Dr Jo's blog

Chilli at beach

Today I walked my dog at the beach. She was loving it, chasing sticks into the water. Swimming, running, digging. Pure doggy pleasure.

The day was warm (for late winter) and there was a cool breeze. To watch Chilli dig a hole in the sand, lie in it with her favourite stick in her mouth and utter a sigh of relaxation, as the breeze whisked through her floppy, long-haired ears – made me think… the best things in life are free. Especially if you are a dog.

Beach relaxation

Then I thought, well I’m really not much different. Give me a towel on a beach, wind through my hair and a cocktail in my mouth and well… I’m happy too!!

Pets give us that reality check. Slow down. Take time to feel the heat of the sun, the warmth of the breeze. Chill out.

My cat Ginger is an expert at ‘chilling’, especially if you put a blanket on your knee. (We now time how long it takes “Ging” to appear when we shake a blanket – around 2 secs!)

Ginger's favourite spot

Sometimes, you just have to take a leaf out of your pet’s relaxation book. Go with it. Chill out. Less loose…

And then sometimes it’s just not such a pretty site

sleeping dad, sleeping kitten

How do you relax with or like your pet?

Wondering what the canine equivalent of social media would be….

If you need to find out more about barking dogs (and how to quieten them), read this.

Today at Radio 2UE, I had to comment on puppy farms and pet shops – controversial topics in this day and age of pet ownership where pets are central to family life – adored, fashionable and – well, babied.

People obtain their pets from all sorts of places – breeders, stores, shelters, friends. In my opinion there are good and bad breeders, good and bad pet shops, good and bad shelters, just as with every other business and hobby in life. Very few people, however,  knowingly buy from a puppy farm. Could your dog have come from one? The answer is – maybe – if you did not ask, did not meet his or her parents or breeder and if your dog is a currently fashionable breed of dog.

How does this dog make you feel? Is it a shelter dog, a pet store window dog or a puppy farm dog? Answer: we cannot know without more information.

So what are puppy farms?

Farms or mills are establishments where large numbers of puppies are bred. Due to the numbers of animals produced there is little time for individual contact which is absolutely vital for a young animal’s socialisation process or stage of life.  Animals may be caged their entire lives and be repeatedly bred from. Dogs may suffer physically and/or psychologically.

Think about it. You know there is a demand for dogs, as you’ve been reading about it in the newspapers, watching TV programs and have seen numerous dogs in your community – pampered pooches whose owners spare no expense. You want to set up a business. Why not cater for the doggy demand? Current demand is for non-shedding, medium sized dogs. Why not cross some breeds and see what happens/ Demand is there. Why not breed more? Before you know it, you have a profitable business – a puppy farm.

I have nothing against businesses generating profits, responding to demands. Where there are living creatures at stake, however, the guidelines need to differ. Do you have time to give each and ever pup a cuddle, every day?

Some large breeding establishments do care for animals quite adequately when it comes to physical health, vaccinations, exercise etc. They may still fail, however, to carry out adequate people contact but is this covered in current code of practice recommendations? But then some breeders also refuse to let their pups meet young children, other animals etc. All breeders have a responsibility to provide nourishing care for all their animals.

Where a breeder becomes a farmer is not defined (some breeders also keep large numbers of dogs or cats in cages with little human contact) but if you are concerned about which breeder to get your puppy from, enquire from your State or National body (Canine or Kennel Club, in NSW it is Dogs NSW).

About pet shops

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a pet shop or pet store. They sell goods for pets, that we pet owners require. Traditionally they have sold animals too. The pet industry has stated that most people, contrary to popular belief, do not make impulsive purchases from pet stores (yet most of us hear people expressing statements such as “oh poor thing, we should give it a home” as we pass pet store windows, crowded with the pet-loving viewing public). It also appears to be a fallacy that shelters are full of pet shop puppies relinquished when passed their cute-by date. People who make such sweeping statements about the pet shop industry do need to be careful to check their facts.

Most pet stores nowadays do not sell puppies and kittens, although many will still sell fish, birds and other small animals. The Pet Industry Association of Australia has helped pet stores develop policies, such as – no pets in pet shop windows, no buying on first day, cooling off periods etc. You might like to check if your pet store is a member of a pet industry association such as PIAA.

Some smaller or regional shelters find homes for their pets through pet stores. Foster carers do not have space or inclination to let people come to their homes to buy rescued dogs so they sell them through the local pet store. Are these pet shops doing the wrong thing by selling these pets? What about the breeder who has found homes for 11 of the 12 pups (perhaps only expecting half that number therefore not having families lined up prior to the birth)and decide to sell the last through the local pet store. Is this wrong? What happens to the pups that don’t get sold in the pet store? Each of us has our own views and our own values. If you are unsure about the practices of your pet store, then ask.

