![]() ![]() Gone are the days when dogs live out their existence in the backyard, sleeping in kennels or under the back deck. Ms Shannon said the role dogs play in our lives has changed over the decades and in society today they are seen more as family members than pets. Socialisation, mental and physical stimulation.How to communicate with your puppy and dog.“So the puppies learn different surfaces and are comfortable with noises and things moving around them as they walk,” she said, adding that puppy schools, like the ones offered by PETstock, normally run for five weeks and go for about an hour.Īt PETstock, puppies up to 15 weeks of age are eligible for the puppy school although they also offer classes for puppies or dogs 16 weeks and older. She said some puppy schools might expose your pup to things like vacuum cleaners or leaf blowers, or put them into a ball pit to have a bit of a play. Ms Shannon said it’s also critical to introduce your dog to new sensory environments. It’s not only teaching your puppy to interact with other dogs and people. One tool many dog owners use to help teach them social skills are healthy treats, given as a reward for good behaviour. “That positive association when they are young will determine how they act as adult dogs,” said Ms Shannon, who has a Cert III in Dog Behaviour & Training with the National Dog Trainers Federation. Others when they meet up will look like they’re growling at and biting each other, but they are just so excited to have someone who understands and matches their play style.”Ī dog’s most critical phase of development is from 12 to 16 weeks of age, and owners should be exposing them to as many different experiences as possible during this time. If one dog is a bit rude and in their face, they’ll avoid that dog at all costs. “Just like us humans, dogs have their own personalities and play style. Some dogs are happy to rough and tumble and they seek out like-minded dogs,” Ms Shannon said. Some puppy owners also find a specialised collar to help mimic the pheromones of a mother dog can help them feel secure. The puppy also learns how to invite another dog to play and, more importantly, when it’s time to get out of its space. It’s through playing and interacting with other puppies that they learn the subtle signs another dog might not be comfortable with how they are approaching them or playing. “We see a lot of dogs that bark and lunge and go to bite, and everyone thinks it’s an aggressive dog - when actually it is acting out of fear,” Ms Shannon said. They can also become timid and anxious, which can sometimes manifest as aggression. “If they haven’t had that opportunity to have good experiences and learn the rules of play then you can find that they can become reactive when they see other dogs.” “They have to learn how to read other dogs and their body language and what is acceptable forms of play or when they have overstepped the boundaries, before they go out and enter the big wide world,” she said. Ms Shannon, who lives in Melbourne’s south east, said dogs need to be taught the correct way of behaving in much the same way as children do. ![]() “It’s a nice safe environment, they are generally around the same size and you have someone there to control the interaction.” “ Puppy school is such as an important part of a dog’s life, not just from teaching them to sit and general obedience, but also how to interact with other puppies,” she said. The best way to socialise a “COVID companion” is to get them to puppy school, where they can have a positive experience in a controlled environment, said Dog Behaviourist, TV Host and PETstock Ambassador, Lara Shannon. The thousands of Australians who got themselves a ‘pandemic puppy’ are being urged to start socialising their furry friends as soon as possible.Īustralians have been adopting and fostering pets in droves since COVID hit, with animal shelters inundated with applications from people who used the time spent at home to introduce a new family member.īut as restrictions ease and life gets back to normal, dog behaviourists are calling on people to start socialising their puppies now to ensure they grow into happy, well behaved dogs. ![]()
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