When people ask me what I do for a living, I usually get one of two responses: the first (and thankfully most common) response is that the person does not really know what a dog behaviourist is but is interested to learn more; the second, which usually comes from my parents’ friends, is to laugh and ask what happened to my proper job! This is because behaviourists (sometimes also referred to as behaviour consultants, behaviour consultants or dog psychologists) are still relative newcomers to the world of dogs. With this in mind, I decided to jot down some thoughts on my typical day to try to shed some light on what I actually do.

The first point to note is that there is really no such thing as a typical day for a behaviourist. Both dogs and owners are so varied in their temperaments, personalities and outlooks that no single case will be the same as another.There will certainly be similarities between some cases but it is important not to make early judgments based on the assumption that a new case is the same as a previous one.

For example, tomorrow I could do a consultation with a couple whose dog chews household objects when left alone. Following discussion with the owners and having watched videos of the dog when left alone, the conclusion could be that the dog is anxious when left and chews to relieve his anxiety. In this case, I would help them to teach the dog to be more relaxed when left.

The next case that I see could be another couple whose dog destroys household objects when left alone. It would easy to assume that this dog is also suffering from separation anxiety. However, further discussion with the owners and video footage of the dog could reveal that the dog is actually very relaxed when left alone, he just gets bored. When he gets bored he make his own fun by finding things to chew! In this case, the problem could be solved by giving the dog more exercise before he is left and then leaving him some food toys to entertain him when he is alone. read the full article...

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Castle Inn - Chiddingstone - Edenbridge, Kent
Be they large, small or middling, we have water bowls and chews in our Public Bar and Garden.

The Duke's Head Inn - Armathwaite, Cumbria
Village Inn in the heart of the Eden Valley. Food served in The Retreat Bar where well behaved dogs are welcome.

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The Pet Economy

Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on their furry friends.

…Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. That's double the amount shelled out on pets a decade ago, with annual spending expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research company based in Rockville, Md. That puts the yearly cost of buying, feeding, and caring for pets in excess of what Americans spend on the movies ($10.8 billion), playing video games ($11.6 billion), and listening to recorded music ($10.6 billion) combined. "People are no longer satisfied to reward their pet in pet terms," argues Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Assn. (APPMA). "They want to reward their pet in human terms." That means hotels instead of kennels, braces to fix crooked teeth, and frilly canine ball gowns. Pet owners are becoming increasingly demanding consumers who won't put up with substandard products, unstimulating environments, or shoddy service for their animals. But the escalating volume and cost of services, especially in the realm of animal medicine, raises ethical issues about how far all this loving should go.

It wasn't so very long ago that the phrase "a dog's life" meant sleeping outside, enduring the elements, living with aches, and sitting by the dinner table, waiting for a few scraps to land on the floor. Today's dog has it much better. read full article...

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Turn Over A New Leaf with South West Tourism’s
‘Feel Good, Go Green’ Campaign

South West Tourism has launched a new campaign to encourage British holidaymakers to turn over a new leaf and take their holidays at home instead.

The website ‘Feel Good, Go Green’ is South West Tourism’s latest initiative to lead the UK in offering the visitor a wide choice of environmentally-friendly places to stay and visit, ranging from B&B, hotel and campsite accommodation to transport links, visitor centres, pubs, restaurants and attractions.

With nearly 200 organisations throughout the region now qualifying for the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS*), and the only dedicated sustainable tourism unit in the country, South West Tourism can justifiably lay claim to be the most environmentally sound region in England and Wales. read full article...

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