Dog behaviour is a hot topic, and a very important issue. Sadly,
we regularly hear news reports and anecdotes of dog attacks. Like all animals,
dogs have the potential to be dangerous to humans, and injuries can occur. Even
the cutest, fluffiest lap dog can snap under the right (or wrong) conditions.
With some dogs, it’s easy to spot behavioural problems. They
may snap or growl with no provocation, or appear timid and nervous.
Other problems may not show up as aggression towards people,
but can manifest as destructive behaviour. Dogs may chew furniture or
re-arrange the contents of your house when bored or stressed. Excessive barking
is another symptom that may indicate a deeper problem.
Perhaps the most challenging problem can be when an
otherwise well-behaved dog suddenly acts inappropriately. An unexpected bite
can be traumatic for the dog’s family and lead to a great deal of mistrust and distress.
Tragically, behavioural problems are a reason commonly given for surrenders and
euthanasia.
I recently witnessed an incident that really made me think
about these issues. I was at our local vet clinic and there was a large dog in
the waiting room with her owner. The dog was off lead and behaved impeccably -
until her owner tried to call her into the consultation room. Rosie (not her
real name) was at the clinic for her regular injections and appeared to know
what was coming.
As Rosie’s owner called her, she stood still. On being
called again with a sterner voice, she started to cower and took a few steps
towards me, away from her owner. Her owner then shouted and grabbed her collar;
Rosie reacted by snapping.
You can imagine the shock this caused. This was all
witnessed by a number of people in the clinic.
This incident left me very upset. Rosie had shown all the
signs that she was uncomfortable - such as ignoring commands, cowering, and
moving towards another person in the waiting room, lip licking and whale eye. It is natural that dogs will
attempt to avoid situations that they know will cause pain. This incident could have been avoided if the owner had remained calm and reassured
her, instead of becoming terse? Using a leash in all public places is a necessity, in this stressful environment it would also have helped Rosie’s owner maintain more control to avoid the situation escalating.
As humans, we have the luxury of being able to express our
emotions – anger, fear, frustration – in a way that others can understand.
Unfortunately, inter-species communication can be far trickier. It is
unrealistic to expect our pets to behave the way we wish all of the time, and
the way we deal with this can make all the difference.
We owe it to our pets to make every effort to understand
what they are trying to tell us. Dogs frequently show warning signs, and it’s
important to learn how to spot them. It’s essential to understand that your pet
will express his or her emotions, and to know how to react appropriately.
Symptoms of stress can include nervousness, growling,
panting, and having ‘accidents’ inside. If your pet is
showing unusual or inappropriate behaviour, it may be time to take steps to
identify and deal with the root cause. While a visit to the vet may be an
obvious cause for anxiety, other things may be less clear. Have you recently
changed your routine? Are you away from home for long periods? Are there loud
noises in your neighbourhood such as aircraft, construction, or fireworks?
It is our responsibility to ensure that our pets are happy
and healthy, and their emotional well being is just as important as the
physical.
We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are
experiencing behavioural problems with your pet. Many issues can be overcome
with patience and persistence, but DO NOT put your safety or that of your
family at risk. Please do not be embarrassed to reach out to experts.
Please feel free to reach out to us at Moving Paws Inc if
you would like to discuss your pet’s behaviour and we can certainly get you in
touch with the behaviourists we work with.
Thank you for reading! Please share our blog, browse our website, and check out Moving Paws Inc
on Facebook and Instagram.
Regards, Debbie - Founder - Moving Paws Inc.
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