A Dog in Your Family
by Alicia Kennedy
Oxford University Press
 This book is all about relationships. From the time you select your puppy the onus is on you to provide its training and socialisation. And the author has made sure there is plenty of help within easy reach.
Alicia Kennedy is a veterinarian who knows the importance of choosing the right dog for your lifestyle and circumstances; socialising your dog so that it is comfortable with other people and other dogs; avoiding canine aggression recognising and understanding high-risk situations; and making sure your dog knows its place in the family hierarchy.
Body language is a most important indicator of dog mood, and eye-to-eye contact is one of the areas in which most people need more knowledge. We humans look at such contact as a sign of friendship, but a dog will eyeball its intended victim ... have you ever noticed how a dog will stare at an equally intent cat, motionless and ready for action? If your dog does have aggressive tendencies never be ashamed to walk it in a muzzle. The advice is that today's muzzles are comfortable and effective, and could save you from a hefty fine. When it comes to dogs and children the advice is "always supervise when they are together. Children are smaller and less assertive so a stroppy dog is likely to try to dominate them. And children understand less about dog behaviour, see something smaller than themselves and often tease or treat them badly. Either situation can lead to aggression and all dogs are capable of biting in extreme situations.
Education of both child and dog is imperative. The conclusion is that children and dogs should not be left unsupervised together until the child is at least 10. There is also a comprehensive list of actions to take when confronted by a strange dog and what to do if attacked.
One most useful chapter describes activities you can enjoy with your dog. Some games such as tug-o-war must be played carefully as they have winners - you must be sure that you win the game more than your dog does or you risk reinforcing your dog's dominance. Other games like hide-and-seek, treasure hunt and obstacle course can be used to give your dog a maximum of learning situations while playing.
Once you have read this book you will certainly have a grasp on dog behaviour and how to approach training and socialisation. The layout is clear and cartoon drawings assist in the understanding of information.
A book to read and digest, so that if a situation arises you are more than competent to handle it. A worthy addition to your dog library.
|
