PUSHOVER PET PARENTS: One in three pups don’t know right from wrong

ACANA High Protein Dog Treats has today revealed the challenges of pet parenting across the UK, as it turns out we’re all softies when it comes to pet training. Over half (59 per cent) of those surveyed said that while a cute trick like ‘paw’ or ‘roll over’ are easily accomplished, owners have a ruff time trying to shift the dog from the best spot on the sofa.

With over a quarter of owners (28 per cent) spending a maximum of 10 minutes on house training before rolling over, and the national average being just 22 minutes, it comes as no surprise that the nation’s pups think they’re the leader of the pack.

The UK likes to keep it playful, with owners more likely to spend their time teaching party tricks to their dog over 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’.

We all just want to connect with our canine companions, as 20 per cent of respondents say they taught their pup ‘paw’ first, while just five per cent prioritised ‘off’. Only six per cent led with ‘drop it’ and just 11 per cent pushed for ‘down’. However, when it comes to party tricks, pet parents tend to rover-dose, spending an hour just training fun commands such as spin, play dead, and roll over.

All of this playtime has resulted in over third of owners (39 per cent) admitting they’re not sure if their dog knows right from wrong, as nearly the same amount (38 per cent) that say they’ve coaxed their pet into returning a slipper or sock by using a treat. The focus on fun over function has us all barking up the wrong tree, with 30 per cent of respondents saying their pup often falls back into bad habits after being trained.

With pet parents forever falling for puppy-dog eyes and wagging tails, it seems the days of ‘blame it on the dog’ are a thing of the past. In fact, when asked who they’re most likely to fur-give and let off scot-free, pets topped the list above children and partners.

Dog – 41 per cent
Children – 29 per cent
Partner – 25 per cent
No one – 18 per cent
Parents – 9 per cent
Siblings – 7 per cent
Boss – 4 per cent
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. 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, who uses ACANA’s High-Protein Dog Treats to train her pets 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!