Behavioural FAQ
How do I stop my dog from being aggressive?
When any form of aggression exhibits itself veterinary advice should be sought to rule out any medical reason for the problem. Advice from an experienced Behaviourist should then be sought to firstly diagnose the type of aggression being exhibited in order to correctly design a program of modification, often aggressive behaviour can be modified through behavioural techniques but not in all cases. There are many types of aggression, all need different approaches if treatment is to be affective but punishment must never be implemented as this could exacerbate the aggressive reaction.
How do I stop my dog chasing joggers?
Predation is a normal canine behaviour. For some breeds, for instance the Border Collie have a strong tendency to chase and bark at things that move. Training classes allow the dog to learn basic levels of obedience for instance “recall”, also seeking professional behavioural advice may improve the behaviour however this behaviour is self rewarding therefore keeping the dog on a lead and under control at all times is the safest option. This behaviour is potentially very dangerous for the “stimulus” and dog itself possibly also landing the owner in court whilst the dogs fate is decided. For more information on The Dangerous Dogs Act click here.
Do all rescue dogs have behavioural problems?
No. Often people can be put off from adopting a rescue dog as they feel that they were only abandoned because of behavioural difficulties. Not all rescue dogs are ‘problem dogs’. The most common reasons for dogs being re-homed include; owners not having enough time for the dog, owners unable to pay for veterinary care following an illness or injury, the owner dying or is admitted into a nursing home, or the owners have divorced and neither party can keep the dog. Often dogs in these instances have some rudimentarytraining and are older, which means they are out of their juvenile stage where teething, chewing and toilet training can be a major issue. This is not to say that all rescue dogs come with perfect manners and are wholly socialised and house trained of course some rescue dogs do have behavioural problems however the same can be said for a dog bought from a breeder. A reputable rescue will offer ongoing support and advice possibly with an in-house behaviourist, hopefully putting the owner at ease knowing they are not alone and hopefully enabling any problems to be worked through.
Why does my dog sit down and pull herself along the floor as if to scratch her bottom?
As the dog defecates the anal sphincter squeezes the anal sac against the hard passing faeces and causes the anal secretion to discharge. The secretions that come from the anal glands is brown in colour and about the consistency of water or oil. The secretion has a very unpleasant odour to humans. In some instances the anal sacs need manual emptying , with the owner possibly being alerted to a problem by the dog “scooting” around the floor on his bottom. Veterinary attention must be sort to correctly diagnose and treat accordingly.
What is the purpose of urine marking?
Urine marking is used to mark boundaries and objects within that territory.
As with anal sac secretions urine contains a number of different chemicals which may contribute to it’s unique scent, specific individual urine scent signals can be remembered by dogs . Although both male and female both scent mark it is more important to the males. The raised leg posture seen in males is thought to minimize the chances of the urine to be covered over by snow or washed away by the rain and elevate the mark to nose height .
What is scent rubbing?
Unfortunately many dogs enjoy this behaviour and it usually involves a bad smelling substance such as fox faeces. There are two possibilities for the reasons why dogs should carry out this behaviour, one being that the dog may want to be covered by the particular scent much like humans wearing perfume or aftershave the second being that they want to add their scent to the other object.
Firstly the dog lowers the front half of it’s body and rubs both sides of his head and neck over the odour, the dog may also completely roll over and wiggle around on it’s back , a pleasure face is often present. On vertical objects the dog would rub it’s head , neck and body against the odour.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is the term used when a dog becomes extremely anxious when left alone. This condition has no age , sex or breed predisposition. This problem may present itself in a number of ways including urination and defecation, excessive vocalization, destructive chewing, self mutilation and fearful behaviour. The behaviour, which may be just one or a number of the above usually begins within five to thirty minutes of the owners departure however some dogs may anticipate the owners departure and show signs of increased restlessness before such departure. The behaviour associated with the separation anxiety may continue until the owner returns possibly all day or the dog may recover and relax sooner.
