Although tail chasing if often a way that a dog gets exercise or play, it can also be an indicator of serious neurological conditions or some kind of physical discomfort.  Another reason can be a reaction to welfare problems that are externally triggered; including insufficient exercise, lack of stimulation and even a reaction to stressful situations in dogs that are otherwise healthy.

According to comments from owners accompanying the videos and expert observation from the researchers, one third of all dogs featured showed clinical signs of problematic tail chasing – including habitual (daily or all the time) or perseverative (difficult to distract) performance of the behaviour.

Clinical signs appeared virtually unrecognised by the video owners and commenting viewers, and laughter was captured in the video in 55% of cases and encouragement recorded in 43% of the videos. User comments on the videos also reinforce the perception that tail-chasing is ‘normal’ with 46% of posts describing the behaviour as ‘funny’ and 42% of posts describing it as ‘cute’. Dogs who exhibited signs of clinical tail-chasing were six times more likely to be described as “stupid” or “funny”.

Dr. Charlotte Burn at the RVC – who led the research – commented: “Searching for ‘dog chasing tail’ on YouTube returns over 3500 hits. The huge viewing figures that YouTube attracts suggest that without effective intervention and education the perception that tail-chasing is normal and can be encouraged will be further reinforced.

“The findings indicate a gulf between public perception and the reality of poor welfare in some tail-chasing dogs. Many pathological tail-chasers may go untreated, and the behaviour is widely assumed to be normal and amusing.  This behaviour shouldn’t be encouraged and veterinary advice, or in some cases behavioural therapist advice, should be sought.

“These videos provide a new opportunity for insight into tail-chasing in non-clinical contexts.” continued Dr Burn “For the first time, a large sample size is rapidly available and economically feasible. Furthermore, the videos reveal environments and contexts in which tail-chasing occurs, often together with audible and written responses of human observers.”

The highest proportion of perseverative tail-chasing was observed in toy breeds (56%) followed by cross breeds (43%). Tail-chasing videos are significantly more often shot indoors and with a computer or television screen switched on.

The study “A Vicious Cycle: A Cross-Sectional Study of Canine Tail-Chasing and Human Responses to It, Using a Free Video-Sharing Website” was published in the journal PLoS ONE today.

There are a few reasons that dogs chew, the first is that it’s rewarding, especially if the item they chewing tastes good. Dogs might also chew if they are anxious or nervous about something. The human equivalent to the chewing of dogs would be enjoying comfort food, we find it relaxing and soothing. Another reason why dogs might chew is to burn off excess energy, this can be a sign that your dog is not getting enough exercise.

Let us look at a few tips that should help you prevent your dog chewing on items around your home. This will take some effort but you can be assured that with enough training a dog will stop chewing.

First off, it is important not to confuse the dog. For example, if you do not want your dog to chew on your shoes, do not give them an old shoe to chew on. This will enforce the message with them that chewing on shoes is okay. You can’t expect your dog to be able to know the difference between old and new.

Another option to prevent a dog chewing on your belongings is to make them out of reach for the dog. This is known as dog proofing and you should consider all the spaces your blog can reach and keep potential victims of your dog’s mouth hidden away.

Correcting the dog’s behaviour when they chew is important. If you see them beginning to chew on an item that you don’t want to start clapping loudly and get angry with them so they know not to do it in future. If you cannot supervise the dog all of the time when you go out make sure they are in a room where they cannot do any damage.

As well as punishment you should also use positive reinforcement, once you have purchased dog chew toys you can praise your dog when they are chewing on them rather than other items around the house.

We already mentioned that chewing might be a sign that your dog is not getting enough exercise, therefore take your dog on longer walks as this should wear off some of that excess energy so instead of chewing your dog will spend more time sleeping.

When you are training your dog spending lots of time with them is important, the faster your dog learns the ropes the less damage you will see around the house. Remember that training your dog will require a great deal of patience and remember to maintain a positive attitude.

