Behaviour & Training

We’ve all promised ourselves, “new year, new me” and set ourselves massive goals, but often these resolutions get abandoned within the first week of January. Find out how to achieve yourgoals with the adorable Luna, as your guide. ‘Ok, Luna, it’s a new year and it’s time to talk resolutions. You are going to march around the streets with me every day so that I can measure exactly how many calories you’ve burned. You are going to cut down on those treats you love, because while we’re grateful we didn’t have to use the hoover during the festivities, that hasn’t helped your waistline. You’re going to get organised and stop leaving your toys all over the house. You’re going to quit barking at other dogs when you’re in the car, that’s a bad habit you’ve got into and as of today, you’re going to completely ignore squirrels. Okay?’ With a confused head tilt Luna sank into her bed, no doubt thinking, ‘that sounds like fun, thanks human.’

For those of us having to spend an extended period at home, the extra time we get to spend with our dogs is great of course – but, it’s a reality that we’ll likely have to return to work at home point which will be a huge change for your dog. Learn how to ease your dog into being left home alone with our guide. Finding yourself at home for an extended period of time can bring mixed emotions. Whether you’re unwell, taking a career break, on maternity/paternity leave or locked down due to a global pandemic, the change to your routine will impact you and your dog in different ways. While time with your dog is always a good thing, they will be affected by your emotions as you navigate your new situation and there are inevitable changes in your behaviour. You might notice changes in your dog’s behaviour too; are they following you around the house, becoming anxious when you leave to go shopping or finding places to hide around the house? It’s your responsibility to make sure that their world doesn’t come crashing down around them when your routine changes again. But before we get to the most effective ways to establish a routine for your pet, here are some of the most common symptoms for a dog struggling with change. Dog stress symptoms If your dog is going through a change in their life, it’s important that you keep a look out for any dog stress symptoms, which may indicate that they’re having a difficult time coping: • Excessive howling or barking • Going to the toilet in the house • Lack of interest in food and play • Digestive issues such as diarrhoea • Increased sleeping • Aggressive dog behaviour • Destructive behaviour The key to success will be the routine you put in place for your dog. It needs to blend their daily needs with the lifestyle you will be leading when you’re no longer at home most of the time. Whether you are bringing a puppy into your family, a rescue dog or your current canine family member is experiencing a change in their routine, it’s important to adopt a daily routine. Teaching your dog independence as a way of coping with change Encouraging independence involves teaching your dog that they’re safe to entertain themselves, focus on solo activities and settle alone. The best way to do this is through creating a daily routine. That way, they know what’s expected of them, they know what’s coming next and they won’t be confused by any sudden changes. Think about where your dog would be left alone when you’re not at home. This space needs to be comfortable for them; a familiar space that they’re used to relaxing in and the time they spend there can be built up slowly if they are no longer used to being alone. As much as you love spending time with your dog, encouraging independence is one of the kindest things you can do for them as they’re experiencing change with you. Daily dog routine: getting started The best time to start a routine is the moment your dog joins your family. The second best time is now! Regardless of whether your dog used to have a routine which has now changed or they have joined your family during a time that doesn’t represent your usual day to day life; start now and start small. Write down the daily routine that you will commit to and make sure that everyone involved in the dog’s care is in agreement. Make sure that when your dog is having time alone, that doesn’t become time when they’re snoozing next to you on the sofa. They need to be comfortable being away from you. Start by choosing two or three tasks a day that you can complete while your dog is relaxing in the space they’ll be left in when you’re not at home. If you’re worried that your dog isn’t going to cope with being left alone, you can start with small games that you set up but don’t engage with your dog while they enjoy them. If you scatter some of their daily food allocation around the garden or in a cardboard box with shredded paper, they will be focused on a natural behaviour and learn that they can enjoy time by themselves. It’s much more fun for a dog to sniff out their dinner than to inhale it from their bowl. Getting your dog used to the new routine Creating a routine will help your dog. They are creatures of habit and a routine helps them to feel secure in their environment. From a place of security, dogs are better able to deal with change. The daily routine that you create needs to be maintained regardless of what is going on around you. For example, in the morning your dog will be exercised and after a rest, will have their breakfast. They will then settle and have some time alone. There will be time scheduled in for play around midday and in the afternoon they have an activity that they can enjoy by themselves. After their evening walk, they have a rest and dinner before spending time with you. They’ll have their pre-bedtime toileting opportunity and then go to sleep. For puppies, the routine will include many more toilet opportunities! Remember that dogs need 14-16 hours rest so by giving them the time they need to do that, you’re absolutely doing the right thing. By adopting a routine like this, you can maintain it regardless of the changes you’re experiencing. The ‘exercise’ time can involve a number of different things if you’re not able to walk as far as usual, you need to ask someone else to walk your dog or you’re designing treat trails around the house/garden. Playtime can be a short training activity that will not only help your dog but will enhance the bond that you both have. The solo activity can be a pre-prepared brain game, a Kong or a long-lasting treat which will switch their focus from you to something they can enjoy by themselves. Within the routine, there’s room for improvisation, but your dog will be much more secure in their environment if they know what to expect.

