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Raising pets to be loving, cooperative, and endearing members of the family can be one of the great joys shared by a family. Here are two simple tips to help everyone to share in the challenges and the rewards.

Have reasonable expectations. Remember that animals are not human. They need to be respected for what they are. While many folks enjoy treating a pet like their child, the potential result of this can be extreme behavior problems resulting in a loss of harmony within the home. Each animal has a uniqueness that must be honored. We usually don't expect our cat to retrieve the newspaper or our pet bird to fetch a stick. This also translates to different breeds of dog, for example, having different qualities. It would not be reasonable to expect a Chihuahua to pull a sled, nor would we expect a German Shepherd to always be a lap dog. Our understanding of our pet's inborn nature will benefit our family by creating an environment of reasonable expectations. This will also result in a firm foundation for a healthy, lifelong relationship.

The humans must be consistent. This may be difficult with small children that like the dog on the furniture and eat at the dinner table, therefore, being firm about the "rules" with children will actually help the pet to have the consistency they need to learn quickly. Remembering that animals thrive with routine may help everyone to cooperate in the training. Consistency will also shorten the training time necessary for animals to learn. Mixed messages can hinder human relationships and this is also true for animals. Clear and simple commands given in a firm tone will simplify the training procedure.

Animals of all sorts, from the family dog and cat to farm raised piglets and lambs, all bring so much joy to our lives that the time, patience, and care that we give to them is returned countless times in innumerable ways. By being reasonable and consistent, we can simplify the learning process for them and for our family. This will enable everyone to fully enjoy the love, trust, and companionship of our family pets.

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