For the Love of Greyhounds by Alex Cearns

Leading Australian animal photographer Alex Cearns of Houndstooth Studio is a crazy dog lady and Greyhounds are her favourite dogs of all.

Her latest book ‘For the Love of Greyhounds’ (ABC Books) aims to raise awareness about the gentle nature of Greyhounds.

About 'For the Love of Greyhounds'

Dogs are the most common pet in Australia, with 39% of households owning a dog. There are an estimated 4.2 million pet dogs in Australia or 20 dogs for every 100 people. Greyhound adoption is becoming more common, with greyhound specific rescue organisations sharing the message about these gentle giants, and with pet owners falling in love with the breed, and seeking to add a rescue dog to their family. 

Research has found that owning a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost levels of feel-good chemicals in the brain, but every dog lover knows the benefits are far too many to list. Adopting a rescue dog takes pet ownership to a whole other heart level. 

This book is for everyone who loves, or has ever loved, a dog, with the addition of those who support and have adopted from animal rescue organisations. It will also appeal to the thousands of rescued greyhound owners in Australia and afar. 

Charity

A percentage of royalties from ‘For the Love of Greyhounds’ will be donated to Greyhound Adoption organisations of Alex’s choice.

Purchasing ‘For the love of Greys’ will enable animal lovers to make a difference by contributing to a valid cause.

Alex hopes that ‘For the Love of Greyhounds’ introduces this beautiful breed to more people and encourages readers to consider adopting a Greyhound.

To order your book, please click here

About Greyhounds

More and more Australians are choosing to adopt Greyhounds. They recognise their elegance, gentle natures, and comical personalities and fall in love with the breed.

Potential greyhound parents often wonder if greyhounds can get along with other pets and animals. Many greyhounds can cohabit with other pets very well.

Prior to a greyhound being adopted, each one is temperament tested by their relevant rescue organisation and is placed into the most suitable homes based on their test results. 

Those who like cats can live with cats, and those better suited to dogs for company go to dog only homes. Those who prefer to be an ‘ only dog’ aren’t placed with other dogs – just like all other rescue dogs who undergo temperament testing.

Many first time greyhound adopters later wonder what took them so long to discover the delight in living with a grey. Greyhounds make beautiful companion animals. Adoptability rating 5/5. 

Fast Facts about Greyhounds

• Greyhounds are lovely dogs who make fantastic pets. 
• They are generally calm in nature and love the company of people. 
• In most Australian states it is law that Greyhounds must wear a muzzle when in public. This is based on an antiquated law, which is over 100 years old. Greyhounds are gentle dogs and there isn’t any valid reason for them to be muzzled in public. Wearing a muzzle makes them vulnerable and puts them at risk if another dog approaches, as they have no means to defend themselves. Hopefully this law will change. 
• They don’t need hours of exercise – a walk a day keeps them happy and healthy. 
• Greyhounds are couch potatoes and love nothing more than lying on the bed or couch. 
• Greyhounds can be addictive – it’s hard to stop at adopting just one. 

About my Greyhound Pixel

Before we adopted our now 5 year old rescue Greyhound Pixel, she spent several weeks in the care of Brightside Farm Sanctuary Tasmania.

Her formative months were spent in the company of a menagerie of best friends - pigs, sheep, rabbits, dogs, cats, chickens, cows, turkeys and ferrets. The day we met her as a 10 week old puppy it was love at first sight and reluctantly, after spending an afternoon with her, we had to fly home to Perth.

I remember walking away and turning to see her standing at a small gate looking up at us with her big black eyes. A lamb wanted in on the farewell and walked beside her, bumping Pixel over. She tumbled down and let out a yelp before bouncing back to her feet and shaking it off. Seeing a tiny lamb knock over a greyhound puppy was adorable. There was no retaliation from Pixel and all was quickly forgiven.

Three weeks later Pixel flew over to WA to begin her life with us (and our Greyhound Kelpie cross Pip and cat Macy.) Those pivotal weeks at Brightside Farm Sanctuary gave her wonderful exposure to a broad range of animals

Pixel is an absolute delight to live with. She has a cute and cheeky sense of humour and delights in making as much noise with her squeaky toys as she can. She loves her cat sister Macy and is particularly fond of elderly people and children. 

