“Helping Pet owners of Mersea Island and surroundings to maintain the well being of their beloved family pet, through provision of veterinary care and education on responsible ownership.”

At Blackwater Vets, we not only want to help our community keep their dogs healthy, we also want relationships between pets and owners to be positive with benefits to wellbeing. In this article we wanted to discuss the importance of understanding dog behaviour, stress and communication and how this understanding can improve the safety of both you and your dog. Ultimately dogs want to be a part of the family and spend their lives feeling fulfilled and happy. They strive to be rewarded, which is how they learn the behaviours we want from them.

Dated training techniques based on dominance over a dog and appearing as a “pack leader” may often result in a dog that is depressed or forces the dog to feel that the only option they have is to protect themselves through aggression. For this reason, it is important that training techniques are a positive reward which is scientifically proven to be effective and does not exacerbate behaviour issues.

Similarly, a dog should never be reprimanded for what we perceive as unwanted behaviour such as growling. Repeatedly dealing with unwanted behaviour in this way may result in a dog who skips this communication altogether and goes straight in with a bite to protect themselves. Instead we should try to understand the trigger for such behaviour. Kendal Shepherds Ladder of Aggression shows how a dog may communicate their discomfort eight times, before they eventually growl. Dogs express how they are feeling in subtle ways and we often miss these signs; they may simply turn their head away or lick their lips to indicate they are uncomfortable. It is our responsibility as dog owners to recognise these signs and help our dogs when they are feeling scared by removing them from the situation or removing the unwanted stimulus. 

Something as simple as understanding whether your dog enjoys being approached or touched can really help reduce stress for your dog, or even keep them safe so you can recognise when they are feeling worried.

These principles should also be applied to time spent outside with your dog. It goes without saying that a dog should always be secured when walking anywhere. Even if you know your dog is friendly, you should be aware of how your dog may be perceived by others. If your dog is unpredictable around other dogs, is easily distracted or struggles with recall off lead, they should be kept under control and ideally walked in quieter areas or at less busy times where they are less likely to meet other dogs and unfamiliar people.

Dogs that show aggression to other dogs are usually fearful and in the same way that if you were afraid of spiders you would want to avoid them, the same may be said for a dog that is afraid of other dogs.

It is against the law for any to dog be “dangerously out of control” in a public place, in a private place, such as a neighbour’s garden, or in the owner’s home regardless of their normal temperament. Of course, most of us would never consider that our beloved pet could be considered as “dangerously out of control” but the law states that this applies not only if a dog injures someone but also if a dog makes someone worried that it might injure them. If a dog can’t be recalled and safely put on a lead in any situation, this is enough to be considered out of control.

In terms of how to secure your dog it is generally recognised that pulling on a dog’s neck can cause pain and even damage and therefore a well fitted harness is recommended. For safety it may be advisable to have a double ended clip lead that also clips onto the collar but where any pressure is put on the harness rather than the neck. This keeps your pet secure should they panic and slip out of a harness.

Using a muzzle should also be seen as a positive rather than a negative training tool. We recommend that all dogs are trained to accept wearing a muzzle and on our website we have more information on the benefits of muzzle training and how to do it; https://blackwatervets.co.uk/pet-advice/dogs/the-benefits-of-muzzle-training/  

Any muzzle should be comfortable and of the “basket” variety so that dogs can pant whilst wearing them, drink and take treats through them.  A muzzle that holds a dog’s mouth will restrict your dog’s breathing and should never be used outside a veterinary environment.

Ultimately, we want the dogs and owners of Mersea to have wonderful relationships, built on kindness and trust but also ensuring everyone’s safety. Please do contact us if you would like any help or advice. We work alongside trusted professionals who share our ethos of the importance of wellbeing for both pets and people.

If you are looking for dog training and behaviour support, it is important to source someone who is using up to date and positive reward techniques. We can put you in contact with suitable professionals and there is information on our website on what to look for; www.blackwatervets.co.uk/pet-advice/dogs/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/