The brushes that are chosen are very important in order to match the length and thickness of the hair. Two brushes maximum should be needed for regular brushing and to make your choice easier you can read some dog grooming tips that are related to each specific dog’s coat. You can check out photos on line and then buy the brushes either online or at a local pet supply store.

Cleaning the pet’s ears is an important thing to learn and you can do this by reading tips on professional dog grooming. Wax, dirt and hair all can make for a very unpleasant combination for the dog in their ear canals and this also reduces the auditive acuity of the dog.

You need to pull the hair out on a regular basis so wax will not begin to build on it. There are special accessories that you can put on your fingers and for extracting the hair since scissors and just fingers can cause damage to the tissue as well.

Toenail trimming can end up being another challenge as well. But reading dog grooming tips will help you from getting into trouble with this as well. Long claws on dogs are hated by pet owners because they cause damage to carpets and floors when they scratch. Some clippers can be purchased that are specially made to place their toenails inside and then just squeeze and cut. Your vet can also give you suggestions for nail clippers.

The eyes of your dog need special attention especially if stains start to appear below the eyes because of their tears. While some breeds tend to tear, there are others that tearing means a sign of a medical condition. Hydrogen peroxide and warm water should help to reduce discoloration on the dogs with light skin but be extremely careful not to get it in their eyes.

With some interest and care you can implement a number of different dog grooming tips for you dog and not only feel better about it yourself but save yourself a lot of money in the long run.

The existence today of genetic breeds is grouped into four different categories.  The domestic dog may have also long after its initial domestication phenotypically resembled the wolf, so an unambiguous assignment of older fossil records is not always possible. The oldest fossil evidence for the existence of the domestic dog comes from the young. The study of fossil bones from dogs gave an age of about 31,700 BC

In East Asia it is suggested that molecular genetic testing prior to domestic dogs was about 15,000 years ago.  There are known dog bones, which are dated at 13.000-17.000 BC. The reference is located in the Dnieper valley at the Southeast, a tributary of the Desna. The fauna is dominated by mammoth bone (Mammuthus primigenius) and is dated from the last stage of the Valdai glaciation.  Culturally, it is attributed to the Epi-Gravettian.  The settlement was excavated between 1930 and 1940 by KM Polikarpovitch.

They found two complete dog skulls. The first was on a hearth, another in a shelter made of mammoth bones. The dogs had a short snout and were about 70cm high. An old skeleton of a morphologically domesticated dog is from the double grave of Upper Kassel, which is attributed to the Magdalenian.

Mesolithic dog burials are common, for example in the Scandinavian Ertebolle culture (Skateholm). Even in ancient Egypt you can find mummified dogs.  Notching by Konrad Lorenz held hypothesis that the dog is at least partly descended from the golden jackal (Canis aureus).  This has now been disproved on the basis of DNA analysis.

Charity Craft Fair offers Dog training opportunities

The Dogs for the Disabled 3rd Annual Craft Fair has taken an interesting turn as visitors will be able to list their dogs on the new Wag n Train programme. The programme will teach owners how to work with their dogs to perform tricks. These are the same methods used by professionals, including those training our assistance dogs.

Signing their pet up on the day of the fair will give them two free gifts as well. Crufts started the Wag n Train programme last weekend and it is a hit with the customers.

Assistance dogs for disable people are capable of quite intelligent feats. They can open doors, pick up things the owner has dropped, load the washing machine, unload the wash, and even assist the person to both dress and undress.

After signing up, you can choose from a variety of challenges and train your dog to perform tasks such as the simple ‘roll over’ to the more advanced ‘fetch a tissue’. Training your dog strengthens the bond between you and provides you, the owner, with an opportunity to show your friends and family just how brilliant you both are!

There are hundreds of children and adults waiting for an assistance dog, but we rely totally on donations to provide our service. In return for a donation of £5 you get the opportunity to master some of the techniques used by our team of professional trainers, have a well trained and happy dog, and support the incredible work of Dogs for the Disabled. Plus, if you sign up at the Craft Fair then you’ll receive a FREE treat bag and clicker. You can also visit www.