About Alex Cearns

Dogs Today Magazine in the United Kingdom calls Perth based photographer Alex Cearns “One of our greatest dog photographers in the world.” 

Alex is the Creative Director of Houndstooth Studio based in Australia, and specialises in capturing portraits that convey the intrinsic character of her animal subjects. 

She photographs for engaged pet lovers, corporate brands in Australia, the USA and the UK, and for around 40 Australian and International animal charities and conservation organisations. Her images have been published extensively across international media, in books, magazines, billboards and advertising campaigns. 

Alex is the recipient of over 250 awards for photography, business and philanthropy and ‘For the Love of Greyhounds’ is her 6th book.

Inspiring others with her joy of working with animals, Alex’s philanthropy and passionate advocacy for animal rescue has earned her high regard among Australia’s animal lovers and a strong following on social media. 

She is an ambassador for Tamron, BenQ, Spider Holster and Seagate and regularly judges photography competitions and presents at events. 

Alex lives with her partner, two rescue dogs, and rescue cat in Perth, Western Australia.

Find Alex Online 

Website: http://www.houndstoothstudio.com.au/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoundstoothStudio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexCearns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houndstoothstudio/

WSAVA calls for ‘health-conscious’ Breeding

WSAVA Calls for ‘Health-conscious’ Breeding and Greater Use of Genetic Testing ...

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has called on veterinarians and breeders to reduce the suffering caused by hereditary disease in companion animals by adopting a ‘health-conscious’ approach to breeding and by making full use of advances in genetic testing and counselling. 

In a new Position Paper, it calls on veterinarians and breeders to ensure that criteria used for the selection of breeding animals include the ability to reproduce naturally and exclude anatomical characteristics that predispose to hereditary disease, such as:

•  extreme conformations including size
•  skin folds
•  angulation and extremely short faces (brachycephaly). 

Shar-Peis are prone to a form of skin infection called lip-fold dermatitis

It also urges breeders to utilise pre-breeding health screening to select animals that are likely to produce healthy offspring.

With advances in technology increasing the range and accuracy of genetic tests, the Paper also urges veterinarians to ensure they are up to date with the availability and proper use of genetic tests and calls for individual tests to be validated for the specific disease and the breed being tested.

It further recommends that genetic counselling should be tailored to the individual animal and its circumstances, including the mode of inheritance, the penetrance of the mutation being tested for, the breed being tested and the frequency of the mutation within that breed.

The Position Paper, prepared by the WSAVA’s Hereditary Disease Committee, is a response to the continuing increase in popularity of companion animals with exaggerated traits or genetic disorders, many of which suffer severe health and welfare issues. 

The WSAVA has already endorsed a Position Paper launched in June 2018 by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations calling for health and welfare to be given priority over appearance.

In launching its own Position Paper, the WSAVA, which represents more than 200,000 companion animal veterinarians globally, aims to shine a spotlight on the issue around the world and to highlight the benefits that advances in DNA testing can offer to veterinarians and breeders in reducing the suffering caused by extreme breeding. 

Dr Jerold Bell DVM, a practicing veterinarian and Adjunct Professor of Genetics at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts, USA, was elected as Chair of the WSAVA’s Hereditary Disease Committee in September 2018 and co-authored the Paper.

The WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee sponsors the Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories database, which is searchable by breed, disease, and testing laboratory. The Committee is working to develop educational resources and tools for veterinarians and breeders. Its work is generously supported by Waltham®.

The WSAVA works to enhance the clinical care of companion animals globally, representing more than 200,00 veterinarians around the world through 110 member associations. Its core activities include the creation of Global Guidelines which set standards for veterinary care and providing continuing education (CE) and other educational resources for its members, particularly those in which companion animal veterinary care is still emerging.

MEDIA RELEASE, 28th November 2018

PET for Pets: an Australian first to advance Cancer Treatment

Australia has taken an important step forward in cancer research with help from some of our furry friends.

