Pawsitively Spoilt
How to raise a happy & healthy oodle - tips from from dog experts to help you with the day to day challenges of raising a happy & healthy dog with love.
Pawsitively Spoilt
Why Does My Dog Do This With Lara Shannon
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Why Does My Dog Do That? Understanding Your Dog's Weird and Wonderful Behaviours
Ever wondered why your dog steals your socks, gets the zoomies, eats grass or insists on sitting on your feet? You're not alone.
In this episode of the Pawsitively Spoilt Podcast, Tanya is joined by dog behaviour expert Lara Shannon to answer some of the most common (and often hilarious) questions dog owners ask.
Together, they unpack the science and instincts behind everyday canine behaviours, helping you better understand what your dog is trying to tell you. From quirky habits to behaviours that may signal something more, this episode is packed with practical insights for every dog owner.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why dogs eat grass
- Why they carry food away from their bowl before eating
- How they always manage to spit out tablets hidden in treats
- Why dogs twitch, bark or run in their sleep
- Why they spin in circles before lying down
- The reason dogs dig on couches and beds
- Why they bring you toys but won't let you have them
- What paw chewing could mean
- Why dogs steal socks and other household items
- What causes the famous "zoomies"
- Why some dogs love sitting on your feet
Whether you're raising a Cavoodle, another oodle, or any breed of dog, this episode will help you understand the behaviours that leave so many owners scratching their heads.
Tune in to discover what your dog's quirky habits really mean—and when they're perfectly normal versus when it's worth seeking professional advice.
About Lara Shannon
Lara Shannon is one Australia’s leading animal welfare advocates and canine experts, reaching over five million Australians each year through her education work, books and TV shows to help improve the lives of companion animals.
A certified dog trainer, behaviourist and pet food nutrition specialist, Lara has been a regular on Australian TV and radio stations for the past three decades promoting important animal conservation, dog training, behaviour and other pet care issues.
She is the Executive Producer and Host of the popular Channel 10 TV shows, Pooches at Play and The Dog Down Under, as well as 7TWO’s Animal SOS Australia and Editor of Poochesatplay.com.
Through her TV shows, digital platforms and books, World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog), as well as her work with animal shelters and pet charities, Lara’s mission is to help reduce the needless euthanasia of adoptable shelter animals to zero, and to help dog owners provide their dogs with the healthiest, happiest life possible.
Further resources and to order Lara’s books visit: https://poochesatplay.com/
To learn more about Lara visit: https://larashannon.com/
FInd her on social media:
Instagram: @poochesatplay @larashannon
Facebook: @poochesatplay @larashannonau
TikTok: @larashannon01
We all love our oodles, but have you ever wondered why they did something in particular? And we're going to address a few of those things in today's episode of Why Does My Dog Do This with the fabulous Lara Shannon from Channel 10. So keep listening. Who's positively spoiled? If you have a spoiled oodle just like me and many others, then you're listening to the right podcast. Positively spoiled is a podcast focusing on helping you raise a happy and healthy oodle. Now we know just how fussy, cute, loving, and sometimes challenging they can be. But hey, us two-legged can't resist a cute, four-legged face. I'm Tanya, Chief Porson, pet concierge, and temporary porrent to many small dogs that are part of the extended oodle family here at Three Sports Dogs. As a lifelong small dog owner and temporary porrant to many other oodles and many small dogs, I have seen it all, and this podcast is here to help you raise the happiest and healthiest oodle that you can. And hey, we don't discriminate. So if you have any other breed of dog, you'll find the podcast relevant and helpful too. So pause up and let's get into today's episode. Hey everybody, it's uh Tanya Williams, Chief Paulson at Three Sport Dogs, and the host of the Positively Spoilt Podcast. And yes, we have another episode today, and this one is about why my dog does that. Because, you know, like our dogs do all these weird and crazy things sometimes, and we sit there and go, why are they doing that? It makes no sense. And uh just like our last series, I've got the person to talk to about that, and that is the fabulous Lara Shannon, which you probably know from Channel 10's Pooches at PayPlay. She is a dog behavioralist, she's an author, she's a producer, she wears lots and lots of hats. You will have seen her everywhere. Um, but thank you so much for uh um agreeing to come on the show again, Lara.
SPEAKER_00Pleasure, always a pleasure to talk about dogs.
