Pet Questions

Q We're about to adopt a puppy from a rehoming centre, yet apparently he won't have been fully trained. Do you have any advice on how best to do this?

A To toilet train a dog, start by repeatedly taking him to the place where you want him to pee. Give him lots of praise when he goes in the right place and keep repeating this. Then start introducing a signal, like saying "Go now". He will soon start associating going to the toilet in that place with getting praise and attention, which will make him want to go there again. Once he has learned the command, the praise can be stopped.

Ignore any mistakes and don't punish him as this is unkind and slows learning.

Q My cat keeps bringing dead birds and mice she's caught into the house and leaving them at the front door. Why does she do this and how can I get her to stop?

A Cats are predators and hunting is normal behaviour for them. Hunting is not linked to hunger, so even cats that are well fed will catch birds and rodents.

Yours brings her prey back to the house because she views it as a safe place. It's perfectly normal, but if it's an intolerable problem, one way of trying to stop it is to spray your cat with a water pistol when she returns home with a dead animal. When she comes home with nothing, give her lots of friendly attention and feed her immediately. This might teach her she is only welcome when she has left her prey elsewhere.

There is no guarantee of success and it may be better to accept that this is just normal cat behaviour.

Q I've recently bought a guinea pig who is eight months old. I want to get her a friend as I've heard guinea pigs prefer company. Is it best to get a male or female guinea pig, or a rabbit?

A Guinea pigs do get lonely if kept alone. She would get on best with another guinea pig, not a rabbit, because they can bully and injure guinea pigs. If male and female guinea pigs are kept together they will produce unwanted litters, so the best combination is either two males or two females, ideally from the same litter so they've grown up together.

As your pet hasn't grown up with another guinea pig, the second female should be introduced to her gradually.

Stuart McMorrow is based at Edinburgh's PDSA Pet Aid Hospital, 2b Hutchison Crossway, 0131-443 6178.