The Craft Fair will take place on Saturday 26th March between 11am and 3pm. It will all be happening in the Training Hall at Dogs for the Disabled’s Frances Hay Centre on Blacklocks Hill, and all funds raised will go to the charity.

Admission on the day is £2 per adult and this price includes a free drink. Children under 12 can come along for free.

We need as many visitors as possible to come along on the day and buy all the wonderful items on sale! The selection of goods on offer will include fashion items, jewellery, artwork, wood crafted items, pet toys and much, much more.

Socialization with other dogs (Learn communications)
Socialization with other animals (cats, guinea pigs, birds, horses)
Socialization with strangers
Habituation to environmental stimuli such as a horn, bicycle, aircraft, explosion noises (New Year’s Eve Pops), crowds and traffic.

The most important phase of the socialization of the dog extends approximately from the second to 15^th week of life and may be replaced by “puppy play sessions” or “character match”, as they are supported to offer many dog clubs. A second important phase of socialization is puberty.

A carefully socialized dog has learned to cope, peaceable and digested with strangers, children and other pets. The development of each dog is largely determined by their socialization and education. Poorly socialized dogs have difficulties adjusting to their environment.

They tend to be anxious or be aggressive in their behaviour and have other behavioural disorders. Socialization processes can not take place in the first few weeks.  To what extent consequent behavioural disorders take place, depends on the further development of the dog and is very individual.

A threat to her leadership amongst the pack may cause this type of behavior against another dog that she feels poses that threat.

A sense of fear or panic may set in just for the difference in size between her and another dog or she may even be reminded of a fight she had previously.

An undetected medical condition can also be the root of the problem with her aggression and it is important, if the aggression continues, to contact your veterinarian at once to see what the cause may be.

There are specific signs that point towards a dog’s aggression against other dogs and they include; prolonged eye contact, low head or low tail to the ground, bared teeth, raised hackles, growling and snarled lips.

There is a problem present if you see any of these signs and you need to immediately react. In order to learn how to stop a dogs aggression you can pay for the services of a professional trainer or learn to do so yourself. Dog fights are dangerous and can lead to injuries to you, your dog and the other dog involved as well as the owner of the other dog.

The authorities will take your dog if there is the propensity to attack, maim and or kill other dogs. If it is determined you dog is a threat to other dogs or the population in general, then you dog can be ordered to be euthanized.

The ‘Pets are Human Too’ study of 3,000 British dog and cat owners commissioned to celebrate Drontal’s www.mypetsuperstar.com competition, highlights the common traits we share with our four legged family members and revealed that 32 per cent of cat and dog owners say their pet is a much better listener than their partner.

15 per cent of those questioned admit they love their pet so much that they have their dog or cat’s image as their own Facebook profile picture, and a quarter (25 per cent) have a picture of their pet as their office PC screensaver.

Forget traditional names like Spot and Scrappy, 33 per cent of the nation would rather give their animal a human name such as Dave, Alan or Sharon.

One in five pet owners (19 per cent) always sign greetings cards with their pet’s paw print, and one in 10 (8 per cent) even throw their dog or cat an annual birthday party, inviting their pets’ best friends over for their favourite pet food cake.

9 per cent confess to telling their pet a personal secret that they would not have dared to share with their closest human confidants, whilst one in 10 pet owners believes their pet has psychic powers or shares the personality traits of a deceased loved one.

41 per cent of dog owners feel that their pet loves them more than their partner, whilst 24 per cent admit they would rather spend quality time with their animal companion over their husband or wife.

To celebrate our love for our pets, Drontal has launched My Pet Superstar, a nationwide search to find the nation’s Top Dog and Top Cat.

TV vet and My Pet Superstar Judge Emma Milne, explains: “The joy and companionship our pets bring to our lives is unquestionable and it is no wonder that many consider them to be ‘man’s best friend’. Britain is a nation of proud pet owners and now, with the launch of My Pet Superstar, we all have a chance to show them off!”

