It’s very likely that you will have heard and read many observations over the past few years about the importance of dominating your dog and being the ‘Alpha’ in your family. The belief is that your dog is a domesticated wolf in your home waiting for the opportunity to take over your family pack. Where do […]
Author Archives: Helen Atton
When I first set up F.I.D.O. years ago, it was my ambition to see every dog on Monnow Street walking calmly beside it’s owner and not dragging them along the road or choking as they walked. Walking on a loose lead is one of the main skills I aim to teach dog and puppy owners […]
Monty is 5 year old male Frenchie who came to live with Fran and her family less than a year ago, from an unknown background. They fell in love with him quickly as he was an affectionate and delightful character, but soon discovered that he had one problem. Monty couldn’t bear leads! Not even the […]
Adopting puppies in lockdown has given many people a lifeline. Dogs offer invaluable company and support to see them through the lonely, worrying and isolated times. They can give absolute loyalty and love and ask very little from us in return. They grow up to accept that life is the way it is presented to […]
As soon as your puppy leaves his mother and comes to you, the socialisation clock is ticking. Up to about 14 weeks of age, however shy or outgoing your puppy is, he will be able to take new experiences in his stride. After this time however, puppies start to become more wary of things they […]
These strange times of being isolated at home and restricted from approaching people even when we do venture outside are changing the relationships we have with our dogs. Dogs are very intuitive creatures and although it may not be obvious, they can become stressed and anxious quite easily. They respond to signs of stress in […]
You have probably had it drummed into you that dogs need daily exercise. A tired dog is a good dog, walks offer mental and physical stimulation, walks emulate the primal dog hunt, etc., etc. Walking does of course give your dog mental as well as physical stimulation but not as much as you might expect. […]
The word ‘dominance’ is thrown about so much in the dog world. It stems from the idea that dogs are effectively domesticated wolves, which were said to live in hierarchical packs, with an alpha animal leading, and other pack members taking subordinate roles. The theory was that this hierarchy was maintained by force and aggression […]
At last the sun is shining and all the plants in the garden and countryside are sprouting and aromatic, with their glorious fresh spring colours and scents – and my dogs are doing a good impression of sheep! Watching my pup with weeds hanging from the side of her mouth prompted me to write a […]
If you search online for information about the best way to feed your dog, you will be inundated with many different views, most of them adamant that their ideas give the best and only ways to feed dogs. There seem to be as many different ideas as there are people proposing them. So how […]