Thaindian News

Melbourne, October 4 (ANI): A top veterinary behaviourist is urging people to let “dogs be dogs”, and stop chaining their pets to the burdens of modern human life.

Dr. Paul McGreevy insists that people often do not pay attention to the impact of modern life on their cherished pets.

He says that even though dogs have shared a long and unique relationship with humans, the modern human world can be confusing and frustrating for them.

He has written in his new book ‘A Modern Dog’s Life’ that most people expect their pets to be “human”, when dogs in reality are animals that see the world very differently to humans.

“Our chief challenge is to think like dogs rather than expect them to have the same sensitivities we have,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“Let’s not forget that they have only recently begun to adapt to life in this foreign world filled with man-made design and technology.

“How baffling must it be to experience moving vehicles, fire, electricity and chemistry with no knowledge of the relationship between cause and effect. And what about the unnatural smells that assault their hypersensitive nostrils: our cleaners, colognes, cigarettes?

“This is a world far removed from the natural one dogs evolved to inhabit,” he added.

Dr McGreevy, an Associate Professor at Sydney University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and winner of several top awards for his work on animal behaviour, said that properly trained dogs felt they had more control of their world.

“Well-trained dogs get the most out of life,” he said.

“The best owners ‘pay’ their dogs for acceptable behaviour with rewards the dogs value.

“It’s a win/win for both parties. And dogs thrive on learning because it helps to make their world more predictable and controllable. The more control an animal has over its world, the better its quality of life,” he added. (ANI)