Even though some dogs will make more noise than others, all dogs bark. Whether you have a tiny Chihuahua or a fully-grown Alsatian, you’ve probably heard them barking in a wide variety of situations. You might even be able to tell why they’re barking – for example, many dogs will bark if they encounter something that they perceive as threatening or even when they just want to say hello!

There is no denying that one of your dog’s most defining traits is their loyalty. This loyalty can be overwhelming and humbling, and has often been cited as an example of what human beings can learn from dogs. But life lessons aside, where does your dog’s loyalty come from? Yes, you feed them and play with them and have your own deep sense of love for them, but does that fully explain the depth of emotion they hold for you? In this article, we explore loyal dogs, why dogs are loyal and when that loyalty may need to be contained. Are dogs really loyal? The concept of a loyal dog has been peddled so much in today’s media and advertisements that you can be forgiven for questioning its premise: are dogs really loyal? Let us get the question out of the way: yes, they really are. The stories of dogs who wait endlessly for their owners or who are overjoyed to greet them years later are not made up. You can see the evidence in your own dog, who is delighted when you return home from work and greets you as if they haven’t seen you in weeks. If that is not deep loyalty, we do not know what is. So, what makes a loyal dog? There are several theories on where your dog’s loyalty comes from and why it is so deep. Here we explore a few of the explanations for your dog’s loyalty, ranked from simple to intriguing. The simple explanation: you give them food The simplest explanation for your dog’s loyalty is that you give them food and shelter. Your dog is grateful to you for the essentials of life that you provide and so is loyal to you. There is a scientific basis for this: domestic dogs are descended from wolves, which man once took in and tamed with shelter and food in return for them acting as guard dogs. This reciprocal relationship remains in your dog’s genes and their loyalty is a by-product of it. Of course, this would mean that loyal dogs adore anyone who feeds them. This is also largely true, as dogs do tend to grow more attached to the family member that gives them their food. But it is not the only explanation. Looking to dog psychology for answers: dogs are pack animals Dogs are also pack animals and long to belong to a pack. They are much like humans in that way – it is said that no man is an island and the same can be said for a dog. To your loyal dog, your family is their pack and they have adopted you as their own. Loyalty in a pack is crucial. In order for a pack to survive in the wild, their members must work together to overcome dangers. Trusting, co-operating and putting the pack’s interests first are all a natural part of surviving. It would explain why dogs often put their own lives in danger to protect their owners; their pack instincts require it of them. But that cannot explain everything. After all, your dog still loves you when you return from a long vacation and you have not been feeding them during that time. And what about Hachito, the loyal dog who used to greet his owner each day at the train station after work – and continued to wait for him for nine years after he died? Neither pack instincts nor reciprocal relationships can explain that. But something else might. The intriguing explanation: dogs may love In 2005, Science Direct held an experiment on canine behaviour, where they presented dogs with their owner’s scent, a scent of a stranger and the scent of food. Brain scans were taken of the dog as they approached each scent. The study hypothesised that since smell is so important to dogs, it would be the best way to understand how canine brains work. They were right. Not only did dogs react more strongly to the scent of their owners, the part of the brain associated with enjoyment and positive emotions lit up when they were given their owner’s scent. Your loyal dog does recognise you. The same patterns in humans would usually be associated with love. In another experiment, a dog was allowed to watch a stranger be rude to their owner. When the dog was then allowed to interact with the stranger and the owner, the dog actively snubbed the stranger. If that is not loyalty, we do not know what is.

