Saturday, October 5, 2024
13.7 C
Melbourne

8 things we do that really confuse our dogs

on

|

views

and

comments

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?




Chi: Picture Rob Greaves

Dog behaviour is extraordinarily flexible – this is why we can keep them in our homes and take them to cafes with us at the weekend.

Nevertheless, there are ways in which evolution has not equipped dogs for the challenges of living in our world, and puppies must learn how to cope.

These are some of the things we do they struggle to understand.


Read more: Is your dog happy? Ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour


1. We leave them alone

As born socialites, dogs make friends easily. Puppies are intensely interested in spending time with other dogs, people, and any species willing to interact with them socially. They usually play, rest, explore and travel with company. Yet we often leave dogs alone: at home, in kennels or the vet clinic.

In these situations, naive dogs can’t be sure we’ll ever return to collect them. Only after experience are they likely to expect a reunion, and even then, their experience depends on the context.

At home, we may try to enforce dog-free zones. Naturally, many dogs protest. How can they stay with their (human) social group when they’re separated behind impenetrable barriers (doors)? This explains why dogs so often demand to be let inside when their human family is there, and why those with separation-related distress frequently find some solace in being indoors.

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?
Dogs want to be with their group (you) at all times. from www.shutterstock.com

2. We are visually driven

Dogs live in an olfactory world, while ours is chiefly visual. So, while TVs may offer a visual feast for humans, parks and beaches are an olfactory banquet for dogs.

An additional challenge is dogs move while investigating the world, whereas we often sit still. They may not relish the inertia we enjoy in front of a noisy, flashing light-box.

3. We change our shape and smell

Shoes, coats, wallets, briefcases, bags and suitcases: countless smells cling to these items after we take them into shops and workplaces, then back to our dogs. Cleaning products, soaps, deodorants and shampoos also change the scents our dogs are used to.

Towels, hats and bags change our shape when we’re using them. And when we’re pulling them on, jumpers and coats alter our visual outline and may catch dogs unaware.


Read more: Training my dog taught me that it’s people who really need training


Dogs change their coats at least once a year. In contrast, we change our external cladding every day. This means the odours we carry are changing far more than dogs have evolved to expect.In their olfactory world, it must be puzzling for dogs to encounter our constantly changing smells, especially for a species that uses scent to identify familiar individuals and intruders.

4. We like to hug

How humans use their forelimbs contrasts sharply with how dogs do. We may use them to carry large objects a dog would have to drag, but also to grasp each other and express affection.

Dogs grasp each other loosely when play-wrestling, and also when mating and fighting. Being pinned by another dog hinders a quick escape. How are puppies to know what a hug from a human means, when that behaviour from a dog might be threatening?

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?
Some dogs might feel threatened by our enthusiastic hugs. from www.shutterstock.com

5. We don’t like to be bitten

Play-fighting is fun for many puppies and helps them bond with other dogs. But they must monitor the behaviour of other dogs in play-fights and know when they’ve used their tiny, razor-sharp teeth excessively.

Humans are much more susceptible to pain from playful puppy jaws than other dogs are, and so we can react negatively to their attempts to play-fight with us.

Dogs interact with objects almost entirely with their muzzle. And to feed, they use their jaws, teeth and tongue.


Read more: Understanding dog personalities can help prevent attacks


Dogs also “mouth” other dogs when playing, expressing affection and communicating everything from “more” to “please don’t” to “Back off!”. So, naturally, they try to use their mouths when communicating with us, and must be puzzled by how often we take offence.

6. We don’t eat food from the bin

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?
For me? – [CLICK to enlarge]
Dogs are opportunists who naturally acquire food anywhere they find it. In contrast, we present them with food in dishes of their own.

Puppies must be puzzled by our reaction when we find them snacking from benches and tables, in lunchboxes and kitchen bins. We should not be surprised when dogs unearth food we left somewhere accessible to them.

 


Read more: Whose best friend? How gender and stereotypes can shape our relationship with dogs


7. We share territories

We visit the territories of other dogs, bringing back their odours, and allow unfamiliar human and canine visitors to enter our dogs’ home. Dogs have not evolved to accept such intrusions and threats to their safety and resources.

We shouldn’t be surprised when our dogs treat visitors with suspicion, or when our dogs are treated with hostility when we bring them to the homes of others.

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?
Dogs would not naturally share territories. from www.shutterstock.com

8. We use our hands a lot

Sometimes our hands deliver food, scratches, massages and toys. Other times, they restrain dogs, trim nails, administer ointments or tablets, and groom with brushes and combs that may pull hair.

No wonder some dogs grow to fear the human hand as it moves about them. We can make it easier for dogs to accept many types of hand-related activities if we train them to cooperate with rewards.

But humans often misread their fear and may even greet it with violence which compounds the problem. Hand-shy dogs can easily become defensive and find their way into pounds and shelters, where life expectancy for nippers and biters is poor.

On the whole, dogs show a remarkable ability to adapt to the puzzles we throw at them. Their behavioural flexibility offers us lessons in resilience and how to live simply and socially. Our challenge is to understand the absence of guile and malice in everything they do.


This article was co-authored by:

Disclosure statement

Melissa Starling works for Hanrob Dog Training Academy.

Paul McGreevy receives funding from the Australian Research Council

deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?

This article is a syndicated news item via  deeming rates explained. what is deeming, how does it cut pensions, and why do we have it?

Guest Author

TAGG GIG GUIDE
Share this
Tags

Must-read

Larusta & The Dead Dogs Drop New Single “Scattered”

Larusta & The Dead Dogs is back with a new single, “Scattered”, now available for streaming along with an evocative music video. This haunting...

How to Unlock Your Door Without a Key? 7 Proven Tips

Getting locked out of either your house, car, or office is probably one of the most frustrating things. We have all been there at...

The Short Answer

If the answer is short, what is question? Well I’m glad you asked, because the question is also short/s? To be more specific, the question is...
spot_img

Recent articles

More like this