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| Is your dog the perfect angel in public, or does the idea of a walk when there are other people and dogs about fill you with dread? |
Your dog might be the perfect
companion at home, but how is he or she in public?
Dr Eloise Bright is a
veterinarian who loves helping animals and their owners with behaviour problems.
She’s been good enough to answer a few questions and share her top five tips
with SAT.
What’s your day job?
I’m a veterinarian in Sydney and mum to two young
boys and one furry family member.
Why did you pursue specialisation
in canine behaviour?
As a vet I frequently come across pets that may be
otherwise healthy, but are not happy. Similar to humans it is estimated that
20% of our pets suffer from anxiety and mental illness at some time in their
lives. Vets are traditionally not so great at addressing these problems, so I
wanted to learn more so I could help these pets.
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| Dr Eloise Bright shares her useful tips on canine behaviour. |
Do you have any non-human
companions?
I currently only have one family pet, my cat Jimmy
who I took home from my first vet nursing job, while I was studying to be a
vet. He was completely bald due to ringworm, so he ended up coming home with
me! He now has a magnificent coat and is undeniably handsome. I’ve been
pestering my husband to add a dog to our brood, after my elderly rescue
Pomeranian passed away last year at the ripe old age of 15 years. As our
clinic works closely with Paws For Thought I’m keeping an eye out for the right
little dog to fill that gap!
How can we ensure pets behave well in public
places?
1. Socialisation
The most important part of
raising a puppy is socialising before 12 weeks of age. For many puppies that
are adopted at 8 weeks, this only allows 4 weeks to expose them to all the
sights and sounds of normal life. Poorly socialised dogs often do not cope with
the hustle and bustle of traffic and loud noises and may be aggressive towards
other dogs, children or people. Check
out this article to learn how to safely socialise your puppy before
the vaccination course has been completed.
2. Reward your dog’s attention
Positive reinforcement is
vital for developing a great relationship with your dog. Whenever your dog
responds to his name, give a reward (a game can be a good reward if your dog is
play motivated). When you are out and about, say your dog’s name and reward him
for paying attention to you. This is the basis of having an attentive, obedient
dog. Training your dog that you are leading him on his walk is also important
to establish yourself as the pack leader.
3. Off leash recall
To train your dog to come back
to you when off the leash, first train the behaviour at home with no
distractions around. Call your dog’s name and gives him a reward when he comes
to you. Then take it to a fenced dog park and train with distractions. If your
dog is a little less attentive than is ideal, you can use a long lead rope. One
way to trick a dog who is refusing to come is to run in the opposite direction
as though a game is about to start. Never punish your dog, particularly for not
coming when called. Carry high value treats with you every time you go to the
dog park and keep on delivering them (as well as some fun and games), so that
coming back to you does not signal the end of all the good times.
4. Train your dog to ‘go to
place’
This one can be so useful in a
huge variety of settings. If your dog reliably goes to his mat and stays there
until told otherwise, you will be able to take him everywhere, put his mat down
and know that he will stay put. To start with, encourage your dog to go to his
mat (a towel works fine too) and throw a treat there. Reward him for staying
there for longer periods of time. Clicker training is a great way to teach advanced behaviours such
as this.
5. Always supervise your dog with
children
Part of being a great pet
parent is not putting your dog in compromising situations. Even the most
laid-back, lovely dog can be pushed to the limits. Children are often rough,
steal toys, don’t respect personal space and will often get overexcited and
squeal around dogs. A classic situation is a dog tied up outside a shop.
Children who go and pat such a dog without gaining permission first can often
startle the dog and the dog is unable to get away due to being tethered. A pat
on the top of the head is also quite threatening to dogs so show children how
to put their hand out, palm down for a sniff.
Thanks Dr Bright.
Dr Eloise Bright has worked in as a vet in Sydney for over 8
years and is the
resident vet for the online pet store lovethatpet.com.au. She has completed a veterinary
acupuncture course, specialised in dog behavioural issues and is currently
completing her Masters in Small Animal Practice. She likes to share animal advice and tips, get
social with her on Google+.
