House training (toilet training) a puppy or a dog takes time and patience and, just as with children, every puppy or dog is different and will learn at their own pace. To make the process of toilet training successful and as efficient as possible, you need to use reward-based positive…
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…
It is important to have equipment that is safe and comfortable when teaching your dog to walk on a leash so the experience is enjoyable for both of you. Remember that teaching your dog to walk on a leash can be a challenging skill to teach, as dogs often wish…
RSPCA member societies work with rescue groups in various ways to maximise positive welfare outcomes for animals who come into our care. A rescue group is defined as a not-for-profit group or organisation that rehomes companion animals. A rescue group may operate as a shelter and/or foster care network. The…