dogs

Generalisation of behaviours – “But he’ll do it at home!”

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This week I was having a chat with a client who was trying to understand why her dog was struggling to perform some well practiced behaviours in and around her home environment but not in class – and this prompted my post on the importance of generalising the behaviours we want our pets to do.  […]

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Itchy skin is linked to behavioural problems in dogs

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There are many factors that can influence a dog’s behaviour and underlying medical reasons are just one. Now, a new study has shown that itch severity in dogs with Apotic Dermatitis (cAD) is associated with behaviours typically considered undesirable, for example: mounting, chewing, hyperactivity, eating faeces, begging for and stealing food, attention-seeking, excitability, excessive grooming […]

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Ten tips to avoid spooking your pets this Halloween

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Halloween will soon be here.  While Halloween may be great fun for many, it can be a time of real worry for our four-legged friends.  Having the door knocked or bell rung throughout the evening then people dressed in strange looking outfits shouting “Trick or Treat” could spook even the most placid of pets and […]

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Bones trigger stress response when animals face danger

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When humans and animals are faced with danger, hormones (glucocorticoids) flood the body in preparation for ‘flight or fight’, this is referred to as the acute stress response (ASR).  Consequently, physiological changes occur in the body, for example the heart and breathing rate increases.  The production of glucocorticoids is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis […]

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A pawesome deal for clients & followers on Tug-E-Nuff Dog Gear

Whoop!  We have secured this pawesome deal just for you… We love to use Tug-E-Nuff Dog Gear toys to improve the bond with our dogs and boost motivation in training to take things to the next level. Tug-E-Nuff make a huge range of toys to suit any dog, whether they like to chase, are barmy […]

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New insights into common health issues for Westies

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The largest ever study of illnesses suffered by West Highland White Terriers has produced insight into the most common issues encountered by the breed. The Royal Veterinary College released results that had been analysed using data from over 900,000 Westies under UK veterinary care.  Common illnesses recorded included: dental disease (16%), ear disease (11%), overgrown […]

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60 Seconds with Ann Baslington-Davies – expert canine witness

Ann Baslington-Davis is a Canine Behaviour Analyst, specialising as an expert witness for Court cases involving dog bites and fights.  An expert witness would be called into assist where a dog has bitten (or alleged to have bitten) a person whilst out in a public place or on private property, or if a dog has […]

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Dogs can be good for your social life

A recent poll of 2,000 dog owners by Janevic et al. (2019) supports previous findings that pets can promote social contact between other owners (Knight and Edwards, 2008). The researchers found pet parents met, on average, four new people thanks to their four-legged friend either through dog walking or puppy training classes. Most owners also […]

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Dogs reduce risk of Uni students failing their studies

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Numerous studies suggest dogs can improve physiological and psychological health in adults and even enhance cognitive development in infants (Hurley et al., 2010).  Consequently, our four-legged friends are now frequently used in therapy to provide emotional support, whether that’s during Court trials or airline travel.  A new study has now found that being around dogs […]

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Dogs are eating 54,000 extra calories annually

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Over-indulgence can lead to weight-gain in humans and it is the same for pets.  Whilst many owners carefully manage their dog’s diet, a new survey indicates the average owner is feeding their dog an extra 54,000 calories a year, in addition to their daily meals. The research, conducted by food manufacturer Royal Canin, investigated how […]

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