Why did my dog kill her puppies?
Infanticide is the term used for an animal killing it’s own young. There can be a number of reasons for this and it may be one or two that are killed with the bitch remaining attentive to the remaining pups or the whole litter may be killed. In some instances the bitch may eat the culled puppy. The reason for this may be that if the puppy is diseased killing and eating the puppy keeps the den from becoming contaminated, removing any evidence that may alert scavengers also providing nutrition In the wild a dog with puppies would be vulnerable to all sorts of predators, therefore if the puppy was to become distressed and vocal the danger of attack by a predator would increase, therefore killing and eating the puppy may be a method of averting a perceived danger . Bitches tend to kill deformed, ill or wounded puppies, which may allow her to allocate resources to the healthy pups who are more likely to survive. Stress and overcrowding may also cause this behaviour . If the bitch has had a larger litter than usual and food is scarce, if the environment is perceived to be hostile for the pups survival or if she perceives herself as unable to rear the litter successfully. Malnourished, older brood bitches and bitches who have experienced abnormal birth experiences for example caesarean sections may also become infanticidal as the normal early visual olfactory, and tactile stimuli leading to bonding are thwarted.
Why do dogs eat grass?
Grass eating represents a normal behaviour only considered a problem if carried to excess as dogs lack the ability to break down the beta bonds of cellulose to glucose and it remains as a gastrointestinal irritant until the dog either passes it in faeces or vomits it up. It is widely thought that some dogs learn to associate plant eating with vomiting and seek out plants when feeling unwell to induce vomiting. Care must be taken with household and common garden plants as many are poisonous.
What does pica mean?
It is important to differentiate between destructive chewing where multiple objects are targeted and true pica. Pica is an abnormal craving to eat none food items, or unusual foods.
The causes of pica are numerous, brain lesions involving the hypothalamus and extreme nutritional deficiencies have been associated with this disorder. Stress and obsessive compulsive disorder may also be contributing factors. Veterinary advice must be sought in this instance to establish the cause of the problem it may be necessary for a complete blood count to access the performance of organ function to rule out any underlying diseases such as a low red blood cell count seen with iron deficiency anaemia for instance .
Why does my dog eat her own faeces?
This behaviour is called coprophagy. It is a normal behaviour in a bitch who licks the urine and faeces away from her young puppies. Poor diet, intestinal parasites and other medical conditions, dogs that are kept in a barren environment or receive little exercise may also cause this behaviour. Veterinary advice should sought in the first instance to rule out any medical condition nutritional and behavioural advice may then be required.
Do some breeds of dog need more exercise than others?
Yes. Choosing a breed of dog requires a lot of research and should not be a decision taken lightly. The choice should not be made on the looks alone, ie choosing the latest star of a Disney production or the latest fashion accessory of celebrities. Each breed of dog belongs to a breed group. Looking at the breed group gives a clearer picture as to it’s original purpose giving the prospective owner a good idea of what to expect. Often behavioural problems can arise because the environment in which the dog is expected to live does not fill the requirements of the breed. For instance the Dalmatian, they have been used as a hunting dog, guard dog a retriever and a trail hound and a firehouse dog although probably best known as a coach dog and were expected to run along side the horses all day long requiring a great deal of stamina. For this reason they may not do well if expected to live in an apartment only receiving a quick walk around the block. Lack of exercise and mental stimulation may result in this breed becoming bored leading to destructive behaviour and inappropriate barking. They also thrive on human companionship and do not do well if expected to spend long periods of time alone which may also lead to problem behaviours.
What age do you think is too young to begin training a puppy?