SPEAKER_01I know you're a bit like me. We can just talk about dogs all day, right? Exactly. Do you want to um start by giving people a much better introduction than what I've given you and um just telling people about a bit more about who you are and what it is you do every day?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sure. So uh oh no, it was a very nice intro, thank you. So, yes, I guess my main um baby, so to speak, is Futures at Play, the TV show that's been on channel 10 now. We've just finished completing filming for season 11, so it's gone. I know it's gone so quickly. So it's great to have another series um up again, particularly in the world of television that's uh slowly, slowly uh creeping towards a very different landscape, a lot of online. But um, yeah, so I love doing that because it's all about educating pet owners. We do a lot of cat stories as well. Um, so it's not just our dogs that we talk about, but it's all about sort of providing uh health advice, behavior advice, grooming, training, anything that you know pet owners need to know or should be across. Um, so that's sort of day-to-day my main project, um, as well as uh there's been a couple of other shows, but Pooch's is definitely the main one, along with um my books as well, and just you know, getting out there and doing a lot of the pet events as well. You might see me at the Dog Lovers.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I saw your dog lovers at Brisbane, yes.
SPEAKER_00We did said hello there. So um love just getting out in the community as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it is, and it's great to say there are so many more of these um dog events happening. Um, you know, I run a couple of local events and and love doing them. It's such a great way to meet people and talk about the issues that our dogs are having because a lot of us are having the same sorts of issues, which is why this podcast exists, is to help people educate themselves about the stuff they don't know and they probably should know. Um, but you know, we're not experts, which is why I talk to experts about all this stuff. Because as much as I think I know a lot of stuff, I'll talk to someone like you and go, oh my god, I learned something new yet again. Um so let's dive into uh everything. And it's one of those things, like when our dogs do something weird, we think, why are they doing that? It's always, I mean, obviously we can go to Google and get 50 different answers, but I'd rather talk to someone who actually knows about this stuff. So my first question is why does my dog eat grass?
SPEAKER_00Well, it's funny. I actually just posted a um uh video on that one on socials because it is get asked a lot. And my two boys, boy, they like to eat a bit of grass as well in their time. So um, you know, there's actually quite a few reasons for it, and we don't know one particular one. There's obviously the one where people talk about that they could be missing some nutrients in their diet. So if we look back to what our dog ancestors would be eating in the wild, of course, they would be hunting down their prey inside the body of their prey, say it was a rabbit, there's lots of uh nice vegetation inside of that. So they're getting all those nutrients from their prey, but also when times were scarce, they might be eating the grass or the leaves as well just to get by. Um, so it can go back to all those ancestral needs. And perhaps if a dog, say, for example, is on just a dry, you know, very low quality dry kibble only, maybe they are missing out on something and that helps fulfill that. Um, so that's sort of one idea. Um, secondly, which I've actually just sort of seen a bit of research saying not so much proven now, but that you know, they eat it when they're feeling sick to vomit back up.
SPEAKER_01Doesn't always the most common one that I hear, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. And it, you know, they doesn't do it occasionally. I know when Vindy, my anxious boy, he's he gets a few tummy upsets. So he uh if he's feeling quite sick, he'll just dart out the back and go and munch on some grass. And I know that he's actually going to be sick a bit later, but other times they'll eat it and they're not sick at all, so it's not kind of a steadfast that's why they do it either. Um like the taste of it, sometimes it's got a bit of uh water and moisture on it as well, so becomes habitual, you know, lots of different reasons actually. And then sometimes as well, there's some out there that they could also be using it to cleanse parasites when it comes out the other end.
SPEAKER_01Ah, interesting. I haven't heard that one before. We've got a patch of grass at the front of our house. So when people are arriving with their dogs, a lot of them do their business there, they're number ones, and dogs like always love to lick that and eat that grass. I'm like, oh, that's gross, someone's just done something there, and they're like, Oh no, this is good, and they and I'm just like, there must be something about the taste of that because probably got so many different things on it at this point. Yeah, it's like a small sport of grass.
SPEAKER_00Yes, Darcy would be there, he loves it. His jaw starts chattering, and yeah, he, you know, of course, it does retain all those smells of the urine. So that's kind of like the local telephone box as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. Okay, so um let's talk about this. Is something that my dog does, and he's done it forever. And I wonder why he does it. And it's why does my dog carry food away from his bowl when he's eating it? He goes and he sits it on his bed and he'll eat one piece, he goes back to the bowl, and then he gets it, and I'm just like, What are you doing? Just eat it out of your bowl. Like, why do they do that?
