Although I’m meant to be starting to answer questions about the brain for my assignment, and there’s nothing like a looming deadline to focus the mind ?… excuse the pun. I’ve actually been procrastinating.
Google Scholar leads me astray. I start researching one thing and end up down a rabbit hole (or a whole warren), and get drawn into other things. Honestly, whole evenings can disappear!
I was reading about a study Sara C. Owczarczak-Garstecka et al had undertaken via YouTube videos. The research paper is titled ‘online videos indicate human and dog behaviour preceding dog bites and the context in which dog bites occur’ and you can find the research here.
What struck me most from this review and another paper on ‘pet dog bites in children: management and prevention’ was how sad and unnecessary it is. For the people bitten, but also for the dogs. From everything I’ve learnt on my training and behaviour courses, dogs rarely bite without warning, when they do it’s as a last resort.
I’ve blogged about this before, but here’s a link to a ladder of communication from the PDSA. See if you can recognise some of the signals from dogs you know. And if you do? Back off and give the dog some space. Preferably put them in another room with a chew where they can relax. If this is something that’s causing you concern with your dog, speak with your Vet sooner rather than later.
As for Zeke, as I type, he’s feeling a lot of love for his day bed. Hormones raging, bless him.
Until next time
Jen
