Why can misreading a dog’s behaviour make arousal problems worse? Jumping to conclusions If we jump to the wrong conclusions as to what’s behind a behaviour, it stands to reason the behaviour’s unlikely to improve. When the dog does something we want to change – like digging the carpet – Read more
On their return home from hospital with the baby, Poppy erupted into frantic barking, just as she might if she saw a squirrel or a cat.
Why did Gigi bark so intensely at the door? Baby due in five weeks. Just five weeks. Then they will have friends and health visitor calling to see the baby. If that happened today it would be a noisy problem. They may be unable to talk due to Cavachon Gigi’s Read more
Why does Otis growl and snap at the little girl, and how can they help him feel safe when she visits? Otis doesn’t feel safe around the unpredictable little girl – their small grandchild. He had been found abandoned on a motorway. During the two and a half years they Read more
Why does Poppy react so intensely when the baby cries – and how can careful, gradual exposure help her feel safe instead of overwhelmed? It should have been a time of joy and celebration. They had, they thought, prepared their two dogs well for the arrival of baby a few Read more
Why can an excitable dog erupt with barking and frantic behaviour when he can’t reach a baby or another dog? Everything came to a head the other day. Reggie, the little volcano, exploded. The house was full of visiting family – and someone brought a baby. The 14-month-old terrier, already Read more
Hugo is a great little dog who is trying to adapt to big changes in his life. They moved house just three weeks ago and, added to this, the lady is looking after her toddler grandchild for a couple of weeks.
They now have a newborn baby and Moose’s lack of confidence has increased. He has become more anxious, particularly if he can’t keep an eye on where each person is.
Why would a normally friendly dog begin fighting whenever another dog is cuddled or fussed? Nellie isn’t very happy. This is despite being treasured, along with their other two tiny dogs, Luna and Sandy. Nellie is a two-year-old Pomeranian, the last to join their little dog family of three. Luna Read more
Is he being “naughty” — or struggling with no longer being the centre of attention? Lincoln is a beautiful nine-month-old miniature Dachshund. He is friendly, gentle and affectionate. I had a lovely cuddle. It’s obvious that he loves the baby too. What he doesn’t like is being left out. It’s Read more