SPEAKER_00Darcy does that all the time as well. It's quite hilarious. Um, so again, a few reasons. I mean, look, a lot of these, you know, we're really just assuming because they can't tell us, but often, you know, it makes sense that it goes back to their um instinct, which is, you know, when they're prey, they're very vulnerable out in the open. So they want to take it back to their den where they feel nice and safe away from other predators. Um, in a multi-dog home, like I've got here. Um, I know there's a bit of eyeballing that goes on. Vindy, my anxious one, he'll sort of be eating his food with his eyes up the whole time. So he's always watching what's going on, but very much in the bowl. Whereas Darcy will run, grab it, go back to his bed. So a lot of times, as well, comfort, it's nice and comfortable in their bed. So um it kind of they're the two reasons. One, instinct to get away from where they're open, exposed. Which makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. At a time that they're very vulnerable as well. Eating is a very vulnerable time, as is toileting for an animal. So um, that's sort of the primary one. And secondly, comfort.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and that's the thing, he always does it on his he goes to his bed. So it's like, okay, that I get that that makes sense when you explain it that way as well. Um, and this is something else that he does as well, which drives me crazy. And I swear I don't know how the tablet knows where the tablet is, but why do they have the ability to pick the tablet out of the treat without you know, they can literally find this tiny little tablet and tree, and you just go, how can you possibly get around that? Like, I like and it do we have guests that do the same thing, they'll know it's in there. I don't know whether they can smell it. Like, how do they know the tablet is in the treat?
SPEAKER_00Yes, there is. So the big one, of course, um, with dogs being able to pull out those tablets is their sense of smell. So a lot of people think dogs are going by taste. Everything about what our dogs is doing is by their nose. So they can smell that little tablet a mile away, doesn't matter how good we hide it. So that's why in something where it's not, you know, I sort of use the cheese because it's a bit heated up a lot more smellier is a great one to hide it in, but generally it's just that sense of smell.
SPEAKER_01Because you just think, because that's what I thought does do some of these tablets actually have smells like you wouldn't think that a little like a worming tablet might or something, but like some of the other ones, I'm like, that doesn't like I can't obviously can't smell anything, but obviously they can. But I was like, he can't, like surely, and but there you go. So it's he can actually smell it in there. We're gonna try his cheese next, buddy. Yeah, and see it must be looking at me.
SPEAKER_00You know, and so they've also been you know so good at working out what's the good stuff and what's not so good, so you know that's why they're so fussy and pick through their food as well.
SPEAKER_01Yes, he does that, and it's that thing. Sometimes he wants to eat his kangaroo mints, and then sometimes he wants to eat his chicken, and then you literally pick and you just go, Okay, buddy, you can just you know have whatever you want. But it's um it's it's weird, like it's frustrating as an owner when you see them doing something going, I don't understand why you're doing that.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely, it always comes down to the nose.
SPEAKER_01That's right, which is a good way of looking at all their behavior, isn't it? Um, okay, so here's another one as well. Why does my dog twitch, bark, or run in their sleep? Yeah, and they look so damn cute and adorable when they do it. And you see, you hear this little and the little legs twitching. I I always used to think, oh, it's because they're dreaming of of like their owner or or something, but is that actually a myth, or is there a reason why they're actually making those little sounds and and little movements?
SPEAKER_00Well, dogs do dream just like we do as well. So that's been proven. So, yes, and they do apparently normally dream about us, which is nice to know, except when they're growling. Um, so a lot of the time, but it's also they go through that REM sleep as well, or where their rapid eye movements sleep as well. So, very much for the same as us when we dream and sometimes get very active moving around. Our dogs are doing it in the same way as well. So, yes, they do mimic us in terms of our of their dreaming and have those good and bad dreams as well. I know Vindy, uh Darcy runs a lot um in his dreams. There's a few growls as well, and Vindy's definitely twitching and running and um yelping a bit more, which is always a bit concerning.
