Here in the UK we are lucky to have a vast array of parks and open spaces where dogs can be exercised off lead. In other countries, most notably the U.S ,the chance to exercise dogs off lead is the exception, not the rule. Owners have to keep their dogs on lead or search out specifically designed dog parks.
We should view the chance to exercise our dogs off lead as a privilege, and with this privilege there comes responsibility. A sunny day at your typical urban park sees pic-nics, couples walking, children playing, scooters and bikes hurtling all over the place. These are all great things for your dog to become accustomed to and it's nice to see happy dogs and their owners rubbing along contentedly with other park users. But are you doing everything you can to prevent you and your dog from committing doggy ASBOs
Too few dog owners take their responsibilities seriously. For many people walking the dog is the time to relax. Relaxing is fine but don't zone out, you should always keep a close eye on your dog and what it is doing. Failing to do so can at best lead your dog to be a nuisance to others and at worst could lead to your dog getting run over, involved in a fight, or scaring a child.
The first doggy ASBO many owners commit is failing to clean up after their dog. Some owners who pick up on the streets seem to think it's not worth doing so when there's grass on the ground. The only place where it's acceptable not to pick up straight away is your own garden.
In this day and age there really is no excuse for not scooping the poop. Poo bags can be bought almost anywhere for only a couple of pounds, some parks even supply them, and most councils ensure there are lots of bins to deposit your doggy droppings in. If you run out then ask a fellow dog owner, most will be happy to share! For those who scoop but then leave the full bags lying on the ground (why?!) then if the idea of carrying a full poo bag really horrifies you there are a variety of options available that will allow you to discreetly (and fragrantly) carry your full poo bags until you find a convenient bin.
http://www.dickybag.com
Next on the list of no-nos are the owners who think that just because their dog is allowed off lead their dog can run riot. We've all seen these dogs, running like lunatics, jumping on other dogs and people, chasing joggers with no owner in sight. Not everyone who walks in a park is going to be a dog lover and it is unfair (and in fact illegal) to make them feel uncomfortable or afraid.
If you are going to let your dog off the lead then ensure it has a good recall, teach it not to run up to strangers and leap on them, especially if it has muddy paws. Many owners are guilty of conspiring to form bad doggy manners by letting their puppies jump up to greet strangers and rush up to other dogs. If you want to have your pup off lead while training then use a long line so you can stop such things from happening. Not only will this be much nicer for other park users but it will also prevent your dog from learning bad habits that can take a lot of time and money to correct.
Although dogs are social animals it is preferable for your dog not to come bounding up to dogs it doesn't know, especially when they are on the lead. This can be disconcerting for both dog and owner. Remember, just because your dog is friendly doesn't mean every other dog is. You wouldn't like it if some stranger ran up to you in the street so why should a dog?
Don't walk your dog with the sole purpose of finding other dogs to exercise it for you. Use your time with your dog to play games, hide and seek, fetch, tug - whatever gets your dog enthused and enjoying your presence. Your bond with your dog will be strengthened by this time spent together. If your dog does start to play with another dog it meets on a walk then always check with the other dogs owner that they are happy with this and monitor the play session to make sure it doesn't become too rough.
Happy dog play should be fluid and relaxed, watch the dogs carefully. Are their mouths open, tongues flopping? Are their ears relaxed? Are they going down into play-bows and turning their heads and bodies sideways to the other dog as they play? Are they switching roles, taking turns to chase and wrestle? Are they taking brief breaks (even a couple of seconds) in between “attacks” on each other? All of these are signs that dogs are playing nicely. If one dog starts body slamming, scruff grabbing or if one spends more time being on the bottom of the pile then this is a sign to intervene and stop play. Just like humans some dogs are bullies and what may start as a game can soon escalate to aggression if one dog feels vulnerable to attack. While there are no hard and fast rules regarding the size of dogs other dogs can play with it is usually better to intervene if you have a large dog who is trying to play with a very small dog. Unless the dogs know one another well this can be a little too scary for a smaller dog.
If you're unsure about what dog play should be like then check out the following:
http://www.thebark.com/content/your-dog%E2%80%99s-rough-play-appropriate
http://www.petside.com/video/dog-play-body-language
Children and dogs can be great together, but many children are wary or downright afraid of dogs. While this is an issue in itself, it is only polite to prevent your dog from running up to children jumping on them, licking them, or knocking them over. If you have a child friendly dog and if an adult asks whether there child can say hello then by all means go ahead, but be careful to supervise the interaction. Make sure your dog stays relaxed and calm and the child doesn't pinch, pull or poke the dog - even accidentally
The great Lili Chin has designed a helpful poster for Jez Rose.
http://www.jezrose.co.uk/documents/woofs-and-growls-owners.pdf
Many breeds find joggers, cyclists and skaters great fun to chase. Don't let this happen! Your dog should never be allowed to get into the habit of chasing other park users. This is a sure fire way to end up being unpopular and you could even have a dog control order issued to you.
