Dogs bark. We all know this. So why does this seem to be a major behaviour problem these days? Perhaps it’s because dogs are living in smaller areas such as security estates and complexes. Perhaps people work longer hours and leave dogs alone for longer. Perhaps dogs don’t go on as many walks or don’t get as much opportunity to be social with new people and/or dogs. Perhaps we’ve become a less tolerant society? Whatever the reason, excessive barking can be distressing to both owners and dogs and should be addressed as soon as possible.

The first thing to do is to determine why your dog is barking. Fear? Boredom? The neighbour’s cat? There are specific protocols based on the underlying cause of the behaviour, but there is one common thread when it comes to the solutions: give the dog an alternative behaviour. This could be in the form of brain games, scatter feeding, chew toys, and/or restricting access to the area in which they usually bark. 

TOP TIP: Anti-bark collars are never recommended because they do not address the root of the behaviour. These collars cause the dog to a) become depressed and shut down or b) express the underlying emotion with another undesirable behaviour such as chewing the furniture or aggression. If you are struggling with excessive barking, contact a certified trainer or behaviourist to give you a science-based approach to reducing barking while protecting your dog’s emotional well-being.

​Feral cats are the same species as pet cats. The only difference is that feral cats have not come into direct contact with people during their socialization period (between 2-7 weeks of age). This causes them to avoid humans, much like a wild animal would. It’s for this reason that it is not recommended to take in a feral cat to live in a home, as it would be comparable to taking in and attempting to tame any other wild animal. 

Feral colonies are usually found where there is a steady supply of food, such as near restaurants or shopping centres. There is much debate about how to manage feral colonies—if they are removed, new (breeding) cats will replace them—but the one thing everyone can agree on is that the growth in the population of cats needs to be controlled.

This is done by TNR: humanely trapping the cats, spaying, and releasing back into the area so she can continue to live without breeding. A small tip of the cat's ear is removed so that people monitoring the colony know which cats have already been sterilized. 

TOP TIP: Unlike ferals, “stray” cats are those who once lived in a home. Strays can, therefore, be rehomed. A stray cat is more likely to approach you when found. A stray should be checked for a collar and/or microchip and taken to your local SPCA to be reunited with the owner or put up for adoption.

Puppies need to learn where the appropriate place is to eliminate: they don’t come pre-programmed! This takes time, patience and consistency, but doing the work in the beginning will
be worth it in the long run!

Training Steps

• Be consistent!    
• Puppy must be taken outside to the same spot to eliminate:

- after eating, drinking, sleeping, playing.
- first thing in the morning, last thing at night, potentially a few times in between.
- at least every hour, depending on size/age.

• Anticipate when she needs to go by watching for behaviours like sniffing, circling, scratching, and restlessness, then immediately coax her outside.
• Allow her to walk to the area so that she learns the way (instead of picking her up).
• Wait calmly without offering too much attention until after she does her business.
• When she eliminates, reward with a few yummy treats, praise, and play! Make it really clear that going in the right place means that great things happen.
• Get her used to wet surfaces as early as possible, so she is comfortable eliminating outside when it rains.
• Never allow unlimited access to areas until she is fully trained.
• If she does make a mistake, interrupt urination and take her to the designated area, then reward for going in the right spot. You can’t interrupt defecation once it has begun, so just clean up and try to be more careful next time.
• When cleaning mistakes, avoid products that contain ammonia as this encourages your puppy to repeatedly use this area. C02 based cleaners and surgical spirits work best at breaking down the scent of puppy’s waste. 

TOP TIP: If your puppy makes a mistake inside the house, avoid scolding, reprimanding, or punishing as this only teaches her to be scared of your presence. She will be afraid to eliminate when you’re around so may leave little surprises in and around the house while you’re away. Rather amp up your supervision and structure, learn to better notice the signs that she is ready to go, and increase the frequency of visits to the toiling area.

The last thing you want to be doing is rushing your pets to the emergency room when you could be getting stuck in the holiday festivities. Click here to read how to keep your pets safe this Christmas…


1. Routines: like us humans, pets become quite accustomed to their daily routines. Over the holidays, many things change including work schedules, the number of visitors in the home, running errands, children home for holidays, etc. These changes can create some uncertainty in your pets and increase stress levels. Try to keep to at least one activity that they can count on per day, such as a walk, a game in the garden, or a delicious chew toy. This routine will provide a sense of comfort in an otherwise unpredictable time.

2. Guests: many dogs and cats only take a liking to a select few humans. If you are expecting guests, make sure your animals have a safe spot where they can retreat away from the frenzy. Even if your pet appears to be coping with all the added interaction, take them to the “safe zone” periodically in case they are overwhelmed and are struggling to disengage. Most of all, be patient with your pets; they did not see all of this coming, so they may behave out of character. Avoid punishment and reprimands and rather learn from such situations to avoid or manage them in future.

3. Gates and doors: unfortunately many pets go missing this time of year. Make sure that visitors and/or house sitters know which doors need to be kept closed so that your animals don’t bolt out of your property.


4. Decorations: Creating the perfect holiday ambience often involves adding some sparkle and rearranging furniture. This can unsettle your pets, which could potentially encourage anything from investigation of the tree (cat owners beware) to unexpected marking on the presents underneath it.

• Keep the tree away from shelves to prevent cats from exploring their base jumping skills.
• Decorate the tree towards the top to minimise the temptation of playing with low-hanging danglers. 
• Avoid “edible” ornaments like cookies or chocolates.
• Place the tree on a raised step/counter or behind a baby gate.
• Keep Christmas lights away from where they can be chewed. 
• Be mindful of what decorations you use in terms of toxicity and choking hazards: tinsel, pine needles, plastic, wrapping paper, string, candles, ivy, holly, mistletoe and poinsettias can all be harmful to pets so keep these out of reach, or choose other decor.

  5. Food: Many foods that are served in vast quantities at this time of year are very dangerous to pets. Remember that dogs are opportunistic scavengers, so even the smartest and best trained animals will take a chance if the reward is high enough (think: giant turkey leg). If need be, keep your dog on a leash or separate them from serving areas.

• Do not give pets cooked bones; these can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.
• Keep alcoholic drinks and ashtrays on high surfaces so that pets aren’t tempted to investigate. 
• Don’t let small chocolates get lost in the sea of wrapping paper; your pooch will nose them out with ease. 
• Raisins, xylitol, grapes, macadamia nuts, mince pies, mold (in left over bread/dairy) can be toxic to animals.
• Prevent access to your rubbish bin by keeping it in a securely separated location.​

On the flip side, some leftovers (like turkey, lamb, ham, carrots, eggs, sweet potato, etc.) can be a healthy treat for your pets so don’t forget to include them in the merriment where possible!

6. Toys! Children aren’t the only ones who want presents! Take this opportunity to get something special for your furry friends. A stuffed Kong, a tasty raw bone, a destroyable teddy, a sprinkle of catnip, a tug rope, an interactive feeder, or any of the options found here are wonderful options to keep your pets busy, relaxed and feeling great this holiday!