Animal Behaviour
GVH provides a range of animal behaviour services, with both group training and one-on-one options available
GVH provides a range of animal behaviour services, with both group training and one-on-one options available
Animal Behaviour Consulting (ABC) operating at Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital (GVH), provides many services such as:
ABC is operated by:
We keep up to date with recent research being conducted in the rapidly advancing animal behaviour field. The business has been operating since 2000 and handles a variety of behaviour problems and training issues in both cats and dogs.
Vicki conducts all our dog training classes at GVH. We run Puppy Classes (for 8-12 week old pups) four nights per week, for 7 weeks (week one is a “dog free” lecture), and “Beyond Puppy Classes” (for puppy class graduates who want to go further), and “Pet Dog Training” (for dogs who missed out on puppy classes), on Sunday mornings. All dogs must be current with their vaccinations, and healthy. A flat collar (no-slip or choke collars) and lead are required. A 70 page A4 book with material about behaviour and health care, specially written and selected by us, is provided.
The primary aim of our classes is socialisation – the active exposure of dogs to other people, dogs, animals, places, sounds and events so that they become familiar and comfortable with everything they will meet in later life. Dogs are most easily socialised between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Dogs who do not have wide exposure to many other people, dogs, other animals, crowds, traffic, loud noises etc during this so-called “sensitive period” are more likely to be anxious and to display this as fear or aggression. A well-socialised dog is one you can take out in public, predicting how it will behave, knowing it is safe around children and other animals, and that it too will be happy in these circumstances.
Training classes teach you how to train your own pet. We use positive motivational training – rewards-based training – and by the end of the classes your dog should be able to sit, stand, drop, and walk sensibly on a lead. You will know how to train your dog to go to and wait on its bed, not to rush to the door when the bell rings, to come when called. We teach the “emergency drop” to stop your dog near traffic and other risks.
An experienced GVH employee participates in all Puppy Classes to assist with training and to teach more about health care – including but not limited to the basics of grooming, tick prevention, worms and fleas and the importance of good food. And you can ask both Vicki and our supporting staff member lots of questions.
After attending training at GVH, owners report they understand their dogs much better, have better interactions, have fewer frustrations with their pets, and that they thoroughly enjoy the classes! You must start at Week One, and you must book in advance – ring (02) 6242 7276, or enquire at Reception.
Pets fulfil such an important role in so many lives – they are friends to the lonely, they encourage exercise, help us recover from major illnesses and reduce our visits to the doctor, and give unconditional love. They bring joy to all and teach compassion to the young. Walkers with dogs are about 5 times more likely to talk to someone else when walking than those who walk alone – a social facilitator in our increasingly isolated society.
But society expects more and more of pet owners. Laws become increasingly restrictive about keeping our pets confined, not letting them become a nuisance with excessive barking, and there is always the worry of dog bites. And we still abandon tens of thousands of dogs and cats around Australia each year. The most common reason for dog abandonment and therefore death, especially in dogs less than 12 months of age, is behaviour problems.
But behaviour problems are not inevitable.
So how do we retain the undoubted pleasures and benefits of dog ownership, and yet fulfil societies expectations?
For further information please contact ABC via Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital (02) 6242 7276