WE all know someone who got a dog in lockdown.
They may well be man’s best friend — at the last count there were 12million pooches living in UK households.
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But parks are now full of bonkers, barking mutts whose owners are struggling to cope.
Canine behaviourist, nutritionist and hydrotherapist Leon Towers has 12 years’ experience helping wayward dogs and reckons the old methods do not work.
Instead, he thinks of all dogs as children.
In his new book, Fix Your Dog In Three Easy Steps, he writes: “I don’t believe that there’s any such thing as an adult dog.
“Instead, I believe all dogs have the mental age of a three-year-old.
“However old they are, dogs never mentally outgrow a three-year-old toddler.
“Even if a dog is 17 years old, they still have the mental needs of a three-year-old.”
Leon believes that each dog can be fixed by focusing on three things — diet, environment and mental stimulation — and that all owners should remember one key point.
He writes: “Don’t look at what they’ve done, but why they’ve done it.
“There’s always a reason behind the behaviour.
“Dogs don’t do things just because they want to.
“They want to please you.
“Any issues like chewing, aggression or destructive habits — they all happen for a reason.
“They are not just born that way.”
Here, we share Leon’s top tips for getting your dog’s behaviour on track from his new book, published by Cassell (£14.99) on July 11.
Diet
LIKE humans, dogs can be affected by their diet.
To help curb bad behaviour in your pooch, make sure you feed them the right things, as you would for a child.
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Leon says canines need at least 70 per cent of their diet to be meat, but some dog food brands do not contain any.
One key thing to reduce is carbs.
Leon writes: “If I’ve got a dog with what I would call ‘nervous energy’ who is always on edge and anxious, I would know before I’ve even looked at the diet that it’s going to contain lots of carbs.
“Why? Because carbs turn to sugar.
“Like a kid ramped up on sweets, if your dog eats an excess of carbs and sugar, they’ll be bouncing off the walls.”
Red meat can also be a problem, as Leon says it can contribute to aggression.
He writes: “If your dog has aggression issues, either with humans or dog-on-dog aggression, I would avoid beef, lamb, rabbit or duck.
“Red meat contributes to anger issues because it is full of testosterone.
“It’s like injecting your dog with steroids.”
Leon recommends chicken, turkey and fish instead.
The trainer also believes a raw diet is the healthiest.
Another of his tips is to limit treats, as it’s like giving biscuits to a child.
He suggests putting a treat in a jar every time you give one to your pooch – so you can see how quickly it fills up.
Finally, Leon believes adult dogs need two meals a day and these should be after the morning and evening walks.
He writes: “A dog needs a meal around 7-8am, after their walk, and around 4-5pm.
“Dogs can get bloat or a twisted stomach from exercising too soon after a meal.
“You wouldn’t go to the gym after eating.”
Environment
FOR dogs to behave their absolute best, it is vital owners make sure their home space is a suitable environment for them.
Leon writes: “He needs routine, consistency and boundaries.
“He needs to know where he can and can’t go, and he needs to have a place he can escape to when things get too much – the equivalent of a child’s bedroom.”
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First, ensure your dog’s bed is perfect.
Leon says it should be in a quiet spot away from the front door.
He recommends crates because they are like a den.
Leon doesn’t see them as a punishment tool, unless that is how they are used by the owner.
If you want your dog in the bedroom, that’s fine too.
For people with aggressive dogs, he recommends restricting access to the hallway and front door using a safety gate.
Having a gate, rather than shutting the door, allows the dog to see what is going on and as a result reduces anxiety.
No matter your dog’s temperament, Leon recommends having areas that are red zones – meaning your pet does not have automatic access.
This should be places like the kitchen or young children’s bedrooms.
These out-of-bounds areas can be sealed off with more gates, so your furry friend can still see what is going on.
Next up is toys.
While many owners leave their pet’s possessions all over the house, this is a bad habit according to Leon.
He writes: “Your dog needs to know which are his toys and when he can play with them.”
This can take the form of having a designated box for your dog’s toys and then presenting them to him when it’s play time.
Mental stimulation
KEEPING your dog mentally satisfied is a huge part of helping them behave well.
Leon writes: “Mental stimulation is exercise for your dog’s brain.
“Dogs don’t just need physical exercise, they need mental engagement too – activities and challenges that make them think, learn and solve problems.
“A bit like us doing a sudoku!
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“Just as walks keep your dog healthy, it’s important to keep their minds occupied.
“This is vital for dogs with difficult behaviour.”
Dogs need to be walked twice a day, according to Leon.
Spice up the routine by changing the walk you do or by taking them somewhere new to enjoy.
Another way to keep pooches mentally stimulated is to have two toy times each day, when their toys are brought out.
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the best times, according to Leon.
Interact with your dog and his toys for about 30 to 45 minutes.
Leon recommends play dates and also doggy daycare a couple of days a week, so your pet has different pals to play with.
Finally, he suggests a hydrotherapy hour so your dog can splash about with other dogs.
But it all depends on what you can afford.
WHY IS YOUR DOG PLAYING UP?
- Has your vet checked him over for illness or injury?
- Have you checked what’s in your dog’s diet?
- Is he getting the right amount of food?
- What about his treats?
- Have you moved house?
- Is his feeding routine consistent?
- Is the home a calm place or is it noisy and unsettled?
- Have you moved your dog’s bed?
- Are you leaving him alone for too long?
- Are his toys left out all day?
- Is he getting enough physical exercise?
- Do you need a new lead?
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