EDUCATION
This page will cover many topics from the life span of a dog, to vet advice on health and care for your dog.
Paralysis Ticks
The paralysis tick is deadly and posses the greatest threat to dogs. Click here to find out more on how to best ensure your dog's safety against these small but deadly insects
Dog and Children's Safety
The relationship between dogs and the family unit is far more complex than most people realise, with much of the dynamics poorly understood and worse still, taken for granted on the human side.
We expect dogs to know they are on the bottom of the pecking order in our family, even when an unexpected new member happens along.. Yet, years of evolution speak differently to the dog; many dogs accepting that they have been placed third or second in the pack order, automatically place themselves above newly acquired pack members, such as children.
As humans, we expect the dog to simply accept a new member of the family, stupidly believing that because the dog has never bitten anyone, it won’t bite the new family member but accept it as an automatic superior in the pack. Sure, this might work in dogs that are well socialised with children.
Indeed, dogs that are not socialised with kids, often see children as a completely different species to adult humans, given their body proportions, head size, and uncoordinated movements do not resemble anything they are use to seeing.
A child’s poorly coordinated raise of the hand to pat the dog, or worse still, take food away in some playful gesture, are immediately interpreted by the dog as a challenge.
There are many benefits in our society in owning a dog. In 1995 the American Journal of Cardiology recognised that pet owners live longer. A large study published in the Australian Medical Journal in 1992 shows pet owners have lower blood pressure and lower triglycerides (a blood fat involved in cardiovascular disease). Most recently, the Journal of the American Geriatric Society (March, 1999) stated that pet owners remained more active and were far less likely to suffer from depression.
How then do we avoid a child being attacked by a dog?
Since the majority of bad attacks occur on children under five, it is difficult to teach the child not to do the wrong thing around dogs. Certainly parents need to talk to their kids, telling them not to run when dogs are present as this can excite the dog’s prey drive, not to pat dogs that are eating, not to approach strange dogs and never stare at a dog.
When it comes to dog owners, these points are essentials:
· Socialise your dog, especially with children but make sure your dog is always on a lead and under full control.
· Obedience train your dog. Don’t take it for granted that your dog will understand his or her place around children. Training allows your dog to better understand what is expected and allows you to have realistic expectations of your dog’s capabilities and some understanding of canine behaviour.
For more details on Dr Zammit's presentaion and other presentations held at Dogs in Today's Society Seminar go to Pet Talk Radio online.
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