Managing Your Dog Correctly

Did you know that council may declare a dog dangerous if it has acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal?

Straying dogs and dog attacks are very stressful for all involved and make up the majority of reported incidents.

Effective dog management is a lot easier than damage control after an incident has taken place.

The following can influence behaviour:

• Health – If a dog is in physical or mental discomfort it may cause them to display unwanted behaviour.

• Owner influence and energy – Our dogs can react to certain situations based on how the owner is feeling, if an owner is feeling scared, the dog may feel uncertain about that situation also.

• Nutrition – Dog’s need good quality food and clean water every day. Sometimes a change in diet can automatically fix some behaviours.

• Basic obedience training – It can be much easier to work on more complex issues with a foundation of basic obedience.

• Types and duration of exercise – Search for information specific to dog breed, this will be helpful to understand the recommended exercise needs. A pug can’t do as much exercise as a kelpie for example.

• Rest – If a dog is getting enough exercise and still can’t seem to switch off, it could be because their environment is filled with stimulation. Swap the objects that create excitement, and replace them with calming activities that involve licking, sniffing and chewing.

Life with a dog should be stress free and value adding!

Contributed by Carrie Bain, who has a Diploma in Canine Health & Nutrition and an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour from the British College of Canine Studies

‍