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A Pet Owner’s Guide To Pet Etiquette

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Maddy Pappas
A Pet Owner’s Guide To Pet Etiquette

Being a pet owner is one of life’s greatest joys. Quicker than you ever thought possible, your furry friend becomes a member of the family, accompanying you on holidays, to the shops, on a hike or up on the lounge during your nighttime relaxation. 


As a pet owner, it can be easy to think that your pet can simply do no wrong. It can also be easy to assume that everyone loves cats and dogs. However, in both cases this isn’t necessarily true. 


With this in mind, it’s important to remember pet etiquette when out and about in the world or inviting people over to your house. This way, everyone involved can feel both happy and respected. 


Basic etiquette for dog owners

In our daily lives, there are social rules that we live by in order to ensure appropriate levels of behaviour. As dog owners, there are a couple more rules to follow for the purpose of being both respectful and considerate to other people and the environment.


The main rule is to pick up after your dog. No one likes to step in dog poop or walk out onto their lawn to find it soiled. It’s also important to pick up dog poop because it can contain bacteria and parasites that are harmful to humans and other pets. 


The other step to picking up after your dog is disposing of their waste in the appropriate bin. In terms of bodily functions, it’s also nice to limit where your dog can go potty. If you see your dog cocking their leg on a neighbour’s mailbox, try and move them onto a patch of grass. 


When out and about with your dog, another good example of etiquette is paying attention to no pets allowed signs or signs that outline leash requirements. Things are always a little more harmonious when the rules are followed. 


It’s also worth noting that, while your dog may be friendly and enjoy the company of other animals, some dogs may be easily frightened. With this in mind, keep your dog close and always ask permission before greeting another dog. 


In terms of at home etiquette, it’s a good idea to make sure that your dog’s barking is kept to a minimum. This will ensure the sanity of both you and your neighbours. Also on the home front, make sure to provide boundaries for your visitors that may not love dogs as much as you do. 


Ensuring basic etiquette is a lot easier when your dog can respond to basic commands such as sit, stay and drop. When you have control over your dog, you can essentially ensure that their behaviour won’t be disruptive or harmful across a range of different settings. 


Pet etiquette for cat owners

For cat owners, basic etiquette rules centre around keeping your cat contained and happy. As such, unlike dogs, there are more examples of indoor etiquette instead of outdoor and environmental etiquette. 


One such example of etiquette is ensuring that your cat’s claws are kept at bay. This way, when your cat comes into contact with other animals or humans, scratches and gouges can be kept to a minimum. 


For younger cats, you can look after your pet’s claws by providing them access to a scratching post. An added benefit of scratching posts is that cats have somewhere to play other than your furniture or carpet. 


In terms of older cats, owners can get their nails trimmed or clipped. With data suggesting that 64% of cats need to see the vet at least once a year, you can get their claws tended to during a regulation check up. 


In the event that you have people over to your house, you want to make sure that they feel comfortable and taken care of. As such, basic etiquette dictates that cats have boundaries and are cleaned up after.


This means making sure that your cat has been trained to stay off certain surfaces or keep out of certain rooms. Etiquette also subtly suggests that cat hair, which they are known to shed, should be vacuumed off the furniture and the floors. 


Taking care of your pets

While basic etiquette helps everyday individuals to navigate a variety of social situations, following these unspoken rules also helps to keep both humans and pets like cats and dogs safe. 


Being aware of basic etiquette means acknowledging that your behaviour should change from one situation to another, depending on the context. One way to lay the foundation for following etiquette is to make sure that your pet is trained.


With basic training on board, you can feel confident in your pet’s ability to listen to your commands and adapt to certain situations. All of which helps to ensure that you can approach every situation carefully and respectfully, all while having fun. 


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Maddy Pappas
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