Browne Dog - Animal Behaviour Consulting

02/08/2022

How does your dog react to the vaccum cleaner? This research is investigating why some dogs are so chilled out around vacuum cleaners (I have to tell mine to move when I'm vacuuming the house) and yet other dogs really struggle being around these appliances. It's a short survey - and please take part even if your dog doesn't react, as the researchers need a control population too. Feel free to share widely!
https://unioflincoln.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2t7OrjHGlccyTMW

15/07/2022

I aim to keep my inter-species training sessions as relaxed and fun as possible for all animals. Take small and carefully controlled steps as part of structured training plan. My pets love it (look at that face!) - and so should yours!

12/07/2022

Muzzles are a great training tool!
* Muzzles mean that some dogs get exercised and trained when they otherwise wouldn't.
* They provide an extra layer of safety and security for dogs and people alike.
* They are a helpful signal to other people that a dog needs space.
* We need to normalise their use a lot more, and be accepting when we see other dogs wearing muzzles, for the reasons above.
* It's important that dogs are comfortable wearing their muzzle, and that they can eat and drink. If your dog is stressed or uncomfortable wearing a muzzle, it can cause it's own issues.
* There are heaps of great resources on helping your dog to be comfortable wearing their muzzle over at The Muzzle Up Project!

Image credit: The Muzzle Up Project & Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

02/07/2022

Dogs don't always like being patted. We often pat our dogs after we've asked them to do something (think: recall) and I suspect this is actually often a mild punisher in a training context. Check out this short video for a great explanation of body language to look for.
Credit: Eileenanddogs

Lots of dogs tolerate being petted but don't really enjoy it. Learn to read dogs' body language signals and do a simple test to see if your dog really enjoys...

26/06/2022

Socialisation is not just for puppies! And lock downs have made this more relevant for many of our dogs. Just exposing your dog to a scary stimulus isn't enough (or kind) - there are more effective techniques you can use. Here's some great advice on how to do this in a way that boosts your dog's confidence.

Credit: Sara Reusche & Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

14/06/2022

My office helper looks like he's made himself comfortable? 🤔

12/06/2022

Here is yet more evidence showing that while dogs have some breed-specific tendencies, with behaviours such as responsiveness to commands (and propensity for howling - who owns a husky or beagle?!), it's important to understand that a dog's breed is not a good predictor of other traits, such as how easily aggressive-type responses are elicited (for this threshold the authors state "breed is almost uninformative"). In fact, breed explained only 9% of variation in behaviour. Science must inform how we interact with our best friends.

Research finds that a dog’s behavior has little to do with its genes.

07/06/2022

Do you have a fearful dog? Companion Animal Psychology has a list of practical and evidence-based tips that really help.

The most important things to know if you have a fearful dog.

04/06/2022

This was Puku's (L) first and Kimchi's (R) last trip to Ruapuke Beach. Puku ran around like a lunatic, Kimchi splashed around in the waves, and both of them spent lots of time sniffing stuff together. 🐾