Dog target training may be a less well-known way to train your dog, but it is definitely picking up in popularity among dog owners. No other training technique hones your dog’s concentration skills as effectively as target training, and the process can help your dog develop their cognitive abilities. Target stick dog training is a great technique to teach your dog, but what exactly is it and how do you begin to train your dog with this method? In this article, we explore all the questions you may have about target training and the benefits. What is dog target training? Target training is a method where you teach your dog to identify specific objects and react to those objects in a certain way. For instance, if you show your dog a mat, your dog’s first reaction will be to use all of their body to respond to that object—in other words, they will lie down on the mat. But what if you could teach your dog to only touch their nose to the mat or only put their front paws on it? This way, your dog will be responding to the mat in a specific way (or with a trained action) by using only one body part. You can see why dog target training is growing popular: it teaches your dog better motor control and concentration skills. It also allows them to identify objects better, which can be very useful if you want to train them to tidy up their toys or close the refrigerator door! How do you start target training? The easiest way to get your dog started on target training is to teach them to identify a specific object with a body part. Begin by using your hand as your dog will probably already be familiar with hand signals and is already comfortable around you. You will need a clicker, treats and lots of fuss and praise for this, as these reinforce positive behaviour. • Present your hand to your dog, around half an inch away from his nose. If your dog looks at your hand, click and reward your dog. • If they touch their nose to your palm, click and reward them. • Keep repeating this action until they can follow your palm to the left, right and above them, all the while touching their nose to it. Make sure to positively reward your dog with lots of praise and treats—that is how they know what you want them to do! Once your dog is good at focusing on an object and touching it with their nose, it’s time to progress onto target stick dog training.

Dogs are social and crave company by nature – that’s why they bond so well with us. However, if they’re not taught how to deal with being alone, this can lead to separation related problems, commonly known as separation anxiety. Keep reading to discover the common symptoms of puppy separation anxiety, and find out how you can help them overcome it with our useful guide. Why do puppies get separation anxiety? It’s easy to think your dog’s being naughty or is annoyed at you for leaving them, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. Puppy separation anxiety arises when they haven’t been taught the coping strategies they need to deal with time alone, and is simply fear of being alone – and can be viewed as similar to a human panic attack. It’s incredibly difficult to deal with a dog or puppy that can’t be left alone, in fact, it’s probably one of the hardest behavioural problems to overcome. Like many behaviour related problems however, prevention is far better than a cure. In the vast majority of cases, puppy anxiety starts at the very beginning. Owners can become so besotted by their new puppy that they’re delighted when they want to follow them everywhere – and this bonding is vitally important. But, if you allow them to constantly be with you, every second of the day, this is what they’re going to grow up to expect. Then suddenly when you need to go out without them, you discover that their world crumbles without you. In other cases, a new owner may shut their puppy in the kitchen to spend their very first night alone, and this enforces the fact that when they’re left, it’s distressing and scary.

There’s nothing worse than a puppy that won’t stop pulling on the lead. It can be extremely tiring for both you and your pup and can turn a simple walk into a complete nightmare. If your dog is straining at the lead, or your puppy refuses to walk without pulling with all their strength, it means that you are only controlling them with physical restraint, rather than with the training that should keep them happily trotting at your side. Not only that but, as they get older, the physical effort involved in controlling your dog could be overwhelming, especially if your canine friend is one of the larger, stronger breeds. To make life easier for you and your dog, all it takes is a little training and they’ll be overjoyed at the sight of their lead in no time. Keep reading to find out how to leash train a puppy! Why lead training puppies is important Exercise Being able to walk your puppy on a lead provides an opportunity to exercise your dog and keep them healthy while they grow and mature. Mental stimulation Exposing your puppy to new environments is essential to their growth and development, and walking on a lead is essential to exploring many new places. The act of training itself is also great mental stimulation for your dog! Further training Lead training also improves responsiveness to overall obedience training, and it may become easier to teach other commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ once your puppy has learned to be walked on a lead. What you’ll need before you start puppy lead training A collar or harness Buy a collar or harness that fits your puppy appropriately, never too loose or too tight – you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck. Treats Use treats to reward them for good behaviour on the lead.

