Behaviour & Training

Dogs love to sniff and explore the world around them – and it is fascinating to watch them figuring stuff out! It can be great to encourage this behaviour as it is a great form of canine enrichment and also allows them an outlet for their natural sniffing and foraging instincts. A great way to do this is using a snuffle mat – which can be as simple or as challenging as you like. Read on to find out how they might benefit your dog!

Dog muzzles often get a bad rap, but did you know there are actually quite a few benefits to wearing them for certain types of dogs and in some cases, legal requirements? Find out more about them and our dog muzzle training tips with this guide. Dog muzzles are fantastic! We know that they get a mixed response from people, but we also know how important they are and have written this article to help you with your dog muzzle training. If you read that and thought, ‘my dog doesn’t need a muzzle,’ then this article is for you. Not only are muzzles perfect for dogs that might be a little bit grumpy, reactive or worried when they’re out and about, they’re also often important to be able to use at the vet's in order to keep everyone safe. Dogs often behave unpredictably when they are in pain – and a vet’s practise can be a scary place. Your dog doesn’t know that your vet is trying to help them and can easily get a bit toothy in their fear or panic. For some dogs in the UK, the law dictates that they must be muzzled – these are dogs who have been registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Section 1. Plus, some dogs (such as Greyhounds – especially ex racers - and other sight hounds) can be a serious threat to cats or other animals, and so wearing a muzzle when they are out and about prevents them from catching, injuring, or killing smaller mammals. And of course, there are those dogs who will eat everything they find when they are out and about – however inappropriate (stones, sticks, people’s picnics…!). For them a muzzle can prevent them from being able to do this while you work on their training. There are many reasons your dog might benefit from wearing a muzzle and if they have been introduced to it gradually and learnt to love their muzzle then any stress that could be accompanied by wearing one goes away.

Just like us humans, dogs need enough space in their home to feel happy and comfortable. But not all dogs and not all owners - are the same, making the question ‘how much space does a dog need?’ quite difficult to answer. And some dogs are smaller than others so, whilea Pug can live happily in an apartment with surrounding outdoor space, a Golden Retriever will enjoy a proper back garden. There are a few insights into a dog’s needs that will help you navigate the ‘pet – living space’ conundrum easily. Keep reading to find out how much space a dog will need both indoors and outdoors.

Whether you’re looking to add another cool party trick to your pup’s collection or just strengthen your bond, learning how to teach a dog to give paw is a great way to achieve both. For most dogs is also an easy trick for them to learn so you’re sure to have a great time doing it, all while your pup gets to show off his ‘pawesome’ skills! In this article, we’re going to go through the process of teaching your dog how to give you their paw, and help you teach your pup how to master it in no time. Read on to find out all there is to know about this cool party trick.

Feeling a bit jealous of all the naps your dog takes – but also a little worried that there might be something wrong? Here are some of the most important reasons why dogs sleep so much. Long walks in the park, slobbery kisses and games of fetch all day – if this is what you expected from your dog, you’re probably a little bit surprised by how much snoozing they manage to fit in! Of course, there’s plenty of running, walking and playing in a dog’s daily schedule, but napping all day, or at least a good part of it, can also be a normal part of the canine routine. Most of the time, there’s no need to worry about that extra shut-eye. But if you’re asking yourself ‘how much daytime snoozing is too much?’, ‘how long do dogs normally sleep for?’ or ‘when’s it time to get worried?’, keep reading to find out more.

When you get a new dog, your life will change considerably, and one of the most significant changes is likely to be the daily walks your pup will require. Getting out in the fresh air is great for both you and your dog, as it gives you both a chance to exercise and burn off steam, stave off boredom with novel sights, sounds and sniffs, and it’s also a great opportunity for bonding between you and your four-legged friend. In the majority of cases, every pup should go on at least one walks each day. But how often should you walk a dog – and for how long? The answer depends on a few factors including breed, temperament, health, and age. Read on to find out how you can ensure your dog gets the perfect amount of daily exercise.

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.

We all need to wee, that’s a fact of life. However, whereas we can just pop off to the toilet to relieve ourselves as and when we need, it’s not that simple for our dogs. They can’t tell us when the time is nigh, and so have to rely on us to know when to let them out to do their business to avoid accidents in the house. But, how often do dogs need to pee? Should you be letting your four-legged friend out more often than you already do? And what about puppies? Keep reading to find out how often you should take your dog or puppy out to pee.

You’ve probably seen your pooch peacefully sleeping in lots of different positions, but did you know that dog sleeping positions have meaning behind them? From being stretched out to curled up in a ball, it’s easy to wonder why they’re sleeping like that! Whether they’re sleeping in a dog bed or on the sofa, we’ve listed all the dog sleeping positions for you here so you know all about your pup’s sleeping habits.

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.

Teaching your dog new behaviours and tricks is a good way to keep them active and mentally stimulated, as well as a great bonding opportunity for the two of you. If your dog has already mastered ‘sit’ and ‘down’, you can teach them how to roll over. Regardless of whether they’re pups or adult dogs, rolling over or at least lying on their side is a fun and easy trick for them to learn and can be extra helpful in certain situations likevet examinations. Not to mention the cuteness of it all! So, are you ready to learn how to teach a dog to roll over? Check out these easy and straightforward steps that you can follow to teach your little (or big) goofball some rolling skills!

Is there anything cuter than a dog tilting their head from side to side? This adorable behaviour has the power to melt the heart of just about anyone – but why do dogs do it? Check out our guide and find out the story behind this common canine habit. If you’re lucky enough to have a canine companion in your life, it’s likely you’ve encountered the heart-melting head tilt. You may be telling them that it’s time to go for walkies, and they start cocking their head from side to side, and you think to yourself, “why do dogs tilt their heads? Are they listening to what I’m saying?”. At Purina, we’re just as curious about your pooch’s behaviour as you are, and that’s why we’ve taken a look into the reasons why dogs do this. Keep reading to find out more!