Naughty or Nice?

Which list is your pet on?

I'm on the nice list of course.  At least that's what I'm telling Santa Paws!  BOL!! 

I love the holidays!

Some pals are naturally good, some are easy to train to be good, but some other pals need extra help to be good.   Baron is naturally good, I was easy to train to be good, and the puppy cousins need A LOT of extra help.  BOL!!  They are not naturally calm, and they are not easy to train.   I didn't even know small dogs were capable of turning a tennis ball into confetti!  Turning tennis balls and flip flop shoes into confetti is the puppy cousins' favorite activity!   Their humans love them anyway, and that is a wonderful thing.  Even naughty pets need love. 

I open my own pressies, mom hides little treats in the paper for me.

The puppies aren't allowed to open their own pressies, because then they would think they could tear any paper.  I only tear the paper that Mom hides treats in and tells me to "get it".   Baron just sits there and looks at Mom.  He wants her to open it for him and give him the treats.  BOL!

My pals at the Nutro Knowledge Network have put together some tips to help humans with naughty pets.  Maybe next year more pals will be on the nice list!  BOL! 

The below tips in yellow are from the Nutro Knowledge Network.

Cats:

• Determine if your cat is acting out for a reason: As we have discussed, cats often hide their problems, suffering for a long time before showing signs of sickness or injury. Make sure that nothing internal or external has caused this behavior.
• Litter Box Avoidance: Again, first check to make sure this is not an internal issue like a urinary tract infection. This article provides positive steps you can take to prevent future behavior once you have ruled out other possible causes.
• Scratching: Cats naturally need to scratch to help them build strong muscles, tendons and joints. If you already purchased a scratching post, try getting another of a different size and texture.
• Finally, most cats will respond to positive reinforcement so continue to reward their good behavior with a treat, affection and/or praise.

Dogs:

• Who’s the boss: Your dog needs order and to know who is in charge. If he or she misbehaves let them know in a strong, loud voice of your disapproval regarding their actions.
• Reward good behavior: Just like with cats, use a reward like a treat, extra affection or praise to reinforce your dog’s good behavior.
• House Training: This can be issue for untrained pups and dogs that have already been house trained. The Humane Society provides some helpful articles on how to help curb this issue for both younger and older pooches.
• Chewing: If you catch them chewing on something, take it away from them and discipline them sternly. However, disciplining after the fact may prove ineffective as your dog may not be able to understand the correlation of your anger. The Humane Society put together this helpful article on ways to help avoid chewing. One suggested preventative measure: apply a safe taste deterrent to certain items they tend to chew. 

What type of pet are you?  Naturally nice, nicely trained, or naughty?   Do you have any training tips you'd like to add?

Disclaimer: "This post was written by a Nutro Knowledge Network member and sponsored by the Nutro Company."