Dogs are natural scavengers, but you should still be able to train her not to do this. She could easily eat something harmful, and even if she doesn’t, this behaviour is a nuisance for you and for others. The answer is to teach her the “leave it” command: visit positively.com/dog-behavior/basic-cues/leave-it to learn how. You should soon be able to stop her in her tracks by saying “leave it” in a firm voice.
My seven-year-old male Balinese cat, Moska, is very timid, going into hiding whenever we have visitors. We have a four-week trip planned to New Zealand. Would it be unfair to leave him at home for that length of time with a pet sitter coming in twice a day? Or should I try to get him into a cattery? He gets very stressed if we try to put him into a cat carrier.
Nervous cats like Moska love their own routine, in their own home. I am sure a good cattery will care for him well, and he’d be very safe and secure, but of course it would involve some stress, not least in travelling there and back. A sensitive, cat-loving pet sitter sounds like the option he’d prefer, if he could ask you. Sitters can be costly, but if you use trustedhousesitters.com, you can find experienced pet sitters with references who’ll mind Moska free of charge, in exchange for the opportunity to stay in your home for their own holiday.