Shelter pup looking for a home

Demand and supply

Puppy farms exist because there is a demand for the dogs. Some may sell their produce through pet stores Others have websites and will deliver your dog to you. Others may place an add in the local paper, just as backyard breeders do. A high price does not mean a better bred dog, contrary to what many owners believe. I have even heard people refuse to go to shelters to look at dogs as they are not pedigree or not expensive enough! And yet a currently popular designer dog is simply a mixed breed too. (I have nothing against mixed breeds. I own one – adopted from a shelter.)

As long as there is demand for cute-looking, middle sized, minimal-shedding pups, there will be a supply available. No matter how they are bred or cared for or sold. This is human nature, In time, I would hope that responsible dog breeders look at what people want and need. Breed standards in some cases may be a hundred years out of date. We no longer need a dog to sweep the long grass and retrieve prey. We need a dog who likes nothing more than a sofa and a cuddle and an occasional walk. Is it wrong to encourage breeders to breed for this temperament? Again, we shall differ in our moral and ethical standards. But isn’t that what makes the pet industry and the world of pets an exciting place to be?

To summarise

• Pets should be wanted and loved. It is the responsibility of the owner to choose a pet that suits their lifestyle and to find out where the animal has come from and how it has been cared for.
• Society needs to look at producing animals that people want to live with (this, is of course, within reason – a dog is a dog and should be valued for that).
• Society and we pet lovers, need to demand adequate laws, codes of practice and ensure that our support goes to well-run, ethical businesses.

Your comments and thoughts are welcome.

Kids and pets go together. Yes, life would be simpler without either but the rewards from having them outweigh the disadvantages. Having both more than doubles the lifetime of pleasure at watching them interact.

Pets like children. When brought up together, dogs and cats will actively seek out children to cuddle up to, to play with. While some people worry about the pet’s proximity to a baby, adequate adult supervision means there is little danger, if the pet has been socialised with young children prior to a baby coming into the family.

Families often acquire a pet when their children are young. While this may not be the best time, as so much time and energy is directed towards the children (and how much can be left for the pet?), it is a time when our nurturing desires are to the fore. As humans, we have so much love to give, so it makes sense to have both.

Sometimes it is difficult to give, give, give and the pets do get ignored for a little while while the children are small but most families come back on board and return to showering their pets with affection. While we should never employ the pet to be a babysitter, they do make excellent companion, They never seem to tire of the fun and games that children provide.

Pets can also teach children about nurturing an the responsibility of caring for them.Most kids love the opportunity to feed a pet or give it cuddles. Few, however, like to deal with picking up the poo or emptying the litter box. Then the responsibility falls back to mum or dad. Perhaps this will teach the children not to acquire a pet themselves until they are fully responsible for all aspects of their care.

One of the great joys of being a parent is when a child receives a pet of their own. My boys have each been given a cat (by us – never a good idea to give a pet as a present unless you are the one who’ll be responsible) on their 8th birthday, as I was (man, many years ago!!). The joy on their faces is indescribable.

Watching children grow up and still care for their pets is truly amazing. It may not be cool to hug your parents and you have to be ultra-cool with your mates but with your pet you can be yourself. Teenagers give their pets hugs and tell them secrets, just as they did when they were small.

And then one day, all too soon, the last day of the pet’s life arrives. Just like you, your child sobs. And you know you have brought up a child who will care for the creatures of the world. that has to be a good thing. Children and pets go together.

Do you dress your dog up? I spoke a couple of years back with the owner of a chain of pet stores who told me his fastest sales growth was in clothing for dogs! I imagine that this growth has only continued in recent years.

So why do it? And should we do it at all?

To dress…
Well the pros, as I see it, are the bond between dog and owner. People love their pets. How better to express your love than to buy the latest outfit? If the dog tolerates you putting it on, then he must tolerate a lot of handling which is a good thing. And there is no doubt, that a colourful bandanna around a dog’s neck looks so very stylish. And you and your dog will get noticed.

Or not to dress…
Dogs are dogs. They don’t need clothing. They have fur. Clothing can mask their body language, preventing them communicating effectively with other dogs and with us. It could potentially also be very restrictive, becoming a welfare issue.

If you choose to dress up… Good dog owners will monitor their dog’s behaviour and welfare if they choose to dress them up. Signs of discomfort may be very subtle – lip licking or more extreme – panting. If this is something you want to do but don’t know how to start, start small with a bandanna around the neck (remember to keep your dog’s collar and tag on too). When your dog is with other dogs, take the clothing off. He needs to be able to communicate to be safe.

Dressing up can be fun. Let me know if you dress up your dog. Do you make your own costumes? Or are you against it?

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

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?

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.

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
Dr Jo’s website

Wishing everyone a peaceful Xmas & New Year…

Pet Problems Solved website