It is never too early to begin to train a puppy, as sowing the seeds of learning at an early age will assist both puppy and owner in having the basics already in place before the puppy is able to go for walks or to puppy classes once it has had its vaccinations.Socialization from a very early age plays a very big part in the puppy growing up to be a balanced confident dog and learning to be handled and examined should begin whilst still with the breeder as well as becoming accustomed to different people and pets and household sights and sounds such as the tv, doorbell and hoover the puppy should also experience different textures to walk on such as grass, paving slabs, tiles and carpets,housetraining should also be encouraged early with puppies being taken outside as soon as they wake after a sleep and when they have eaten, as around these times the puppy is likely to need to toilet, if a word such as toilet is used and praise given when the puppy obliges this sets the scene for the puppy’s toilet training as it grows, also establishing commands for different actions ie sit, and saying the word followed by praise as the puppy performs the action of its own accord aids obedience training later as the puppy starts to associate the word with the action he is performing. Similarly learning puppy his name is of great importance and will assist in recall training and in getting the puppies attention should you need to do so
So even before the age that a puppy can begin training classes or outdoor socialization there is much an owner can do to give as many positive experiences as possible which can then be built on as the puppy matures.
My puppy is only ten weeks old, Is she too young to start training classes? Classes for this age group are usually termed as “puppy socialisation classes”. It is usually a block course of six or eight weeks. Puppies are able to attend once fully vaccinated as up until this point they must not mix with any strange dogs or be taken to any areas where other dogs have been or may be present as many Canine infectious diseases can be fatal.
Puppies are capable of learning in the first few days of life however stable learning begins at eight or nine weeks of age. This is the most sensitive time and traumatic experiences at this stage can adversely affect social relationships in later life.
Choosing the “right” instructor is of paramount importance. If you do not have a personal recommendation attend a class alone and sit and watch. And the same can be said of training classes for older dogs, any punishment, harsh training apparatus for instance choke chains or any use of physical means to push or pull the dog into the desired position continue your search to find an instructor that uses positive reinforcement only.
Early learning and socialisation can help prevent behavioural problems in later life, provided that the learning is positive, reward based and controlled.
The socialisation period is the most important stage in a dogs life. This is the age where they should become accustomed to a whole manner of different environments, situations, animals, vehicles, people of different ages (taking care not to put your puppy into any situation where it may cause harm or be harmed) people wearing hats, men with beards, push bikes, push chairs etc. with the outcome always being a positive one.
Puppy classes will aid in this by providing “mock up” situations for example that of a veterinarian’s examination but in this instance it will be another owner that lifts your puppies paw to check between her toes or takes a look in her ears all ending positively with a treat. The last time your puppy was probably handled in this way was at the Vet’s when she had her vaccinations repeating this experience teaches her that when she is placed on a table the outcome doesn’t have to be painful or frightening but instead she gets a piece of cheese.
Puppy play times are incorporated within the class. This is controlled and closely supervised where Boisterous free play is not encouraged but puppies are taught how to approach other dogs in an acceptable canine manner.
Some basic commands may be taught and as well as being beneficial to the dog, the classes also enable owners to share their experiences and gain confidence.
Why does my dog jump up at people?.
One of the most common problems which may be encountered are the puppy or dog that jumps up at all and sundry. This is a normal behaviour and may be seen as quite amusing. A puppy scrambling up to greet us may be seen as quite sweet. But, as the puppy grows and the behaviour continues, our response may well change. Where a child or elderly person is involved, jumping up may well cause an accident, or at best, frighten the child or person on the receiving end of this behaviour. We are also very likely to object if the puppy is wet and muddy and we are not dressed in dog walking clothing and the dog scraping its nails down your legs becomes increasingly painful as he grows.Puppies jump up at their dam to encourage her to regurgitate part digested food for them, though not all bitches oblige. Jumping up at the bitch is also often a greeting gesture which the puppies display when she returns to the whelping box or room. A wise bitch will very quickly put a puppy in his place if his greeting becomes too exuberant. When the puppy moves on to his permanent home, he comes ready equipped with a cute baby face and big eyes and we come programmed to respond to these juvenile attributes just as we do to human babies. So the puppy may well be allowed to jump up for weeks, months, or in some cases, even for several years before his owner really finds his behaviour intolerable. Yet the problem can be avoided, or easily overcome, if the owner starts as they mean to go on. The key to working with any unacceptable behaviour is to remember what every dog finds rewarding.... and it is not always what we humans might think Often an owner sees reward solely as praise, touch, food and play – and all four of these are strong rewards. But attention is a huge reward for a dog and thus pushing the dog away is rewarding. Speech is rewarding, and strange as it may seem to us, shouting is rewarding to the dog. While we may find it unpleasant, the dog has gained attention and as such is inadvertently rewarded for his unwanted actions and so the action continues, even though we, as owners, think we are working to cease the behaviour.Often owners have to take some of the blame for this action which is so natural to the dog. How often do we see an owner tap his or her legs or tummy, encouraging the dog to jump up?
