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Common Sense
How Vulnerable Our Dogs Can Be
Posted on 16/01/2023
Filed under: Common Sense Behavioural Issues Dogs Outside
As I approached the supermarket at 10.15 in the morning I saw a man jerking a shopping trolley back and forth and, at the same time, yelling at the top of his voice. My instincts told me to give this scene a very wide berth until I saw that the object of his anger was a terrified little dog tied to a metal post. I ran over to the situation and quietly asked the man if the dog belonged to him, to which he gave a less than gracious reply but realising that the dog had no...
I Don't Have To Know How It Works To Use It!
Posted on 01/12/2022
Filed under: Common Sense Behavioural Issues
When you switch on a television set do you ever consider that you should know how it works? Do you concern yourself with how the picture (signal) arrives in your sitting room, or are you like me and plug it in, aim the remote control and press the button to receive a programme, which is all I need to know and I have to say, is a great improvement on having to balance on the arm of a chair with the aerial held high to stop the 'snow storm' reception on the screen. In exactly the same way, I have...
DISTRACTION IS NOT A BEHAVIOUR SHAPING TOOL
Posted on 07/11/2022
Filed under: Common Sense Behavioural Issues
Although “distraction” can have a place when working with your dog, particularly in an emergency, I am often told by owners that continually distracting their dog is the only way that they cope with undesirable behaviour, perhaps by throwing a toy or piece of food to stop the dog from doing something that they would rather it didn’t. However, distraction is only a quick fix or temporary measure and can never actually change the dog's mind about why it feels it needs to act in a certain way. If it is used regularly, the dog will also become wise to it and...
Humans Are Not The Only Intelligent Species
Posted on 29/07/2020
Filed under: Dogs & Other Animals Common Sense
Every day we are bombarded with the idea that humans are the most amazing and effective animal on the planet; an animal that is able to quickly adapt to developing situations, device solutions to problems and overcome our reliance on our instincts. The problem is that we hear subtle allusions to these ideas all of the time and we are in danger of actually believing it. Yesterday evening I heard a television presenter ask a group of dog agility enthusiasts ‘So how do you get them to do it, with a biscuit?’, laughing as he said it, because , as...
Pack Mentality
Posted on 03/04/2020
Filed under: Common Sense
Anyone can steer a ship, but we need someone to know where we are going. Yesterday evening I saw many of my neighbours, for the first time in over a year of being here. We were smiling, clapping, waving with some cheering blowing horns and there were a few saucepans and wooden spoons in evidence. Something that I never thought that I would see and as this virus goes on each week this will happen to thank those who are working to keep us safe, healthy and informed. Also, others who are doing jobs that we are unable to do, such...
