Resources: FAQ
Lots of useful information, well sprinkled with convenient and unashamed plugs for our services.
[However (bad news coming) this is not a free Q&A service (sorry), and while
it's lovely to get emails, we cannot commit to answering all dog related questions
on-line. We will however continue to add to this FAQ as popular questions arise.
Many thanks.]
Questions preview - answers below.
 | Does what my dog eats make a difference? |
|---|
| What is the best age for a dog to start training? |
|---|
| How long does it take to train a dog? |
|---|
| Where should my dog sleep at home? |
|---|
| How do I stop my dog from being aggressive? |
|---|
Questions & Answers
| Does what my dog eats make a difference? |
|---|
| |
It's difficult to talk on this subject without alarming dog owners with anecdotes about young and old dogs that have suffered physical and behavioural problems because of an inappropriate diet, and this is certainly not our intention. However, it is true that, as with any animal, a dog's health, personality, and behaviour can be heavily influenced by diet. It is also true that many of the top commercial food brands just don't offer the right balance of ingredients, and in some cases, they don't even offer the right ingredients! Protein, meat, and vegetable content levels are important aspects of this equation. The bottom line is that the correct food can turn an overly boisterous or demonstrative dog into a controllable, well-behaved (and happy) pet.
|
|
Unfortunately, there isn't a single simple formula. Every dog is different in size, rate of development, and in the type of activity and lifestyle they enjoy. However, there are some simple nutritional rules that can be applied. With these in mind, we've kept an eye on the dog food markets and currently recommend Arden Grange or James Wellbeloved. Note, these are current recommendations, and as manufacturers do change ingredients and products from time to time, our recommendations may also change.
|
|
A few points to consider:
|
|
Your dog's favourite snack is rarely the best nutritional choice.
|
|
Branded 'puppy', 'junior', 'senior' product guidelines are very general, and often a dog should move to the more senior product earlier, to prevent accelerated growth of joints etc.
|
|
Talk to your vet for advice specific to your own dog.
|
|
Human chocolate, even in small doses, can be poisonous to dogs! [Gardeners note: Cocoa mulch is also potentially bad news for your four-legged friend]
|
|
Behavioural problems are not always simply a matter of training - often they are also linked to diet.
|
|
| What is the best age for a dog to start training? |
|---|
| |
First, it’s never too early to start training your dog. From the moment a puppy is born he starts learning. Important aspects of early training include constructive socialisation, and the establishment of a preferable ‘pack hierarchy’ in the home – this is often something you can check with a breeder; and it’s also a good reason for not buying puppies from pet shops, puppy farms, and so on.
|
|
By the time a dog is four months old his character may have already been shaped for the rest of his life. So you should start training your dog the moment you get him, rather than waiting until he has had his second jab at twelve weeks old. Although you should not be taking him to public places until that time, there is no reason why you cannot teach him to ride in the car, stay on his mat, walk to heel, and come when called.
|
|
PLUG: Barking Mad takes puppies for training from one week after their second jab, and no later than their 20th birthday. (You can teach an old dog new tricks…)
|
|
| How long does it take to train a dog? |
|---|
| |
Depending on what you want to achieve with your dog, you will see a distinct improvement within eight weeks. Many Barking Mad customers attain the Bronze award at the end of an eight-week training period, though most customers continue training well past this goal.
|
|
What must be understood is that every dog and owner is different, and we take into account the big influence that breed-specific instinct, behaviour, and growth can have on progress and training ‘tactics’. We believe that as long as training is fun and stimulating for both dog and owner, there will be no limits on what can be achieved.
|
|
| Where should my dog sleep at home? |
|---|
| |
Ideally, a dog should have a place to call his own. To avoid behavioural problems it is important that a dog sees himself as a valued member of the pack (family/household), but at the bottom of the pack hierarchy.
|
|
One way of achieving this is to introduce a crate or puppy pen for him to sleep in and rest in. It will also greatly accelerate the process of house-training. This can be introduced at any stage of a dog’s life, as long as you a cautious about the way it is introduced. However, it is far better to start using a crate on the day you bring your dog or puppy home – and in this case, preparation prior to that date is the key.
|
|
| How do I stop my dog from being aggressive? |
|---|
| |
There are many reasons why a dog might be aggressive, such as anxiety, fear, guarding instinct, and so on. We would normally focus on three key areas to overcome this: diet, history, and the relationship between owner and dog. Other factors might be medical or possibly trauma in the early stages of a dog’s life. At barking Mad we have a qualified behaviourist who would come and see the dog at his home and discuss with the owner these various areas. After assessing the dog we would suggest and follow a course of treatment.
|
|
