Dr Jo's blog

Ok it’s a generalised title. Most dogs don’t dislike men but a small but significant number do. Ask anyone that works with dogs, particularly shelter workers, which particular group of people dogs tend to dislike – the answer is invariably men. Behaviourists don’t know why but we suspect the size, the deep voices, the attitudes of men make dogs wary. Perhaps we are now beginning to understand…

Young man, young dog

An interesting post by Patricia McConnell tied together a recent study on human motion with our dogs’ likely perspectives on human gender. Research shows that people view male and female movements differently. When shown image points on the human torso in motion, people perceived males as walking towards us while females are perceived as walking away (It’s in his walk).

Biologically and historically this makes sense. Men are the hunters, ready to approach (to kill or to warn off) in a threatening manner. Females are the gatherers and nurturers and need their children to follow. It’s still debatable, however, whether dogs view human movement in the same way as we do.

Dogs may perceive the male approach as threatening thus become fearful and/or defensive. Scared dogs may try to flee but dogs who cannot take the flight option (because they are on a leash or in a vet clinic or in their own homes and have nowhere to escape to), often have to take the fight option. Research has shown that a more indirect approach to a dog (front to side-on, no eye contact) results in less incidences of canine aggression.

Extrapolation: To take this idea a step (pardon the pun) further … assuming this is the case and dogs perceive male movements as threatening… how then can we advise men to move? Certainly in a more indirect way when they are moving towards a dog. With a more swinging gait? (Is this more feminine?)

Then again, perhaps it’s not the movements at all. Perhaps the human voice has an impact too. Light, ‘happy talk’ seems to disarm dogs, again suggesting that the female voice is less of a threat. Or perhaps it’s our pheromones which dogs can detect and react to. Time and more research will tell.

Your experiences…

Do you have an experience with a dog who does not like a certain group of people?

Have you had an experience with a dog who acts fearfully or aggressively on your approach?

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Tweet up?

Dog owners know what social catalysts dogs are. We walk our dogs and we talk to people, people who we might not normally even look at. Sometimes we even divulge the most intimate details of our lives, safe in the knowledge that the listener must be a caring, sharing kinda person cos they’re a dog lover.

The internet has brought a different means of communication. Take Twitter. I speak to dog and pet lovers from all over the world now. We share knowledge, tips, joys and sorrows. We post pics of our pets and sometimes we even become our pets, talking as our pampered pussycat or pooch.

Twitter on occasion spills out into real life and mutual followers actually meet. Like North Shore Coffee Mornings (#nscm), a group of Sydney people who meet to chat over coffee every week. I went this week and met so many interesting people (roll call).

Got me thinking… I wonder if the pet community are also meeting up in real life. Is this something you would like to do?  Are there any dog walking groups formed out of Twitter or other social media networks? Is it impossible to do with cats? If you are already doing this, please let us know where.

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Life’s a circus and I’m the juggler.

Ever wonder what you’d do if you didn’t have pets? And if you also have two legged little creatures, how would it be if they weren’t around? I’ve found myself wondering just that over these summer holidays as I juggle work and life (never a balance).

Who’s going where with who? – seems to be the never ending topic. Who needs picked up? Who’s got time to take the dog for a walk? Has anyone remembered to make that appointment to get the cats vaccinated? What do you mean our youngest child has to come to work with me?!

Then you have an evening when the cats are all asleep, eldest son has taken dog for a walk, younger sons staying with friends. The house is peaceful – and… it’s boring! Bring back the chaos. Bring back the noise.

So while I complain about trying to fit everything in and give everyone enough attention – and who’s giving me attention, I wouldn’t swap it. Just got to perfect that juggling

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Which breed of dog is best for kids? A question I am often asked.

Choosing a breed of dog is not easy and most people opt for the breed they grew up with. The ‘Oodle’ varieties seem to be gaining in popularity but are they the best for families with young children? Traditionally the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Labrador and the Golden Retriever are suggested as good family pets. But what do you think?

Which dogs do you think are best for families? Any why? (Comment below)

More reading
Top ten pets for kids
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