SPEAKER_01I know, and you because you hear it and you're like, and like Nia will start really quiet, and all of a sudden it gets louder, and I'm like, hey buddy, it's all right. Because if I'm like, is he having a bad dream? Is that why he's like making so much noise? Um, and I think you always want to know what's going on. Um, and I know that I just wish they could talk and explain it to us, but it's we all yeah, yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00It's that rapid eye movement, just like us.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, okay. So, why does my dog spin around in circles before lying down? And I think I see so many of our guests do this, they'll be spinning and you just go, just sit down already, and they're on the blanket and they're spinning around in circles and they're doing all that. Like, is that a denning thing? Is that is it a comfort thing? Like, what are they actually trying to do?
SPEAKER_00Yes, uh, look, there's all of these I've got videos. I think of my boys, I'm always filming them and sharing them during these actions. So, again, very much goes back to instinct and their wild wolf ancestors. So, making their bed for comfort, also keeping them warm, um, is a big one because obviously bearing, and that's sort of why our dogs curl up as well to protect those internal organs. So comfort is a big one, though. You know, as you say, a bit questionable because sometimes I'll be spinning around and around and then they get back to exactly the same position that they were in. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Anyway, you literally did not move anywhere.
SPEAKER_00Like, okay, right now, glad you spent five minutes doing that. But again, yeah, coming back to that instinctual need, digging up the dirt, making their den nice and comfortable, digging a hole if they need to sort of camouflage themselves or keep warm as well. So we just can't get the instinct out of our modern-day dogs still.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And I guess that leads into my next question, which could be the same sort of answer as I know every night before we go to bed, I've got like a couple of pillows that are next to the bed. And Neo will literally stand and he digs in them. And I'm like, what are you doing, dude? And is it the same sort of thing that he's trying to nest? Like it's just a weird thing where he just will scratch at this pillow and then all of a sudden he'll just pump down.
SPEAKER_00Darcy all over again on that one. Yes, so very much so. And Darcy's a terrier, so again, that often he's and he's a true terrier. So that really inclines, you know, he loves to get in there and dig and you know, bury himself in his litter, he gets quite cold. So again, very much the same sort of reason that they're circling, they're digging, they're just trying to make themselves as comfy as possible, as safe as possible, um, and as warm as possible as well. Or cold, or cool as well. Don't forget if it's super hot digging that hole um can keep them cool as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's true. I was I guess if they're sitting in like dirt or something like that, that can actually cool them down rather than yeah, keep them warm, which yeah. Yes, um you've got to love a little the little quirks that they have, don't you? Um, why does a dog or you know my dog bring toys to me gets all excited, but he won't actually let me take them. I'm like, give it here. And he's like, nope, but I'm got I've got it, and I want you to see it, but I'm not actually gonna give it to you so you can throw it for me. Why is it they do that?
SPEAKER_00Exactly. It's so much fun if you've got to chase them. So they're not necessarily wanting you to take it at all. It is more about the game. I know Vindy's always bringing it, and I'm like, do you want me to chase you? So then he's like, and he runs off with it. So we have this good fun game to chase. So then, of course, I've reinforced him bringing me the dolly and running away with it. Um, I have taught him leave it, so I think it is important that you do teach leave it so that you can take it as well. But really, it's just an invitation to play most and foremost, and it's a lot of fun as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and we often we often get guests who'll say, just watch your socks because they'll grab on the socks and then that same thing, they won't eat them or anything, but they just want you to chase them around the house to get the sock.
SPEAKER_00It was just like yes, again, that one's Vindy. I think my between my two dogs, they do all of this.
SPEAKER_01Um great content though, so you can just film and share it.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. So um, with the socks, Vindi, I know that was a question you were gonna ask me as well, but since we've mentioned them, they smell super stinky like us, don't they? So um that's the big thing. Uh, dogs love to be comforted by our clothes, by our socks, anything that smells like us. So um that's why they are so enticing and why a lot of dogs actually do ingest them. Um, but if they just wanted to play again, they're just like a toy half the time. And probably I, you know, with Vindy, my dog, I throw them at him and throw them on his eyes and make it a big fun game. So there's no surprise whenever I'm pulling my socks on and off, he's he's wanting to play a game.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. One of my girls, Tia, she used to, my husband would get home from work and he was trady, um, Chucky's work clothes on the floor, which would drive me nuts to start with. But she would literally go and then scooch around and curl up, and I'd go, they stink and they're sweaty, and she would just curl up in this, and I'm just like, okay, is it just because you want daddy's smell on you? Like it was the same sort of thing. I was just like, obviously, they smell of him because he's been in them all day. But she would just curl up on his work clothes. Is it a similar sort of thing? It's just about the scent.
