If your dog is jumping the fence and running away, the first step is to work out why. When you identify the reason(s), you can take steps to address the issue. Dogs jump fences for different reasons. They may be bored, lonely or scared to be left alone. They could…
Training is an important part of any dog’s life, and is important for several reasons. It provides mental stimulation which helps to keep your dog happy, and if combined with morning exercise your dog will be mentally and physically tired at the end and far more likely to sleep during…
Never leave your baby and dog together unsupervised! Many dogs adjust well to the arrival of a newborn. Nevertheless, preparation and precautions are essential[1]. The information below is general and should be tailored to suit the individual dog and specific circumstances. Preparation Preventative health care Start by ensuring that your…
Socialisation involves exposing an animal to a range of experiences to help them prepare for and cope with different situations, interactions, and environments. Between 3 and 17 weeks of age (the critical socialisation period), a puppy’s experiences will shape their mental health, and how they behave into adulthood. It is…
Dogs are highly social animals who generally prefer to live in groups. Many dogs can become anxious when separated from their human family. Anxiety is characterised by signs of distress when affected animals are separated from an owner or family group (or sometimes another animal) to who the animal is…
Aggression is defined as a threat, challenge or attack that is directed towards one or more individuals. Signs of aggression may be visual (changes in body posture, piloerection – hair raises up) and auditory (growling, barking) and may involve the use of teeth and occasionally claws. All behaviour is dependent…
Chewing is a normal dog behaviour, and dogs should be provided with opportunities to chew things. However, chewing can be a problem if it’s excessive, or if the dog is injuring themselves or damaging property. Punishing dogs for chewing or stopping them without understanding why they’re chewing can lead to…
Digging is a normal dog behaviour. A dog who digs is not being disobedient. Dogs may dig to help them cope, so punishing them or stopping them without understanding why they’re digging can compromise their welfare and lead to more problems. If you wish to address your dog’s digging behaviour,…
In recent years there has been resurgence in popularity of dog training methods that espouse “dominance” models of dog behaviour. Dominance models suggest that wolves live in hierarchical packs with the alpha wolf at the top and that dogs evolved from wolves and also live in hierarchical packs and see…
The RSPCA believes that dogs should be trained using programs that are designed to facilitate the development and maintenance of acceptable behaviours using natural instincts and positive reinforcement. The RSPCA supports reward-based training methods whereby the dog is set up to succeed and then rewarded for performing the ‘good’ behaviour…