What ground rules should i put in place before taking on a new dog?
Ground rules should be decided before the dog arrives and should be adhered to by all family members if they are to be reinforced without causing mixed signals, Rules differ between households as each family has a differing environment and differing expectations of their dogs. Rules should apply to the people as much as they do to the dogs in the household, If you do not want your dog on the bed, then he should never be allowed on the bed. Likewise if you don’t want your dog to jump up on you when you are dressed for work, then he also should not be allowed to jump up on you when you are wearing jeans.
Dogs do not understand sometimes or maybe. They only understand always or never! You have to be fair to the dog and not confuse him by telling him different things on different days.
Crating a dog is inhumane. Why would I put my dog in a cage?
When properly introduced to a crate, a dog will not feel like it's trapped in a cage, but secure and content in it's own special place. For further information on crate training your dog click here.
What is Microchipping and what is the benefit of having this done?
A microchip contains a unique 15 digit number which corresponds with the owners details it is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is inserted beneath the skin on the neck of a dog, its unique number can be read by a scanner and the owners detailed retrieved from a central database should the need arise, for example if the dog is found straying or is recovered after being stolen, for more information click here
When any form of aggression exhibits itself veterinary advice should be sought to rule out any medical reason for the problem. Advice from an experienced Behaviourist should then be sought to firstly diagnose the type of aggression being exhibited in order to correctly design a program of modification, often aggressive behaviour can be modified through behavioural techniques but not in all cases. There are many types of aggression, all need different approaches if treatment is to be affective but punishment must never be implemented as this could exacerbate the aggressive reaction.
How do I stop my dog chasing joggers?
Predation is a normal canine behaviour. For some breeds, for instance the Border Collie have a strong tendency to chase and bark at things that move. Training classes allow the dog to learn basic levels of obedience for instance “recall”, also seeking professional behavioural advice may improve the behaviour however this behaviour is self rewarding therefore keeping the dog on a lead and under control at all times is the safest option. This behaviour is potentially very dangerous for the “stimulus” and dog itself possibly also landing the owner in court whilst the dogs fate is decided. For more information on The Dangerous Dogs Act click here.
Do all rescue dogs have behavioural problems?
No. Often people can be put off from adopting a rescue dog as they feel that they were only abandoned because of behavioural difficulties. Not all rescue dogs are ‘problem dogs’. The most common reasons for dogs being re-homed include; owners not having enough time for the dog, owners unable to pay for veterinary care following an illness or injury, the owner dying or is admitted into a nursing home, or the owners have divorced and neither party can keep the dog. Often dogs in these instances have some rudimentarytraining and are older, which means they are out of their juvenile stage where teething, chewing and toilet training can be a major issue. This is not to say that all rescue dogs come with perfect manners and are wholly socialised and house trained of course some rescue dogs do have behavioural problems however the same can be said for a dog bought from a breeder. A reputable rescue will offer ongoing support and advice possibly with an in-house behaviourist, hopefully putting the owner at ease knowing they are not alone and hopefully enabling any problems to be worked through.
Why does my dog sit down and pull herself along the floor as if to scratch her bottom?