SPEAKER_00The earlier the better. Um, so it's also a really good thing as well. You know, a lot of for a lot of people that have dogs with separation anxiety, it's actually quite a useful thing as well to leave them an item of clothing that you've worn. Um, in some instances, you know, just leaving that, and which is why a lot of dogs go to the bed as well in the bedroom, because that's the place that smells like us, or you know, a favorite chair. Um, but it's a really great way to leave them a bit of a scent and give them a bit of comfort. So that's why they love it, and it's also a very useful tool in those cases as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. We get um quite a few guests that do that because they've got, you know, more anxious dogs and whatever, and they'll go, Oh, yeah, I've just put my shirt in in their crate or in their amongst their bed and and stuff. So they've got obviously got that scent so they can um so they can smell them and know mum and dad are like their scents around. So um, and look, how long does that scent actually that this is not on the list of questions, but how long does that scent actually ask for? If you did that, because you'd scent obviously lessons over time, like did would that only last for 24 hours or does it last a longer period, do you know?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, their sense of smell being so smelled, they can they can, you know, they can smell urine when you've wiped it up and think it's all washed away and you can't smell it yourself, so they can smell those clothes for a very long time. Um so for them, that scent, thank God that could last for ages. You know, that's why often as well, when you buy a puppy, they often say, you know, leave an item of clothing or a blanket with the mother, so then you can bring it back for your puppy, and that smell will just it'll it'll last likely until it's washed. And even then they can still smell it.
SPEAKER_01Their sense of smell is absolutely amazing, isn't it? Like they just what they can do um with that with that sense is is is so strong. Um my next one's more around a behavioral type thing. So we we see this a lot with oodles, um and it's why does my dog chew on their paws? Like licking and chewing and and and stuff.
SPEAKER_00A very common one. Again, Darcy's been doing a lot of it, so there's a few different reasons. One, well, in Darcy's instance, uh his right paw arthritis. Um dogs lick and chew when they have pain, when it's itchy through boredom, um, if they're anxious, like it's a very self-soothing action as well, the licking and chewing. So it there are so many reasons why dogs can pour. So you really have to pay attention. So if you are noticing that your dog is licking their paws, usually that means that there's it's more than usual. Um, uh, sometimes you know they might lick and groom themselves once a day, maybe twice a day. Yeah, anything more than that, there's something going on. So whether they've stepped and they've got some um environmental allergies um from grasses or some sprays, obviously you have to check for grass seeds is another big one as well. Um, uh again that dermatitis is another. I'm just looking at Vindy thinking about when he chews. His is always allergy-based. Um, pain in their legs as well. So sometimes it can indicate that they've got the pain going on in their body and it's referring down. So it could be coming from their spine or from a certain place going down their legs. So you might see, you know, the the pore might look fine, but it's still really important to see your vet if your dog is really gnawing away on those pores. And if they're a white dog and they've got those red pores, that's a lot of licking, and that would generally, to me, either be allergies or anxiety, and both do need to be treated with your vet.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Is that like the uh the licking in general? So my boy Neo, and he's probably only been he's probably been doing this, I guess, the last couple of years, and maybe it's been since one of his sisters passed away. I have to think of the timing of it. He'll often sit on the lounge and either lick the lounge or lick the blanket. And I'm like, dude, what are you doing? And I'm thinking he's gonna eat a furball or something, but is that an anxiety thing as well? Where it because it's just that constant licking at it.
SPEAKER_00Yes, so that that generally is an anxiety or a self-soothing mechanism. So yeah, generally, I mean it can also be pain, but generally they would be trying to lick the part of their body or their pores or wherever they can get to to self-soothe if it's pain on the body. Um, obviously, of course, if the blanket smells like someone or something, uh, another reason as well. If there's been any treats on there, for example, um, that could be a reason too, but mostly it's that self-soothing, anxiety-related licking.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Okay. Um, this one's more random, an activity. It's the zoomies, right? Like they it's crazy after bath time or certain times of the day where it's zoomy time and they all go crazy. Why do they do that? Like, why is it this set these set times of the day where it's like zoomy time and they and they just go nuts?