Lucas, the Border Collie with owner Martha Yáñez 

The University of Queensland’s Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) has performed the first dog PET-CT FDOPA scan in Australia.

CAI’s Nuclear Medicine scientist Sarah Daniel said the scan was performed as part of a comparative oncology program that aims to fast-track drug development and diagnostic imaging agents for human cancers, with developments also aiding canine patients and veterinary medicine.

“When Lucas, a seven-year-old Border Collie, was brought to veterinary specialists with low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia causing seizures, special scans to detect cancer were required,” she said.

“PET-CT scans combine the technologies of positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT), and the tracer 18 F-FDOPA was used for Lucas’ scan.

“Extending this powerful technology to companion animals like Lucas is a new frontier in Australia.”

Director of the Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre (BVSC) and Lucas’ vet Dr Rod Straw said that the scan was a tremendous diagnostic aid and following successful surgery, Lucas’ blood sugar problems have been resolved.

“Many cancer types found in dogs and cats are very similar to the cancers found in humans,” Dr Straw said.
“For this reason, researchers can learn how to improve the treatment of human cancer from the knowledge gained when helping pets.

“The Comparative Oncology Program is great because dogs and cats are able to receive state-of-the-art care and we also learn how to improve the treatment of human cancer.

“What we learn from helping our pets can also fast-track human trials.”

PET for pets: an Australian first to advance cancer treatment from The University of Queensland on Vimeo.

Lucas’ owner Martha Yáñez said she was happy with her pet’s prognosis.

“This scan was very important to save Lucas’ life,” she said.
“A pet is really part of your family and so loved. You would really do anything and go as far as you have to, to save them.

“Lucas has since recovered quickly and is back playing with our geese and ducks!”

MEDIA RELEASE, 27th November 2018

Preparing your Dog for the Christmas Holidays

As Christmas draws closer and summer holiday and travel plans get into full swing, pet owners are being urged not to forget their furry friends in the festive rush.

Dr Vadim Chelom, a Melbourne-based veterinarian and the chief executive officer of app-based home vet visit booking service Pawssum Vets, said whether you were taking your pet on holiday with you, vacationing at home or arranging outside care for your pet while you travel, planning for their health and safety was essential.

“The first absolutely essential step is to ensure your pet’s general health and vaccinations are up-to-date because at this time of year it can easily slip your mind, putting your pet at risk,” he said.

“If you’re taking them away with you for Christmas or leaving your pet with a sitter, it’s always better to have their vaccinations done before you go so there aren’t any issues while you’re out of town – and if you’re leaving them at a kennel, it’s a condition of their stay that vaccinations are current; this can catch out many owners and ruin holiday plans.”

Dr Chelom said it was also wise to carefully weigh up the options when considering taking a pet on vacation.

"Holidays generally mean a loss of routine and obviously a change in environment which many dogs and cats don’t like,” he explained.

“So whilst it may be hard to leave them in a boarding setting or at home with a sitter, it can actually be the kindest thing, particularly for pets who experience anxiety.

“You also have the benefit of your pet being able to see their own vet in the comfort of their own home if any health issues need to be checked during this period and, with the Pawssum app, owners can be part of the decision making process with the vet in real time, as well as check their pet’s health updates while they travel.”

Dr Chelom said if owners decided to take their pet with them on holiday, it was a good plan to keep some things the same.

“Ideally, you’d take their usual foods and bed with you so they have some consistency, and try to keep to your at-home exercise routine if at all possible too,” he said.
And if you’re leaving your pet home, ensure the boarding facility or sitter has your pet’s current information.

“If your pet does need treatment while you’re away, it’s important those caring for them have their latest health details, including any medications they’re on and current vet contact information,” said Dr Chelom.

“For those owners that use Pawssum, just update the address the pet will be staying at while you’re away, ensure your credit card details are current and then share the Pawssum app information with your carer because all your pet’s health records are on there.”

About Pawssum

Pawssum’s on-demand vets can help with 80% of a pet’s health checks at home. They cover urgent medical check-ups, vaccinations, dental, heart, eye and ear checks, taking blood and lump samples, in-clinic follow up or dog training and behaviourist. There’s even an at-home euthanasia service offering increased comfort and privacy. The Pawssum app also keeps a pet’s complete health records accessible by the pet owner or physician at any time, for continuity of service.

