If you’re expecting the pitter-patter of puppy paws in your household, we recommend that you start thinking about early socialisation opportunities for your little bundle of fluff!

Socialisation involves getting puppies used to a variety of people, animals, places or experiences that they are likely to encounter in their adult life. The most important socialisation times for puppies are between 3-14 weeks old, meaning that owners have a relatively short period to get the best out of this critical period.

Here are four tips for a well-socialised pup:

1. If you will be purchasing your pup from a breeder, pick a breeder who has raised the pups in a home environment. Whilst the pups won’t have been taken out and about much (due to incomplete vaccination protection), they should be reasonably confident with handling and common household noises.
2. Handle your pup daily in a gentle manner, rewarding calm behaviour with lots of treats. This should include holding, patting and “examining” them by looking at their ears, handling their paws, opening their mouth, looking under their tail, etc.
3. Introduce your pup to a variety of people, including males and females of various ages (including children). Even before your pup is fully vaccinated, you can carry them around new environments, and take them to low-risk situations such as a well-run puppy preschool for safe play interactions with other pups and people.
4. Never force your puppy if they are fearful during these new experiences - remember, the aim is for your pup to learn that new experiences are safe! Allow your pup to watch at a distance for a while if they are unsure, and keep things positive with lots of treats.

If your pup is socialised gently and positively, they are much more likely to grow into an adult dog who is confident and friendly in novel situations, rather than reacting fearfully.

For more information on the safe socialisation of puppies, including vaccination protection recommendations, ask our knowledgeable team.

Unfortunately, some dogs may become anxious when they visit the veterinary clinic. This can stem from a previous intense experience (e.g. where an injured pet required a very painful area to be examined), or may be related to generalised anxiety about unfamiliar places.

How can I tell if my dog is anxious at the clinic?
An anxious pet may manifest in several ways, based on the fight, flight or freeze responses:

• Fight: the pet may put on a defensive front to keep veterinary staff away, barking or growling when approached and even snapping or lunging to bite if they feel highly threatened
  
• Flight: the pet may try to hide, or will run or jump away when approached
  
• Freeze: the pet’s body posture will be stiff and still with a tense facial expression, and they will possibly “whale eye” (where they face away but still try to watch for the vet’s approach)

It’s important to bear in mind that any anxious dog may progress to aggressive behaviours (such as snapping) if it is pushed too far out of its comfort zone.

How can we help anxious patients to feel better about their visits?
Commonly, anxiety at the veterinary clinic is best addressed with both short-term and long-term measures.

Short-term measures to facilitate necessary veterinary treatment involve the use of calming sedative medications which can be administered by mouth at home, and/or by injection at the veterinary clinic (often with the owner present to help reassure their pet, provided it is safe for them to do so).

Long-term measures involve behavioural modification techniques to address any underlying anxiety and help reduce the pet’s fear response. In certain cases, some pets may require long-term anti-anxiety medications.

If your pet is very anxious about their veterinary visits, have a chat with our team about how we can help. We would love for all of our patients to be as happy to see us as we are to see them!

It’s not uncommon to hear jokes about “small dog syndrome”, but is it actually a thing?

We have many gorgeous small-breed canine patients who are sociable, amenable, and friendly to all. However, we do also see a reasonable number of small dogs who try to rule the roost at home or in the veterinary clinic!

Here are a few reasons why some little dogs may end up being a little too big for their (tiny) boots:

Individual personalities
Just like people, dogs have their own individual personalities and quirks. However, certain breeds tend to demonstrate a tendency towards particular behavioural characteristics.

It’s no surprise that many small dogs tend to be disproportionately courageous, determined (even stubborn) and vocal, given the purposes they were originally bred for. For instance, Jack Russell terriers were bred to flush out foxes from hiding with determined barking, and then give chase – no wonder they’re generally not shy about verbal communication!

Poor socialisation
Poor socialisation stems from a lack of positive exposure to new people, animals and situations, particularly during key development periods. A dog who was poorly socialised as a pup is more likely to show anxious, overexcited or unfriendly tendencies when approached by unfamiliar people or pets. This may manifest as reactive behaviours such as excessive barking, growling, snapping or even lunging.

