HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY PHOTO
Bob Simmons is one of the volunteer dog trainers who work in the shelter animal behavior program, teaching good manners to dogs available for adoption.
Every day at the society, we hear from people thrilled with the pets they adopted from the shelter, saying things like, "Best pet I've ever had!" and "We're a perfect fit!" Training can help a good pet
be a great one
How to learn about your new pet
By Hawaiian Humane Society
These relationships most often result when prospective owners consider their lifestyles, then take the right steps to find a suitable pet and make the relationship work.
"Sometimes families have unreasonable expectations for their new pet," said Marty Hutchins, coordinator of the shelter's animal behavior program to get the important human-animal relationships off to a good start. "They may not realize that they are the key to helping their pet become a great pet."
The program, which officially began in the fall of 2001, uses skilled volunteers to train and socialize dogs and cats while they are still at the shelter. The result is more animals learning good manners, more homeless animals being adopted and more families enjoying wonderful relationships with their pets.
"Training dogs to have good manners helps them find homes. Their new families see a well-behaved animal who is eager to please," said Hutchins, who has 26 years of experience training animals. "Cats in our program receive personal attention, which helps them bond with people. Petting, grooming, talking to them, playing with toys -- this kind of socialization brings comfort to the cats and allows their unique feline personalities to shine.
"We use only positive training methods, and the techniques are passed along to the animal's new family. It sounds almost too simple, but this basic training can eliminate behaviors that might otherwise become issues in the home."
Information included with dog and cat adoption packets explains the training methods so the new family can continue teaching their pet at home using treats and praise.
THERE ARE MANY ways people get new pets, such as from a breeder, a pet shop, through newspaper ads or from neighbors. To help keep all companion animals in happy homes, the Humane Society offers an array of brochures to help build a great relationship with pets that are not yet trained.
"It is very important for families to have realistic expectations for their new four-legged member," said Hutchins. "Since it is natural behavior for a dog to chew, dig, jump and bark, training helps a dog to understand when these behaviors are acceptable and when they are not. Cats, too, can exhibit actions that need to be redirected. Positive training is the key to keeping animals and their families together."
"At one time people thought that an aggressive spay/neuter program was all that was needed to eliminate pet overpopulation," said Pamela Burns, Humane Society president. "Now we know that it is also important to prevent owned animals from being given up because of the family's unrealistic expectations or the pet's lack of training.
"We hope that people who are thinking of adding a companion animal will come see the wonderful pets at the Hawaiian Humane Society and that those who have a pet will take advantage of resources available to help their good pet become a great one," she said.
"Pet Ohana" runs the first and third Fridays of the month. The Hawaiian Humane Society is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. It is located at 2700 Waialae Ave. Call 946-2187.
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Here are some tips for getting acquainted with a new pet: How to learn about your new pet
>> Read a book about the kind of animal you own, and spend time with it, playing as well as teaching. Remember that your pet will respond best to positive training methods.
>> Enroll in a training class and attend as a family. Check the phone book, or ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. The Hawaiian Humane Society can send you a brochure with tips on choosing a dog trainer, along with a list of training clubs. Call 946-2187, ext. 223, and leave your name and mailing address on the voice mail.
>> For advice on animal behavior, see the Humane Society's Web site, www.hawaiianhumane.org; the Denver Dumb Friends League site, ddfl.org; or come to the shelter and choose from the many free brochures offering help with your pets.
>> Go online to a search engine like google.com or yahoo.com, type in your specific breed of pet in the "search" box and see the many results that come up. It's a good way to find sites devoted to your breed of companion animal, including tips from pet owners and experts.
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