Sasol, in partnership with DARDLEA, AFASA and Buhle Farmers Academy, has an opportunity for young farmers
Sasol, in partnership with DARDLEA, AFASA and Buhle Farmers Academy, has an opportunity for young farmers within the Gert Sibande District Municipality to attend a farmers’ training programme at Buhle Farmers Academy, Delmas Campus.
Selection Criteria:
South African Citizen
18 — 35 years old living in the Gert Sibande District Municipality
Minimum Grade 7
Have access to farming land (Gert Sibande District Municipality)
Able to read and write English
Able to do basic calculations
Willing and able to do manual farm work
Willing to attend training at Buhle Farmers Academy in Delmas from April 2023 to September 2023 (Accommodation will be provided for the successful candidates)
Interested youth must apply by sending a CV, proof of address and certified copy of your ID document with the heading “SASOL FARMERS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME-MLM” to applications@buhle.org.za or fax to 087 803 0563. An application form will be sent back to applicants for completion. Please call 087 803 0563 for assistance.
Sasol in partnership with Summit is offering a Handyman Training Programme
Sasol in partnership with Summit is offering a Handyman Training Programme to learners with an interest in and passion for construction. This will enable learners to gain valuable experience in handyman skills.
Learners who successfully complete this customised programme will be equipped with sought-after construction skills and the ability to launch a career in construction or start their own business. Learners will be exposed to theoretical and practical workplace experience
Failure to provide Sasol with truthful information and valid documents will render your application null and void.
Fraud alert: Sasol will never request you to make any cash deposit/payments as part of the recruitment process. If you do not receive any feedback within 60 days after the closing date of the advert, please consider your application unsuccessful
In line with our commitment to employment equity, we welcome applications from female candidates
Nelspruit: 23 March 2023 – When community members breathed a sigh of relief following the recent floods that claimed a number of lives, police had to deal with yet another drowning incident in Tonga.
Unlike drownings witnessed recently which were mainly accidental, the current drowning of a 27-year-old male is regrettable and police believe that it could have been avoided if people adhered to the call by police to refrain from any form of mob justice.
It is reported that the victim and his friend were allegedly trying to save their lives from the angry mob in Tonga when they ran into Nkomazi river.
One of the two victims is said to have managed to successfully swim across the river whilst his fellow disappeared in the heavy current of Nkomazi river on Friday, 17 March 2023.
His body was spotted by the Police’s Airwing yesterday morning, 22 March 2023, six days after he went missing, about five kilometres from the scene where he reportedly drowned.
After his body was retrieved, paramedics were summoned and he was unfortunately certified dead on the scene. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death that led to the attack and those involved.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi reiterated that whenever there are any suspicions of crime committed then community members should utilise the services of the police rather than taking reckless decisions which might end up claiming people’s lives.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
TWO ADDITIONAL ACCUSED ARRESTED AND RELEASED ON BAIL FOR OVER R14.7 MILLION ESKOM FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING.
MPUMALANGA – Mother and son, Rabela Sara Jones(71) and Godfrey Jason Jones (46) appeared before the Hendrina Magistrate Court alongside Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi (42), a former employee of Eskom who was arrested on Wednesday, 15 March 2023 and remanded in custody Eskom fraud. Their appearance followed after they were arrested by the Hawks’ Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team together with Eskom Forensic Investigators on the same day, facing charges of Theft, Fraud and Money Laundering.
Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi (42)
It is alleged that Eskom advertised a tender for the supply and delivery of pumps at Arnot power station in 2015. Engel Frost Investment was appointed or awarded the tender while assisted by Eskom employee Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi. The company submitted documents which were fraudulent. Furthermore, Nkosi mislead the financial section of Eskom to approve an upfront payment of R14 million to Engel Frost Investment, while in true fact it was false.
Eskom paid R14 million rand to the company but it did not deliver the pumps instead they disappeared. An intensive investigation was conducted by Eskom Forensic Investigators concerning money which was stolen. After they uncovered the shenanigans, the fraud a case was opened and referred to the Middelburg-based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further exploration.
