The home of Dr Platzhund
A “canine good citizen” is a well-behaved dog, around people, as well as amongst other dogs, at home and in public. Everyone should want to own or strive for the nature of such a companion animal, a pet that is safe with children and one that any person would welcome as a neighbour – a …
In the enormous number of behaviour consultations I attend to on a monthly basis the majority of the problems in pets is based on the lack of structured schooling in the early impressionable years which is eight to twenty weeks in a puppy. Any canine lacking social skills will develop a multitude of behaviour disorders …
What most people desire is the ability to influence their dogs to eagerly perform acceptable behaviour patterns by showing positive leadership skills without expressing dominance or control over all types of resources. We might want our dog to always come when called. We might want our dog to lie down and remain put until further …
Establishing Leadership Over A Dog And Modifying Behaviour Without Force Read More »
It has often been found humorous, yet disconcerting, by people in-the-know watching a dog take its owner for a walk. It is also found to be humorous by ignorant pet owners when they see dogs lunging and dragging their owner at great speed across the pavement or park. It is often commented as to who …
Every puppy and every pup owner should complete a basic course of training so that the ten to sixteen year relationship is based on mutual understanding, meaningful communication and the animal has the required life skills to render it a socially acceptable companion. If puppy owners are not informed about socialization, obedience and the correct …
Any dog that jumps up at people is regarded as having bad manners, is a downright irritation and has never been recognized by its owner as a public nuisance. In most cases the individual dog has the inherent propensity to jump which is then reinforced by the human attention, whether it is encouragement or rejection, …
Bite inhibition is a very modern term, used initially in veterinary behaviour circles, for a learnt or inherent ability in a pup to bite an opponent without inflicting damage. The opponent may be another animal or a human. It is natural, normal and necessary for dogs to bite, even from the time their teeth erupt. …
There are numerous considerations when travelling around with your canine companion in your vehicle –it could be a prized pooch as a passenger in a Porsche or a “brakkie” locked up at the back of a bakkie. Not all dogs take readily to riding in a car. Some can be violently ill from car sickness …
Over the past three decades there has been an emergence of a wide variety of animal behaviour and animal-related charlatans. There used to be a national roving dog psychologist who diagnosed every behaviour disorder of dogs to be attributed to hunger. If a dog chased motor cars it was hungry. If a dog bit children …
People often complain to their veterinarian, pet-groom, kennel owner, dog trainer or personal friend that they cannot understand why their pet will not respond to their call by using a command or the name. Come when it is called. Often a pet dog becomes desensitized to its name due to over-usage without effective responses. The …