Dog Behaviour

He is 5 months and is a lovely confident dog. He plays well with other dogs (quite submissive with them). He is OK to train, and recall is pretty perfect. Im going to get him neutered at about 6-7 months, but will his behaviour change when he is 6-18mths etc He is a shih tzu jack russell cross.
Small dogs mature more quickly than larger dogs - you can expect him to reach physical maturity at about 1.5 years (whereas a large breed is still growing up to 2 years). So, your dog is already starting adolescene. As you are neutering him in the next month or so you will nip most of the effects of testosterone in the bud and he won’t have the opportunity to develop too many bad habits. When a dog reaches adolescence they start to realise that they are bigger, more powerful and have an influence in their family/pack. Just like human adolescents, they test the boundaries and check whether you mean no or if they can get around you. If they can get around you then you end up with a nightmare dog. But, if you stick to your rules and the training you have already established with your pup, you will get him through this period easily. He will also have higher energy levels until he reaches maturity and should be fed on puppy food until hes about 10 months to 1 year depending on the recommendations of your vet and the food manufacturer. From your description you have done things right while hes a baby and you won’t have much trouble!

A dog is a man’s best friend or a woman’s best friend. This has been a saying for centuries. The joy of raising a dog and growing together is a very richly rewarding experience. A child owning its first puppy and growing and learning together is a fantastic bond which teaches the child about life, sharing, caring and companionship.  We only need to think of the great film and television series Lassie and the numerous other dog and child related movies to see how this is portrayed.

So with all these positive images of dogs and canine support why is the press always reporting stories of bad dog behaviour. Can it be true; does it really exist?

Unfortunately it does and you do not have to look far to see first hand examples of this. It is common to see dogs chasing cars and bicycles, sometimes even sadly children. For a child having an unfortunate incident with a badly behaved dog can have long term lasting effects. No longer does the child see a dog as a lovable companion. From that point on any dog can be a potential threat to them and their outlook to these loveable animals is sadly ruined. We can help you to successfully teach your dog, please check out this guide.

Is bad dog behavior the fault of these animals is the dog to blame for acting out one of its basic instincts. Unfortunately this is not the case a dog can be a successful pet or it can be affected by bad dog behaviour which can affect the lives of other people that it comes into contact with in a negative way. What is the difference then between these two characteristics? I believe it is all down to the way that the dog is taught and supervised.

We all lead busy lives and the companionship that a dog offers needs to be tempered by the owners ability to properly teach and control their pet so that bad dog behaviour becomes a thing of the past. Think of it like owning your first car, you wouldn’t think of getting a car if you couldn’t drive. Owning a dog requires some background understanding and preparation to make it a successful outcome.

Is this task difficult? Is this a hard skill to achieve?

Certainly not, it requires some patience and a method. The result a dog which will be your best companion for life and a pet that you can be proud to walk down the street in the comfort of knowing that bad dog behavior is a problem that you and your pet certainly do not have.

If you would like to learn more about how to successfully teach your dog, please check out this guide.

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I love our cockerspaniel puppy “charlie” to bits and I want to keep his teeth and gums healthy and clean so i give him raw bones, but once its in his posession you just cant go near him for hours its like he has a split personality. He wont let anyone near him, in fear that we will take his bone, even once he has come inside and the bone is out side he stil show aggressive behaviour when approached. Charlie is normally so friendly and cuddly. Raw bones are banned in our house for now, as that seems to triggetr the aggressive behaviour, I have found that puppy pedigree denta bones work well as they clean the teeth but he doesn’t get aggressive towards us. I am very concerned about this behaviour and I want to know why he would have acted like this and how I can prevent it in future. Please help.
Hi there. Bones, especially raw ones, are considered “high value” to a dog. They are an extra special treat that Charlie only gets every now and again — they look good, taste good, and Charlie sees absolutely NO reason why he should give his fantastic prize up for you. After all, how would you feel if you were eating your favorite bar of chocolate and someone snatched it away with no warning or compromise? you wouldn’t be happy, would you? well, Charlie is doing the same. The best way to combat possessiveness is the show the dog that you are no threat to his food. I like to compromise and here is how… “What you got there, Charlie? you got a tasty bone? good dog. Lookie, want a piece of ham? this also tastes good.” *Charlie drops bone* *You pick up bone, give the dog a treat, and give the bone straight back*…dog learns that by dropping the bone, the bone is not going to magically disappear, and the hand that can take it away is also the provider of tasty treats. Hand feeding him can also help him associate you being no threat to his food. Best of luck!