Pic-nics are the best part of summer for dogless people and the worst for dog owners. All too often a dog will bound over to a picnic and try to illicit food and attention. The least offensive dogs are those that sit and beg, the worst are those that grab sandwiches from hands and run off - even worse if the hands belong to children. Neither is acceptable behaviour. If you have a dog who can't be trusted around people eating then walk it early in the morning, late in the evening or keep it on the lead.
Perhaps the saddest dog owner ASBO is that of the distracted dog owner. With our busy lives more and more people are to be seen nattering away on the phone when they're out with their dog. Walking your dog isn't the time to be doing this. Even the best behaved dog can get into a scrape and injure itself or another dog or person so it's important to pay your dog attention. All too many lost dogs, unscooped poops, bites and other accidents occur because the dog owner was striding off talking on their mobile or gossiping with a friend, paying no attention to what their dog was doing. Dog walks shouldn't be for doing admin or catching up on gossip, they should be about quality time with your dog.
Use your walks as a time to practice your dog's recall, to work on its impulse control. There are so many bad mannered dogs in our parks who would be much better behaved if their owners interacted with them. If your dog chases bicycles then make sure you watch out for bikes on your walk and take appropriate action (getting your dog to heel/watch you/putting it on the lead) to prevent anything unpleasant occurring.
We are lucky to have these spaces where our dogs can be off lead with us, it is up to us to respect other park users and to show just how well behaved dogs can be. If we don't do this these spaces won't be around for long.
Friday 10 February 2012
Friday 3 February 2012
Dogs and the law - do you know the facts
There are a number of laws that cover the welfare and ownership, many of these unfortunately aren't known by owners. Among some of the most important are the following.
Identification
Your dog must where an ID tag with your name, address, and contact details.
Lots of people don't bother with ID tags. Perhaps it's the expense, or maybe they don't want their dogs to be easily identifieed. Either way by doing so you are putting your dog at risk. Not only is it illegal not to have an ID tag on your pet it also means that it can be impossible for you to be contacted should your dog be lost, injured or stolen. A sensible owner will have their dog microchipped (make sure your dog's chipped is registered on the database) AND make sure it is wearing an ID tag.
Lost or stray dogs
Each local authority must, by law, have a person appointed to look after stray dogs. If your dog is lost, make sure you contact your local authority (and any other neighbouring councils) as soon as possible. They are required to keep a register of found dogs but, sadly, the council is only obliged to look after the stray dog for 7 days – after a week the dog may be sold, given to a dog shelter for rehoming or destroyed. You may have to pay a fine of at least £25 plus costs for their food and care.
Barking
Pretty much every dog enjoys a good bark now and then, but if this becomes a nuisance for your neighbours you could face a fine and even prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if complaints are made.
If you do need to leave your dog at home for a period of time, make sure they have plenty of toys, a comfy bed in a sheltered spot plus food and fresh water to keep them happy. Ideally, leave your mobile number with neighbours so they can contact you if your dog seems to be distressed or is making a noise, and check with them on a regular basis to make sure that your dog hasn’t been misbehaving whilst you’re out.
Keeping control
For most people, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is all about controlled breeds, such as the Pit Bull Terrier and the Fila Braziliero – although these breeds aren’t banned outright, you do need a Certificate of Exemption and comply with other very strict laws to keep one.
But did you know that the same Act also prohibits any dog, regardless of breed, from being “dangerously out of control in a public place”? The term “dangerously out of control” is defined in the Act as “that the dog will injure a person, whether or not it actually does so”. Dogs that are considered to be “dangerous” may be euthanised if the owner is successfully prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
This has very serious implications for all dog owners: whilst you may know that your dog is just being playful and exuberant when they jump up, bark at other people or decide to chase a cyclist or runner, someone less familiar with dogs could find this behaviour hostile and frightening. If they believe that your dog was about to cause an injury, or if they did get a bite or scratch, the police could, in theory, attempt a prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
For this reason, it’s very important to always keep your dog under control when you’re in a public place: if they are prone to jumping up or barking loudly, consider keeping them on a lead and begin a training program to reduce these behaviours.
