Animal Talk – July 2019

training

PETTA LK

T

here are a couple of things that you should

keep in mind, including:

• If at any time the bird seems stressed, stop the
  training and carry on when he is more relaxed.


• Make sure the reward is a great motivator and
  your bird will do ‘almost’ anything to get it.


• Have several small sessions a week.


• Persistence and repetition – focus on one
  particular lesson and reinforce with repetition
  and on a regular time schedule.


• Patience – don’t expect immediate results.


• Consistency – use simple, consistent
  commands.


• Have fun, pay attention to the bird’s body
  language and keep things simple.
  Small animal veterinarian

Cockatiel

training

Is there anything that I should keep in

mind when training my cockatiel?

Teaching my cat

T

his very much depends on your cat’s personality and the extent of training and socialisation
that you’ve achieved with her. A cat who is ill-prepared for the world outside her home is going
to struggle to cope, or possibly even panic, if taken away from the environment she is used to.
Before embarking on any adventures with your cat, I would highly recommend consulting with
a qualified cat behaviourist who can assess your cat’s readiness to enjoy outdoor activities.
Leash-training is essential, as is a high rate of responsiveness – meaning that your cat responds to
cues from you quickly and easily. Your cat will require the experience and confidence to cope with
whatever she may encounter outdoors.
Don’t just throw a harness on your cat and leash her up for a walk in the hills. This could go horribly
wrong, so make sure you have the go-ahead from a reputable behaviourist as well as your vet before
leaving home. The same activities aren’t available for cats that are available for dogs, so what you
choose to do with your cat is largely up to the two of you!
Find out what your cat enjoys: does she prefer a quiet walk around the neighbourhood, or a stroll on
the beach? If you have a particularly active cat, ask your local dog trainers if you could make use of
their agility equipment when no dogs are present (it wouldn’t be fair on the dogs) for some training fun!
Katherine Brown, behaviourist

Can I teach my cat to join us on outings?

Teaching older cats

O

lder cats may have health concerns, so it’s important to first consider your cat’s health and well-being before

commencing with training.

• When your vet gives your cat a clean bill of health, she eats a healthy diet and her vaccinations are up to date, then
  there is no reason not to give training a go.
  
  
  • If your cat is currently being or has recently been treated for an illness, you’ll have to give her a few
    weeks to make a full recovery before starting a training programme.
    
    
    • But, if your cat has been diagnosed with a chronic illness or long-term health issue like arthritis
      or joint problems, you’ve hit an obstacle. Always check with your vet about your cat’s condition
      and if what you want to teach her is an appropriate activity or not. For example, cats with
      severe arthritis would not benefit from vigorous obstacle course training.
      Small animal veterinarian
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

When is it safe to teach an older cat?

DID YOU KNOW?

It is possible to train fish, but you’ll

need buckets full of patience and time.