What's the best piece of pet advice you ever got?

[grntuscarora]

Mine was from a DU member three years ago, when I posted that one of the supplies I had bought for our rescue beagle Bean was a retractable leash.

He or she advised against retractable leashes, and I wound up returning it and exchanging it for a traditional leash.

I've since read stories about the hazards of retractables, have personally seen them fail, and am grateful for the good advice I got on this board!

So thanks, whoever shared that wisdom so long ago!

[Wilms]

1. Let's go for a walk.

My dog would frequently offer that advice, and I was impressed with how often it turned out to be a good idea.

Oh, wait. You meant advice about pets, not from one. OK. That would be, "ADOPT! a dog!"

[grntuscarora]

3. Bahaa!

Reread my topic line and laughed out loud!

Your dog has great advice! And the "Adopt a dog" suggestion is excellent, too!

[Wilms]

5. One more: Sweet potato for when they have an upset tummy. n/t

[grntuscarora]

6. Boiled or raw?

With three beagly dogs, for the sake of my carpets I need to file this advice.

[Wilms]

8. I baked until soft.

Serve it warm.

[frogmarch]

2. Don't feed puppies cows milk.

Years ago when my bichon Fritty was a baby a couple of months old, I'd let her lap the leftover milk from my bowl of cornflakes. (I never use sugar on cereal). She threw up and threw up afterwards, but I thought it was from drinking it too fast. It wasn't. I then learned from my vet that most puppies can't tolerate cows milk.

[grntuscarora]

4. I've heard that kittens have trouble with cow milk, too.

It seems counter intuitive that milk would be bad for young mammals.

[Freddie]

10. Never give cats milk

They can't digest it, gives them the runs. Of course they love it.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Adopt older pets.

I was told that older animals are not as much trouble as young ones, and they are so much harder to place. All of my cats have been at least 2 years old, with some much older. It can break your heart quicker, but it is worth it to do away with all the training and pent-up energy.

[nadine_mn]

9. Good owners make great dogs

Basically train the owner/guardian

Dogs are wonderful as is - owners can really make or break a dog. Any trainer that doesn't focus on the owner first (consistency, tone, calm etc) doesn't know squat.


The biggest mistake I made (not that you asked, but here I am anyway) - I was working at Barnes and Noble when I got my Lab puppy - first time owning a dog as an adult. I was determined to be the best owner EVER! So I read every book on dog training during my breaks. Ha - funny thing, they all contradict each other. Made me and my poor dog so confused and borderline schizophrenic. Oh it was awful. I cried all the time, he was miserable - we both had horrible separation anxiety and didn't know how to make each other happy.

Lots of learning curves since then - just love those little furballs with all your heart

[ginnyinWI]

11. "male cats on average get along with other cats better"

Had two female cats who ignored each other. Wanted a younger more playful cat so got a male, hoping he would be friendlier. Got said male cat--an orange tabby, and he is very friendly: to people, to the two female cats, and to any and all of the foster kittens. A very good addition to our household!

Here he is last summer cuddling a foster baby:

[eridani]

12. So, how are your current fosters doint? n/t

[irisblue]

13. crate train dogs. nt