INPUT ARTICLE: Article: As long as your kitten is over five days old, she should be gently handled and pet every day to get used to being touched. This will help her bond with you and get her used to the smell of humans. Socializing kittens and getting them used to being touched is most important during the first seven weeks of their lives (minus the first week or two). As long as they're people you trust to be kind and gentle, get your kitten used to as many people as possible by letting friends and family pet her too. This socialization will increase the chances that she’ll develop into a loving and friendly adult cat. Many cats don’t like having their paws touched, but working your kitten up to this will help her learn to enjoy being pet, and will make clipping her nails much easier.  Start by gently rubbing your kitten’s chest between her two front legs, and slowly move your hand down one of her legs until you're touching her paw. Go back to her chest and repeat with the other leg. When you’ve done this, reward her with a treat.  Gradually increase the amount of time you spend touching her paws until your kitten becomes accustomed to having them touched. Be sure to reward her with treats. Start by scratching the back of her head around her ears. Then with one finger, gently stroke one of her ears and go back to scratching her head. Repeat with the other ear and reward her with a treat. Each time you do this, gradually increase the amount of time you spend touching her ear, until it’s no longer an issue. When you're getting her used to this, don’t forget to reward her with treats. Use a small brush or one that’s designed for cats. Brush in the direction that her fur grows (brush from head to tail) for a few minutes each week. Not only will this get her used to being touched in different ways, but it will also help to reduce shedding and fur balls.

SUMMARY: Pet her daily. Let other people pet her too. Get her used to you touching her paws. Work your way to touching the ears. Brush her weekly.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most dogs love sleeping in bed with their owners. Decide if you'd like to let the dog sleep in bed with you or if you want it to have its own cozy space. To make a space that your dog will love, set out a dog bed with blankets and chew toys in a corner of a living room. This area will give your dog a chance to have its own private space while still being part of the household action. If you use positive training, you won't need to punish your dog when it misbehaves. Just redirect the dog and reward it as soon as you see the dog behave correctly. Never yell at, hit, or frighten your dog. Reacting in anger will make the dog fear you and can damage your relationship. Be patient with the dog. Some dogs will take longer to respond to training than others. It's easy to forget about your dog's relationship with other dogs or people if you're trying to get it to love you. Keep in mind that your dog will be happier and more fulfilled if it's coming into contact with other dogs or people. Try to let your dog socialize with others in a calm, structured environment instead of in a chaotic place where the dog might feel overwhelmed. For example, instead of just letting the dog run around the dog park, you might visit a friend that has a calm dog. Give the dogs the chance to interact, but don't force them. It's difficult for a pet to feel loving if its basic health needs aren't being met. Take your dog for regular check-ups at the veterinarian's and keep it current on vaccinations. If your dog injures itself or becomes ill, get it proper medical care and treatment.

SUMMARY:
Create a comfortable space for the dog. Avoid punishing the dog when it misbehaves. Socialize your dog. Keep your dog healthy.