Pawssum vets offer visits out of normal business hours, 7 days a week in all major Australian capital cities. For more information, please visit www.pawssum.com.au or call 1300 34 35 80

MEDIA RELEASE, 27th November 2018

Dog-friendly Moonlight Cinema 2018/2019

Moonlight Cinema, Autralia’s favourite outdoor cinema is back with all sessions dog-friendly in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.

The new season runs from November 29 until March 31 with tickets to all screenings up till the end of January now on sale.

The December/January program is jam-packed with 8 advanced screenings, over 25 new releases and a bunch of favourites. Returning to stunning inner city parklands in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, film-lovers across Australia can recline on a picnic rug underneath the stars and catch a flick on the big screen for the quintessential summer cinema experience.

The huge program includes advanced screenings of summer’s must-see films; The Favourite, Mary Queen of Scots and Second Act, flicks for the family; Incredibles 2, Smallfoot and Bumblebee, the top picks for award-season; Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star is Born, Green Book and Widows, and a showcase of Australia’s very best talents; Storm Boy, Boy Erased and Ladies in Black.

There are a stack of new releases on offer. Head on over to Moonlight where you can kick back with a drink, catch up with friends and enjoy films such as Aquaman, Vice, Bad Times at the El Royale, Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Crazy Rich Asians under the stars in picturesque park settings.

AUSTRALIA’S HOLLYWOOD TAKEOVER

The very best of Australia’s cinematic talents will proudly take centre-stage at Moonlight Cinema. Be one of the first to see Geoffrey Rush and Jai Courtney team up for the heart-warming remake of the 1970’s classic Storm Boy; Catch veteran director Bruce Beresford’s tender and funny love letter to 1950’s Sydney with Ladies in Black; and a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Troye Sivan and Joel Edgerton lead Boy Erased, the gut-wrenching tale of a young boy forced into gay conversion therapy in the American South.

A favourite amongst families, groups of friends and for that special date night, Moonlight Cinema brings the festival atmosphere to film watching. It’s more than a movie experience, it’s an opportunity to kick back in the outdoors and relish in the summer vibes.

Being a BYO[2] event, Moonlight makes a night out easy. Prepare a picnic of delicious deli treats, lollies for the little ones or your best bottle of bubbly, you can bring it all to Moonlight! Don’t have the time to pull together a snack pack for date night? Don’t worry, Moonlight Cinema has you covered, their onsite food truck offers up a licensed bar and scrumptious variety of hot food and movie-going morsels to whet the appetite of film fans.

Elevate that movie magic and treat yourself! Moonlight’s Gold Grass offers the ultimate A-List cinema experience. With reserved bean beds in a premium viewing location and wait service, you won’t even have to get up from your bean bed!

Tickets are on sale now at www.moonlight.com.au

Where & When:

• Adelaide: Botanic Park, Dec 8 – Feb 17
• Brisbane: Roma Street Parkland, Nov 29 – 31 Mar
• Melbourne: Central Lawn at Royal Botanic Gardens, Nov 29 – 31 Mar
• Perth[1]: May Drive Parkland, Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Dec 1 – 31 Mar
• Sydney: Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park, Nov 29 – 31 Mar

Please Note:
1. Unfortunately no dogs are allowed to enter Kings Park / Botanic Gardens in Perth because of the native wildlife
2. Moonlight Cinema is a BYO friendly event (except BYO alcohol is not permitted at Brisbane’s Moonlight Cinema).
3. Gates open an hour and a half before the film starts so head in early to snap up your grassy patch (also pays to head in early to get a car park!)

Give a Dog a Bone Keep Kitty Happy Christmas Appeal 2018

Help pets in need this Christmas by donating to the Give a Dog a Bone, Keep Kitty Happy Christmas Appeal which runs from November 25 until December 15, 2018.

Every year, hundreds of Sydneysiders give generously to ensure homeless dogs and cats don’t miss out on the joys of Christmas through the annual Give a Dog a Bone, Keep Kitty Happy Christmas Appeal. Now in its twelfth year, the appeal distributes donations for dogs and cats to animal shelters across Sydney.

