Dr Jo's blog

but I still feel like a winner!

Just watching the stars prepare for the Oscars and thinking how lucky I am to be sitting at home with a cat on my lap and a dog at my feet.

…Unlike the stars who, not only have to excel at whatever art they choose (acting, presenting, singing, modelling) but have to think about their appearance every moment of the day. After all, in these ‘valued’ professions, it’s not only being able to perform at the job but it’s about showing that you are controlled (ie. no chocolate, false smiles) and always looking acceptable by today’s standards (AU size 8 and below!).

Well, guess what – my pets don’t care. They don’t care when I have a bad hair day. They don’t care that I put on a few kilos or lose some. And I have even more benefits living with pets – I am healthier (less chance of cardiovascular disease), I have kids who are more popular with their peers; I am less stressed.

So no I won’t be watching Oscar night except for a sneak peak at the red carpet (always hopeful that someone’s outfit will be covered in dog/cat hair!). I’ll be walking my dog. I’ll be answering my cats’ meows. And in their eyes I’m the winner – every year

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So I took Chilli dog along to the Purina offices with me today. Not her first visit but her first since she was 8 weeks old. Now she is 1.

This was not the first occasional she has been to work with me. Generally, however, wherever I work there are open spaces, grass, fresh air. Great for work breaks. None of that in a corporate office. Walls, ceilings, lots of surfaces to echo barks! Yes, Chilli barked… and barked.

Within five minutes she acted, typical Terrier style, as if she owned the place. Then, of course she had the right to bark at anyone who walked past her. To calm her down I had brought her dog house (a portable dog kennel) which she likes to snooze in and I can close screens to block her view. In her house, she went, as always enticed by the promise of a treat ball within. Today, however, she could still hear the girls in the petcare advice centre answering calls. Every time one of them said “Hello”, Chilli thought someone new was arriving and started to bark!

We managed to limit the barking by providing her with a Purina Total Care squeaky toy. Great – no more barks. Just squeaks, loud squeaks!

Purina is a pet friendly office. People who work there are welcome to bring their pets along to work. It is illegal, however, in our State to take your dog into food preparation areas – thus no trips to the office cafe. How does one survive a stressful day at the office with your dog without caffeine?

Home now and Chilli dog is exhausted! Next time I bring my quiet cat!

You didn’t think I had perfect pets, did you?!

(More misbehaviour from Chilli)

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So you think you have pet problems…

Now’s your chance to come along and discuss them. For now, it’s only for those of you in Sydney or willing to come here (everyone else will get a chance in time I hope, if this one goes well). I have just organised (well my friend Cameron from Family Activities) has organised a new event.

I will be talking at Bankstown Sports Centre on April 20th from 6-9pm. Everything you have ever wanted to know about your pet’s behaviour – come and ask me. When you register you will get a chance to tell me exactly what you’d like to know. It should be fun. I will get to meet lots of you and we can all talk pets together.

More here

You can also let me know here is there is any particular topics you are keen to find out more about.

Look forward to seeing you soon. Please pass on to any mates you think might enjoy it.

Jo

Other events here

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Why.. oh why do some animals love to roll in mud?

Yes biologically it’s great. Deals with parasites, disguises smells, cools you down. This does not explain why one dog loves it and will find a puddle of mud in the middle of a desert and another will avoid a water-logged field.

My previous dog Cherry was a princess who would tread gracefully through field of grass, avoiding puddles, avoiding dipping her toes in anything wet, messy and especially avoiding anything muddy. Oh yes, i would return form the park on a rainy day with a dry dog and secretly gloat over owners who had to towel-dry their pooch prior to re-entry to car or home. Doggy paw wipes were made for those unfortunate owners.

Along came dog no.2, Chilli (sadly after the passing of Cherry). Along with Chilli, came mud. And lots of it. Payback time for all those secret smiles and self-congratulations on rearing such delicate dog souls.

Chilli loves mud. Chilli has mud radar. No distractions can possible compete with a muddy puddle. And believe me I have tried all that she loves – her ball, other dogs, yummy treats. Mud wins!

Chilli in mud

...and muddiest

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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.

Jo’s website

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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

Check out my website.

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