About The Author – http://ruthturner.wordpress.com

My name is Ruth Turner and I am studying BSc (Hons) Animal Management (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) at the University of Chester. My degree gives me a vast knowledge about exotic and pet species, ranging from reptiles to large carnivores, livestock and domestic species. My main interest is the domestic dog. I’m currently writing a dissertation titled; Are there any differences in acute stress levels of different breeds of dog (Canis familiaris) when housed in a kennel environment? Why is so important the dog kennel and run? This will be the first investigation of any form into differentials of dog breeds in kennels. I work part-time at a dog kennel caring for a variety dogs, including RSPCA dogs. 

 

I spend a lot of time with dog owners and provide advice. I also dog walk casually and have worked with friends and their dogs, giving training advice, click here now for training tips. Up to date I’ve helped with a strong-willed Springer spaniel, a Collies cross and a Jack Russell type cross. Finally as a Border collie owner myself I have experienced training and agility classes which I hope to teach in a career. I have also trained my dog privately and this month I took him to this resource from Ridgeside K9 NorCal Dog Training event where we succeeded in helping a fearful young child to stroke my dog with comfort.

 

These days people have been spending their times at home with their pets teaching them new tricks and also learning how to do the grooming, however, there certain breeds that need special tools to do it, a great options are poodle grooming equipments which have really high quality.

 

Dogs (Canis familiaris)

8 million dogs are owned in the UK, making them the second most popular pet. No other mammal experiences such a close association with humans. Dogs have been domesticated for 12,000 years and shaped sufficiently to produce the 209 pedigree breeds of dogs recognised by the UK Kennel Club. The dog family, Canidae, consists of 38 carnivore species including wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals and the domestic dog. The dogs ancestors are wolves and even in present day there are many wolf similar behaviors that dogs express. Therefore to understand the domestic dog you must appreciate their natural behaviors and links between human behavior and inappropriate animal responses. We find the (canine tested) dog beds from householdpets.co.uk to be the best choices.

Dog Behaviour

Dog behaviour, like any other animal or human behaviour is simple “what they do”. As you learn more, you begin to realize that any movement, noise, whatever a dog does its behaviour. And to understand dog behaviour you must ask “why is the dog doing that?”

Dogs have been shaped for their appearance and behaviour and most breeds show particular behaviours which are unique to that breed. These behaviours, when understood, provide interesting characteristics to the dog and make them adapt for specific tasks without problems.

For example a Springer spaniel is taught to retrieve game killed in a shoot therefore they are extremely good at bringing items back to their owners. Springer spaniels can be happily owned by someone that does not shoot if they are taken on long walks to a large grass area where they can retrieve a toy. However if you do not take you Springer out to retrieve something it will become bored and obsessed with picking items up around the home and bringing them to you, which becomes a problem when they are bringing personal items such as slippers and newspapers which they will chew and damage in the process. And if you have a smaller dog like a chihuahua, we recommend you only get the best dental chews for chihuahuas to keep their teeth healthy and it also helps to have something that they can chew on when they’re bored.

Dog “Problem” Behaviours

Dogs have been largely ignored by science until there is a “problem”. But where do problems come from?

“The best treatment is prevention”. A dog bite can permanently change your life, to prevent problem behaviours a dog must be treated as an individual animal with specific needs, physically and psychologically. Most important for a dog is exercise. I’ve met many dogs with behaviour problems that have stopped expressing those problems once they started being exercised sufficiently. Dogs remain pack animals and require social interactions to remain happy and healthy. The most important part of these social interactions is that you, the human, put yourself in the dominant position of the pack! There are so many theories and methods of this and my biggest aim of this post is that you will listen and consider my method. It is not one unique to me but simply a choice of two methods;

1. Force and aggression dominance

2. Calm and assertive dominance

I implore you to take the calm and assertive dominance path, remaining a confidence but quiet pack leader that does not use brute force to control a dog. Many dog behaviourists, such as Victoria Stilwell from Channel 4 program It’s Me Or The Dog teach this method of dominance.

For details of how to ensure you are the dominant pack member and basic ground rules that will ensure a happy relationship please visit my blog.

A Final Note

No two dogs are the same and any breed of dog can provide a rewarding companion that will show you ultimate loyalty. Dogs have been shown to bring people out of depression and give people the confidence to do something they would never have done before. They can be trained at Dog Works to assist people with any special need and disability, track down missing people and objects such as drugs and bombs. They will never judge you and only ask that you feed them, keep them warm, love them, exercise them, keep them busy and give them a place in your life. Before getting a dog you must do your research and ensure you can provide your dog and dog breed with all of its needs to keep it a happy dog, free from behaviour problems.

Ruth Turner

http://ruthturner.wordpress.com