The appeal was founded in 2006 by animal lover Nicola Addison from a simple idea: get friends and colleagues to add to their shopping baskets a single item for a dog or cat (food, treats or a toy) and drop it off at one of many drop-off points throughout Sydney.

Greyhound Rescue volunteer at one of the drop-off points

Since then, Give a Dog a Bone, Keep Kitty Happy Christmas Appeal (GADAB) has grown into an annual movement, receiving a huge collection of goodies, donated by hundreds of people, dropped off at over 28 collection points in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury. 

With the support of the RSPCA, Way2Home and the City of Sydney’s Companion Animals Liaison Office, dozens of volunteers assist with the distribution of thousands of items to over 20 rescue services. Among them are Friendly K9 Rescue Service, Greyhound Rescue and Golden Retriever Rescue, to name just a few.

In addition to animal rescue services, GADAB also supports other community organisations that work with people on low incomes, homeless people with pets and other groups and services that help people who may not have extra cash to spend on their beloved pets at Christmas.

Nicola says the appeal is an easy but effective way to give dogs and cats at rescue shelters some much-needed love during Christmas. “This appeal is so simple” Nicola says. “It offers people the opportunity to feel good by doing something that’s easily done, to be part of the solution and know that all their donations go straight to where they are most needed.

“We’re grateful for the support we have received so far and thank the many people who continue to donate to the appeal each year.

“While the festive season is a time for celebration, for many animal shelters and rescue services, it’s also a time of challenges and strain. The appeal aims to help these organisations continue their support and ensure dogs and cats get the treats they deserve during Christmas. Thank you for supporting the GADAB Christmas Appeal.” 

For more information, please visit the GADAB website at www.giveadogabone.info

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Buy one item (or more) for a dog or cat and take it to one of the GADAB drop-off points locations   

CANIDAE Dog Food Competition - Win 3 months supply!

With the summer break fast approaching, would you like to win 3 months supply of dog food thanks to CANIDAE® Pet Foods Australia to get your pack energised and ready to tackle their holiday adventures?

CANIDAE® started out as an independent, family-owned company back in 1996 — and they still are today. They are getting more involved in the growing of some of the ingredients used in their pet foods and have built their own state of the art facility that puts safety and integrity first.

The CANIDAE® recipes are kept simple using only key ingredients. Real meat or fish is always first for great taste and recipes are made with whole foods for gentle digestion.

• The Grain Free PURE range will cater for dogs with sensitivities or allergies with a wide range of real meat proteins to choose from: Elements (real lamb), Foundations (real chicken); Sea (real salmon); Sky (real duck); Wild (real wild boar); Resolve (weight management); Meadow (seniors); Fields (small breed formula). All recipes come in 1.8kg, 5.4kg and 10.8kg bags.
• The CANIDAE® “All Life Stages" recipes are vet formulated for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. That makes mealtimes for multiple dog households much simpler than dealing with multiple bags of different foods. You can choose from 4 varieties: Large Breed Formula, Multi-Protein Formula, Chicken Meal & Rice, Less Active Formula (Platinum). All recipes are available in 2.2kg, 6.8kg, 13.6kg and 20kg bags.

You can find out more about the Multi-Protein Formula in our recent review here...

3 Winners will receive 3 months supply of CANIDAE® dog food*   

(*formula of their choice, based on dog's weight - Total Prize Pool $1,000+)

To Enter is as easy as 1- 2 -3!

1. Like BOTH the CANIDAE Pet Foods Australia Facebook + ADL Facebook pages or follow the CANIDAE Pet Foods Australia Instagram + ADL Instagram accounts.

2. Share our post on Facebook or Instagram (23/11/2018) 

3. Tell us why you'd like to win and select the recipe (refer to the list above) your dog(s) would enjoy the most?

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. This Competition will close on Saturday 8th December, 2018 (9pm).
Congratulations to our 3 winners: Katrina Tomaszek, Zoe Chin (via Facebook) @missyandbandy (via Instagram).

