Page 25 - FWG Issue 4 May 2024

Animals Matter

ARE YOUR PETS AFFECTING

YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

have noticed an increase in behavioural children and move into a partner’s home your dogs sleep inside or outside? How can
cases where pets create friction in the with existing children, without considering one ensure the safety of Partner A’s cat with
home, particularly in situations where the needs of all of them? Would we arrive Partner B’s dogs if they have never been
I ouples have decided to live and move and place them in the other home with exposed to cats before? How would the
c
in together. As an example, the tension step siblings without proper introductions? relationship recover if the cat was hurt or
begins when Partner A (with two dogs It would be unfeeling and unfair of us to killed? These types of questions need to be
and one cat) moves into Partner B’s house expect them all to get along straight away, asked and thoroughly discussed before the
(who has two dogs), with the owners giving to not feel threatened, to adapt immediately. move to ensure both parties agree. Animals
little to no thought as to how to integrate Why would our animals feel any differently? have emotions and, like all of us, deserve to
the animals. This process could either have live happily.
a happy ending or turn out to be a total Each household will have their own set of
disaster, not only for a particular animal but rules where their pets lived previously. Is Set them, and your relationship up for
for the actual relationship itself. the dog/cat allowed to sleep on the bed/ success by taking the appropriate steps to
couch? Is your partner happy to have cat fur integrate the pets correctly. It can save a lot
How many of us would take our own on their favourite black suede armchair? Do of heartache.

Jeanette Furstenburg is a Certified Animal
Behaviourist. She holds a Diploma in Companion
Animal Behaviour (DipCABT) with distinction and is
a full member of the COAPE Endorsed Association of
Applied Pet Behaviourists and Trainers International
(CABTi), which is a member of the UK Dog Behaviour
and Training Charter 2024 and the International
Companion Animal Network (ICAN). In addition,
she is a member of the South African Board for
Companion Animal Professionals (SABCAP).

For more information call 082 445 8422,
email: jeanette@animalsmatter.co.za or visit:
www.animalsmatter.co.za

Fourways Gardens • 23 • May 2024