Behaviour & Training

Anyone who’s ever spent time in the company of a dog knows that, just like people, dogs have personalities that are unique to them, and they experience many feelings in exactly the same way as humans and all other mammals. While they don’t experience higher emotions such as shame, spite or contempt, they have the same range of basic emotions as us, such as happiness, sadness, relief, frustration and fear. These feelings are essential in helping dogs learn about the world, and encourage them to behave in certain ways to protect or help them. If a dog feels fear, for example, they’re likely to seek out safety from the threat and gain a sense of relief, while the positive feelings they get from cuddles and grooming encourages good relationships with those around them. Watch our experts decode their expressions, signals, and behaviours.

Dog target training may be a less well-known way to train your dog, but it is definitely picking up in popularity among dog owners. No other training technique hones your dog’s concentration skills as effectively as target training, and the process can help your dog develop their cognitive abilities. Target stick dog training is a great technique to teach your dog, but what exactly is it and how do you begin to train your dog with this method? In this article, we explore all the questions you may have about target training and the benefits. What is dog target training? Target training is a method where you teach your dog to identify specific objects and react to those objects in a certain way. For instance, if you show your dog a mat, your dog’s first reaction will be to use all of their body to respond to that object—in other words, they will lie down on the mat. But what if you could teach your dog to only touch their nose to the mat or only put their front paws on it? This way, your dog will be responding to the mat in a specific way (or with a trained action) by using only one body part. You can see why dog target training is growing popular: it teaches your dog better motor control and concentration skills. It also allows them to identify objects better, which can be very useful if you want to train them to tidy up their toys or close the refrigerator door! How do you start target training? The easiest way to get your dog started on target training is to teach them to identify a specific object with a body part. Begin by using your hand as your dog will probably already be familiar with hand signals and is already comfortable around you. You will need a clicker, treats and lots of fuss and praise for this, as these reinforce positive behaviour. • Present your hand to your dog, around half an inch away from his nose. If your dog looks at your hand, click and reward your dog. • If they touch their nose to your palm, click and reward them. • Keep repeating this action until they can follow your palm to the left, right and above them, all the while touching their nose to it. Make sure to positively reward your dog with lots of praise and treats—that is how they know what you want them to do! Once your dog is good at focusing on an object and touching it with their nose, it’s time to progress onto target stick dog training.

Even though some dogs will make more noise than others, all dogs bark. Whether you have a tiny Chihuahua or a fully-grown Alsatian, you’ve probably heard them barking in a wide variety of situations. You might even be able to tell why they’re barking – for example, many dogs will bark if they encounter something that they perceive as threatening or even when they just want to say hello!

Dog muzzles often get a bad rap, but did you know there are actually quite a few benefits to wearing them for certain types of dogs? Find out more about them and our dog muzzle training tips with this guide. Dog muzzles are fantastic! We know that they get a mixed response from people, but we also know how important they are and have written this article to help you with your dog muzzle training. If you read that and thought, ‘my dog doesn’t need a muzzle,’ then this article is for you. Not only are muzzles perfect for dogs that might be a little bit grumpy, frightened or anxious when they’re out and about, they’re also quite often necessary at the vet's or if your dog has been hurt. If your dog has learnt to love their muzzle then all the stress that’s often accompanied by wearing one goes away. Why do some dogs wear muzzles? Some dogs need to wear muzzles and most of the time, it’s not because they’ve ever bitten anyone. Some ex-racing greyhounds wear muzzles because they have endured years of chasing something small and furry and that’s a hard habit to break. Some dogs wear one because vets and trainers recommend it when they are learning not to eat potentially dangerous objects, like stones or litter. Some dogs wear one because they need space and people tend to give dogs a wide berth if they’re wearing a muzzle. There are misconceptions about dog muzzles, there are judgements and there are quite often some unhelpful comments about them, but when did that stop you from doing your best for your dog?! The more we can all raise awareness about the positives of muzzles, the better! You could face a situation where your dog needs to be muzzled. You don’t know what the future holds and if you’re in a situation where your dog needs a muzzle as a matter of urgency; they won’t be feeling excited about one landing on their face. You can prepare them and take that stress away for them. Baskerville muzzles Baskerville muzzles are popular, safe and lightweight muzzles that allow your dog breathe. Never use a muzzle that clamps your dog’s mouth shut as that affects their breathing and leaves them unable to drink. With the Baskerville muzzle, they can take treats and drink, so once they’ve learned to love it, they’re not prevented from enjoying life while wearing one.

The fact that you love your dog and want to do your best for them isn’t in question, but do we really understand what our dogs need in order to thrive? Looking after our beloved dogs comes natural. We give them a shelter, food, water and countless cuddles. But is this enough? It turns out dog's needs are just as complex as ours. Luckily, there is a handy visual tool you can use to make sure you take all your pet's needs into consideration for a happy, healthy and fulfilled life together. Linda Michaels (MA)adapted Maslow’s hierarchy to create thedog'sversion of the hierarchy of needs. This helps explain what your dogs need from you and, importantly, what you need to prioritise in order to give your dog the life they deserve when they join your family. Like us, our dogs thrive in a safe environment. This model is built on the premise that kindness is the foundation for all of your interactions with your dog and at the heart of all of the decisions you make for your dog. Before you start to think about training cues, you have to have created an environment in which your dog is able to learn; that environment starts with the basics. Here are your dog's different levels of needs you need to take into consideration.