2. To enter:
* Like BOTH the CANIDAE Pet Foods Australia Facebook + ADL Facebook pages OR follow BOTH the CANIDAE Instagram + ADL Instagram accounts.
* Share our post on Facebook or Instagram (23/11/2018) 
* Tell us why you'd like to win and select the recipe (refer to the list above) your dog(s) would enjoy the most?
3. This Promotion is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner.

The entries will be judged by the Australian Dog Lover team. The winning entries will be selected based on the most creative, informative or useful statement.

4. Please note you MUST LIKE our Facebook page or FOLLOW @australiandoglover on Instagram to be eligible.

5. Entrants in the competition can only enter once.

6. Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be redrawn.

* Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of all terms and conditions.

How to Raise a Puppy in the City

This article is co-authored by professional dog trainers Ryan & Jen Tate from TATE Animal Training Enterprises, who have raised a number of dogs in Sydney. They have recently bought an acreage on the mid north coast that has given them further perspective on the task of raising a puppy in the city. 

According to the RSPCA, between 2016-2017 over 44,000 dogs were received (by the RSPCA alone). Behaviour was the most common reason for euthanasia. We believe that appropriate dog selection and better raising of puppies will reduce these statistics.

There are many factors these days that influence the behavioural outcome of your dog. Let’s start with the law. In most cities and busy suburbs, dogs MUST be contained to a backyard and MUST be kept on lead when walking around the streets for their own safety and everyone else in the community.

Although dogs have been domesticated for centuries, we can’t expect them to just cope with these restrictions without some form of training and conditioning early on. These two rules alone have an impact on the most common behaviour problems in adult dogs: separation anxiety and lead reactivity. 

Other factors that influence behaviour include: genetics, whelping conditions, experiences or lack of exposure in the ‘critical learning phase’, conflicting advice from professionals and more! Not to mention the internet and social media platforms provide us with an abundance of breed choice at our fingertips! If you want a Kelpie, a Mexican Hairless or Lagotto Romagnolo… just google!

So… amongst the chaos of busy life in the city, how can you successfully raise a happy, well-adjusted canine companion?Start at the VERY beginning, by ensuring you are choosing the most suitable dog for you.

Tip #1 

There are seven registered dog groups in Australia. Every dog belongs to one or a few of these groups, from Gun dogs to Toy dogs, all with different genetic purpose. 

Researching and understanding these individual groups could help you better determine a more suitable breed for your family. Dachshunds may appear compact, and fit for apartment life but they belong to the hound family (hunting dogs), and not so long ago, were bred to bark and chase badgers out of holes. Barking is in their genes! Food for thought if you live in an apartment block.

Tip #2 

Avoid choosing a breed based on looks, a movie or that one dog you’ve met at the park who is well behaved. Look at your lifestyle, your home environment and surroundings and choose a breed where their genetics are most likely going to fit your mould and thrive in that setting. There’s a reason you don’t see farmers choosing cavoodles to round up their sheep.

Tip #3 

IF you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder ask LOTS of questions. Ask to visit the property and meet the bitch and the litter. Most good breeders will ask you lots of question about your lifestyle and expectations. Take this as a good sign. If the breeder doesn’t allow you the opportunity to meet the parent dog in the flesh, RUN!

In the last 6 months, we have experienced 4 people cancel their spot in puppy school because their beloved puppy never arrived at the airport terminal. Despite receiving copious amounts of photos, videos, information and paying for it, they got scammed!

Tip #4 

Our Malinois Porthos is Type C & sister Aramis is Type A

Regardless of where you get the puppy from (rescue, breeder, accidental litter etc) the personality of each puppy MAY vary within the litter and certainly across the breed. 

The puppy’s personality early on, can give us some insight into the future.
We put them into 3 rough categories:

• A – Bold, pushy, fearless, driven pups 
• B – Happy, cuddly, friendly, silly pups 
• C – Quiet, reserved, reclusive, shy pups 

Type A puppies are the ones we want for work. They will be wild lunatics at first but harnessing their drive into a job makes them a very content dog. The average family may struggle to keep them stimulated but a dog sport enthusiast will love this kind of dog.

