The Future of Dog’s Association
The Future of Dog’s Association has been set up to raise the profile of the essential needs of dog’s and to ensure the any local or central government legislation brought in allows for these needs to be met.
Ultimately, we aim to protect dogs’ welfare, protect the enjoyment of owning a dog and help Britain have responsible dog owners with well-behaved dogs.
A Dog’s Essential Need’s
To have a happy healthy dog who can cope appropriately with the environment i.e. not be reactive to say other dogs, people or be running off out of control, there are a number of essential pieces to the puzzle.
Breeding
Some dogs are genetically pre disposed to being anxious, unable to cope with stress as well and thus potentially reactive. Therefore, if buying a dog then potential owners want to be sure they are buying from a responsible breeder who’s bred the dog from well-tempered, secure parents rather than just because the parents looked cute. For more info on breeding click here:
Early Socialisation
What happens from 0 weeks old at the breeder, through to the end of the critical window at 16 weeks but then continued on into adult is essential for a happy healthy secure and well-behaved dog. For example, they must be kept with their litter and mother until at least 5 weeks (the law says 8 weeks). They must be exposed to environmental enrichment in a gradual way. This is different surfaces, smells, ambient temperatures etc. They must receive plenty of gentle tactile touch from 0 weeks from both their mother and people. Prior to 16 weeks they must have gradually and positively experienced the world they are going to live so have met about 100 different dogs, people in a gradual and positive way, experienced, scooters, trains, wheelie bins, and cattle if that’s what’s going to be in their life. This is why Lucy’s Law bans puppy farms as there these needs will not be met and thus very troubled dogs will be bred. For more info on the importance of Early Socialisation:
Essential Need’s
As well as water, diet, shelter and being able to have the tactile touch and love of their people; Dog’s must have the ability to safely run off lead with their own kind in open space each day whilst getting to sniff an enriching environment. Dog’s who’s daily needs are not met due to being kept on leads, only exercised in pens, or just not getting enough exercise in general, are likely to develop behaviour problems such as aggression & compulsive behaviours. Now this is where we come in. Currently councils and government are trying to restrict dogs to leads, restrict where they can exercise, restrict how many dogs can be exercised but there are more and more dogs in the UK and less and less land. There is only limited light each day.
If councils for example made a rule of only 3 dogs per person this will mean:
Less dogs able to get their needs met in daylight and without dogs being left for less than 4hrs.
Less skilled walkers want to do the job as they can earn less.
Walkers less incentivised to become more skilled as they can earn less and are not going to be rewarded from becoming more skilled.
Higher costs for owners so they can afford to give their dogs less.
Ultimately it will mean dogs needs are not met and we have more problematic dogs.
If council and government then say these dogs must go on leads and muzzles, then they won’t be able to sniff properly and won’t get their needs met and so ultimately their behaviour will get worse.
We must therefore unite and campaign to ensure only irresponsible dogs and owners have new restrictions imposed on them and not dogs, individuals, and the dog profession as a whole.
We must therefore ensure that when there is a problem dog and owner that they can have the opportunity to train their dog and not have it subjected to a lead and muzzle for eternity.
To sign the petition to stop this happening in Hammersmith & Fulham and subsequently neighbouring boroughs click here.
To read more about what councils and government can do to help and the changes that must be made. Click here:
To read more about what councils and government can do to help and the changes that must be made. Click here:
For more information on how to train your dog and help doing it, try here:
Of course all this takes time and money. In fact we want £5000/ month fopr a full time political lobbying firm to help us so if you would like to donate to the cause, please click here: