HOW TO TRAIN A CAT
The first
step to training your cat is to understand him. Cats aren’t as social as dogs.
Dogs have been bred specifically to work together with people, whereas the
primary reason cats were domesticated was to kill vermin on their own. So
they’re independent, and they aren’t as naturally inclined to work for praise
and attention as dogs are. They’re also not as easy to motivate. You have to
use really special treats that your cat finds irresistible. Training a cat
requires some creativity and patience.
Training
your cat has important benefits. You’re stimulating his body and his mind,
which helps keep him healthy. And spending time together means you’re
strengthening the bond you share. In addition to teaching fun tricks like wave
and fetch, you can also teach him a range of useful behaviors like sit, stay
and to come when called. You could even teach your cat to pee in the toilet and
flush afterwards!
The first
step is to find a treat that your cat goes crazy for. Fresh chicken diced in
tiny cubes, bits of tuna, meat-flavored baby food, and commercial cat treats
are all good choices. Once you’ve identified treats your cat likes, follow the
basic steps of positive reinforcement training (reward-based training) to teach
him the behavior you want. Suppose you’d like your cat to sit and stay on a
stool while you prepare his dinner. You’ll first need to start with teaching
him to sit when you ask him to:
a.
First, make sure you have your cat’s attention.
Hold the tasty treat in your fingers right at your cat’s nose. When your cat
begins to sniff the treat, slowly move it in an arc from his nose up just over
his head between his ears. (Don’t raise it straight up, or you’ll be teaching
your cat to stand on his rear legs rather than sit!) Many cats will follow this
arc motion with their eyes and nose, and as their chin raises up and back,
their butt will go down.
b.
Second, the instant your cat’s bottom hits the
floor, praise him and offer him the treat. If his rear doesn’t go all the way
down on the first try, give him the treat anyway. Over several repetitions of
practice, give him a treat each time his rear gets slightly closer, until he’s
gets into a complete sit with his rear all the way on the floor.
Thanks for u'r attention... :)
No comments:
Post a Comment