When owners contact me about their dog's aggressive behaviour, one of the first questions they often ask is: "Would having him castrated help?" It's an understandable question, and one that many owners have been encouraged to consider. After all, testosterone is commonly associated with confidence, competitiveness and aggression, so it's easy to assume that reducing testosterone will reduce aggressive behaviour. Unfortunately, it’s not the case. While castration can be benef

Apparent “sudden aggression” in dogs is frequently misunderstood and often misclassified as unpredictable or unprovoked behaviour.

Reprogramming a dog’s behaviour is not about quick fixes or immediate results. It is a gradual process of changing what the dog has already learned, often over a long period of time, and replacing those learned responses with new, more positive ones. At the heart of this process is patience, consistency, and an understanding that progress is rarely linear. It takes time, it requires positive reinforcement, and quite often it means going back a step before moving forward again

One of the most distressing experiences for any dog owner is when their dog growls, snaps, or nips at someone who is simply trying to make friends.

With so many dogs in need of new homes, adopting a rescue dog can feel like the right and compassionate choice. However, evidence suggests that one in five dogs are returned to rescue centres after adoption, most commonly due to challenging behaviour. In many cases, very little is known about the dog’s background, but one thing is certain: every rescue dog arrives with a history and some degree of emotional baggage. Street dogs that are adopted from overseas often face addi

Dogs are often stereotyped according to their breed. While it’s true that certain breeds tend to display particular traits, such as Collies and their instinct to herd, many other behaviours, including excessive barking, aggression, stealing, or pulling on the lead, are far more often the result of a communication gap between humans and dogs. As a behaviourist, I repeatedly hear the same quote; “It’s the breed, they all do that,” and with social media constantly reinforcing th

When we hear the word ‘Alpha’, we tend to think of a bully, leading by fear and dominance. This association stems from many years ago...

We all know the rules - if you own a dog, you have to walk the dog! But do you? Is it absolutely necessary? How many of us feel...