Pet themes 2009
My pet is a star!
It’s amazing what circus animals can do. Ponies and graceful horses circle the ring in a variety of formations, Dalmatians wave at the audience, and in some big tops, there are even balancing acts with cats. Even if you don't have an Arab stallion in your lounge room, your pet can do exactly the same! All you need is patience, some treats and to enjoy trying new things with your four-legged friend.
For dogs, Rover first needs to have mastered sit, lie down and stay. Then you can start with small tricks such as shake hands, which is the basis for other “show numbers”. Get your dog to sit and show them a treat. Encourage them to lift their paw – most dogs do this quite willingly. If not, gently lift their paw, praise them, say “shake!” and give them the treat straight away. After repeating this step many times, it should work on command. You can build on this with tricks like “high five!” (instead of putting their paw in your hand, teach your dog to give you a high five), and waving (by moving your hand further and further away). Most dogs willingly learn to roll over – get them to lie down and move a treat over their head. You can also create a mini obstacle course in your garden with agility accessories, which you can find at your local Maxi Zoo store.
Cats and rodents can learn little tricks too! Just like dogs, you can train cats with a clicker so that learning is even more fun. You also need patience and, most importantly, something delicious as a reward. Most cats are quite willing to balance on small bars with a treat in front of their nose. You can build this yourself – just be careful that nothing falls over and your cat doesn't hurt itself. You can also encourage them to jump, and some cats can even be trained to jump through hoops. Some clever kitties can also learn to stand up – hold a treat over their head.
Hamsters, guinea pigs and other rodents can also learn to stand on their hind legs. Many stand up on their own if a piece of fruit or a treat appears on their cage – isn’t it cute? You can also build your own obstacle course and guide active rodents over small obstacles. And by the way, rats are particularly eager to learn. With the right reward and fun with learning, your four-legged friend can become a circus star too!
