The Furgang

16/04/2024

Remember to respect your dog's personal space in the same way you'd like yours to be respected...

03/03/2024

Another great post by Understand Animals...

11/01/2024

Courtesy of LotsDogs. Well worth the read...

Two weeks ago I had the privilege to witness the defense of a PhD thesis at Utrecht University, written by a dear friend, Elian Hattinga van 't Sant. Her deep research (years of hard work!) concerned the origin and the evolution of the construct of 'dominance' and its role in scientific study of Animal Behaviour (especially of dogs, monkeys and apes.)

I just finished reading her entire thesis (almost 500 pages, it's a thick book) and I was so impressed. It was also a little bit unsettling to have confirmed just how accurate this cartoon of mine (that I drew in 2015) turned out to be.

I hope many people are going to be able to read her entire thesis in the future. It is pretty mind blowing.
The scientific abstract can be found here: https://doi.org/10.33540/2057
I'll copy the abstract here:

Title: The myth of the alpha male. The dominance of dominance in the behavioural sciences, 1920-2020. A historical reconstruction

The idea that dominance hierarchies structure and rule the social lives of animals is currently a widespread concept/theorem in the behavioural sciences. The terms ‘alpha male’, ‘pack leader’, ‘top dog’, ‘pecking order’ and ‘fights for dominance’ recur endlessly to describe animal behaviour. The chimpanzee and the wolf in particular figure as the role models for the ideal human alpha male and leader of the pack; in the public domain mostly cheered upon for their vigorous masculinity, courage, loyalty, confidence, survival abilities and leadership qualities.

This PhD thesis aims at answering three questions from a historical and contextual point of view. Firstly, why and secondly how has the concept of dominance become dominant in a plethora of behavioural sciences. And thirdly, why is it still going so strong?

It is shown that the concept of dominance came into being in the 1920s. It was created, not by nature or evolution as is widely believed nowadays, but by eugenecists and scientists looking for answers to social – human – problems. The concept was a human invention, a postulate, used to prove the god-given superiority of the upperclass white elite in order to legitimize their power as rulers over other people of ‘lower classes’ or ‘inferior races’.
Projected on animal behaviour, the dominance hierarchy was proved to exist in animals with the help of experiments on social animals, kept in captivity under very unnatural circumstances, as it was widely believed that the animal’s instinctive behaviour was no different in captivity from their natural behaviour. In the late 1930s and the 1940s the concept was transformed into a naturally evolved principle, a law of nature, and used to explain animal and human behaviour.
In the 1960s more and more ecologists and ethologists – well schooled academics – took to the field to study animals and their intraction with their environment, armed with scientific objectivistic ideals of the ‘modern synthesis’ movement. As a consequence, mental distance was created, still more enlarged by the taboo on anthropomorphization. Spurning the more unmethodic and often anthropomorphic descriptions of the naturalists before them as being unscientific, the ethologists, ecologists and paleontologists looked at scientific principles for guidance, such as the concept of dominance. No longer confined to the laboratory, it now became a confirmed part of the natural world. Standing alone, believed to be firmly rooted in evolution, it held a firm appeal to scientists and the public no longer familiar with its origins and its historical context.
However, the concept of the linear dominance hierarchy with an alpha at the top does not meet the objectivistic ideals and standards of the scientists who use or defend it. In fact, these ideals, together with the taboo on anthropomorphic descriptions, came to conceal that it was a the invention of a scientific elite that often adhered eugenics. Therefore, the conclusion must be that there is no reason to hold on to the concept, as it is unfounded and includes a threat to human and animal welfare.

Written by Elian Hattinga van 't Sant
Publisher © Utrecht University | dec 2023
https://doi.org/10.33540/2057

Cartoon made by © LotsDogs| www.LotsDogs.com​

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18/12/2023

With the wet weather in full swing, here's a great long line you can use if your dog isn't ready to be off-lead yet. It's made of PVC so doesn't get soggy, can wipe clean and you can cut it to any length...private message me for more suggestions if you're struggling with your recall.