During their probe, it was discovered that from March to April 2013, Nkosi who was employed by Eskom at Arnot Power station as a Senior Buyer allegedly colluded with her accomplices, a director of Angel Frost Investment (PTY) LTD Rabela Sara Jones (71) and her two sons, Godfrey Jason Jones (46) and another one who is on the run. The accused acting in concert defrauded Eskom amount of R14 736 882.00. It is further alleged that the two sons were appointed as signatories in the company.
The three appeared in Hendrina Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 22 March 2023. Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi and Godfrey Jason Jones (46) were granted R100 000.00 bail each while Rabela Sara Jones(71) was granted R30 000.00 with the reasons that she is old and chronic. Their case was postponed to 5 May 2023 for tracing of the fourth accused who failed to appear in court despite being informed. A warrant of arrest was issued against him. Investigation continues.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
BUSINESSWOMAN AND WOMEN IN MINING PROGRAMME BENEFICIARY BELIEVES “DIFFICULT DOES NOT MEAN IMPOSSIBLE”
One of the twenty beneficiaries of the Seriti-sponsored Women in Mining programme, designed and executed by Collective Value Creation (CVC), is Johannesburg based Brand and Communication Specialist, Tebogo Rametse, a BTech degree holder in Public Relations and Communication Management at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Tebogo Rametse
Tebogo launched the Aineo Group (Pty) Ltd in July 2018 because she came to realise that there were not many people in her area of speciality within the mining industry, as it requires an extensive understanding of the legislative requirements, safety regulations and community dynamics. She decided to fill the gap and “monetise my time and skills” together with two part-time employees.
Five years later this Pretoria-born and bred woman has become a major player in the fields of strategic communications, corporate identity, brand management as well as event management with a specific focus on mining companies.
The Women in Mining programme, launched in May 2022 has so far delivered on many of Tebogo’s expectations and she specifically values the training so far it has assisted her in changing her pricing methods and her company’s positioning which has had a positive impact on the bottom line. She says she now understands how to maximise on social media and other platforms.
Guinevere Thomas, Brand and Marketing Coach/Consultant has the following to say: “It was such a pleasure to work with Tebogo on the marketing and branding of her business due to her knowledge and expertise in the field. As a result, she was able to better position her business, aligned to her brand ethos.“
Tebogo confirms that she now sees opportunities in areas she would have overlooked and appreciates the power of using technology to gain exposure. “On a personal level, I have built more confidence and I now take more shots when opportunities present themselves. I have also learnt how to pitch my business to prospective clients in a concise and impactful manner.”
Tebogo started her career with an internship at the firm Junxtion Communications where she learnt the trade of the public relations field. Over the years she took up positions at TUT as a junior lecturer; at De Beers in Limpopo as an employment equity coordinator; communications coordinator; communications manager at Toyota and communication specialist at BHP Billiton. Prior to the demerger of BHP Billiton to South32, she took up the role of brand and events principal, managing the brand transition from BHP Billiton to the South32 Africa region.
She loves the freedom of being a business owner which enables her to work for and with a variety of people, ideas and projects. Although stressful at times, she enjoys being in control and sharing her specialised knowledge with her clients.
She has the following advice to other women who wants to start a business: “Just go for it as there is always a need for your type of skill somewhere. Arm yourself with knowledge and make the best of all networking opportunities. Know where every rand in your business goes, and get a professional to help you to be SARS compliant for example. Build a network and partner with other professionals in your space and remember to always exceed expectations; in that way, you would be building a good reputation, something that cannot be quantified but will always work in your favour. People always remember excellence and failure alike, therefore, be remembered for excellence.”
Commenting on the Women in Mining programme which will run until the end of 2023, she says that she is learning to think bigger and to consider no idea as useless. The ladies are also taught self-care and Tebogo is taking this to heart. She makes a considerable effort to connect more with her own spirituality, praying and meditating as well as consulting with people who may need spiritual solutions and alignment.
She also enjoys family time with her husband and two sons, listening to Afropop, Afrobeat, Rock, House Music and Amapiano as well as reading comedy fiction and health-related literature.
