If you could choose your guardian angel (let's assume they exist), what kind of guardian angel would you choose? Would you like a mean angel who prods you, pushes you, pulls you, shouts at you, ignores you, chokes you, takes out their frustrations on you and doesn't even consider how you might feel? Or Would you … Continue reading WHAT TYPE OF GUARDIAN ANGEL ARE YOU?
Author: Shay Kelly MSc BSc FdSc
Shay Kelly holds a master's degree in Animal Behaviour, and a first-class honours degree in Canine Behaviour. Shay's books include 'Dog Training & Behaviour: a guide for everyone' and 'Canine Enrichment: the book your dog needs you to read'.
How to get your dog to come back (the dreaded recall)
If your dog ignores you when it's time to go back on the lead, you might be standing there without a dog, but you are most definitely not alone! It's one of the most common problems in the dog-human relationship. Why does it matter? Not returning when called can be frustrating for the owner (not … Continue reading How to get your dog to come back (the dreaded recall)
How to prevent dogs from destroying their toys
As an advocate of canine enrichment, 'my dog destroys his toys' is something I hear a lot. I can certainly understand the frustration. Some of the toys are not cheap and to have them not even last the day is disappointing, to say the least. Looking around the pet shops, I often see notices displayed … Continue reading How to prevent dogs from destroying their toys
Dogs need a one hour walk everyday, or do they?
It is often said that dogs need a one hour walk every day. What I don't like about this piece of advice is that it couldn't possibly suit every dog and there is certainly no evidence to even suggest that it is true. Somebody just made it up and it sounded right so it got … Continue reading Dogs need a one hour walk everyday, or do they?
Be kind to your dog
Now, right from the get go, let's be clear. Training can be awesome and some behaviours can be life savers, for example, emergency stop or recall. I'm a bit of a training geek. At Uni I achieved a 100% grade in advanced dog training (I like to mention that) so I'm in no way, shape … Continue reading Be kind to your dog
Why do dogs pull?
There are two problems that I hear or see over and over again; pulling on the lead and not coming when called. I'm going to deal with pulling in this blog and cover recall in the near future. All situations and dog/owner dynamics are different, there is therefore no ONE reason or solution which will … Continue reading Why do dogs pull?
Will Enrichment turn him into a Destruction Monster?
Ok, it's slightly dramatic but the question that comes up almost weekly in my enrichment group, Canine Enrichment, is this, Will allowing him to tear up boxes to get the food out just teach him to destroy everything? (In many of the enrichment activities shown in the group, food or toys are placed in boxes for … Continue reading Will Enrichment turn him into a Destruction Monster?
The PickPocket Fabric Food Forager and Why it’s so Good
It's always nice to get a freebie, well actually it's not and sometimes they go in the bin. But this freebie, sent to me by the designer and producer, Kate Mallatratt, was one of the nice ones. It's a PickPocket enrichment feeder specifically designed for dogs. I wasn't expecting to like it very much … Continue reading The PickPocket Fabric Food Forager and Why it’s so Good
Is there such a thing as Force Free training?
For a while, there was a surge in the term 'Force Free'. It was everywhere you looked. Since then there has been quite an assault on the term with many jumping on the bandwagon of, 'there's no such thing as force free'. I witnessed this mainly from aversive type trainers. (Aversive trainers are those who … Continue reading Is there such a thing as Force Free training?
A Dog’s Life (the stages)
There have been many different life stages identified regarding a dog's development and ageing process. Prenatal 0-63 days: From the moment of conception it takes just 63 days for the mother to give birth to a newborn puppy. Neonatal 0 - 2 weeks: The Pup's eyes and ear canals are closed but he's able to … Continue reading A Dog’s Life (the stages)
Shay Kelly 