From the category archives:

Dog Behaviour Advice

Fearful Fido – conquering the fear of noise

August 28, 2010

As autumn approaches, this can be a worrying time for an owner whose dog has a fear of noise, as celebrations such as Halloween and Bonfire Night bring along the sights and sounds of fireworks. The temptation is to comfort our dog when he is afraid and shaking, however, this is the worst thing you [...]

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Is dominance a myth?

August 9, 2010

Today the media have been focusing on the issue of ‘how best to train your dog’ with traditionalists such as Cesar Milan advocating the use of hard line training methods to show your dog who’s boss compared to modernists such as Victoria Stillwell and Jan Fennell who focus on positive reward to teach a dog [...]

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Dogs stealing food – new study suggests dogs are self aware

August 2, 2010

A new study has added weight to the growing evidence that dogs posses theory of mind, in other words, dogs are self aware and likely to perceive what we see and know. This would allow dogs to take of advantage of us when the opportunity arises. A classic example of this would be when we [...]

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Dogs imitate owners

July 28, 2010

Many of my clients and puppy class students will often hear me discuss how their behaviour can impact their dog’s behaviour and this often through observational learning. The idea that our dogs behave like us has been backed by research conducted in a collaborative project by biologists and psychologists at the universities of Vienna and [...]

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Aggression and lacking the ‘Feel Good Factor’

July 21, 2010

While many dog owners will tolerate a dog that pulls on the lead or is destructive when left alone, aggression is problem most owners won’t tolerate. In my role as a dog listener, I help clients understand why their dog behaves in such a way and how to deal with aggressive behaviours in a calm [...]

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First Aid For Dogs

July 10, 2010

First of all “Do not panic!” The most common type of first aid administered to dogs is bandaging. Always be careful when bandaging a leg not to put it on too tight as this could restrict the circulation. It is always best to put the bandage around the paw as well. Unless it is a [...]

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You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?

June 11, 2010

When Robert De Nero looked into the mirror and uttered those famous lines “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me” in the film Taxi Driver, his menacing message was clear – back off or they’ll be trouble. New research suggests that growls emitted from dogs when guarding their food or a bone for example, is ranked as the most universally understood communication cue among dogs.

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Dogs on a lead and out of control

May 27, 2010

A common problem behaviour I’m asked to help with in my role as a Dog Listener is where a dog is highly reactive when on a lead. The typical behaviours displayed include barking and lunging and this is usually directed towards other dogs, people and even moving vehicles. So, what do you do about it?

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Hot weather safety tips for pets

May 24, 2010

We’ve had a lovely few days with the warm weather, however, while we have the luxury of changing into shorts and t-shirts, our four-legged friends aren’t as lucky being stuck with their furry coat! So, while this warm weather continues, think about the following when walking your pets… Take water bottles out with you so [...]

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Misunderstanding can lead to dog bites

May 12, 2010

In my role as a behaviour specialist, I’m often called into homes where owners have been bitten by their dogs; understandably this is very distressing and confusing for owners, especially when they believe there was no clear warning, but was there?

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