Hi, I’m Rosie. I have a degree in psychology and zoology and a post-graduate diploma in companion animal behaviour counselling. I just adore working with animals, and am here to answer your questions...
My friend told me that ‘a tired dog is a well-behaved dog’. Will exercise solve most of my dog’s problems?
You don’t say what your dog’s problems are, but I suspect it won’t be as simple as providing more exercise, unless your dog is significantly under- stimulated. For most dogs, physical exercise increases dopamine, but there are other factors that should be considered. If your dog’s problems occur on walks, then you’ll need to seek professional help with a force-free trainer or behaviourist to address these (see abtcouncil.org.uk).
Relentless physical exercise will also increase adrenaline, which can fuel some unwanted behaviours, so focus on slow paced ‘sniffaris’, where you allow your dog to sniff as much of the environment as they want or hide food or toys around for your dog to find.
Are some dogs smarter and easier to train?
The problem with ‘smartness’ is that it is generally based on human perception of smart. You might get very different results training the same dog to herd sheep, compared with scentwork. Different breeds are designed to do different ‘jobs’ so will have strengths in certain areas.
However, there are ‘high drive’ dogs, which are highly active both physically and mentally, and may be more easily motivated and likely to learn new behaviours with fewer learning trials.
I have two dogs from shelters. Neither plays with toys or each other. How do I get them to interact?
I'd put no pressure on the dogs to interact with each other if they show no inclination to do so. We humans dictate who our dogs live with and if you’ve ever lived in a house- share with a person you wouldn’t choose to live with, you might have just ended up co- existing rather than being friends.
The best thing you can do to encourage an amicable relationship is to ensure they have plenty of resting places between them and avoid any risk of competition for resources.
Try to encourage each dog to play with you when they are on their own, interacting with a toy, and moving it in a manner that makes them want to start chasing it. You can also use food to encourage ‘play’ in the form of rolling a piece of food along the floor for the dog to chase, throwing it in the air for them to catch or scattering some in grass for them to search for.
We’re adopting a five-year-old Welsh terrier from a local couple, because he’s aggressive to their two-year-old daughter. The parents are heartbroken and want to visit. Is this a good idea?
I suspect from the dog’s point of view, it would be easier for him to have a clean break, but it will depend on the relationship he had with them and the attachment he forms with you. I’d certainly suggest he has fully settled in and built a strong relationship with you before you consider letting them see him, so that he doesn’t grieve again after seeing them.
It would also be worth meeting on neutral territory for a walk rather than them coming to the house, so he doesn’t feel confused in his new home.