Behaviour & Training

It's becoming more and more common for dogs to live in urban areas and of course, this presents its own unique challenges. Find out how to help dogs in the city feel happy and comfortable with our guide. With the pandemic behind us, people’s working lives have changed – sometimes beyond measure. Hybrid working or working from home is far more common now and this means that more people are able to take a dog into their lives as they are no longer working full time out of the home. This includes those who live in the city or more built-up urban areas. Caring for a dog in the city – whether you live there or are just visiting – presents its own unique challenges. We all love our dogs and want them to be as happy and comfortable as possible when we’re exploring the urban landscape. Read on to find out our tips for making sure you and your pup are feeling on tip top form when you’re out walking through the city. It is important to choose your breed carefully. Not all dogs – no matter how well socialised – can live in a city. For some, the constant stimulation of an urban environment will always be stressful – no matter how much we wish that were different. Not only did humans create different breeds to do certain jobs but they also developed them to be perfectly suited to the environment they did them in. These instincts and hard-wired behaviour patterns continue in today’s dogs. Those bred to react to movement or other external stimuli will be constantly triggered and on alert (think about the herding breeds such as Border Collies etc) and will never be able to relax enough to be happy and content. Those who guard or alert (big or small) will feel the need to announce loudly every passer-by or novel sound (which will not thrill your neighbours – who in a city, are likely to be much closer). And those who need lots of off lead exercise - exploring, sniffing, digging, or rampaging across the countryside – are very unlikely to get what they need in an urban setting. Once you have selected your perfect city dog, it will give them and you a huge head start, if you can find a breeder who rears their puppies in the city or at least in a bustling town. This means that from the moment they are born, the puppies will look on this environment as ‘normal’ – especially as their mum will be relaxed and comfortable with all this external stimulation. If your ideal new canine family member is an older dog from rescue, it will be important that the dog of your choice has experience of city living and is happy there, if you want them to be content and able to cope with an urban life.

When we’re looking for coping mechanisms, we have to remember the basics; exactly what we do for our dogs; water, regular meal times, exercise, enrichment, rest… and kindness. This month, we’re taking a practical approach to building resilience with the help of our dogs. You’re living with someone that’s no stranger to having restrictions placed on their day-to-day activities. You know that we’re really just living our dogs’ life, don’t you?! For those of us with no choice but to stay at home, we’re limited as to what we can eat, our exercise routine has been determined by someone else and our freedom of choice has been taken away; for our own safety. When we’re looking for coping mechanisms, we have to remember the basics; exactly what we do for our dogs; water, regular meal times, exercise, enrichment, rest… and kindness. In these challenging times, our dogs are an incredible source of companionship and comfort, but it’s not their responsibility to make us feel better. We owe it to them, and to ourselves, to take positive action so that we can both benefit from the time we have together. Your dog is about to become your greatest teacher, if you let them.

Are you a dog who is stuck indoors with a bored owner? Don’t worry, here’s a few indoor dog games for you both to have fun when you can’t go out – or just if the weather’s not great outside.

Most dogs and cats can live together in perfect harmony, but sometimes there can be a little tension. Dogs are social animals who love company, while cats are often loners who prefer independence. And their play styles are very different. Dogs often play with other canines by chasing them, which cats dislike and may perceive as a threat. Stopping this chasing behaviour from the very start is very important, as it can lead to a very stressed and unhappy cat if left unchecked, even if your dog is well-meaning. Moreover, your cat will interpret it as predatory behaviour and will want to hide to feel safe – and may well even consider leaving home. But fear not – this behaviour can usually be controlled. In this article, we’ll explore why dogs chase cats, how to stop dogs from chasing your cats, and what to do if they do not stop.

We know that resisting those big puppy eyes is difficult but discouraging begging behaviour can help keep your puppy healthy (thanks to fewer sneaky table scraps!) and prevent puppy begging from becoming more insistent or demanding as your puppy grows up! Puppy begging can be anything from giving you those cute appealing eyes, to whining, scratching your leg, jumping up and even barking at you. If your dog behaves like this every time, you sit down to have a meal, you can be sure your puppy has learnt how to beg for food or a delicious treat! Dogs are brilliant at devising new and interesting ways to get what they want from their owners at mealtimes – in this case, a sneaky delicious treat. However, this can be difficult for you as an owner, especially if it happens every time you want to eat if the begging becomes more demanding - and especially if you have children or vulnerable adults, or guests who don’t appreciate your dog wanting to share their meal. While you might not mind your dog begging, if they think that your mealtimes are an opportunity to get tasty treats, this could easily become problematic if they do this with others. Fortunately, dog begging for food can be prevented using a few simple steps. Why do dogs and puppies beg for food Dogs beg because it works. Playing on your caring nature, they use their best acting skills and begin the hope of being treated to scraps from the plate. Dogs perfect this method of asking for food because it is so effective, and our dogs evolved as highly effective scavengers. This clever but totally natural canine behaviour means that your dog can often persuade you to give them more food without exerting much effort. It is hard to resist a cute puppy who is trying to convince you that they really need just a small mouthful of your delicious food! Nearly always at some time during your puppy’s early weeks with you someone will give them something from the table - and so very early on your puppy realises that begging is worth doing because sometimes, it works! And you - or whoever gave into those beseeching puppy eyes - have taught them that. As a puppy grows up, they are learning all the time what works and what doesn’t in this strange new life. The things that are ‘rewarded’ will be repeated - and all so often people reward this begging behaviour.

