Training Your Cat

0 Training Your Cat


	Training Your Cat Have you ever thought of training your cat? Cat's aren't usually the first candidates to spring to mind when people think about obedience training. Cats have a reputation for being aloof, independent, and nonchalant - they seem to focus on being the most stubborn and indifferent animal on the planet. You might be excused for thinking that this isn't really ideal training material! however - there is a way to train your cat, and this training can be enjoyable for you and your cat. The training consist of basic and advanced obedience work from sit, stay, and come to high-fiving. The benefits of training your cat: Just because cats are viewed as solitary, and independent animals doesn't mean that they necessarily want to be so. For the most part many cats are incredibly affectionate and loving by nature - they just need us as their leaders to demonstrate and initiate the rapport-building process. Cats are often underestimated. This happens simply because the average owner will not attempt any training at all. Cats are born with an innate sense to use their litter box and to keep themselves clean, and that is usually all a cat owner expects from his furry feline. Consequently, relatively few people are aware of their cat's abilities in this area. Training your cat is an affordable and easy way to enrich cat's life: It builds a strong rapport between you and your cat Training makes you the authoritarian (your cat has to do what you want to get what he wants), it helps to curb dominant behavior It keeps your cat's mind active and stimulated It teaches good social skills, and is fun interactive play Anxious and highly-strung cats are reassured and soothed by the repetition and routine of training So How do I Train my Cat Of course you have been wondering that from the beginning. There are two popular methods of training a cat. They are target training and clicker training. A brief rundown of each: - Target training is where you attract your cat's attention and then obtain desired behaviors through the use of a designated tool. For example, during the 'beg' command, a particular target training tool called a training wand is used to attract the cat's attention upwards, and to encourage the cat to rise up on his haunches and 'beg'. - Clicker training is a form of operant conditioning (which is where the animal is taught to form a conscious association between a specific behavior and a result.) A small mechanical noise-maker (the "clicker') is used by the trainer to create a short, distinct noise. The clicker is clicked at the precise moment that the cat performs a desired behavior - for example, during 'sit', the clicker is clicked at the very instant that the cat's bottom touches the ground. Directly after the click, the cat is fed a small and tasty treat. With repetition, the cat grows to associate the click with the food, and recognizes his own ability to earn treats by performing the desired action on command. The clicker is a particularly valued training tool because it allows the trainer to pinpoint the exact behavior that's being rewarded: without the clicker, it's too easy for the cat to form associations between the treat and a completely unrelated behavior (since it's impossible to feed the cat a treat at the precise moment hat he's performing a trick.) Practical tips for training your cat: Remember to always be patient. Cats are unique individuals with their own abilities and preferences. They will pick up some tricks quickly, but may take a while to grasp others. Make exceptions for your cat's personality, and keep your patience if training your cat doesn't go exactly according to schedule. Free-feeding your cat (leaving food out at all times for him to eat as and when he feels like it), is not a good way to provide your cat with meals. If you can establish a feeding schedule instead, the benefits are: a schedule increases the reward-value of food treats as training devices, and also gives your cat a form of routine into your/his life (which, believe it or not, most cats actually prefer.) Train smart. If you're using food treats (which is highly recommended to achieve the desired results) then training sessions should be scheduled just before mealtimes: your cat's natural desire for food at his regular mealtime will sharpen his focus and increase his desire to obey you (so he can get a treat.) Start slowly. When training your cat, it's best to build up a solid foundation of the basics before attempting to expand his repertoire. Cats have pretty short attention spans, it is best to keep lessons short and interesting- and always try to end on a positive note. An example of succesful cat training in action Training your cat to 'sit' on command 'Sit' is a great basic command for your cat to know, because it serves as the foundation for a number of other, more advanced tricks and commands (for example, 'stay', 'beg', and 'high-five'.) Make your training wand extra-effective by smearing the tip in a little tuna oil, and use it to attract your cat's attention (wave it around, trail it past his face, etc.) Once he's come over to you, place the wand just over his head, so that it's slightly behind the crown of his head. He will tilt his head back to keep his eyes on it. When he does this, he will naurally sit down (since otherwise, his neck can't bend back far enough to allow him to keep watching the training wand.) As soon as his bottom touches the ground, click the clicker. It's important that you time this precisely. Directly after clicking, give him a small food treat. Make sure it's cut up very small - if it takes him more than two seconds to eat it, he'll forget why you gave it to him. Repeat this process a few more times, and over the next few weeks, keep doing so until he's comfortable with what's expected of him. When he's able to sit down on command, you can phase the clicker out - but still give treats sporadically (interestingly, if you treat every single time that he performs a command, he's actually less likely to reliably obey that command. Keeping him on his toes seems to increase the likelihood of obedience!) Complete Instructions For Training Your Cat For step-by-step advice on how to train your cat in a huge variety of other obedience commands and tricks (from 'stay' to 'play dead' to 'fetch'), check out the Complete Cat Training book - it's full of training how-to's, as well as a huge amount of detailed information on solving problem behaviors, cat psychology, and how to develop a more rewarding relationship with your cat. To visit the Complete Cat Training website, click the link below: The Complete Guide for Training Your Cat	CLICK HERE! If you need more information or help researching products. Also if you would like to share your thoughts or comments with us we would greatly appreciate it.
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