Most peoples experiences of dog training emanate from programmes on TV, but there are very conflicting methods of training your dog. Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer) punishes bad behaviour whereas Victoria Stilwell (It's Me or the Dog) rewards good behaviour.
Pick up a book and the training methods inside will most likely use positive or negative reinforcement and many books won`t actually state that they use that particular technique. But which is best? Which dog training method is best for you?
The RSPCA today (3rd August) are running a 24 hour tweetathon, highlighting the invaluable work they do every day of the year. Of course the RSPCA doesn`t just focus on dogs but on all variety of animals in need of help.
The RSPCA 24 hour tweetathon was inspired by a twitter stream run by RSPCA Inspector Tony Woodley, while he has been on call he has been tweeting about his job, for example “#RSPCA247 : E: HEDGEHOG. TRAPPED DOWN A HOLE WHERE A GOAL POST WOULD BE, 12CM ACROSS AND 40CMS DEEP, UNABLE TO GET FREE”. Read more about the RSPCA 24 hour tweetathon
I have tried to capture a photograph of my dog shaking many times but never really managed to get that perfect shot. Fortunately photographer Carli Davidson did a much better job. Here are some fabulous images of dogs shaking.
A few weeks ago on Twitter and Facebook I posted some pictures of Bassett Hounds running, their faces and bodies being contorted by the forces imposed on them, so was excited to find these images of dogs shaking. The images whilst not being especially pretty are pretty amazing. View photos of dogs shaking
Fashion designer Alexander McQueen was a well known dog lover, but it has been revealed that he left £50,000 to his three dogs Minter, Juice and Callum.
He didn`t stop there, in his will was also gave four charities £100,000 each. The lucky four include Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Blue Cross animal welfare. Read more about Alexander McQueen and his dogs
Bath and North East Somerset Council are planning on fining dog owners in an attempt to reduce the amount of dog related complaints.
A fine of £75 can be issues for reasons such as walking too many dogs at a time, not having your dog on a lead or walking a dog in an inappropriate area. Read more about the dog fines
It is a sad truth that each year thousands of dogs die from being left in hot cars. Within just a few minutes a car becomes hot enough to literally cook your dog, the RSPCA performed a demonstration a few years ago highlighting this, and to show the seriousness their test car (no actual dogs included inside) had all windows wound down.
There was also big media coverage of two police dogs who had died as a result of being left in a police car, a tragic story but one which hopefully all dog owners remember before leaving their dogs. After this the #dontcookyourdog campaign was born.
Read more about dont't cook your dog and read dog heatstroke signs and cures
Many dog trainers use training aids to control dogs, but is the training of dogs through pain a good method? There are lots of dog training aids out there, electric shock collars, prong dog collars but do they really train your dog?
In August 2007 the English government looked at the sale and use of electric shock dog collars and found that there was a lack of evidence to ban the sale or use of them. Have things moved on since then? In 2010 the collars were banned in Wales and recently a man was fined £2000 plus £1000 costs for using one on his dog.
Summer is finally here which means we have to pick our times and locations for dog walks. Molly has such a thick coat so gets very warm quickly poor girl.
A gloriously sunny day, we were on our way to the local lake for a swim when Molly decided that it was time for a new Where’s Molly. Can you find her in the picture?
Find my dog Molly in the picture
I have spent many hours waiting for my Lakeland Terrier dog Toby to come back to me after a chase until enough was enough, time to train him to not chase.
Terriers are bred to chase but the majority of dogs these days are family members and not working dogs, besides, I didn`t like him chasing that cute rabbit across the field. Read how I stopped my Lakeland Terrier dog chasing
Have you ever wanted another dog but always worried about getting another? Make your own if you win the youdoo dog.
We have a youdoo dog to give away and there are three ways to be entered into the draw. You can enter using any of the methods but only once from each. So if you follow us on twitter and post a tweet, like us on facebook and send us an email you will be entered three times. Read how to enter to win a youdoo dog