Is your puppy biting or nipping you? There is no doubt that puppy teeth hurt! They are like sharp needles and if they catch your skin while you are playing or interacting with them, it can be really painful!

Your dog's sense of smell is one of their most powerful senses and sniffing is one of their very favourite activities, so it only makes sense to start nose training when they're puppies! Learn more about how to begin to scent train your dog with our helpful guide and advice. For owners who really want to take their relationship with their dog to the next level, one of the best ways to do this is to focus on the most underappreciated of our dog’s senses… their incredible nose. That means it’s time for some puppy scent training! It’s probably because we don’t see the world in smell the same way that our dogs do, that we don’t understand how important the sense of smell is to our dogs. For that reason, we miss an entire way to interact with and stimulate them. It’s thought that the part of the dog’s brain that analyses smells is 40 times larger than ours. And if you compare our measly 5 million scent receptors to a Bloodhound’s 300 million, you can see that our noses are pretty pathetic in comparison! The good news is that puppy scent training is easy! Read on to find out how to scent train a dog and some of our favourite puppy scent training games.

Enrichment is a word that’s used quite often when talking about ways to engage with your dog but what does it really mean and why is it so important? Enrichment activities will channel your dog’s natural behaviours in a way that can be encouraged and celebrated. It’s vital for a dog’s welfare that they are encouraged to be, well, DOGS! It provides both mental and physical stimulation and one of the reasons it’s discussed as part of training and behaviour modification plans is because it’s a means of reducing boredom, which can often lead to behaviours that humans consider undesirable. Would you rather your dog gets their chewing fun through a massive Kong* filled with nutritious and delicious food, or by dismantling your sofa? Walkies, while vital for your dog’s wellbeing isn’t enough. A slow-feeder, while probably a good thing for your dog, isn’t enough. One training session, while fabulous, isn’t enough for their mental wellbeing. Enrichment is something that needs to be considered each and every day. It’s not an ‘added extra’ when you share your life with a dog; it underpins their mental and physical health needs. If you don’t provide things to enrich their lives, they’ll find their own entertainment or coping mechanisms and we can almost guarantee you won’t like what they come up with. Getting to know your dog, taking into account their breed or breed mix and learning about their favourite things to do will help you choose the best ways to keep them occupied and entertained. Some dogs would rather de-stuff a toy than chew a bone. Some dogs need a few different toys and other dogs have a favourite. Some dogs love relaxing with a food toy and other dogs will enjoy a scent games around the garden before snoozing. Most of the so-called ‘problem’ behaviours that are displayed by dogs and cause headaches for humans are actually perfectly normal dog behaviours that need an outlet, or they’re providing an outlet for a bored dog. My dog barks at everything. My dog keeps digging in the garden. My dog chews my favourite things. Dogs need to bark, dig and chew; it’s your job to provide a fun and interactive way for them to do what they need to do.

We've all seen the adorable twitch of paws and heard the odd woof whilst our dogs are sleeping, but do dogs really dream? Find out more and learn about what dogs dream about with Purina. All dog owners have seen and heard their pet’s adorable dreamy antics. Maybe you’ve heard a sleepy woof or seen them paddle their paws; perhaps you’ve even noticed a subtle growl. But do dogs really dream? And if they can, then what do dogs dream about?

Christmastime is an occasion for fun and merriment for all the family – including your dog! But unfortunately, there are lots of potential dangers and stressors during your dog at this time. If you want to make sure your dog’s happy and safe this Christmas, read our guide. The Christmas period is a time of great fun for all the family and that (usually) includes your dog too! There are many dogs who love to celebrate the holidays with us and spend all the time getting up to mischief – like sneaking your Christmas treats or collapsing the tree – and while this may all seem like good fun, the festive season can also bring a wealth of potential hazards that you’ll need to be on the lookout for. With Christmas on the way, you may be wondering how to ensure your dog’s Christmas is just as merry as your own, which is why we’ve created this guide on keeping your dog safe and happy this holiday.

Are dogs experiencing the world of colour the same way as we do? We’re exploring the fascinating field of dog vision while looking at how it compares to our own. Do our dog companions have the same appreciation as us, humans, for the green grass in the park and the bright red toy hiding in it? Do colours look blurred from a canine perspective? And do dogs even see colour? Thanks to recent studies, dog vision, a topic that has long been filled with myths and speculations, is not as mysterious as it used to be. Here is how dogs really see the world.

We often marvel at how human our dogs can sometimes seem. They appear to mirror our behaviour and its easy to think that they exhibit the same facial expressions and emotions that we feel, whether it’s happy or sad. Dogs also seem to have fun and enjoy spending time with us. So, it makes sense that many dog owners ask if dogs can laugh or smile. Read on to find out the answer!