Sheep are able to take decisions independently of humans The word ‘sheep’ is often used to mean people who unthinkingly do what others in their group do, and who obediently follow a leader. ‘Sheep’ in this sense are not capable of acting as individuals. They may react to a stimulus, for example be startled by…
Category: Animal behaviour
The power of routine
routines can be a powerful way of influencing behaviour. They make it easier to persuade animals to do what you want them to do. They work because they allow animals to achieve what they want,.
A Broader Understanding of Dogs: Adam Miklosi’s Dog Behaviour, Evolution and Cognition
Dog Behaviour, Evolution and Cognition by Adam Miklosi, OUP Oxford; 2nd edition (2015) Adam Miklosi leads a pioneering team in Hungary which has been studying dog-human social interactions, using an ethological approach, since 1994. The original head of the research team, Vilmos Csanyi, surprised his colleagues, who were then studying fish, by telling them about…
Missed Connections: How useful is Brian Hare’s ‘Genius of Dogs’ for people interested in dog training?
Missed Connections: How useful is Brian Hare’s ‘Genius of Dogs’ for people interested in dog training?
Gundog training for your Chihuahua…
And other companion dogs, it’s not “just” for Spaniels and Labradors! But I’m not interested in shooting? If your dog is reactive to other dogs and people; or generally over excitable; or will run off after cats, squirrels and rabbits, then there’s a lot that you can derive from the skills that traditionally have been…
Little heroes: Why do little dogs act big?
About ten years ago further down my road there lived a little Cairn terrier called Fraggle. He was quite an attractive looking dog, but he was very much a little dog with a lot of attitude who would bark angrily at other dogs as he passed them on his walks. One day, while he was…
Book Review: Jean Donaldson’s Culture Clash
Donaldson succeeded in marketing a particular ‘brand’ of dog training. She appeals to human emotions with bang-on-the-table arguments, rather than careful reasoning and meticulous observation