With
record winter temperatures being experienced around the country, vets
are encouraging pet owners to spare a thought for their furry friends
over the next couple of months.
Puppies are little wobbly balls of energy that explode with excitement the moment they encounter something or someone new. This bounding energy and happy licking may be adorable in a tiny 3 kg puppy, but it's less appealing in a much heavier and stronger adult. As cute as it may be, this hyper, excitable behaviour in puppies can lead to uncontrolled bad behaviour as they grow. As hard as it is to resist a happy puppy, training should start as soon as possible to help reinforce proper behaviour and stop unwanted behaviour before it becomes habit.
It would be great if dogs could speak -- in a human language, that is. They already do communicate with their noises and body language. We can tell what food they like, who their favourite person is or which cat they would love to chase. An important sign to discern from your dog's actions is aggression. You can protect yourself and your dog by reading the language that illustrates when your dog is threatened and about to pounce.