Dog Training Leads 5m 10m 15m 20m, 4 colours options Black,Blue,Noen Yellow,Orange. Made of strong nylon and durable metal hook, will outlast cotton leashes, easy to wear and remove. The 5m 10m 15m 20m long lead is used for helping to train the re-call of your dog. It will be more convenient for ...

06/12/2023

Start the winter off right with socks that stay up in your wellies!
I’ve found football (soccer) socks to be the best option for staying-up power. Enjoy this muddy weather, and let your inner child have a stomp in the puddles! 😃

16/11/2023

⚠️ NEVER underestimate the impact that YOUR stress levels have on your horses and dogs! ⚠️

This is Herx coming down after a week's worth of absorbing my study deadline stress. Today was the last day. You can see the effect my compounding study stress has had on my dog but you don't notice it until there is contrast and the stress is gone.

How does this happen?

Both horses and dogs have the ability to smell something you can't...
Glucocorticoids (cortisol) and adrenaline.

These are hormones and neurohormones that are produced when the mind experiences stress/trauma.

Cortisol in particular is a hormone that, when released in high levels, can be sustained at high levels, unlike adrenaline that is fast acting but also fast to deplete.

Cortisol is an essential hormone for consciousness and alertness, but when secreted in prolonged high amounts has some negative mental, emotional and physical effects.

When you experience compounding stress you won't necessarily notice it because it is slowly compounding (like building blocks of lego).

What you may eventually notice is:
🧨 you become a little less tolerant to things you would normally tolerate
🧨 you may become a little more over sensitive mentally and emotionally
🧨 you may experience memory loss
🧨 you may struggle with a lack impulse control
🧨you may have problems with reasoning and risk assessment
🧨 you might find you struggle with attention and focus
🧨 you may develop problems getting to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
🧨 you may find you might develop some anxiety and/or depression
🧨 you may have difficulties regulating your emotions
🧨 you may experience sensory overload problems
🧨 you may find you do things that help you feel distracted from your emotions and stay stimulated as much as possible

These things slowly creep in without you knowing it.

In the meantime, your dog is smelling the little fluctuations and surges in your cortisol levels as the baseline rises to new levels, your horse is smelling it to!

You can't smell cortisol so you aren't even aware that your dog or horse is responding to the information you are unknowingly and unconsciously giving them.

⚠️ This scent is a warning system to your dogs and horses ⚠️
This scent says "I feel under threat, be alert and vigilant of me and around me".

When you release this scent, you will display corresponding microexpressions in your body language to. So now your body smells like danger and your body looks like danger. This is a lot of information for your dog and horse. It speaks VOLUMES and 100% trumps ANYTHING you say verbally to your animal. They'll believe EVERYTHING your smell and body says over what your words say.

And we wonder why our dogs and horses don't want to partner up when we want them to!

🫵 So check in with yourself first.
🫵 Do some deep breathing.
🫵 Check your body for areas that are holding tension.
🫵 Acknowledge any emotions that you're holding on to without having an opinion or validation.
🫵 Data dump whatever thoughts are running around in your head.
🫵 Take a walk and MAKE time for yourself
🫵 SLOW YOUR MOVEMENT DOWN!!!

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 😊

12/10/2023

WORLD ARTHRITIS DAY!

While this is a day mostly aimed at human arthritis, we would like to acknowledge the millions of dogs around the world who also suffer with arthritis.

There is so much we can do to help them!

Head to our website where you will find loads of free guidance, support, and education - all aimed at how to get

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/

25/09/2023

Download the mindset tips to love life with your dog more

23/09/2023

XL BULLY BAN: FREE WEBINAR ON SUNDAY AT 3PM

We have more than 250 people booked onto this Zoom chat already but we do still have more spaces available. Please sign up using the link below and we will send you a link. Our panel will aim to answer as many of your questions as possible and we can confirm it will consist of:-

Trevor Cooper : Solicitor
Mel Rushmore & Andrea Phillips : Deed Not Breed
Michelle Ikin : Dog Warden
Mike Webb : Battersea Dogs' & Cats Home

Thanks to everyone who is giving up their time for free to help with this important event. The panel won't necessarily have all the answers but will give you their best guess of what is likely to happen based on their experience.