And when she retires from the public relations and communications scene one day? “I would like to have a retreat for business people where they can connect with their African spirituality, cleanse the body, mind and spirit in a holistic way.”
ACCUSED REMANDED IN CUSTODY FOR R14.7 MILLION ESKOM FRAUD. THEFT AND MONEY LAUNDERING.
MPUMALANGA – Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi(42) was remanded in custody by the Hendrina Magistrate Court on Friday, 17 March 2023 for Theft, Fraud and Money Laundering.
Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi (42)
Her appearance followed an intensive investigation conducted by Eskom Forensic Investigators concerning money, which was stolen from Eskom. After completion of the investigation, the case was handed over to the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation.
During their probe, it was discovered that from March to April 2013, Nkosi, who was employed by Eskom at Arnot Power Station as a Senior Buyer, colluded with accused number 2 a director of Angel Frost Investment(PTY) LTD. The accused acting in concert (arrange (something) by mutual agreement or coordination) defrauded Eskom amount of R14 736 882.00.
The accused was arrested, charged, and appeared before the Hendrina Magistrate on Friday, 17 March 2023. The case was postponed to 22 March 2023 for possible bail application and the appearance of the other four suspects. The accused was remanded in custody. Investigation continues.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
WHAT IS YOUR DOG TELLING YOU WITH THEIR BODY LANGUAGE FROM HEAD TO TAIL?
Most animals use body language as well as sound and smell in order to communicate with one another. Body language is the movements of animals’ facial expressions, eye behaviour, posture, and the movement of their body parts is inherent in all creatures including humans.
A common saying in animal welfare is that we are the voice for the voiceless, but more recently I agree rather with the saying that we are the voice of the unheard. So, my question to you is this: Are you hearing what your dog is saying through their body language?
Many people think that it is easy to ‘read’ their dog, but there are so many subtle signs that many people don’t pick up on. Decoding your pet or another pet’s body language is not as straightforward as looking at a tail wag or the ears. Lexi Donnelly, a behaviour consultant at Best Friends Animal Society, shares how you usually see several dog body language signals happening at once. To make dog expressions even more nuanced, “Body language signals can be challenging due to breed difference and physical appearance, such as cropped ears, docked tails, wrinkles, etc.”
WHY IS BODY LANGUAGE IMPORTANT?
Dogs don’t use words, but through the gestures of our canine companions they can express a wide range of emotions and actions and it is crucial for communication. Your ability to understand and interpret body language can help you to pick up on unspoken issues or feelings in your pets. When we understand body language, we can better understand our pets and meet their needs which will deepen our relationship. Dog bites and fights can also be prevented by better understanding and predicting behaviour.
I am not a behaviourist, but I will share some of the basics I have learned about this topic. We can’t begin to cover the full extent of dog body language (or other animals) in one article, so we will look at the basics only! Check out these PAWSOME BODY LANGUAGE pictures from www.RPLUSDOGS.com and here are a few body gestures from other species.
To understand a dog’s communication signals, it’s necessary to pay attention to specific body postures, movements, and facial gestures although we do need to look at them all together and within context too. Gilbert-Gregory gives the following cues:
HOW A DOG LOOKS WHEN RELAXED
Posture — The weight is carried evenly; may do a play bow or wiggle.
Tail — Relaxed and neutral position; may be wagging.
Ears — Neutral position.
Mouth — May be open with tongue hanging out, or may be closed with lips relaxed over teeth.
Eyes — Soft, with normal pupil size.
Appetite — Readily eats.
Body language – Image shared by Dr. Karen Becker
HOW A DOG LOOKS WHEN ANXIOUS
Posture (and fur) — Piloerection (raised hair on the shoulders and back); might roll over and lift a forelimb.
Tail — Might be tucked in under the body.
Mouth — Might show a submissive smile (a very wide smile), or may be panting, lip licking and/or yawning.
Ears — Pinned back.
Eyes — Whale eye (white portion of the eye showing at corner or rim), pupil dilation, or averted gaze.
Body language – Image shared by Dr. Karen Becker
HOW A DOG LOOKS WHEN AGGRESSIVE
Posture — Muscles tense, weight shifts back and low to the ground; may also roll over to expose belly or raise one paw.
