Paws for Thought - prevention

We're going to try and do a weekly 'Paws for Thought' - a one liner to think about. The first one is mostly for puppy owners but applies to lots of us I'm sure

Prevention is better than cure - planning ahead can avoid behavioural and other problems that might be hard to fix later.

I think it can go a little further, whilst your spot on with the prevention is better than cure with behaviour, I also use it on walks. If I can see a potential problem ahead with say a pack of Dogs then we alter our route so that ant situation cannot occur.

I agree, Ian. Any time there could be trouble round the corner prevention's your best friend.

I was thinking of this yesterday because we had a storm, Millie's first. I could have waited to see what she'd be like but if she'd panicked then her first association with a storm would have been one of fear. As it was, I grabbed a couple of handfuls of treats and the treat balls and we had fun.

But we can prevent loads of things that we need to unpick later on, from bad dog meetings to separation anxiety.

I think this would work out nicely and is a great first topic. We use prevention when we see a cat on a walk. Suki always wants to go after them. Now, no telling for sure what she would do if she caught one but much better to be safe.

Ive always crossed the road when i see dogs bigger than mia i have to and is just something i have gotten used to as mia was bred so young (only had her since 3) but cats mia likes cats she loved nothing more than playing with the neighbours cat who was half feral. If id got mia young enough id have socialised her well and done all the proper things with her mias just mia i love her the way she is.