If you are unable to attend, we will aim to upload a recording onto YouTube next week.

https://forms.gle/59EfhUbiyZPNstxJ6

23/09/2023

Here is an Etsy shop that sells great warning wraps for your leads and collars...https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1282584861/dog-lead-warning-wrap-please-do-not-pet?etsrc=sdt&fbclid=IwAR1_18rvXryyLPwJOfkZ6SRYj5jSIAbGtu3WmLk4DfOhwSV0xnIThp0VFn8&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=57434&awc=6091_1695462449_865caeadd98a8e823d734869467face5&sn=1&variation0=2798257627

19/09/2023

This is a great visual for street dog guardians...

One of my favourite visuals. How life might be to a dog who had been living on the streets or in a very different environment. https://www.facebook.com/caringforstreetdogs/photos/a.1741442559483964/1893492527612299/

10/08/2023

Do nothing walks - sometimes, less is more. It can be useful to have walks where you find a bench to sit on and watch the world go by with your dog. This is especially useful for puppies to learn that the world is a safe and interesting place. Make sure to find a spot that will give you space between yourselves and passing people and pets. This is even more helpful when you take your dog on holiday, and they are adjusting to a new environment.

05/08/2023

Helpful advice for overseas dogs exhibiting predatory behaviour...

28/07/2023

Here is a link to some dog friendly places in the UK - enjoy your summer!

These tips on the country’s best dog-friendly beaches, hotels, bars and country parks will get plenty of tails wagging

13/07/2023

Dogs deserve this dignity not just because of their historical bond with humans or the vital roles they play in our lives. It goes beyond their unequivocal loyalty or their innate ability to comfort us. They deserve dignity because they are sentient beings with a capacity for emotions and social bonds. Recognising this urges us to uphold an ethical responsibility to ensure their well-being.

01/07/2023

As your dog gets older, keep an eye out for changes. They may begin to feel stiff some days. They may have sore spots from doing things they’ve always loved to do, like jumping on and off the sofa. Look out for not only physical differences, but also behavioural changes. They may become grumpy around certain dogs, or dislike you doing something you’ve always done. Anything from toothache to a sore shoulder may not be easily seen, but might cause them a whole lot of discomfort that’s not easily visible.

28/06/2023

20/06/2023

Did you know separation anxiety is a panic disorder? If your dog is exhibiting behaviour such as:
- barking constantly while you're out
- having toileting accidents when left alone
- drooling, panting, vomiting
- destructive behaviours such as chewing or tearing up the furniture when left alone
They are most likely experiencing the same feelings we do when we have a panic attack.
Don't let them suffer. There are plenty of resources available from books to professional help. Message me if you'd like some recommendations or would like to discuss it further. A "chill Bill" like this fella, snoozing in his sister's bed is a far better alternative 😴

13/06/2023

Is your dog reluctant to get in the paddling pool? Try enticing them with treats or toys. Make it into a game like bobbing for peas, blueberries or diced apples. Try to have fun with it - it's not the end of the world if it's not for them!

12/06/2023

Too hot to walk? It’s worth keeping your dog busy in the garden to avoid unwanted behaviours like digging and picking up stones. Ways to keep them engaged in a way that is safe and not destructive is to play hide and seek with their toys, scatter feed treats, work on your cues or tricks and scent work, to name a few. Scatter feeding in the garden on a regular basis is great because you’ll find when the get into the garden, they immediately start sniffing around to make sure they didn’t miss any from the last time. The sniffing relaxes them – they go to the toilet, and you can call them back in… all before they’ve done anything you might not want them to! TOP TIP: Keep sniffing games to the cooler parts of the day - they can't sniff and pant at the same time!

18/05/2023

When we think about enrichment for our dogs, we often think of snuffle mats and lick mats. Remember it can take any shape or form that your dog finds interesting... Lucy here loves it when I finally get the vacuum cleaner out! She knows that I will also be pulling out toys and treats that have become stuck under the sofa, or wedged in a hard to reach spot. I hand them to her as we go around, and she will take them to her bed. After a busy morning of collecting all the precious objects, she'll take an nice long nap, surrounded by all her long lost friends!