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| Pebbles is a gorgeous puppy girl |
Well here we are, at the beginning of a new month and starting with the inevitable intake of new dogs, this time from AFCD Sheung Shui. There are two female adults and one beautiful puppy girl, and while I'm certain the puppy will be adopted very quickly, as always it's a matter of luck for the older two.
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| Riley is 1 year and a very sweet girl |
It seems funny to those of us who have worked with dogs for many years, which in my case started when I moved to Lamma back in 1986, that there's still so much false information that sticks in peoples' minds and affects their choices when it comes to picking a dog to take home. Things like mongrels are aggressive or not safe with children, or that golden retrievers are always reliable family dogs, neither of which are true. It's not just about breed name, it's much more complicated than that, and we can see how early neglect or mistreatment (and I include caging and long hours of isolation) result in a dog whose brain, and subsequent behaviour, hasn't developed properly. We see so many unsocialised dogs who have no idea how to play or behave around others, a simple result of being raised with no interaction and missing out on the vital learning that goes with puppies playing (and biting each other). If you put it into a human context it would all seem so obvious, that a child deprived almost from birth of any kind of companionship, loving touch and guidance would grow into a very disturbed adult, you will see how a puppy (or any animal) suffers in the same way. There is a genetic factor that has to be taken into account for sure, but even truly wild animals can build trusting relationships with humans if they start young enough.
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| A tiny terror |
We have a separate space for dogs that are difficult in terms of their behaviour, and this is the Red Dog Centre, occupied by small dogs whose upbringing resulted in them not trusting strangers. It's not impossible to change such behaviour, and indeed all of these "Red" dogs are fine with people they know, but it's a long process. Today I (or more correctly Iris) agreed to take in a tiny poodle who, were he any larger than he is, would certainly be classified as a dangerous dog. He's been in several foster homes who couldn't handle him, and his unpredictable outbursts have resulted in several people being bitten. Judging from his photo you wouldn't believe that such an adorable tiny creature could behave like he does, but we are his last chance so we'll give him a try.
With more and more people wanting to have a dog, many of whom are sadly completely ignorant about the needs and behaviour of these intelligent and social animals, there is a corresponding need for experienced and knowledgeable trainers, who not only understand dogs but who utilise the latest scientific research into dog behaviour. The interest in dog behaviour is a fairly new field, spawning a similar growth in dog training and behaviour as a career option, so there are quite a few up-and-coming trainers in Hong Kong (not all of whom are teaching 100% positive methods). However while a certificate stating that you are now a certified dog trainer is the first step, it doesn't mean too much without the years of experience that are needed to really be effective in all but the most basic of training. By now you will all know the name Cactus Mok, who joined HKDR as a certified trainer many years ago, and who has subsequently continued her studies into all latest science of dog behaviour. All HKDR adopters have free access to Cactus and her knowledge, however you can imagine that there's also a huge demand from non-HKDR adopters for her services. Many of these dog owners have tried other trainers and behaviourists without success, and so to try to reach as many dog parents as possible Cactus has started online webinars dealing with the most asked-about issues. This particular webinar (unfortunately for the moment only in Cantonese) deals with the problem of adolescent behaviour, the teenage years when hormones are all over the place and your sweet puppy changes into a "person" you don't recognise.
"Adolescent dogs can be a handful. The used-to-be-innocent puppies may suddenly turn into apparent monsters within a few weeks, barking, ignoring all previously learned commands and showing unstable behaviour, or even starting to be reactive or aggressive towards other dogs they used to play with. This is usually when the owners find it hard to cope with, leading to a high abandonment rate.
In our new webinar "Understanding Your Adolescent Dogs", our in-house trainer Cactus will explain the changes of the dog's physiology, psychology, behaviour, sociability and learning, in this puppy-to-adult transitional period, helping dog caretakers to understand and fulfill their adolescent dog's needs, and work with them in a force-and-fear-free way.
Live webinar will be conducted in Cantonese on Nov 27. If there is sufficient demand, Cactus will also host a recorded session in English later. Please write to her at education@hongkongdogrescue.
"Understanding your adolescent dog" Live Webinar
Suitable for : Families whose dogs are under or around 1.5 years old, dog-owner-to-be, volunteers, foster families, veterinary practitioners, etc.
NOV 27 (Sat) │ 10:30am - 12:30pm │ Cantonese
Zoom Meeting (recordings are available for 72 hours)
HKD 400
Part of the proceeds will go to support HKDR's dog welfare work
Registration: https://bit.ly/3Cw5ABq
Other popular topics in our Perfect Pet Parenting webinar series are now available for replay at:
https://www.rescuehappiness.
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| Not a Rebel at all |
Moving on to the news everyone loves to see, it was Rebel's turn today to leave Ap Lei Chau with his new family. I gave him that name when I had to come up with so many "R" names on the same day, but I don't think he's a rebel at all, just a very sweet little dog.
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| Plum, Piggy and Phaedra, 3 happy girls |
There are so many photos I want to share but too many to include, so please take a look for yourself at Instagram @hkdr_eagle, @happywoofhk, @h_dogsister, and the same for Facebook
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