Identifying ‘ideal’ companion dogs for Australia

My name is Tammie King and I am conducting a research project with Dr. Pauleen Bennett and Dr. Linda Marston, towards a PhD at Monash University.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a behavioural assessment protocol which aims to measure amicability of adult companion dogs. The information obtained will be used to assess the reliability and validity of the assessment.

I am seeking people over the age of 18 who own a dog who is 18 months of age or older and who have lived with their dog for at least 12 months or who own puppies aged 6-8 months. The study involves accompanying your dog through a short dog behaviour assessment which will take about 10 minutes. You will also be asked to complete four questionnaires which will take about 25-30 min to complete.

Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. The behavioural assessment requires no input from the dog owner while the survey asks questions about the behavioural characteristics and personality of your dog as well as the relationship you have with your dog in addition to a few general questions about yourself.

The development of an accurate dog behavioural assessment would be of benefit to range of dog related organisations that require information on a dog’s behaviour. Dogs which possess amicable personalities could potentially be in identified. This, along with educating the public about dog behaviour and training, has the potential to improve owner-dog relationships.

WHO?

Your dog needs to be at least 18 months of age and the owner 18 years or older. It is also necessary that you have lived with your dog for at least 12 months.

(I also need a sample of 20 puppies aged 6-8months to participate who will then be tested 12 months later. If you have a puppy or know someone who would be interested then get in touch.)

WHAT?

You will be required to fill out a few questionnaires which take about 30 minutes in total to complete. You will also accompany your dog through a behaviour assessment which will take approx 10 minutes.

WHERE?

Homestead Boarding Kennels

12 Homestead Rd, Wonga Park

WHEN?

Assessment days will be held every weekend for the next few months. Let me know when would be suitable for you.

If you and your dog are would like to be part of this exciting study please contact me.

Tammie King

E-mail: tammie.king@med.monash.edu.au

Phone: 0420 653 351

With one in six Australian children suffering from asthma, it’s not surprising that parents wonder whether bringing a cat or dog into the house will  increase the chances of asthma and allergies in their loved ones.

However, the latest research reveals that owning a dog in the early stages of a child’s life can actually guard against the development of allergic reactions by lowering the sensitivity to mixed pollen and other inhalants. 

If someone in your house does have asthma or believes that they may have an allergic reaction to pets, a good first step is to visit a doctor or allergy specialist to diagnose exactly which element of your pet may be causing the reaction. 

Many people are surprised to discover that it is not the fur of the pet that’s causing the problem, but the dander (dead skin cells).  In the case of pet cats, it could even be the saliva that they use to groom themselves with.  Some even find that they are only allergic to new dogs or cats, which eases over time with regular exposure.

You can further minimise the risk of allergic reactions by identifying a suitable breed of dog or cat and by managing your pet and home environment.

Poodles, Bichon Frise and Bedlington Terriers have a wool-like coat which has very low shedding attributes.  However, crossing the Poodle, Bichon Frise and Bedlington Terrier with other breeds will not guarantee that all or any puppies in the litter will have the non-shedding coat. Many of the “oodles” have been bred for their “hypoallergenic” coat, but if you want to be 100% sure, it’s best to buy a purebred.

The Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cat breeds also have a non-shedding, light coat that requires owners who are prepared to keep them indoors.  The cuddly Siberian cat may be the perfect answer for those with an allergy to cat saliva as it produces a very low amount of the protein (FEL D-1) that causes allergic reactions.

Further allergy reducing steps include: keeping pets out of the bedroom; keeping pets off the furniture; cleaning and vacuuming regularly; grooming and brushing pets often (outside if possible); and bathing pets regularly.

By following a few easy steps, people who suffer from pet allergies may find that they can take advantage of all the pet owning benefits without suffering the discomfort. 

·        Make sure the area where you are planning to hold the party is an off leash area, regulations can change at different times of the year.

·        Encourage all pet owners to bring what they need for the day but make sure you have extra water and spare bowls.  A shady area that can be shared by pets and people, spare poo bags and stakes that people can use to tie their dog’s leash to will also be appreciated. 

·        It can be a good idea to make it clear to other park users that there is a party in progress by hanging banners in the trees or something similar.  If in doubt, check with your Council if there are any special requirements. 

·        It can be fun to dress up your pet for a Christmas party.  Tinsel or baubles temporarily attached to a dog’s collar are fine and many dogs won’t mind humouring their owners by dressing up in reindeer antlers for a short time, but your dog will generally prefer the “less is more” approach to Christmas finery.

·        Parties are all about fun so make sure there are healthy treats for well behaved dogs.  Some parties even organize for Santa to drop in with presents and treats.

·        Make sure there are plenty of activities to keep dogs busy.  You can organize games such as the ‘11 legged race’ (a three legged race with owners accompanied by their dogs) or competitions for dogs such as ‘the waggiest tail’.

·        At the end of the party, make sure the area is clean and ready to be enjoyed by other park users.

Click here to download these tips as a pdf.

Are you out of ideas to tire out your energetic canine companion? Looking for something a little more exciting than the daily walk or ball game in the backyard? Well, I’ve recently discovered a fun new way to exercise my dogs while I get a good workout at the same time!

What’s this new activity that benefits both owner and dog I hear you ask? Well, the concept is nothing new but improvements in equipment make it a much safer exercise than it used to be. I’m talking about cycling with your dog. In the old days we used to hold the lead and the handle bars at the same time…if the dog pulled hard enough either you came off your bike or you let go of the lead and your dog ran off. Neither of these scenarios are good.

However now days there are several products available online and at your local pet supply shop that attach to your bike leaving your hands free to steer. These attachments keep your dog at a safe distance from the bike to prevent injury and they clip directly onto the dogs collar or onto a harness.

My dogs love nothing more than a bike ride to the local park. They get very excited when they see us getting the bikes ready and the best part is that a half hour ride tires them out for days! Of course, with summer approaching, it’s important not to overexercise dogs in the heat. We still ride with our dogs in the summer months however we do it either early in the morning or later in the evenings when the temperature has cooled.

To see a video of me cycling with my dogs, click here.

Posted by Kate Mornement.

After the success of the ‘Step-Up: People and parrots working together’ workshop I attended in Brisbane in June this year, I was invited to speak and give a live demonstration at a recent parrot workshop held in Melbourne.

The workshop was a great success with almost 30 parrot enthusiasts attending. I gave a talk about various aspects of companion parrot behaviour including; natural behaviour, behaviour problems, environmental enrichment and training. My talk was followed by a presentation on avian health by the renowned avian vet Dr Pat McWhirter. After the talks we all enjoyed afternoon tea which allowed plenty of time for questions and discussion on all things parrot!

The workshop finished up with me giving a live demonstration on clicker training parrots. Several of the attendees kindly brought along their pet parrots for the hands on demonstration during which I spoke about the basic principles of clicker training (positive reinforcement) and how to use the technique to solve problem behaviour and greatly improve the bond between parrot and owner. The stars of the show included a beautiful male Eclectus parrot, a cheeky Green-cheeked conure, a Scaly-breasted lorikeet and several rambunctious Rainbow Lorikeets.

Posted by Kate Mornement