SPEAKER_00Yes, now I have to get the uh it's a frenetic random activity burst. I don't know what the what's it called? Oh, periods. I knew it wasn't burst. Um, but basically, they're just adrenaline excitement, feeling good, feeling happy. Um, that's what we tend to see. You know, sometimes if they've had a bath or whatever there and they're super, you know, heightened or their adrenaline's going, but they're also happy that it's over, or you're rubbing them with the towel. And it's like off they go. So yes, it's just a really frenetic random act that they do. Bunnies also do it as well. Uh rabbits get zoomies or binkies where they fing up in the air when they're feeling happy. So it's literally a sign. Maybe it's a bit like us dancing, I don't know. Um, but a bit of a sign that they're feeling happy.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so it's a good thing. It's not a bad thing.
SPEAKER_00It's a good thing. A dog does zoomies, it's always a good thing.
SPEAKER_01Okay, cool. And it's just so damn entertaining to watch as well. And so bloody cute where you're seeing them and you're just like, oh my god, you're just so adorable. Um, this one is is something that more often our guests do to me as well. Why do they sit on your feet? Like if you're sitting there, all of a sudden there's a dog sitting on you, and you're like, what are you doing? It's just like it's like, is it they don't want me to move? Is it the smell? Like, why do they sit on our feet?
SPEAKER_00Well, I guess if it's uh uh pug or shihsu, which uh I can't quite remember off the top of my head now, was bred to, I think it was the pug was bred to warm the emperor's feet. So if you've got a pug, that will be why.
SPEAKER_01These are oodles, these are all precious small oodles.
SPEAKER_00Yes, generally, you know, our dogs are pack animals, they want to be nice and close to us. So mostly it's just that they want to be nice and close. As I'm looking at Vindy next to me, uh, usually that's dark, but yeah, nice wanting to be next to you gives them comfort. Um, you're part of their pack, they just want to be as close as possible. Um, sometimes, again, Vindy could be close to me if he's resource guarding me. So we just have to watch that one as well. Sometimes our dogs will sort of be moving in and protecting us or resource guarding us. So um sometimes it can just be nice that they want to be nice and close, but sometimes we might just need to watch it, particularly if there's a multiple dog household or you've got someone coming up to you. Um, but mostly it's just that they want to be nice and close to us, it gives them comfort, and they think it gives us comfort too, which it obviously does.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Oh, look, it is. I mean, it's the best having all those puppy cuddles. And again, yeah, we get guests that do that. Um, Neo does it as well because he's the only um baby we have left now. Um, so he likes to sit on mummy and just be like, okay, this is my spot. Um, we get it, we get a guest that will do it as well. And and it you'll see that they'll like someone's coming close, it's like, no, she's mine, get away. It's like, no, no, we have to share everybody. Like, there's an up a lot a lot of love to go around. We can do that, but um yeah, I've heard multiple things about the feet thing, about how they're trying to dominate us and and and that it's a negative thing. I was like, it doesn't feel like a negative thing, so you know it's good to understand.
SPEAKER_00Dominance training and that world of alpha and all of that. I mean, that's just been debunked now. You know, science, yeah, science-based training methods don't really work on that mechanism anymore. I mean, certainly there are some breeds, and I'm not a breed at all because every dog is an individual. Yeah, so throwing out the door, that's like while we're on that as well. If your dog's lying in front of you, you can step over them. Doesn't matter, you don't have to get them up and get them to move. So that's obviously a very common one as well. That, you know, you never step over your dog, they have to move for you. Well, not necessarily, doesn't make any difference in the big scheme of things.