It is also worth remembering that many parks and open areas have a number of bylaws covering them. These additional laws can mean that you can be fined or prosecuted if your dog is off lead or deemed to be out of control. Always check what additional laws cover the areas you walk your dogs in.
Further information on the various Acts and laws relating to dogs and other animals can be found on the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) website.
Identification
Your dog must where an ID tag with your name, address, and contact details.
Lots of people don't bother with ID tags. Perhaps it's the expense, or maybe they don't want their dogs to be easily identifieed. Either way by doing so you are putting your dog at risk. Not only is it illegal not to have an ID tag on your pet it also means that it can be impossible for you to be contacted should your dog be lost, injured or stolen. A sensible owner will have their dog microchipped (make sure your dog's chipped is registered on the database) AND make sure it is wearing an ID tag.
Lost or stray dogs
Each local authority must, by law, have a person appointed to look after stray dogs. If your dog is lost, make sure you contact your local authority (and any other neighbouring councils) as soon as possible. They are required to keep a register of found dogs but, sadly, the council is only obliged to look after the stray dog for 7 days – after a week the dog may be sold, given to a dog shelter for rehoming or destroyed. You may have to pay a fine of at least £25 plus costs for their food and care.
Barking
Pretty much every dog enjoys a good bark now and then, but if this becomes a nuisance for your neighbours you could face a fine and even prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if complaints are made.
If you do need to leave your dog at home for a period of time, make sure they have plenty of toys, a comfy bed in a sheltered spot plus food and fresh water to keep them happy. Ideally, leave your mobile number with neighbours so they can contact you if your dog seems to be distressed or is making a noise, and check with them on a regular basis to make sure that your dog hasn’t been misbehaving whilst you’re out.
Keeping control
For most people, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is all about controlled breeds, such as the Pit Bull Terrier and the Fila Braziliero – although these breeds aren’t banned outright, you do need a Certificate of Exemption and comply with other very strict laws to keep one.
But did you know that the same Act also prohibits any dog, regardless of breed, from being “dangerously out of control in a public place”? The term “dangerously out of control” is defined in the Act as “that the dog will injure a person, whether or not it actually does so”. Dogs that are considered to be “dangerous” may be euthanised if the owner is successfully prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
This has very serious implications for all dog owners: whilst you may know that your dog is just being playful and exuberant when they jump up, bark at other people or decide to chase a cyclist or runner, someone less familiar with dogs could find this behaviour hostile and frightening. If they believe that your dog was about to cause an injury, or if they did get a bite or scratch, the police could, in theory, attempt a prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
For this reason, it’s very important to always keep your dog under control when you’re in a public place: if they are prone to jumping up or barking loudly, consider keeping them on a lead and begin a training program to reduce these behaviours.
It is also worth remembering that many parks and open areas have a number of bylaws covering them. These additional laws can mean that you can be fined or prosecuted if your dog is off lead or deemed to be out of control. Always check what additional laws cover the areas you walk your dogs in.
Further information on the various Acts and laws relating to dogs and other animals can be found on the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) website.
Thursday 2 February 2012
Would you let a mechanic fix your broken leg?
I've found some great new doggy blogs and here is a post from one of my favourites:
“I’ve Never Had a Dog Do That Before! My Neighbor Said the Dog Knows He Did Something Wrong.”
May 10, 2011 by specialpawstraining
There are some random (yet also connected in some ways) ideas about dogs and dog training that I wanted to try to talk about all together.
1) I have a car; and I have a driver’s license.
This does not mean that I know how to repair my car; or that I am qualified to be a race car or stunt driver! Yet for some reason just living with a dog seems to make everyone an expert. Why is that?
We take advice from our neighbors, out vets, our friends on dog behavior and what we should do if our dog barks at the doorbell. But would we listen to our dentist, vet, lawyer on advice about open heart surgery?
For some reason the commonality of living with a dog lends itself very readily to believing ourselves as holding some level of expertise on dog behavior, often based solely on past experience. I don’t know much in caring for my car beyond the regular oil change (which I even admit sadly I’m not very good at keeping up with). Just because I have a car does not make an expert in caring for one!
Likewise, just because I’ve had one car that dropped its transmission doesn’t mean all of my future cars will! Yet we tend to believe that because our first dog let the kids climb all over her, all of our future dogs will do the same without any work on our part.