As the dog defecates the anal sphincter squeezes the anal sac against the hard passing faeces and causes the anal secretion to discharge. The secretions that come from the anal glands is brown in colour and about the consistency of water or oil. The secretion has a very unpleasant odour to humans. In some instances the anal sacs need manual emptying , with the owner possibly being alerted to a problem by the dog “scooting” around the floor on his bottom. Veterinary attention must be sort to correctly diagnose and treat accordingly.
What is the purpose of urine marking?
Urine marking is used to mark boundaries and objects within that territory.
As with anal sac secretions urine contains a number of different chemicals which may contribute to it’s unique scent, specific individual urine scent signals can be remembered by dogs . Although both male and female both scent mark it is more important to the males. The raised leg posture seen in males is thought to minimize the chances of the urine to be covered over by snow or washed away by the rain and elevate the mark to nose height .
What is scent rubbing?
Unfortunately many dogs enjoy this behaviour and it usually involves a bad smelling substance such as fox faeces. There are two possibilities for the reasons why dogs should carry out this behaviour, one being that the dog may want to be covered by the particular scent much like humans wearing perfume or aftershave the second being that they want to add their scent to the other object.
Firstly the dog lowers the front half of it’s body and rubs both sides of his head and neck over the odour, the dog may also completely roll over and wiggle around on it’s back , a pleasure face is often present. On vertical objects the dog would rub it’s head , neck and body against the odour.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is the term used when a dog becomes extremely anxious when left alone. This condition has no age , sex or breed predisposition. This problem may present itself in a number of ways including urination and defecation, excessive vocalization, destructive chewing, self mutilation and fearful behaviour. The behaviour, which may be just one or a number of the above usually begins within five to thirty minutes of the owners departure however some dogs may anticipate the owners departure and show signs of increased restlessness before such departure. The behaviour associated with the separation anxiety may continue until the owner returns possibly all day or the dog may recover and relax sooner.
Why did my dog kill her puppies?
Infanticide is the term used for an animal killing it’s own young. There can be a number of reasons for this and it may be one or two that are killed with the bitch remaining attentive to the remaining pups or the whole litter may be killed. In some instances the bitch may eat the culled puppy. The reason for this may be that if the puppy is diseased killing and eating the puppy keeps the den from becoming contaminated, removing any evidence that may alert scavengers also providing nutrition In the wild a dog with puppies would be vulnerable to all sorts of predators, therefore if the puppy was to become distressed and vocal the danger of attack by a predator would increase, therefore killing and eating the puppy may be a method of averting a perceived danger . Bitches tend to kill deformed, ill or wounded puppies, which may allow her to allocate resources to the healthy pups who are more likely to survive. Stress and overcrowding may also cause this behaviour . If the bitch has had a larger litter than usual and food is scarce, if the environment is perceived to be hostile for the pups survival or if she perceives herself as unable to rear the litter successfully. Malnourished, older brood bitches and bitches who have experienced abnormal birth experiences for example caesarean sections may also become infanticidal as the normal early visual olfactory, and tactile stimuli leading to bonding are thwarted.
Why do dogs eat grass?
Grass eating represents a normal behaviour only considered a problem if carried to excess as dogs lack the ability to break down the beta bonds of cellulose to glucose and it remains as a gastrointestinal irritant until the dog either passes it in faeces or vomits it up. It is widely thought that some dogs learn to associate plant eating with vomiting and seek out plants when feeling unwell to induce vomiting. Care must be taken with household and common garden plants as many are poisonous.
What does pica mean?
It is important to differentiate between destructive chewing where multiple objects are targeted and true pica. Pica is an abnormal craving to eat none food items, or unusual foods.
The causes of pica are numerous, brain lesions involving the hypothalamus and extreme nutritional deficiencies have been associated with this disorder. Stress and obsessive compulsive disorder may also be contributing factors. Veterinary advice must be sought in this instance to establish the cause of the problem it may be necessary for a complete blood count to access the performance of organ function to rule out any underlying diseases such as a low red blood cell count seen with iron deficiency anaemia for instance .
