Top Training Tips

We asked the experts for advice on the most common behavior issues.

- LIZZ SCHUMER

When you're training your pet, positivity is key, says Camp Bow Wow health and behavior expert and certified canine behavior expert Erin Askeland. "If you're trying to minimize a certain behavior, it's important to find a suitable replacement." In other words, focus on what you want them to do, not what you want them to avoid doing. Here's more helpful advice.

Q: How do I get my cat to stop scratching the furniture?

Cats have to scratch to shed dead sheaths on their nails, stretch their muscles and deposit pheromones to show ownership, explains Best Friends Animal Society cat expert Samantha Bell. First, be sure they have a scratching post. If your cat has one but still uses your furniture, the post might not be tall or stable enough to mimic the trees they'd use in the wild. "Consider a sturdier, taller scratcher in the same area where they are scratching," Bell advises. Sprinkle some catnip on the new scratching post to encourage them, and reward your cat with treats when you see them using it.

Q: My dog chews all the wrong things. Help!