Weds 17th April: Nothing is static

The puppies have taken over the front area

Nothing in our work or Homing Centres is static, and by that I mean we have to be flexible about everything and open to suggestions and change.  The dogs and puppies come and go and that in itself means the dynamics are constantly shifting, and today Iris, Manager of the Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre, rearranged the accommodation as we currently have many more puppies than adult dogs. Previously the small adults stayed at the front of the Centre with the puppies at the back, but that has now been reversed.  We have also installed a new cleaning and disinfecting system that we hope will help prevent the spread of common diseases and also make the cleaning process easier and more thorough.

I do have to mention that all visitors to either of the Homing Centres should understand that puppies can accidentally scratch or bite, and some of the adults come to us with unknown behaviour. We can't constantly watch and oversee both dogs and humans, and for those who have any concern about catching a disease from the dogs I would suggest you stay behind the fence.  It's unfortunate too that despite there not having been a case of rabies in Hong Kong for many decades the Public Hospitals and many doctors still treat all cases of dog bites and even scratches as potential rabies threats and suggest preventative vaccinations.  I appreciate that rabies is a terrible disease and it still exists in Mainland China, but I'm 100% sure that if there was ever even a suspected case in Hong Kong it would be made very public.  Until then you don't need to worry, and rest assured that all of the older puppies and adults at HKDR have been vaccinated against rabies, unlike many or even most breeder dogs.

The small adults are enjoying their space away from the annoying puppies

The message about Positive Reinforcement training is one of the things we spend a lot of time and effort trying to educate dog owners about, and it's always upsetting and disappointing when adopters resort to the aversive-type trainers and enthuse about the TV celebrity who also comes to Hong Kong on a regular basis to increase his following.  Even those who I know would never hurt their dogs seem to think that this person is the last word in dog training and behaviour, and for all such enthusiasts I would urge you to watch this preview of a longer programme about the science behind positive training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4HFOtQVjFY&feature=share.  In a nutshell, do you want your dog to be afraid or you or to be a happy family member?  It's not part of a dog's natural behaviour want to dominate humans, they just want to coexist peacefully and without drama.