Why does my dog eat her own faeces?
This behaviour is called coprophagy. It is a normal behaviour in a bitch who licks the urine and faeces away from her young puppies. Poor diet, intestinal parasites and other medical conditions, dogs that are kept in a barren environment or receive little exercise may also cause this behaviour. Veterinary advice should sought in the first instance to rule out any medical condition nutritional and behavioural advice may then be required.
Do some breeds of dog need more exercise than others?
Yes. Choosing a breed of dog requires a lot of research and should not be a decision taken lightly. The choice should not be made on the looks alone, ie choosing the latest star of a Disney production or the latest fashion accessory of celebrities. Each breed of dog belongs to a breed group. Looking at the breed group gives a clearer picture as to it’s original purpose giving the prospective owner a good idea of what to expect. Often behavioural problems can arise because the environment in which the dog is expected to live does not fill the requirements of the breed. For instance the Dalmatian, they have been used as a hunting dog, guard dog a retriever and a trail hound and a firehouse dog although probably best known as a coach dog and were expected to run along side the horses all day long requiring a great deal of stamina. For this reason they may not do well if expected to live in an apartment only receiving a quick walk around the block. Lack of exercise and mental stimulation may result in this breed becoming bored leading to destructive behaviour and inappropriate barking. They also thrive on human companionship and do not do well if expected to spend long periods of time alone which may also lead to problem behaviours.
What age do you think is too young to begin training a puppy?
It is never too early to begin to train a puppy, as sowing the seeds of learning at an early age will assist both puppy and owner in having the basics already in place before the puppy is able to go for walks or to puppy classes once it has had its vaccinations.Socialization from a very early age plays a very big part in the puppy growing up to be a balanced confident dog and learning to be handled and examined should begin whilst still with the breeder as well as becoming accustomed to different people and pets and household sights and sounds such as the tv, doorbell and hoover the puppy should also experience different textures to walk on such as grass, paving slabs, tiles and carpets,housetraining should also be encouraged early with puppies being taken outside as soon as they wake after a sleep and when they have eaten, as around these times the puppy is likely to need to toilet, if a word such as toilet is used and praise given when the puppy obliges this sets the scene for the puppy’s toilet training as it grows, also establishing commands for different actions ie sit, and saying the word followed by praise as the puppy performs the action of its own accord aids obedience training later as the puppy starts to associate the word with the action he is performing. Similarly learning puppy his name is of great importance and will assist in recall training and in getting the puppies attention should you need to do so
So even before the age that a puppy can begin training classes or outdoor socialization there is much an owner can do to give as many positive experiences as possible which can then be built on as the puppy matures.
My puppy is only ten weeks old, Is she too young to start training classes? Classes for this age group are usually termed as “puppy socialisation classes”. It is usually a block course of six or eight weeks. Puppies are able to attend once fully vaccinated as up until this point they must not mix with any strange dogs or be taken to any areas where other dogs have been or may be present as many Canine infectious diseases can be fatal.
Puppies are capable of learning in the first few days of life however stable learning begins at eight or nine weeks of age. This is the most sensitive time and traumatic experiences at this stage can adversely affect social relationships in later life.
Choosing the “right” instructor is of paramount importance. If you do not have a personal recommendation attend a class alone and sit and watch. And the same can be said of training classes for older dogs, any punishment, harsh training apparatus for instance choke chains or any use of physical means to push or pull the dog into the desired position continue your search to find an instructor that uses positive reinforcement only.
Early learning and socialisation can help prevent behavioural problems in later life, provided that the learning is positive, reward based and controlled.
