"Other Nations"

In the previous blog we looked at the pressure dogs can feel from the ways we show them affection. What we view as us showing our love for them can be downright unpleasant for dogs. Please check out the previous blog here: PettingDogs This time we are going to take this further and look at how we can check with our dogs if they want affection from us at any given time. This is known as 'consent testing' . “ Hold on, we have to get our dog's consent to pet them?!” Well, yes, if you want your dog to enjoy the petting it has to be when they feel like it. First of all, here are just some examples of when they may NOT feel like it: If your dog is engaging in some interesting activity of their own – sniffing about, watching someone through the window, playing with a toy, eating their food, etc. – Forget it! They won't want you petting them. If a dog is resting or sleeping– Leave them be. A word on the word 'Petting' When we are using the word 'petting...

These photos show people interacting with dogs in a way that gives the people pleasure and happiness. The dogs, however, are not enjoying it. I refer to the dogs as 'he' for handiness when discussing these photos, though they could equally well be female. So what's going on for the dogs in these photos? In the last blog, People Meeting Dogs , we discussed how important personal space is to dogs. People often like to show affection with one another by close contact – hugging etc. so they often do this with dogs too which can cause the dogs stress. Let's look at how the dogs in these photos are telling us this. Feeling the pressure of restraint When dogs are restrained as they are in these photos, they can feel trapped and prevented from using the full range of their body language to communicate.  Photo 1 In Photo 1 the woman is glasping the dog's head so tightly that he can only use his ears to show his discomfort. His ears are held back. I don't know how clea...

When we like dogs, it's natural to want to greet them if we get the chance.   We might want to go over to them, reach out to them and enjoy making a fuss of them. But is this what most dogs like, from someone they don't know? The short answer is no. Let's look at why. Dogs and people have different communication styles Going up to a dog, with the best of intentions of making friends with them, is at odds with dogs' etiquette among themselves. A direct, straight-on approach from one dog to another is not the polite thing to do. It can be perceived as threatening, or at the very least pushy. We will leave dog greeting behaviour though, as it is another big topic, and return to our own behaviour when meeting dogs. Let dogs keep their personal space Of course there are some dogs who are so sociable that they welcome friendly attention from everyone, but in general it is best not to reach out into a dog's personal space. Many dogs, especially shy, nervous d...

One of the most important things in the world to dogs is sniffing!  Dogs explore the world through their sense of smell. It is their primary sense. As humans, we have no real concept of the extent to which dogs live in a world of scent. Sniffing the environment: the ground, the grass, a park bin etc. gives a dog so much interesting information about the other dogs and other creatures that have passed that way. They can tell from the chemical communication left by other dogs in their urine, information such as the age and health of those dogs. Why is all this important to those of us who live with dogs and are responsible for their care? It is because when we know these priorities of our dogs, we can best ensure their well-being by fulfilling these canine needs.   Dogs need to sniff!  As well as being fulfilling, processing scents is mentally tiring too so this can help with the calmness of your dog when they return home after a walk. It is a good sign if your dog i...