The term socialisation gets banded about a lot when it comes to dogs. However not many people really understand what it involves or how important it is. The majority of dogs I see for behaviour help have had some sort of lack of socialisation as puppies and this has affected them for the rest of their lives.

To properly socialise a puppy means to gently expose them to all the things they will experience in every day life. This goes well beyond people and other dogs, it includes different sights, sounds, smells and experiences. Puppies have a critical deadline whereby they must experience all these things before they turn 16 weeks old otherwise the opportunity is lost and quite often leaves them unable to cope if for example they never met children or only met dogs in their own family.

At puppy classes I use the phrase 'The Rule of Twelve' which states that to adequately prepare a pup they should be exposed to 12 different types of people, 12 different sorts of dogs, 12 different sounds and so on. So for people this means allowing them to meet young kids, teenagers, men, women, elderly people, disabled peoople, loud people, people with different skin colours, people in uniforms and people wearing hats, carrying sticks or generally looking different!

A common mistake in socialising is to let your puppy or dog greet every single dog they meet and allow them to do what they want. We don't greet every person we pass on the street so why should our dogs? Unsupervised play is the cause of a lot of problems and can end up with dogs who enjoying the thrill of winding up other dogs or can cause them to become aggressive if they are the ones being bullied. This is becoming especially problematic at daycare facilities with too few or unqualified staff.

It is not fair on adult dogs to have to reprimand an unruly puppy constantly, owners must intervene when appropriate. Not all adult dogs will react appropriately. Some might let pups get away with murder whereas others can be over the top. It is your job as the owner to ensure any interactions are within the boundaries.

Ideally you should never allow your dog to run up to dogs who are on a lead. Dogs on a lead cannot move away and may react fearfully with or without aggression. Many dogs simply want left alone and may be on lead due to behavciour or health problems.

Teach your dog to focus on you when other dogs are about and use offlead play as reward for a few seconds or minutes of focussing. If your dog is over excited around other dogs then do lots of training to get them more used to responding to you when out and about.

Firework season is nearly upon us and unfortunately it can be a time of misery for many dogs and their owners. Fear of fireworks can cause huge stress but there are some simple things you can do to make it easier for them. Ideally you should follow a programme of sound desensitisation months in advance to get them over their phobia however here are some emergency strategies:

Avoid taking your dog outside after dark when fireworks are likely and absolutely never let them off lead in case they bolt. During the daytime try and tire them out through exercise, play and training so they have less energy in the evening. Feed them a large meal of carbohydrates such as pasta at dinnertime. A large meal will fill them up and make them sleepy. Shut curtains, turn the TV up loud and put the radio on too. This will drown out the scary sounds and block their vision out the window. Many dogs like to hide when scared so consider creating a cosy dark den for them either underneath a table, in a crate or even in a large cupboard. Don’t force them in or out of it. Pop a coat or t-shirt on them if they are used to these. There are even special dog coats called Thundershirts which act like a mobile cuddle and are proven to help calm down stressed dogs. Consider using Rescue Remedy or homeopathic remedies designed for anxiety. If your dog has a really bad phobia ask your vet what they can offer but be aware to avoid ACP's which are a sedative that cause them to be immobile yet mentally alert and terrified. This only crates more fear. Give your pet attention if they seem to want it but be calm and use jolly tones to avoid reinforcing the fear. For more information please visit www.dogsandfireworks.com

One of the most common issues some owners have with their dogs is their fussy eating. It can be really frustrating seeing them turn their nose up at their filled bowl especially when you have tried so hard to find something they will like. However this cycle of switching foods can make things worse as the dog learns to wait until you give them something they want...more often than not unhealthy or nutritionally incomplete human food.

So what should you do?

Firstly it is really important to make sure there are no medical reasons for their lack of appetite. One of the first signs of ill health is poor appetite so always get a vet check up if you are concerned.

Dogs are not born fussy!

Dogs as a species are naturally scavengers and will usually eat any time they are presented with an opportunity. When a dog starts to refuse a particular food it is usually because they have learned from a previous experience. 'If I leave the plain dry food my human will give me yummy cooked chicken!' The owner then keeps switching foods which might be appealing for a few days or weeks but then the dog gets bored of it and the whole process starts again.

How do you deal with picky dogs then?

Do a little research into what foods are best for your dog. Most dog foods on the market are actually very poor quality especially those in supermarkets. Decide on what you can afford and find the brand and variety that will suit your lifestyle and your dog. With dog food you get what you pay for so go for the best you can afford and remember that large bags work out far cheaper than several smaller bags. You can opt for dry complete food, wet meaty foods, raw foods or homecooked. All have their pro's and cons and all have good varieties and bad varieties. A mixture of all these foods is great for non fussy dogs however for a fusspot you need to stick to one type and only feed that food no matter what.

Dogs are best fed twice per day (younger puppies require more meals). Pop your chosen food in your dogs dish and place it on the floor. Leave it down for ten minutes and regardless of whether they have eaten any remove it. Place it back down at the next meal time. Wet food should be covered between meals if untouched but dry food will be fine for a few days.

Do not feed any treats, scraps or tit bits in between meals! Stick to same routine for meal times and make sure everyone in the family sticks to the same rules.

Most dogs will usually decide to eat within a day or two. If you get to the end of day three and they haven't touched a single piece of food then you may need to consider whether they simply really dislike what you are offering. This can often be the case with dry foods, its a bit like eating plain cereal for every meal. If you dog is still bright, alert and has plenty energy consider stretching to a fourth day. As long as they are fit and healthy and drinking water this is not going to harm them.

If there is still no signs of eating then also consider if there is some sort of behaviour issue surrounding food. Have they had a bad experience with their food or food bowl? Did a sudden noise in the kitchen scare them previously? Have they been punished for guarding?

If in doubt about your dogs mental or physical health then do not hesistate to contact your vet or a qualified behaviourist for further advice. Most dogs dog give in within a day or two once they realise nothing better is coming along. Try not to panic about them starving, no healthy dog will do this but they will pick up on your stress! The odd special meal is okay but they must be happy with their normal diet. Its also worth remembering that some dogs are just not big eaters. As long as they are active, healthy and a good weight for their breed/build then don't worry too much.

A summary from this years UKRCB dog behaviour seminar.

Life Skills Puppies Need to Learn:

1. I have confidence

2. I like surprises

3. I like to be touched

4. I can't do everything & I can't have everything

5. I can be calm

6. I know (and can obey) the rules

7. I can listen

8. I have good manners

9. I need help to make the right choice

10. I have the right to be a dog

A good puppy class will help you teach these skills but even then a 6 week course does not create the perfect dog. Training must carry on for life!

The lead is there to protect, it is not there to control the dog.

It doesn't help to concentrate on what you DON'T want a dog to do. You have to focus on what you DO want.

Does "down" mean get off the sofa, lie down or don't jump up? Are you confused? Imagine how the dog must feel if the one word means so many different things.....

Every puppy is an individual even within the same litter of the same breed.

Hope that's given you some food for thought!