The socialisation period is the most important stage in a dogs life. This is the age where they should become accustomed to a whole manner of different environments, situations, animals, vehicles, people of different ages (taking care not to put your puppy into any situation where it may cause harm or be harmed) people wearing hats, men with beards, push bikes, push chairs etc. with the outcome always being a positive one.
Puppy classes will aid in this by providing “mock up” situations for example that of a veterinarian’s examination but in this instance it will be another owner that lifts your puppies paw to check between her toes or takes a look in her ears all ending positively with a treat. The last time your puppy was probably handled in this way was at the Vet’s when she had her vaccinations repeating this experience teaches her that when she is placed on a table the outcome doesn’t have to be painful or frightening but instead she gets a piece of cheese.
Puppy play times are incorporated within the class. This is controlled and closely supervised where Boisterous free play is not encouraged but puppies are taught how to approach other dogs in an acceptable canine manner.
Some basic commands may be taught and as well as being beneficial to the dog, the classes also enable owners to share their experiences and gain confidence.
Why does my dog jump up at people?.
One of the most common problems which may be encountered are the puppy or dog that jumps up at all and sundry. This is a normal behaviour and may be seen as quite amusing. A puppy scrambling up to greet us may be seen as quite sweet. But, as the puppy grows and the behaviour continues, our response may well change. Where a child or elderly person is involved, jumping up may well cause an accident, or at best, frighten the child or person on the receiving end of this behaviour. We are also very likely to object if the puppy is wet and muddy and we are not dressed in dog walking clothing and the dog scraping its nails down your legs becomes increasingly painful as he grows.Puppies jump up at their dam to encourage her to regurgitate part digested food for them, though not all bitches oblige. Jumping up at the bitch is also often a greeting gesture which the puppies display when she returns to the whelping box or room. A wise bitch will very quickly put a puppy in his place if his greeting becomes too exuberant. When the puppy moves on to his permanent home, he comes ready equipped with a cute baby face and big eyes and we come programmed to respond to these juvenile attributes just as we do to human babies. So the puppy may well be allowed to jump up for weeks, months, or in some cases, even for several years before his owner really finds his behaviour intolerable. Yet the problem can be avoided, or easily overcome, if the owner starts as they mean to go on. The key to working with any unacceptable behaviour is to remember what every dog finds rewarding.... and it is not always what we humans might think Often an owner sees reward solely as praise, touch, food and play – and all four of these are strong rewards. But attention is a huge reward for a dog and thus pushing the dog away is rewarding. Speech is rewarding, and strange as it may seem to us, shouting is rewarding to the dog. While we may find it unpleasant, the dog has gained attention and as such is inadvertently rewarded for his unwanted actions and so the action continues, even though we, as owners, think we are working to cease the behaviour.Often owners have to take some of the blame for this action which is so natural to the dog. How often do we see an owner tap his or her legs or tummy, encouraging the dog to jump up?
What ground rules should i put in place before taking on a new dog?
Ground rules should be decided before the dog arrives and should be adhered to by all family members if they are to be reinforced without causing mixed signals, Rules differ between households as each family has a differing environment and differing expectations of their dogs. Rules should apply to the people as much as they do to the dogs in the household, If you do not want your dog on the bed, then he should never be allowed on the bed. Likewise if you don’t want your dog to jump up on you when you are dressed for work, then he also should not be allowed to jump up on you when you are wearing jeans.
Dogs do not understand sometimes or maybe. They only understand always or never! You have to be fair to the dog and not confuse him by telling him different things on different days.
Crating a dog is inhumane. Why would I put my dog in a cage?
When properly introduced to a crate, a dog will not feel like it's trapped in a cage, but secure and content in it's own special place. For further information on crate training your dog click here.
What is Microchipping and what is the benefit of having this done?
A microchip contains a unique 15 digit number which corresponds with the owners details it is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is inserted beneath the skin on the neck of a dog, its unique number can be read by a scanner and the owners detailed retrieved from a central database should the need arise, for example if the dog is found straying or is recovered after being stolen, for more information click here
