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Questions
and Answers
Why
do dogs defend their property?
Dogs by nature are territorial. They are a pack
animal with an ancestry of strongly established social organization containing
dominant and submissive members. This pecking order starts with the most
dominant and works down to the most submissive. Dogs clearly mark their
territory, which ranges in size and is normally dependent on food supply.
There
is a general belief that the companion dog treats the family as its pack
and therefore the family home and property become its territory. Strangers
entering or walking close to the boundaries may be seen as a threat and
therefore be challenged.
Should
you stare at a dog? Answer No
Staring is an important part of determining dominance
(see avoiding eye contact). Once a dog has lowered its eyes and assumed
a submissive role, the dominant dog will stop staring. If the staring
continues the dog may become confused and attack out of fear.
Do
dogs like to be cornered? Answer No
When dogs are confronted and unsure they will normally
do one of two things: fight or run away (take flight). If you corner a
dog, you basically take away its option of flight.
Is
cuddling a dog face to face a good idea? Answer No
Dogs may find cuddling face to face and being grabbed
around the neck as threatening gestures. Dogs, like people, enjoy their
own space. Someone acting in this manner takes away the dog's chance to
escape. Facial injuries from dog attacks are far more serious and can
be avoided by keeping your face away from the dog's face.
Should
you leave dogs in a car unsupervised? Answer No
For the same reason you would not leave a child
in a closed car, you would not leave a dog. In fact, dogs will survive
for less time due to their inability to regulate their body temperature.
Dogs do not perspire the way we do and they rely on their tongues and
the pads on their paws to cool themselves. Dogs will also defend the car
as their territory, which could cause problems for passing pedestrians.
Should
your dog be restrained in a car? Answer Yes
Like humans, it is very important that your dog
is adequately restrained in the car. If you were involved in an accident
the dog may be thrown around the cabin and suffer serious, perhaps fatal
injuries, not to mention the injuries it could cause to other passengers.
Dogs may also react to things in the outdoor environment and this could
be a distraction to the driver.
What
sort of actions may startle/frighten a dog?
The same things that startle people will startle
dogs:
- loud
noises,
- being
disturbed while sleeping,
- being
approached without being seen,
- large
sudden movements,
- being
approached by someone they do not know,
- having
someone run at you,
- someone
angry with you,
- threatening
you with an object.
In
most instances, a frightened dog would prefer to escape rather than fight.
Keep in mind that the size of the human body, compared to the dog, could
be rather intimidating
When
should a dog be left alone?
Dogs should be left alone when
- they
are sleeping - you may startle or frighten them causing an aggressive
response;
-
they are eating - they may feel you are threatening their food and want
to protect it;
-
they are with their puppies - mothers will be very protective of their
offspring and must be treated cautiously, with great care and only under
the owners supervision;
-
there is a party or crowd - loud noise and movement may cause the dog
to become disoriented and confused. New Years Eve is always a problem
because they get scared by things like fireworks and may cause it to
run away or bite somebody;
-
they are tied up - if they feel threatened and feel that they can't
get away they may attack.
Do
dogs like being patted on the head? Answer No
Do you like being patted on the head? This can be
painful and invoke an aggressive response. Keep in mind that dogs do not
have the ability to tell us that it hurts and is uncomfortable. This can
be compounded if they are on a leash or cornered and can't get away. The
dog may also misinterpret this action as pushing it into submission. Again
it may be startled by this action because it can't see it coming and may
react aggressively.
What
should I do if my dog is involved in a fight with another dog?
First and foremost never get involved. If your dog
is on a leash let it go. Do not pick up your dog as the aggressor may
bite you in an attempt to get to your dog. You may also make your dog
vulnerable by exposing the delicate underbody. Do not put yourself between
the dogs. Hitting or kicking is dangerous in that the dog is in fight
mode with a high tolerance to pain and may in fact turn its attention
to you. Your dog will most probably take flight or assume a submissive
role. It is important that you follow the steps in what to do when approached
by an aggressive dog. Keep in mind that if the owner had been responsible,
the dog would never have been in a position to attack. It is important
that you call for assistance particularly if there are adults in the vicinity.
It is important that you have your dog checked by a vet and report the
incident to the local authorities.
What
should I do if a dog has attacked me?
It is important that people who have been attacked
by a dog report it to the relevant council authorities regardless of the
severity of the attack. This is important so that other members of the
community can be protected and not put at risk. A doctor should check
any physical injuries. Most attacks in public places involve dogs that
are not adequately confined to the premises, i.e. gate is open, fences
are not adequate to confine the dog. Council officers, when dealing with
reported incidents, have a number of options available to them that can
be utilized depending on the seriousness of the attack.
What
is the difference between a pure breed and a crossbreed dog?
The difference is simply that a pure breed has parents
of the same type whereas a crossbreed doesn't. With proper care and training
all types of dogs are capable of being wonderful companion animals. If
you purchase a pure breed pup it will be similar in looks and behaviour
to its parents and will inherit known characteristics of the breed.
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