel. Any previous
bad behavior problem will most likely be exaggerated.
Not understanding the problem you get angry and yell
at them making matters worse.

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A behavioural test for your dog is his introduction to someone new. Make a difference in how your dog reacts to a new person with a little training and reassurance.

How do I make my dog feel comfortable around strangers?

Start with training. The way your dog is trained can have a big impact on how he reacts to a stranger.

Make sure you can easily handle him in a group of people.
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Gradually introduce changes in your dog’s routine as soon as you  know a baby is on the way - if he does not connect them with the baby’s  arrival he has less reason to be jealous.
  (a) Your dog should not be the centre of attention at all times, and should  sit on your lap (if at all) only when invited by you.
  (b) Get him used to being away from you sometimes in another room, or indoor  kennel (”crate”), and ban him from the nursery.
  (c) Take a refresher course at a training school, and think about practice  walks with the pram - it can be trickier than it sounds!
  (d) Check with your vet about canine hygiene and worming.

   When your baby is born your dog may be left for hours while you are in  hospital, or upset by the excitement if you are at home. Arrange for someone  he knows to look after/walk him.
  It is an old wives tales (letting your dog drink breast milk or play with  dirty nappies) don’t help your dog and baby to become friends, but sending  home a blanket that the baby has slept on may help your dog to get used to her  scent.
  When you come home let someone else hold your baby while you greet your dog;  introduce them later when he is calm.
   Don’t try to keep your dog and baby completely apart - you won’t be able  to keep it up! Teach them both to interact calmly and gently, no licking by  the dog or grabbing by the child.

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Your Cat Wants To Go Outside

If your cat was previously an outdoor cat and you plan to keep her inside, then good for you! Following are some suggestions to help make the transition easier on both of you.

- Spay or Neuter: Spaying or neutering will rid your cat of those hormonal urges to go out and seek a mate. This will result in a calmer, friendlier cat.
- Play Schedule: Schedule play times during the times your cat would normally be outside. This will distract her from her normal routine and establish another, safer routine.
- Window Seat: Be sure your cat has a view of the outdoors and a sunny place to lie. Cats like to watch birds, so putting a bird feeder outside this window is likely to make it a favorite spot for your cat.
- Scavenger Hunt: Give your cat a game to play by hiding bits of dry food around the house. Hide the food in paper bags, boxes and behind open doors. This will give her exercise and keep her busy so she doesn’t think of going outside. This is especially good to do right before the family leaves the house for the day.
- Attention: Try to give your cat extra love and attention during this difficult transition.
- Aversives: If your cat still won’t give up meowing by the door, try an aversive. Leave strong citrus scents by the door or hide behind a wall and shake a pop can filled with coins to interrupt the behavior. When she is quiet, walk out and give her a food treat and encourage her to play or cuddle.

In the treatment of human beings there are 21 men, each specialising in a different field of medicine, to take a person from prenatal days to post-mortem. And yet, there is only one man who must be obstetrician-pediatrician-orthodonist-exodontist-endocrinologist-internist-orthopedist-exodonist-psychologist-urologist-gynecologist-neurologist-neurosurgeon-psychoanalyst-metabolist-dietition-cardologist-roentgenologist-geriatrist-pathologist to take a dog through his span of life.
He is, of course, your veterinarian.

With the changing relationship between man and dog (and cat) the functions of your vet are being transformed. He can no longer limit himself to safeguarding the physical health of the family pet; he now gets involved in the mental health of the pet’s family. Many vets now have invested in state of the ark modern equipment on par with human hospitals. Vets are able to carry out blood tests in their clinics.
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Preparing your dog for vet’s inspection:
It is essential that all dogs are regularly inoculated and wormed, that is; inoculations and boosters every year, worming treatments every 3 months. The only effective worming products are available from your vets.

Many pet owners encounter problems at the vet. The dogs and cats do not like to be examined. From an early age make it a pleasant experience for your pet to be handled and examined by different people. Always do this while you are present to reassure and reward the dog with praise and ‘titbits’. Only ask sensible people, who are used to dogs to assist you with this exercise.

Some if not most vets prefer to examine their patients on a table. So if you have a dog that can be lifted onto a suitable table, get the dog used to being put on the table. Hold him in a comfortable position for a few seconds, praising him and reassuring him, then give him a ‘titbit’ and gently lift him off. Never let a dog jump off the table by himself. If you use a table make sure a mat or cover is placed on it so that it is not slippery for the dog. There is no quicker way to make a dog hate being picked up and put on a table than to place it on a slippery surface.
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Xmas Soon !!!!!

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Your stockings are hung by the chimney with care, the halls are beautifully decked with holly. The tree is trimmed and attractively wrapped packages wait beneath it to be opened. Dish after dish of delectable treats sit elegantly on the dining room table. Your home looks like the picture of a perfect holiday.
Add two unsupervised, hungry, excited dogs, and the idyllic setting can turn to chaos. In less time than it takes to say, “Happy Christmas,” the dogs have torn open packages, chewed the ornaments, bowled over a guest, unplugged the flashing lights, pulled the roasting pan from the dustbin, eaten the biscuets, sent Grandma’s good china shattering to the floor and vomited on the rug. Instead of listening to carols, you’re busy looking up the phone number for the emergency vet clinic, maybe to find he too is closed. Best to check this out.

If you don’t want your celebrations to resemble the Griswold’s “Christmas Vacation,” here are some guidelines for dog-proofing your home from holiday hazards.
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