Puppy parties: the good, bad and ugly
Dr Casey is a senior lecturer in companion animal behaviour at the University of Bristol,
What makes a good puppy party? Can they do more harm than good? These were questions addressed at BSAVA Congress this morning (10 April), as Rachel Casey discussed the good, the bad and the ugly of puppy parties.
A key tip that emerged from the talk was to manage the puppies as individuals, looking for signs of fear responses and 'over-exposure' to new things. In these situations it is wise to remove the puppy from the main room and work with them and the owner on a one-to-one basis.
Dr Casey, who is a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, explained why previous beliefs about puppy socialisation - the idea that puppies are like sponges and will soak up all new experiences and accept them as normal - are now obsolete. It is essential that owners expose their puppy to lots of new experiences, but they must do so with caution, she warned. This must also be taken on board by those running puppy parties.
A real danger of poorly run classes is the failure to recognise fear responses, as puppies may be over-exposed to new experiences in a way that creates stress or anxiety. New things must be introduced gradually, in a positive way, if long-term fears are to be avoided.
The purpose of a puppy party is to get across key, simple messages to clients, to foster a long-term positive relationship between owner and dog. This has the potential to have a profound, positive impact on the health, welfare and behaviour of that dog throughout life.
Good advice given early on - whether at a puppy class, pre-purchase consultation or first vaccinations - could make the difference between a dog living happily with its owners throughout its life, and being relinquished or even euthanised due to the development of problem behaviour.
Focusing on sharing behavioural messages, rather than preventative health care, Dr Casey outlined 12 tips for successful puppy parties.
Among these was the need to teach owners to observe and understand their dog's behaviour, recognising signs of fear, stress and anxiety, for example. Owners should also be educated about positive, reward-based training methods and the way dogs learn by associating two events that occur at the same time.
A common reason for problem behaviour is the owner's lack of consistency in their interactions with the dog - for example laughing when their pup cutely 'steals' a slipper, then punishing him for chewing an expensive stiletto.
In addition, Dr Casey says she often sees dogs that seek lots of direction from their owners, but are anxious in their interactions with them. To prevent this, dogs should be taught to understand for themselves which behaviours are appropriate for different situations.
Ultimately, veterinary practices have a unique opportunity when young dogs come into the practice for the first time and giving good pieces of advice - however small - could be of long-term benefit to dog welfare.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