SPEAKER_01But I think there's been a lot of that stuff that back, you know, 10 years ago or five years ago, whatever, this is what was was the thing, and this is what, you know, this is what they knew about dogs. But I think there's been a lot of other research and behavioral stuff that's now around where the some of those myths have been debunked, and it's like, no, no, no, this is the you know, we're we're we're constantly learning more and more, aren't we? And things are evolving. Yes.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. And look, and that's not to say, you know, there's there's a nice medium in all of that, in that it is about leadership because dogs do want and need a leader. Um and if you've got a very strong-willed, big uh dog that's you know ready to go, you know, like for example, I I do a bit with Minnie's Bulldog Rescue, and and they're like, you know, you have to be on top of a bulldog. You have to, you know, you have to make sure that you are the boss in that household. And you that's just a trait of those bulldogs, you know. Um, and they they want someone that sets good boundaries and is nice and firm. It doesn't mean punishment, it just means no means no, um, which is something we should with all our dogs, really, let's face it. But um, you know, there's certain dogs that you can be a bit firmer on, you know, than you can than the little sensitive soul. So um it's about still being a really good leader and letting them know that you've got it under control and that they should and can follow you for instruction about what's right, what's wrong, and um, when they should be doing something or not. Um, but yeah, not doing that through, you know, having to be the alpha or dominant. You just need to be a really good leader so that your dog feels comfortable that you've got life under control and they don't need to worry about it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think because that's where a lot of anxiety comes from, isn't it? Where they're not sure of their place in the pack or they're not conf that they don't have that confidence of where they are and you know, all that sort of stuff. And that obviously brings out a lot of issues that we need to deal with then.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Okay, let's let's finish with a fun question. Um if your dog had a job, what would they be fired for? I know you've got two different you're you've got dogs of different nature as well, so you can you can do one or both of you.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, Vindy. Well, Vindy would definitely be fired for either sleeping on the job or stealing the other workers' snacks from the refrigerator. So that would definitely be his too. And Darcy, I don't know, he's a pretty solid worker. That dog could go like he's just non-stop. So um, I don't know if he would get fired. He's very busy, he's very productive, gets a lot done in a day. Yeah, good. Yeah, maybe just being a bit crabby and maybe a little bit too uh bossy, maybe.
SPEAKER_01A bit too much of a micromanaging dog.
SPEAKER_00One of those bosses, yes, definitely micromanaging, yes, exactly. And then, yeah, no, a bit too nosy as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's um it's funny. They look, they've all got their little quirks and their their own little personalities and and stuff. And it's you know, because we have have so many different types um of oodles come and stay with us, it's just really lovely to see how they evolve and change over time, you know, some like what some dogs do over other dogs. And it's interesting. I've had a few conversations this week with people, and we're talking about, you know, how you know often people get a puppy or a young dog and expect this dog to know exactly what it's supposed to do. And it's like we are the ones that need to be trained. It's not the dogs, really, it's us that needs to be trained to be doing the right things for the dogs. Um, so it's not just about them, it's about us and how our our behavior and what we're doing to support them and help them through that whole um you know learning process because it is it's like you know, humans, we all we all have to learn to do something, you know, new and better and stuff. So but yeah, yes, I don't know we can talk about dogs all day, but um yeah, neither of us have time to do that.
SPEAKER_00But that's the thing is yeah, I was just gonna say the biggest thing on that is most of the time it's just you know, a lot of people assume that dogs know what's expected of them and what's the right behaviour, what's the wrong behaviour. Whereas, you know, we need to if we're gonna say no to a dog, we need to show them the alternative instead. Because if we're just saying no all the time, they're like, well, okay, what am I meant to do? Yeah, so um, that's just a really important thing. Um, picking up on that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Thank you so much. It's always a delight to talk to you because I know you know so many things about all these little doggies and their quirks and their behaviors and all the stuff that we go, why do they do that? So so thank you for uh for sharing some of that because I'm sure that there's people going, oh, that's why.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, it always takes it back to a dog in the wild and what they would be doing to keep to better their situation. Dogs are always anything they do is being done to better their situation. That's how they survive.
SPEAKER_01That's a great way of thinking of it too. That makes a lot of sense. Yep. Thank you, Lara. We'll put all your contact details in the show notes. So if you haven't seen Pooches at Play, I mean, I don't know how you couldn't have, it's been around for 11 years, but if you haven't, you've got to go and look at it and obviously go and um check out Lara's books and all the other amazing things that she does every day as well. So um we love having guests like her on um on the podcast. So make sure you go and support and uh make sure you're following her on Instagram as well because I am always getting um great stuff off um the stuff you post on Instagram. I'm like, oh my god, yes, that's a good one. I didn't know that one. Um or share it with the people I know, so make sure you're following her there as well. Thank you, Lara. A pleasure as always for the copy. Oh, as I said, you your human memoir will allow you to do so. See ya. See you. Would you like to know more about the services we provide here at Three Sport Dogs? Now visit our website. Three is in the number three, sportdogs.com.au. Also send me an email if you've got any questions or to request specific topics in future episodes. If you'd like to become a collaborative partner or just to tell me how much you love the podcast, I would love to hear from you.