Unfortunately, small-breed puppies are not always given the same socialisation opportunities as larger breeds. This may be because:

• Some owners of small dogs do not commit to as much obedience training, as they see negative behaviours in a small-sized dog as less of a problem
• Some small dogs are kept as lap-dog companions and given less opportunity for normal play and socialisation

If your little dog is showing any problematic “small dog syndrome” tendencies, book a consultation with our knowledgeable vets. Once we diagnose the underlying motivation for their behaviour, we can offer positive solutions to help get the best out of your spirited little canine!

Have you heard of separation anxiety in dogs? This is a behavioural condition where a dog experiences abnormal levels of distress when a person or animal to whom they are highly-attached is absent.

As well as being unpleasant for the dog in question, separation anxiety is understandably often upsetting for their owners too. These owners may be forced to change their lifestyle to accommodate their pet’s special behavioural needs, and often feel quite stressed when forced to leave their pet for necessary reasons.

How can I tell if my dog has separation anxiety?
Dogs with separation anxiety will demonstrate varying symptoms of distress when left alone. These can include:

• Destructive behaviours (e.g. clawing or chewing at doors, walls or crates)
• Barking, whining or howling
• Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as excessive drooling or shaking
• House-soiling
• Pacing around
• Escaping

Unfortunately, these kinds of behaviours can result in the destruction of property and self-induced injuries to the pet.

What should I do if I suspect separation anxiety in my pet?
If you suspect separation anxiety in your pet, the best course of action is to book a behavioural consultation with one of our knowledgeable vets. A thorough check-over (which may also include blood and urine tests) and a detailed discussion of your pet’s symptoms are important for ruling out other potential causes of similar behaviours - for instance, old dog ‘senility’, chronic pain or urinary tract diseases.

If we confirm a diagnosis of separation anxiety, we can then make a treatment plan for helping your pet. Depending on the severity of their symptoms, this plan may include:

• Behavioural modification techniques such as avoiding triggers in the short-term, setting up a program of environmental enrichment, and modifying your pet’s response to your departures through positive re-training techniques
• Short- or long-term anti-anxiety medications to alleviate your pet’s distress

The good news is that with the correct treatment (and some dedicated work on your part), most cases of separation anxiety can be cured or substantially improved!

Whilst many kids and family pets are best buddies (and adorably so!), positive and safe interactions between children and dogs should never be taken for granted! Unfortunately, dog bites do happen, and most often children are bitten by a dog they already know.

Why are kids at greater risk of dog bites?
Children tend to be more at risk of dog bites (even from usually friendly pets) because:

• They are too young (or haven’t been taught) to read dog body language
• They tend to move quickly and make unpredictable loud noises that can startle animals
• They are curious, haven’t yet learnt to be gentle and are more likely to accidentally step on or fall on a pet, or physically interact in a way the dog finds distressing (i.e. by pulling the dog's ears, or poking their fingers into the dog’s eyes, nose or mouth)

Remember, ANY dog can bite if they feel threatened.

How can we help keep kids AND pets safe and happy?

• Supervise all interactions between dogs and kids, and prevent children from grabbing or playing with pets roughly, climbing on top of pets, cornering pets or approaching pets who are eating or resting
• When dogs and young children can’t be fully supervised, physically separate them (e.g. with baby gates)
• Monitor pet body language for early signs of discomfort – these include the dog yawning, lip licking, turning their head away, “freezing” or leaning away from the child – if these signs are demonstrated, calmly end the interaction
• Teach young family members how to recognise when a dog is feeling uncomfortable and needs space
• Encourage positive interactions, such as supervised games of fetch or obedience training sessions (with treats)
• Help your dog to become the calmest and friendliest canine citizen through early socialisation, positive-method obedience training and regular exercise
• Support your dog by allowing them to retreat to “safe” dog-only areas (such as a comfortable crate or bedroom) if they need space
• Have them assessed by one of our veterinarians if you suspect any anxiety or physical ailments that could be causing them discomfort

With some adult guidance, children and dogs can become the best of friends!