Or if I have had three cars in my lifetime and have never had one drop its transmission, but my latest car is in the shop and the mechanic tells me it’s the transmission, I wouldn’t ask him “really, are you sure? I don’t see how that could be possible since I’ve never has a car do that to me before. ” Yet these are common responses we give when presented with the fact that our dogs guard tissues, or our dogs are chewing the furniture because they are not getting any walks, etc. Just because we have never seen something in our homes, doesn’t make them any less common or a reality.
2) When people see a monkey displaying certain visual signals and I explain that what they are seeing is a fear grin, or an open-mouth threat or an affiliative lip-smack, people are excited to learn what the signals mean. Yet when it comes to dogs, everyone has their own opinion about what a tail wag means or what signals that a dog is fearful.
For some reason, we don’t think of science surrounding dogs. If we all had pet monkeys (oh please no!!!!), would there be just as much hearsay surrounding interpreting their behavior?
In the fields of animal behavior, ethology and behavioral ecology, species of animals are studied to understand their behavior (which includes how they communicate). This includes dogs! There are studies out there that examine canine social behavior, communication, learning, etc. We DO know what a dog looks like when he’s fearful just like we know when a monkey is fearful!*
3) I often have clients equate some of the techniques used in training as “just like what you’d do with a child” or that their dog is “just like a child.” Upon first glance these comments seem harmless enough, but they actually carry a lot of weight and place a lot of expectations on dogs.
The notion that a “dog has to learn that a certain behavior is not okay, just like a child” is a huge fallacy. That is NOT to say that a dog shouldn’t have to learn the rules and boundaries of life with a human. Oh no, far from it! Much like we have to learn that it is not acceptable to pursue a dog seeking some alone time when he is overwhelmed because pursuing him is rude and because he is telling us he does not wish to be near us at this moment; our dogs have to learn that if you are a full grown St. Bernard it is not acceptable for you to jump up on great-grandma because that is rude!
It IS to say however that if a dog is resource guarding his kibble, it is not okay to want him not learn not to do it, “because you wouldn’t let a child get away with something like that.”** Children learn the difference between right and wrong. Children learn guilt and remorse.
Animals absolutely have emotions; animals can feel fear, joy, anxiety, etc. Animals CANNOT feel guilt and remorse; they do not develop morals. Your dog will never do something because “he knows it’s the right thing to do,” he will never “know he’s been bad.” It will never, ever, ever happen. Ever. This is a crucial thing to understand. Our relationship with our dogs cannot reach its full potential and neither we nor our dogs can truly ever thrive in that relationship if the relationship is hampered with these fallacies. (If you wondering: well then why does he look so guilty when I come home and find he’s peed in the kitchen, take a look at this summary of a recent study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090611065839.htm)
Yes, our dogs are animals. They are dogs. This is a good thing! They are not creatures with human attributes clad in fur. This is something to celebrate! For someone who has devoted her entire adult life to the study of animal behavior, the idea that we get to share our lives with such a wonderful animal and that we can learn so much about animal behavior, cognition and learning theory from them is a wonderful gift! It’s a chance for us to all to let our inner Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall and Ivan Pavlov shine! We owe it to our dogs to treat them as the magnificent animals they are and to learn as much about their reality– the reality that is founded in science– as we can.
People are always remarking how happy Special Dark looks. I always tell them that I work very hard to make him happy… and it’s sheer joy to do that. I understand what he is saying to me, and he understands me and my expectations of him. Yes there are plenty of boundaries and rules; he is very well-behaved– and he is very happy. Knowing Special Dark is happy makes me happy, what more could I ask for? And it’s all thanks to the science behind our relationship.
*Wondering where you can learn more about these studies? Take a look at journals such as Animal Behaviour http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00033472 or Applied Animal Behaviour Science http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681591. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has a great page on their site dedicated to listing canine studies: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=148&Itemid=390
**With resource guarding, we want the dog to learn that we are not a threat around his kibble and that it means great things when we come around his kibble. Speak to your trainer about how to achieve this.
“I’ve Never Had a Dog Do That Before! My Neighbor Said the Dog Knows He Did Something Wrong.”
May 10, 2011 by specialpawstraining
There are some random (yet also connected in some ways) ideas about dogs and dog training that I wanted to try to talk about all together.
1) I have a car; and I have a driver’s license.
This does not mean that I know how to repair my car; or that I am qualified to be a race car or stunt driver! Yet for some reason just living with a dog seems to make everyone an expert. Why is that?
We take advice from our neighbors, out vets, our friends on dog behavior and what we should do if our dog barks at the doorbell. But would we listen to our dentist, vet, lawyer on advice about open heart surgery?
