Does your dog rule the roost?

Recently I had a behaviour consultation with a client who had an all too common problem – her dog ruled the roost! Rupert; a gorgeous little toy poodle, had been somewhat spoilt and allowed to get away with a little too much. The behaviour which concerned his owner the most was his constant barking at visitors, growling when he didn’t want to be picked up, urinating in the house and acute separation anxiety.

When we discussed Rupert’s behavioural history and how he fits in with the household it came to light that Rupert was treated a bit like royalty. He slept in his owner’s bed, had access to food whenever he wanted, was allowed free range of the house and had no rules or boundaries set in place for him. This, together with his outgoing personality, resulted in Rupert assuming the position of “top dog”.

In order for his family to get some peace, Rupert needed to be brought down a peg or two. I recommended several strategies to Rupert’s owner which involved changing the way they interact with him to make him realise that he does not rule the proverbial roost. Among them was to introduce daily five minute training sessions, where Rupert is asked to perform simple tasks such as “sit”, “drop” and “stay” and is rewarded with treats for his efforts. Another was to feed him at specific times rather then allowing him control over his food intake. Additionally, Rupert was no longer allowed to sleep in his owners bed and was to be given his own bed on the floor. To relieve his separation anxiety Rupert’s owner was instructed to ignore Rupert 10 minutes prior to leaving for the day, and again for 10 minutes upon arriving home. This reinforces that her absence was no big deal and nothing to be anxious about rather than a terrible experience.

So far so good - It’s only been a week and Rupert’s owner has reported that they have already seen positive changes in his behaviour. Rupert is learning that being top dog isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

It’s a dog’s life

Have you ever stopped to think; how good does my dog have it? As I sit here in my lounge room typing on my laptop, my two dogs; Archie a Boxer and Joseph a black Labrador Retriever lie on their beds sleeping, where they have remained for most of the day.

A typical day for my dogs begins with a hearty breakfast followed by a quick game of fetch or tug-o-war in the backyard. When we head off to work, they are kept entertained with the latest chew toys or a puzzle toy filled with treats. In the summer months they even have access to a mini swimming pool so they can cool off on hot days.

Upon our return from a hard days work the dogs are again fed. After dinner it’s time for a training session or another game followed by their evening walk down to the local dog park. Once home, they return to their favourite spot – their beds in the lounge room where they remain until the next morning.

Weekends entail other special things for Archie and Joseph; a trip to the local dog-friendly café, a visit to our family’s house or a treat to chew on.

When I think about it, my dogs don’t have much to worry about. They are given everything their little hearts desire and don’t have to work a day in their lives, except of course to provide unconditional love to us!