There are many reasons why your dog may be aggressive, and it may require veterinary advice. Read about the causes of aggressive behaviour in dogs here. Your dog has a personality completely unique to them – and like all dogs, they have different moods ranging from joyful to scared. If your dog is behaving aggressively however – either to people or other dogs - you should address it as soon as possible. Aggressive dog behaviour can include: • Aggression to strangers • Aggression to family members • Guarding resources (such as food, treats or toys) • Aggression to other dogs in the household • Aggression to unknown dogs If your dog is showing any signs of aggression, first of all, consult your veterinary surgeon. Your vet will conduct a full examination to see if there is a clinical reason for your dog’s aggression such as pain, discomfort or any other physical cause. If no medical explanation or treatment can be found, the vet can refer you to a professional behaviourist for help. Take a look at your pet insurance policy - some will cover these fees for your added peace of mind. Although taking your dog to see the vet or behaviourist might seem worrying, you should never attempt to treat your dog’s aggression yourself, or ignore it and hope it will go away. If your dog’s aggression is not tackled quickly and appropriately, the problem can escalate and may result in serious injury to yourself and your family, other people or other animals, and even legal issues – and of course, you want to get help for your dog long before it gets this far! This is a problem that is far better - and far easier - tackled straight away. Why is my dog aggressive? All behaviours happen for a reason and occur as a result of the way the dog is feeling – and aggression is no different. A properly qualified and experienced behaviourist will be able to get to the heart of why your dog feels they need to act in this way, what their triggers are, and how to deal with this. The fear response Aggression in dogs nearly always comes from fear – as the purpose of aggression for a dog is one of perceived self-defence, and nearly always is with the intent of making things the dog regards as frightening or unpleasant stop, make them go away, or prevent them from happening in the first place These fears can arise due to inadequate early puppy socialisation, past experiences, or the perception that valuable resources are under threat of being taken away. Some dog who have been roughly or inappropriately handled as a puppy or put in scary situations when they are too young to be able to do anything about it can also grow up to be more reactive as adults. Since fear is the most common cause of aggressive behaviour in dogs, you should never punish your dog for growling or for any other display of aggression. Shouting at a dog for growling at something he is fearful of will simply compound his fear, may escalate the aggression, and quite likely his aggressive response will worsen next time. What should I do if my dog is aggressive? First of all, learn how to recognise how your dog is feeling. Every dog gives warning signals before they bite or attack – especially the first time - but owners aren’t always very good at reading them. Dog aggression warning signs There are several signals that your dog may give to indicate they are worried, fearful or feeling stressed, and if we recognise these, we can keep dogs feeling safe and stress-free, and so prevent a lot of canine aggression long before it starts. Often dogs bite out of self-defence because they feel that it is their only option as all their other warning signs have been ignored.

If you have a dog that's constantly digging up your flower beds it can be incredibly frustrating. Find out why your dog digs and how to stop them doing it with our helpful guide. Dogs can develop the urge to dig at any time in their life: it could be a habit they’ve had since being a puppy, or something that comes on later in their adulthood. Find out more about what drives dogs to dig in order to determine how to stop a dog digging. The occasional scuffle in the soil isn’t a problem, but digging as a repeated habit can be a destructive behaviour. If you don’t discourage digging early on, significant damage can be done to your garden and home, and it will become harder to train your dog not to dig. Find out more about what drives dogs to dig in order to determine how to stop a dog digging.

Your dog is full of curiosity and fun, but they might be frightened of things too – after all, every dog has a different personality. Some dogs are fearful by nature, and some scared dogs are more predisposed to it than others. Dogs are naturally curious and inquisitive so they generally interact enthusiastically with the world around them but they may be times or situations where they become wary or frightened. Every dog has a different personality depending on their breed, type, past experiences and their individual nature. Each dog is different – just like us – and while there are some real canine extroverts out there, there can also be dogs who are more worried about things around them or that they may encounter. The more we take time to understand our dog’s unique personality, the better we can predict when they may behave fearfully, and know how to support them. Most behaviour problems have their roots in fear – even aggression. It’s not the only cause but it is a major one and if you think of the common canine issues, often you will find that the original cause is the dog feeling worried, scared or frightened.

We all know dogs are able to sense plenty of things we can’t. So, are ghosts one of them? In this article we’re trying to answer the old-age question: “do dogs see ghosts?”. Our canine friends are loyal, gentle and all-around amazing beings. But it’s their ghostbuster-like behaviour that makes them unlike any other family member: howling at the moon, staring into empty space, getting vocal for no apparent reason or running out of the room as if chasing some invisible enemy.

Teaching and training your dog basic commands and cues is a fun and rewarding experience for both of you. It’s important to begin training your dog at an early age to get the foundations right before your puppy grows into an adult dog. Puppy training and teaching your dog is a great way to spend time together and can also be lots of fun! Dogs are fast learners, and with your loving guidance, training your dog how to ‘come’, ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and even go to the toilet will nurture your relationship as well as encourage good behaviour. Well-trained dogs are less likely to stray, and generally have more comfortable and fulfilling lives compared to their untrained counterparts. Young puppies make eager pupils, so you can start training your dog as soon as you get them home. It’s a myth that pups need to be at least six months old before they can be properly trained – the younger they are, the easier it is to teach them. Think of them as little furry sponges, waiting to soak up all the learning you can give them! Here you’ll find lots of advice on the basics of dog training. For more detailed and advanced dog training advice, try contacting a professional trainer.