This page is dedicated to the
19/03/2025
Here're some great reminders and info about owning our doggos from the owners of Pawtea - Kennels & Cattery in Patea.
We'll share the summary of what was said at "Know your dog" work shop last weekend 🐶🐾
🔶 Dogs are created from wolves, so dogs have their DNA, even the ones that look just like teddy bears. We must not underestimate what dogs are actually capable of.
🔶 Dogs hunt. Going for walks = hunting time to dogs.
🔶 Dogs hunting style varies, though it often goes with:
1.Sniffing
2.Gathering more info with their ears and searching with their eyes
3.Stops to analyze the situation
4.Lunging
5.Grab to hold
6.Grab to kill
🔶 How dogs detect things is mainly/firstly via their noses, and is very sensitive and delivers information to their brain very quickly compared to humans.
Which means humans need to keep a close eye on their actions & body languages at all times when outside, to avoid any unfortunate events happening.
When you find your dog lunging at other animals, it could be too late.
Redirect the dog by calling him/her to come to you, or start walking to the other direction before he/she starts chasing the other animals - ideally when the dog starts sniffing.
🔶 The important thing is to train your dog with recall, as well as impulse control.
However, if their target starts running away, this training is most likely no use and your dog would chase the target.
To be in control of your dog and not to hurt other animals, you should keep your dog on a lead when outside. The length of the lead can be extended depending on your confidence level. (once again, remember dogs do hunt and they act faster than us)
Also when there is more than one dog, the whole pack has an impact on their actions. Dogs communicate well with each other in a way we can't even notice, and act as a pack. Well behaved dog at home can behave differently when he/she is surrounded by other dogs.
🔶 Dogs need physical and mental stimulation to thrive and satisfy, especially some breeds with high intelligence.
Taking dogs outside off leash isn't the only way to do this - using a long lead while you have the control of the dog and him/her being able to explore outside, using puzzles or toys to keep them stimulated. (the easiest method is to flip his/her food bowl upside down and put their food in the gap, so they need to use their brain to get the food!)
Kennel & run is also a good option to keep your dog outdoors safely when you can't supervise.
🔶 Dogs have better vision at night than ours, especially at dusk. Some animals are nocturnal, so it is recommended to let the dogs outside before dark.
If you must, leash him/her and supervise when outside even just for a short toileting.
It sounds a little extreme, but remember dogs behave differently when you are not watching.
🔶 Use positive reinforcement to train your dog, using food that is most valuable to him/her is proven to be quite effective as food produces dopamine to his/her brains and easy to link the activity with positiveness.
If your dog is not a foodie, use his/her favourite toy instead.
🔶 Use simple & short commands ideally with a neutral voice (not excited, not upset). If you find it difficult, using a whistle can be useful.
And it has to be consistent, otherwise it's confusing.
🔶 Reward him/her within 5 seconds when he/she behaves the way you wish, otherwise the behaviour and reward can not be linked to the dog.
🔶 As mentioned above, dogs have influence on other dogs. If you have several dogs at home, train one dog at a time.
We hope it covers everything and is somehow helpful to you 💚
Any other workshops going on regarding dogs, please share🫶
