Dog breeds differ enormously to look at. They come in all different sizes and shapes, just compare the giant Great Dane to the tiny Chihuahua. With the different breeds also come different characteristics and abilities.

Most breeds were developed to perform a task of some kind and while not every dog fits its breed description it can provide a good general guide to how that dog may behave.

The breeds fit into a few general categories; hunting dogs, guarding breeds, terriers, hounds, herding dogs and toys.

Each group of dogs has been specifically bred over the years to exaggerate the characteristic that has been required for working. For example the Beagle from the hound group has been bred with short legs (to keep the nose low to the ground), long, floppy ears (to block out distracting sounds), and the stamina and determination to just keep going and not give up when it is on the scent. These traits make for a phenomenal tracking hound but not an easy dog to train. In fact most dog trainers will tell you there’s only one thing harder to train than a Beagle and that’s a Bassett!

We can generalise the temperament of each breed which gives a prospective owner an idea of what his dog will be like. We can also generalise the problems that may be encountered with a breed. For example Collies are well known for developing problems with fixating on anything that moves like light reflections. This is due to the breed being bred to fix sheep with a stare to round them up and move them on. If a working breed like this is not given enough mental and physical stimulation typical breed behaviours can come out, which while they may not be an issue on the farm can become a ‘problem’ for the owners.

Even with a mixed breed dog we can get an idea if we know what breeds make it up. If you take a terrier cross you can base research of that breed on typical terrier behaviours.

For every breed that fits to type there will be someone who tells you that the dog they own does not conform but it is worth doing a little research on any breed that you are interested in so you have an idea of what you can expect.

Sara provide a fantastic service to the stray and abandoned dogs and cats in Lanzarote, caring for them until a new home can be found.

Unfortunately some dogs have problems which makes them more difficult to home. Nervous, aggressive, disabled, deaf, blind dogs can all live out their lives happily in the right home. I try to work with individual cases, training them to make them more suitable to life with a new family.

You can follow the progress of each dog I take on, their problems and how we are getting on.

If you would like to offer a loving, stable home to any of these dogs or any dog from Sara please contact the shelter.

Severo and his new toy!

For the last few sessions I have been working with Severo with a toy, teaching him how to play nicely. Dogs don’t automatically know how to play with people properly and a dog like Severo can get a bit rough so needs a bit of guidance.

I have been using the toy as a reward for good behaviour. He can only have a play with it following carrying out a behaviour like sit or walk to heel. When he has done what I ask on command he can have the toy for a minute.

I have also been teaching

him to

release the toy on command and also to fetch it and return it to me.

I have started him on searching for the toy by hiding it in the field somewhere and then telling him to go and find it. He loves this game as the toy is as much of a reward to him as food is. Once he’s found it he can have a play with it before returning it to me to hide it again. This is a great game for most dogs as not only do they get the toy or treat when they find it; they take so much enjoyment out of the searching for it.

Severo is so desperate for mental stimulation that the work with the toy combined with keeping up the obedience training is really helping him to become a really nice dog. There is one side effect though…..he’s having so much fun with me that he’s started digging his heels in and not wanting to go back to his cage!

Relaxing little by little

Salvador is improving slowly. He is definitely more comfortable on our walks now and is starting very slowly to come out of his shell.

He will now take food from my hand and over the last few sessions we have progressed from me having to crouch down low for him to be relaxed enough to take the food, to me being able to feed him standing up. I am working towards having him actively seeking out the food but I know this is a long way off as I don’t have the hours with him that I need to speed up the process.

He is currently reserved to go to Germany so I am hoping that he will get a flight soon and with full time attention in a family environment, will have a chance to feel secure and more confident.

I am waiting at the moment to find out the status of his adoption. He is supposed to be reserved for a home but has been on the list for quite a while. In my opinion he really needs to be re-homed as soon as possible as the environment in the shelter is not helping him at all.

I will work with anyone who takes him to help him regain his confidence.

I will continue to work with Severo until a new home is found for him and if the new owners want me to I will work with them to help them get the best out of him.

I offer anyone who homes any of the dogs that I have been working with a free settling-in session.

It’s small things that I notice with him; his tail wasn’t held so low today while we were walking and when we stopped he kept it out from between his legs. He is using his nose more and when I sit down with him he has a good sniff of me which is really encouraging.

Other people and most other dogs make him uneasy. Cars, motorbikes, rubbish bags….I could go on. He’s not incurable though and in a loving home will surely improve.