“My Pet Superstar celebrates the unique traits and talents that make us love and take pride in our pets. With four very different categories, this competition will be wide open to all cat and dog owners”

Often it will depend which animal you already have in your home and often dogs are easier going than cats. Dogs will tend to accept new pets coming into the house and this doesn’t matter if it is a cat or a dog. Often dogs will in fact love kittens being in the house as they will like to mother them and will show their gentler side. Although cats will take longer to get used to a new dog it is not impossible.

You will be amazed how quickly your cat and dog will have a very close relationship and will have a great friendship. The dog will very quickly be protective of the cat no matter how old it is and this is especially noticeable with kittens. You should take any introductions slowly and ensure that both animals are comfortable and do not feel trapped. You have to remain calm throughout the whole introduction period.

Animals will become very stressed easily if they feel out of control and pressured into something you must remain calm and not be worried. Your pets will detect your nervousness and this could result in them being frightened as well. You will need to remain in the room for a while to ensure that there are no major issues with the cat and dog. If you are bringing a new kitten in do not worry when they go to attack the dog.

Your new cat has got to show that they are not afraid of the dog as it is much larger than them they might strike out and hiss but this is purely for show. Most dogs will simply walk away and not be interested in your new cat’s show of aggression. As much as possible you will need to let your pets sort their problems out themselves. Cats are very independent and will want to show the dog that they are not afraid.

You must keep a watchful eye on the cat and dog for a while to ensure that they are getting on they will slowly learn to live together. They will set their own boundaries and will adapt to their new way of life. Never force your cat and dog together as this can make them aggressive some will adapt easily and others will take time. However they will get there in the end and accept each other and learn to live with each other.

You will need to bear in mind that every breed is different and some are more laid back than others some dogs will not accept any new animals. If this is the case then you have to deal with it and decide if trying to introduce another pet is the best idea. Hopefully your cat and dog will live together successfully and you can give them both a loving home.

It follows recent reports of dogs being shot and killed because they were worrying livestock in parts of the UK where lambing begins earlier. As Cumbria’s season prepares to get into full swing, says Ingrid, owners fear that their pets will be next in the firing line if they chase sheep.

“Farmers are entitled to act if they see an uncontrolled dog pursuing animals on their land – and they are defending not just their livestock, but also their livelihood,” said Ingrid. “With the increasing financial pressures being put on farming enterprises, they can’t be blamed for trying to prevent their sheep being savaged or killed.”

“Increasingly, this means having a zero tolerance approach to dogs running wild, even if the owners are present and frantically trying to recall their pets,” she added.

Ingrid says that this year she is using her own flock of sheep to cure dogs of their sheep-chasing habits which could put them into the farmer’s firing line.

She defends her use of electric collars for training, and says that they are the kindest and most efficient way of achieving a remedy which will last the dog’s entire life.

After just one 90-minute session, claims Ingrid, most dogs can then be safely taken in the presence of sheep without fear of them being overcome by an instinct for the chase:

“It’s just an exciting game for the dog when it sees a flock fleeing in fright, and few would actually go as far as attacking a sheep,” she says.  “But the farmer doesn’t know whether the game will end in bloodshed or simply a field-full of distressed stock – and some will prefer to act first and ask questions later.”

Conventional training rarely work for sheep-chasing, explained Ingrid. The crime is often committed a long way from the owner, and the dog is unlikely to understand why it is later being reprimanded.

The remotely-controlled electric collars she uses deliver a brief jolt the second the dog begins to chase – usually bringing the it to a complete standstill, says Ingrid.

It is then summoned back to the owner, lavished with praise, and given a small doggy treat.

Most dogs, said Ingrid, learn extremely quickly – and maintains that her methods are much kinder and more effective than metering out a pointless punishment when the dog is retrieved.

As one of the UK’s best-known trainers, Ingrid is currently working with the University of Leicester in a research study into the use of electric training collars.

More information on the training courses run by Ingrid Grayling is available from 01931 715282, or see her website at www.ingrid-grayling.com.