Hair — Piloerection is a red flag.
Tail — May be tucked or low to the ground; may be wagging slowly or rapidly.
Mouth — Pulled back, with possible growling, snarling, excessive panting, lip licking, chewing, or yawning.
Some of these body gestures are referred to as “calming signals” and it is a way your pet tells you they are uncomfortable or not a threat, yet so many people and especially parents miss this. They include: Breaking eye contact/turning away, lifting a paw, sniffing the ground, freezing/stillness, showing the whites of the eye (whale/moon eye), lip licking (when not eating), yawning (when not tired), walking slowly, “smiling”, wagging tail, panting, play bow, exposing the belly/lying on back, shake/shiver, lowered head and more.
A note on a dog’s hair – When you see a dog’s hair raise, most people think it is only a bad sign, but it could be arousal, discomfort, or fear. Similar to when we get goosebumps from an awesome story or when watching a scary thriller.
Body language – Images by R+Dogs
THE MYTH ABOUT WAGGING TAILS
Many people will say: ” the dog’s tail was wagging so I know they just wanted to play.” In an article by Dr. Karen Becker, she shares how wagging tails do not always indicate happiness or pleasure. This is a good reason why you should stop using the tail wagging as a sign that all is okay. Tail wagging probably evolved as a dog-to-dog form of communication, since it appears dogs message each other through tail wags.
A 2013 study suggests that dogs who see another dog wagging to the left respond anxiously, with elevated heart rates and dogs who see another dog wagging to the right remain relaxed. Other tail wagging signals include full body wags, the “circle wag”, tip of the tail wags and stiff or rigid wags.
Donnelly breaks it down to:
A high tail wag can be over-arousal or early warning signal that the dog is frustrated or fearful.
A loose, half-mast wag can be comfortable and playful.
A low tail wag can signify fear and serve as an early warning signal.
Tail between the legs – this body posture is not one of confidence or feeling at ease.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
When you are trying to decode your dog’s gestures it’s important to look at the whole picture and within context. What happened when the behaviour was displayed? Dogs will most likely not display only one gesture at a time and you will have to look at the whole body, not just one part. Although some body language is universal, focus on your pet’s individual body language. Next time you interact with your dog, look specifically at their body language. Look at how their posture changes when they are in different situations.
Always look at the body language when you want to touch an animal. Touch should always be with clear consent, voluntary and with ongoing permission. We refer to it as PET-PET-PAUSE. The safest bet is when you let the dog approach you and initiate the interaction. If you notice they are stressed and showing any of the calming signals, move away and take them to a safe space to help them relax.
REMEMBER T-E-M-P: Tails, ears & eyes, mouth and posture.
I have heard people brag about how well their dog listens to them, but I want to know how well you listen to your dog by observing, understanding and reacting to their body language and through it help them navigate this human world, they were forced into, better. Make the time to really “get” your four-legged best friend because it will improve your relationship and avoid unfortunate interactions.
Next week we will look at an animal and Easter topic.
SECUNDA TEENAGE WOMAN (19) DUE TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR DEALING IN DRUGS
MPUMALANGA – A 19-year-old suspect is due to appear in the Secunda Magistrate Court for dealing in drugs. She was arrested during an Intelligence-driven disruptive operation conducted by Secunda-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team together with Secunda Crime Intelligence and K9 unit on Wednesday, 15 March 2023.
The arrest followed a search and seizure operation that was executed following information about drugs kept in a house at Schoor street, Secunda. On arrival at the address, the team found a lady in a locked house and managed to gain entry to conduct a search.
Several bags of compressed dagga were found and seized for further investigation. The suspect was found in possession of drugs with an estimated value of R 80 000-00. She was arrested and charged with dealing drugs. She is expected to make her first court appearance at the Secunda Magistrate Court on Thursday, 16 March 2023.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Gerber applauded the good work done by the team. Further, he appreciated the positive response by members of the community for providing information which lead to the arrest of the suspect. “As the Hawks, we are grateful to the public for providing information that enables us to fulfil our mandate and provide safety and stability in our communities. We pledge our commitment and thank the community for their continued support”, said Major General Gerber.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
ANIMALS BEING AGGRESSIVE IS A COMPLEX BEHAVIOUR AND SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED CORRECTLY AND ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS!
