DOGGY DON’T CARE: BRITS TEACHING NEW DOGS THE WRONG TRICKS

ACANA High Protein Dog Treats has today revealed the challenges pet parents are facing with training, with the prioritisation of fun over housebreaking being the root cause. Over half (59 per cent) of dog owners surveyed by ACANA reported that while cute tricks like ‘paw’ or ‘roll over’ are easily accomplished, trying to get their dogs out of sofa spots, returning on command, and other more discipline-focused tasks are proving much more taxing.

Famed actress Joanna Page is among the owners facing the task of trying to encourage good behaviour in her dogs – Lola and Bess – as a result of these new statistics, and is using ACANA High Protein Dog treats to get the job done.

Over a quarter of owners (28 per cent) admit to spending a maximum of just 10 minutes on house training before giving up completely, with the national average being just 22 minutes – whereas puppies are shown to take 4-6 months to fully learn and develop good habits*, with consistent, short 5-10 minute bursts of regular training**, incorporating positive reinforcement, proving to be the most effective.

Some owners are spending their time teaching party tricks rather than basic household commands. Over a quarter (28 per cent) came clean to spending more time teaching their dog tricks (e.g. paw and roll over) than the disciplines needed in day-to-day life, and 43 per cent admit they find it more fun to teach their dog tricks than ‘stay’ or ‘heel’.

In fact, one in five owners (20 per cent) said they taught their pup ‘paw’ first, while just five per cent prioritised ‘off’, only six per cent led with ‘drop it’ and just 10 per cent pushed for ‘down’. Pet parents even admitted to spending an hour just training specific party tricks such as spin, play dead and roll over – over five times as much as they do instilling essential discipline and good behaviour.

All of this playtime has resulted in over third of owners (39 per cent) admitting they’re not even sure if their dog knows right from wrong, as nearly the same amount (38 per cent) say they’ve coaxed their pet into non-essential habits such returning a slipper or sock by rewarding with a treat.

These inconsistencies in training times, methods, and rewards result in canine confusion, with just under a third of respondents (30 per cent) saying their pup often falls back into bad habits after being trained. The relaxed approach owners are taking to training is also reflected in their likelihood to forgive puppy-dog eyes, as reports show the household dog is more likely to be forgiven for bad behaviour than any other family member:

1. Dog – 41 per cent
2. Children – 28 per cent
3. Partner – 25 per cent
4. No one – 18 per cent
5. Parents – 9 per cent
6. Siblings – 7 per cent
7. Boss – 4 per cent
8. Grandparents – 4 per cent

Graeme Hall, one of Britain’s best dog trainers and ACANA ambassador, said: “The last 18 months have seen us spend more time than ever with our pets, forming incredibly tight bonds found nowhere else. It’s easy to see why owners let the bad habits slide, especially when it comes to the more difficult elements of training, but spending time teaching the basics will really enhance your relationship with your dog in the long run. We’re a nation of animal lovers and I think it’s arguable we get more satisfaction from treats than our pets do!

“This is what makes ACANA’s offering of High Protein Dog Treats the perfect choice for all owners. Whether you’re teaching the simple or the complicated, if you’re using reward-based training, it can take a lot of treats to achieve results, so making sure your pup is learning through healthy snacks is vital.”

Joanna Page, actress and presenter, said: “I’m definitely more relaxed about training when it comes to my two dogs – so have mastered the cute stuff like giving kisses at the expense of some the more basic household commands! But my busy family life and being mum (to the kids and the dogs!) means I find it challenging to dedicate time for training – or researching the right treats to reward them with. ACANA’s new High-Protein Dog Treats have been a real helping hand now that we’re trying to get back to basic house rules. Not only do the dogs love them, but because they’re packed with protein from fresh meat sources, I can treat them guilt-free!

New ACANA Crunchy Treats are available in 100g bags and come in four tasty flavours: Chicken Liver, Beef Liver, Pork Liver and Turkey Liver. SRP is £3.49.