For some reason the commonality of living with a dog lends itself very readily to believing ourselves as holding some level of expertise on dog behavior, often based solely on past experience. I don’t know much in caring for my car beyond the regular oil change (which I even admit sadly I’m not very good at keeping up with). Just because I have a car does not make an expert in caring for one!
Likewise, just because I’ve had one car that dropped its transmission doesn’t mean all of my future cars will! Yet we tend to believe that because our first dog let the kids climb all over her, all of our future dogs will do the same without any work on our part.
Or if I have had three cars in my lifetime and have never had one drop its transmission, but my latest car is in the shop and the mechanic tells me it’s the transmission, I wouldn’t ask him “really, are you sure? I don’t see how that could be possible since I’ve never has a car do that to me before. ” Yet these are common responses we give when presented with the fact that our dogs guard tissues, or our dogs are chewing the furniture because they are not getting any walks, etc. Just because we have never seen something in our homes, doesn’t make them any less common or a reality.
2) When people see a monkey displaying certain visual signals and I explain that what they are seeing is a fear grin, or an open-mouth threat or an affiliative lip-smack, people are excited to learn what the signals mean. Yet when it comes to dogs, everyone has their own opinion about what a tail wag means or what signals that a dog is fearful.
For some reason, we don’t think of science surrounding dogs. If we all had pet monkeys (oh please no!!!!), would there be just as much hearsay surrounding interpreting their behavior?
In the fields of animal behavior, ethology and behavioral ecology, species of animals are studied to understand their behavior (which includes how they communicate). This includes dogs! There are studies out there that examine canine social behavior, communication, learning, etc. We DO know what a dog looks like when he’s fearful just like we know when a monkey is fearful!*
3) I often have clients equate some of the techniques used in training as “just like what you’d do with a child” or that their dog is “just like a child.” Upon first glance these comments seem harmless enough, but they actually carry a lot of weight and place a lot of expectations on dogs.
The notion that a “dog has to learn that a certain behavior is not okay, just like a child” is a huge fallacy. That is NOT to say that a dog shouldn’t have to learn the rules and boundaries of life with a human. Oh no, far from it! Much like we have to learn that it is not acceptable to pursue a dog seeking some alone time when he is overwhelmed because pursuing him is rude and because he is telling us he does not wish to be near us at this moment; our dogs have to learn that if you are a full grown St. Bernard it is not acceptable for you to jump up on great-grandma because that is rude!
It IS to say however that if a dog is resource guarding his kibble, it is not okay to want him not learn not to do it, “because you wouldn’t let a child get away with something like that.”** Children learn the difference between right and wrong. Children learn guilt and remorse.
Animals absolutely have emotions; animals can feel fear, joy, anxiety, etc. Animals CANNOT feel guilt and remorse; they do not develop morals. Your dog will never do something because “he knows it’s the right thing to do,” he will never “know he’s been bad.” It will never, ever, ever happen. Ever. This is a crucial thing to understand. Our relationship with our dogs cannot reach its full potential and neither we nor our dogs can truly ever thrive in that relationship if the relationship is hampered with these fallacies. (If you wondering: well then why does he look so guilty when I come home and find he’s peed in the kitchen, take a look at this summary of a recent study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090611065839.htm)
Yes, our dogs are animals. They are dogs. This is a good thing! They are not creatures with human attributes clad in fur. This is something to celebrate! For someone who has devoted her entire adult life to the study of animal behavior, the idea that we get to share our lives with such a wonderful animal and that we can learn so much about animal behavior, cognition and learning theory from them is a wonderful gift! It’s a chance for us to all to let our inner Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall and Ivan Pavlov shine! We owe it to our dogs to treat them as the magnificent animals they are and to learn as much about their reality– the reality that is founded in science– as we can.
People are always remarking how happy Special Dark looks. I always tell them that I work very hard to make him happy… and it’s sheer joy to do that. I understand what he is saying to me, and he understands me and my expectations of him. Yes there are plenty of boundaries and rules; he is very well-behaved– and he is very happy. Knowing Special Dark is happy makes me happy, what more could I ask for? And it’s all thanks to the science behind our relationship.
*Wondering where you can learn more about these studies? Take a look at journals such as Animal Behaviour http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00033472 or Applied Animal Behaviour Science http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681591. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has a great page on their site dedicated to listing canine studies: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=148&Itemid=390
**With resource guarding, we want the dog to learn that we are not a threat around his kibble and that it means great things when we come around his kibble. Speak to your trainer about how to achieve this.
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