Reasons why your pet is acting out
If your dog is behaving badly, you may have made some crucial mistakes in choosing and raising your pet, says dog training expert Beth Babbin, who presents the annual Canine Good Citizen presentations at the World of Dogs & Cats & PET EXPO. The good news is that a lot of unacceptable behaviour can be corrected.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming World of Dogs & Cats & PET EXPO in July, Beth Babbin, owner of Wetnose Canine Training, says too few pet owners do the necessary research before buying a dog, and too few apply tried and trusted rules of dog training. Failing to check if the breed of dog you choose has the right temperament for your lifestyle; leaving small children to take ownership of dogs, and neglecting to properly train a dog can result in any number of bad behaviours, including aggression, excessive barking and destructive behaviour. Unfortunately, this also leads to large numbers of dogs being turned over to animal shelters.
Choose the right breed
It’s crucial to do your homework before you get a dog, says Babbin. “When you consider a dog, you must look at what it was bred to do in the first place. You can’t stop an animal from doing what is in its nature. A perfect example is a dog bred for herding – it will naturally be inclined to herd, and you cannot have it running around trying to herd small children. Some herding dogs – like Australian Shepherd and Corgis – control by nipping, which means a herding dog in your home could be inclined to nip.”
Would-be dog owners must look at the breed’s size, temperament and activity level, and carefully consider whether the breed will fit into their lifestyle. However, Babbin warns against judging purely on size: “Many people make the mistake of thinking a small dog is ideal for townhouse living, for example. But often this is not the case. Breeds such as Jack Russel terriers and Dachshunds are active hunters and small gardens don’t suit them. On the other hand, the enormous Irish Wolfhound is good for townhouse living, since these dogs are typically couch potatoes and only need a good walk twice a day. They are also not yappers like so many of the small breeds.
Babbin also warns against expecting cross-bred dogs to display a consistent temperament. “Labradoodles, for example, are cross-breeds, and you won’t know whether they have inherited the best or worst traits of Labradors or Poodles.”
Lay down the ground rules
Before bringing a new dog home, you need to have decided on the rules, established where the dog will sleep, and clarified who is responsible for the dog. “A dog should not be given to a child, children can help care for the dog and enjoy a learning process. An adult should take the role as the dog owner.”
Babbin recommends starting as you intend to continue when you bring your new dog home. “If the dog is going to sleep outside, then it needs to do so from the outset. And you cannot teach the new puppy to expect constant attention. You need to integrate the puppy into the normal household routine from the beginning,” she says. All interactions with the puppy and later the adult dog should be based on firmness, fairness and consistency.
Training is vital
To instil good behaviour, it is crucial to undergo dog training. At a reputable training school, the owner will hopefully learn how to control unwanted behaviours and the dog will learn what is expected of it. The Canine Good Citizen programme help dogs learn good manners and after basic obedience lessons they should be well on the way to becoming socially acceptable. Dogs should not have to undergo special training to achieve the base level – the Bronze Certificate.
“Unfortunately, people tend to handover dogs to shelters and rescue schemes because of behaviour problems, when in fact training could correct the problem. Without training, the dog will more likely misbehave and be challenging to manage.” says Babbin.
Beth Babbin will present Canine Good Citizen Bronze, Silver and Gold level tests sponsored by the Citizen newspaper at WODAC 2018. She will also demonstrate puppy training at the event. WODAC will also showcase a variety of dog breeds, with experts available to discuss which breeds are right for your family.
The annual World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition (WODAC) expo will be staged from 20 – 22 July at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Featuring champion animals, scores of demonstrations and a huge range of pet products, WODAC is South Africa’s largest pet expo and one of its best family days out, traditionally attracting around 20,000 visitors each year. For more information, visit www.dogscats.co.za.