Navigate the relationships that matter to you.
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Teenagers use baseball metaphors to explain sexual progress, but for grown-up advice, football may be better, especially for women.
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Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages one to four, and ten to fourteen, according to 2011 statistics. More than 4,000 children drowned in 2010, and 65 percent of those children drowned in a backyard pool.
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Karen Palmer is an educator and dog lover at Balanced Canine Training in West Michigan, and she says it’s her job to help people learn what to expect from their pets and build a relationship on mutual trust and respect. We asked Karen to give us a tip or two on dog training and making pets a part of one big, happy family–with boundaries.
Is it common for people to treat pets like a part of their family?
It is VERY common for people to treat their pets as if they are a part of their family. This can be great for the whole family when people remember that they are dogs, but often people do take it too far. Dogs and children have many things in common, but when people expect the dog to behave as a person would in all circumstances, the dog can be overwhelmed with the burden placed on them. This is especially true when people overwhelm a dog with their emotional energy. Dogs want, and need, to be more than just "therapy dogs" for their owners.
What are some ways to make pets a part of the family?
Responsible pet owners must provide the basics in shelter, nutrition, water, exercise, and health care according to the requirements of each particular species. But to make pets a more integral part of the family, we cannot neglect their mental and emotional needs. In other words, we need to spend time with them, and give them something to do. To help the dog become a member of the family, he should be brought inside at night (unless he prefers the outdoors, as some do), and given something to do with his family during the day. There are many sporting activities available for dog owners today.
How can a family without a pet integrate one into their daily routine?
There is an adjustment period involved, and this should be planned for. If you sit down and write out your daily schedule first, you might find that you really don't have time to walk and groom and clean up after and feed and exercise that pet. Where there is time, schedule time for all of those things until the new schedule becomes just a part of daily life.
Why should pets be made to feel like one of the “family”?
While not every animal has this social need, there are some pets that are part of a very social species. Horses have herds, birds have flocks, and dogs have social groups, too (wolves have "packs," but feral and more domestic dogs can be more flexible). For those pets, we are often their only social connection, and this is an important part of fulfilling their mental and emotional needs.
How can the whole family get involved in training their pet, and why should they?
Many of the people I know who are active with their dogs are women. They like to get out of the house, exercise, and have fun with their dogs. When it comes to an obedient response or a friendly relationship, the dog will always turn to the person or people who offer the most time and energy strengthening that bond.
The human-canine bond is strongest when the whole family understands their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Consistency in routine and in communication is important. This is why I encourage both parents to attend class, or at least read the weekly instructions, so they can understand the process that the dog and the handler doing the training are going through. The dog will respond to others in the family when they communicate with the dog in the same way as the primary handler does.
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Instead of waiting for someone else to make you feel fulfilled or settling for a relationship out of desperation just so you're not alone, make a date with yourself, and follow these seven tips to developing a better relationship with yourself.
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Set aside that Diaper Genie and try something our mothers can remember–cloth diapers. As alternative to disposables, these reusable and environmentally conscious diapers save space in your dumpster and in the landfills.