Type B puppies are generally your ideal family dog. Yes they might get stuck into some shoes and make mistakes, but they will be more resilient to changes, children and chaos.

Type C puppies are the ones that worry dog trainers. These dogs require quality early conditioning and extra emotional support to prevent them from ending up fearful which can lead to aggression or an unhappy dog in the wrong household.

Tip #5 

Research a local qualified and reputable puppy trainer and contact them SOONER rather than later to expand on the points below and more. Ideally, training would take place when your puppy is 8-10 weeks.

What to do once your puppy is home

The most impressionable period of a dog’s ENTIRE LIFE is roughly between 3-16 weeks of age. This is known as the ‘Critical Learning Phase’. During this time, everything good, bad and ugly about the world is being absorbed, processed and filed in their memory bank as pleasant or scary. 

On the other hand, if the puppy doesn’t have a pleasant experience with something in this period, how they may respond to it as an adult is unknown: e.g. when someone acquires an older rescue dog that displays fearful behaviour when a tall, dark and handsome man enters the same room, people immediately think the dog has been abused by a male in the past. Whilst this is possible, it’s also just as likely that the dog was never around burly men in the critical phase. 

During the first few months of life, puppies need to be comfortably desensitised to everything that you are going to expect them to cope with as an adult.

Once your pup has settled in, what are the top areas to focus on?

1) Socialisation & Environmental Conditioning

Puppy socialisation and environmental conditioning involves exposing your puppy to short, enjoyable experiences with everything in the environment that you don’t want your puppy to be fearful, nervous or even over excited around as an adult. 

In cities and busy suburbs this includes:
✔️ people of all shapes, sizes and ages
✔️ animals (livestock, other pets, wildlife) 
✔️ household items, things with wheels (car, motorbikes, wheelie bins, scooters)
✔️ different surfaces
✔️ loud unpredictable noises like storms and fireworks, to name a few. 
All your puppy needs to experience during these interactions is something pleasant. 

9 times out of 10 a delicious treat is enough for them to ‘file’ that interaction as a good one. For some puppies, being approached, picked up and cuddled by a stranger can be too overwhelming.

• Start at a distance where they are able to observe unusual stimulus like bikes or kids playing basketball and build on their comfort levels. 
• Avoid picking them up but allow your puppy the option to move away from something if it’s uncomfortable or overwhelmed - especially when they are on lead. 
• Learn to read your dog’s body language. Lip licking, body shakes, scratching, yawning, constantly rolling onto their back and ducking their head can all be subtle ways your puppy is communicating that they may not be coping. 

2) Building Independence

With the critical phase in mind, taking appropriate time off during your puppy’s first weeks home, can be an investment towards your dog’s mental health long term. Dedicate serious time and effort towards building up your pup’s confidence and contentment being left alone, rather than throwing them in the deep end. 

• Crate train them at night with a family member sleeping nearby for the first few nights. 
• Allow the puppy to experience ‘alone time’ while the family is home. This can be achieved in a puppy pen close by during meal prep or home work time & bridges the gap between having access to you whenever you’re home and
  
  all of a sudden feeling deserted when you leave. 
• Dis the dog bowl and routine meal times! Place their food in enrichment items and give it to your puppy when they are experiencing being alone. 
• Keep your emotions neutral when you leave and when you come home so your puppy doesn’t feed off them. Give them a few minutes to settle down when anyone enters the house. 
• Just as you would at a café, practise tie up exercises in the comfort of your home next to you while yourself and the family are engaged in quieter activities. 

3) Lead

A dog’s primary defense mechanism is to remove itself from an uncomfortable or threatening situation. Once we attach a lead to a dog, that dog can no longer respond to situations naturally. From the very beginning, we need to help the puppy feel comfortable and gain confidence when on lead and ultimately enjoy the experience.

• Start straight away in your home, clip the lead on during meal times or while you are training them a new skill. 
• DO NOT pull or yank them at all! Let them explore the world on lead and use a treat or your voice to lure them away from something if you need to, rather than pulling. 
• Go on short walks outside your front door around the quiet parts of your neighbourhood and build to the busier streets. Take treats and end each walk with the puppy wanting more rather than the puppy sitting. 

Refer back to the points under Socialisation.

4) Training and Outlets 

When people consider a dog they generally ask themselves: ‘Do I have enough time to physically exercise this animal?’ Rarely do we hear people say… ‘What am I going to do to mentally challenge my dog today?’. This is a fundamental part of preventing problem behaviours and creating a content and fulfilled adult dog. 

A Border Collie is bred to round up sheep non-stop for hours under instructions from a farmer. In many cases, if a B.C. doesn’t have mental outlets in suburbia, she will naturally find her own ‘job’ to do... Bark at birds, property guard, lunge and bark at moving objects out on walks. Consider training your working dog to do your job for eight hours a day while you relax at home. You’d have one very content pooch on your hands. 

Here are some suggestions below: 

Behavioural Enrichment – Use a variety of boredom busters e.g. Kongs, snuffle mats, scatter feeds, frozen stock on hot days. Cognitive challenging puzzles allow your dog opportunities to problem solve, exercising their brain. 

Tug-o-War – All puppies want to bite things! A responsible game of tug gives them something they are allowed to bite and teaches them valuable lessons around impulse control. 

Training – Don’t stop at sit, drop, stay and come.. Teach your puppy a new behaviour each month or join obedience or trick training classes in your local area.

Agility – Great for highly active dogs or Herding  - great for working breeds.

Fetch – Throw some known behaviours into a game of fetch to break up the non-stop ball chasing which helps them to think when aroused.

Nose Works / Scent Detection – A dog’s nose is their biggest asset, especially hound and gun dog breeds. Utilise it!! Teach them to find your keys or phone or something perhaps more beneficial like money or gold.

* We don’t believe busy dog parks are a suitable mental outlet for young dogs. They can be a wonderful exercise option down the track once your dog has excellent obedience and a strong bond with you but whilst they are still impressionable, overcrowded dog parks can be a feeding ground for unruly behaviour.

5) Handling & Grooming

Being handled is a part of life, whether it be a trip to the vets or groomers or simply needing to pull a bindi / grass seeds out of their paw. It’s also something dogs aren’t naturally used to or in some cases don’t enjoy. Doing short, positive handling sessions, sometimes with treats, can build a pleasant association. Good breeders will start this process for you and it should be progressed at home and during puppy pre-school.

6) Focus on what you want, prevent what you don't want! 

Puppies can be destructive, teething, peeing, pooing machines. But this ‘naughty behaviour’ is not due to bad intentions or their strong will to ‘dominate’ you. They’re being guided by instincts and their inquisitive nature and lack of training can get them in to mischief. Remember the following:

- Rehearsal is reinforcement! Prevent them from practicing undesirable behaviours by utilising that puppy pen when you are unable to supervise. This way, they simply don’t have the option to dig holes, chew shoes or urinate on expensive rugs.

- Consciously train your puppy desired behaviours before they decide it’s more fun to do the opposite and get randomly reinforced for it. Dogs naturally want to jump and lick to greet you, or pull on lead to sniff every exciting smell on walks. So teach them to ‘sit’ instead of jump, walk calmly instead of pull, ‘go to bed’ instead of bark at visitors knocking on the front door.

We would surely see a significant reduction in dogs being surrendered if everyone took the time to research and plan PRIOR to bringing a puppy home and continued training after puppy school. We are dealing with highly intelligent creatures that require a serious amount of time, effort, money and training, especially in that first year, to ensure they blossom into behaviourally sound, happy and healthy hounds.

written by Jen and Ryan Tate, November 2018 (all rights reserved)

Husband and Wife duo Ryan and Jen from TATE Animal Training Enterprises, run a diverse animal behaviour business, covering everything from puppy school, film and television animals through to conservation detection dogs. 

Between the two of them, they have worked with a myriad of species from Zebra Finches to Leopard Seals however today their focus and passion lies with dogs. 

Ryan helped produce and present a two-part special for Catalyst on ‘Making Dogs Happy’. Ryan and Jen have also appeared recently on ABC, Channel 9 & TEN promoting responsible pet ownership and welfare.

For more details, please email info@tateanimals.com