Aggressive behaviour is probably the most common behavioural problem in dogs seen by behaviour professionals and the most dangerous one seen in companion dogs. Many behaviours that people perceive as aggressive are actually normal forms of communication. Behaviour is one of the most common reasons why people surrender animals, especially dogs, to shelters and aggression is one of them.
As the Whole Dog Journal shares: “The broad spectrum of “aggressive behaviours” is technically called “agonistic behaviours” and is defined in ethology as, “pertaining to the range of activities associated with aggressive encounters between members of the same species or social group, including threat, attack, appeasement, or retreat.” So, while a growl-lunge-bite sequence would be easily recognized by most people as aggression, more subtle agonistic behaviours such as a freeze, a hard stare, or even a lack of eye contact, may go unnoticed (and unaddressed)”. The lack of understanding of basic and normal animal behaviour remains part of the problem!
Part of the problem is also that there has been a cultural shift about dog aggression. I agree with Patt Miller that our culture has become over-sensitized to dog bites. In the past, if a child was bitten by a neighbour’s dog, the mother would usually question the child about what they did to provoke the animal. Nowadays, however, the first response is to contact a lawyer or a behaviour specialist (less likely), or even take the dog to a shelter. We have become a society that is increasingly fearful of aggression. Read more about the Pitbull crisis in SA and dog bite prevention.
Aggression – Images by R+DogsAggression – Images by R+DogsAggression – Images by R+Dogs
SOME FACTORS THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DOG AGGRESSION
Aggression in animals can be caused by a variety of factors, such as fear, excess energy, self-defence, or pain and physical discomfort, for example.
1. Lack of Socialization: Dogs that are not properly socialized may become aggressive when they encounter unfamiliar people or animals. Pups learn valuable information about behaviour from their mom/dad. If they are removed before 10-12 weeks, then this could affect their future behaviour negatively too.
2. Fear: Dogs may become aggressive when they feel threatened or scared, which is a normal response for us as humans too. “Aggressive” behaviour when defending themselves or a mom protecting her puppies are also examples.
3. Pain: Dogs in pain may become aggressive as a way to protect themselves.
4. Dominance: Dogs may become aggressive in an attempt to establish dominance over other animals or people. Whether people believe it or not, animals do establish hierarchy and what appears to be aggressive behaviour might be part of that, although possibly normal. Sometimes just the company of other dogs may be stressful to your dog, which may lead to “aggressive” behaviour.
5. Breed genetics: Some breeds of dogs might be predisposed to aggression and bad breeding practices have certainly contributed to this. All dogs can bite, but some may do more damage than others. Aggression can’t be blamed on the breed. The breed of a dog can tell you what they can do, but how they are raised and cared for, determines what they will do. I believe dog bites are 100% preventable and understanding body language is key to prevention.
6. Hormones: An earlier study showed that dogs with high levels of the hormone vasopressin may be more aggressive than dogs with lower levels; higher levels of oxytocin (the “love hormone”) and higher oxytocin-to-vasopressin levels are seen in the breeds least likely to behave aggressively. Hormone levels when a bitch is in heat may contribute to “aggressive” behaviour for both her and males. One of the many reasons we support spay & neuter.
7. Your response: The owner’s prior experience with dogs can contribute to or reinforce certain behaviours, and when you panic it may worsen the situation. Animals need calm and confident owners. Remember that aggression can be learned; your pup can learn that if he acts aggressively, the things that scare him will go away. This means that his aggressive behaviour is rewarded, and will become more frequent.
MORE ON BEHAVIOUR
Reactivity
Reactivity is a reaction to something that makes a dog uncomfortable. It always starts subtly and as signals are missed, ignored, or punished. We then start to see behaviours that become a problem for us, like growling, snarling, lunging and biting.
All animals engage in defending their resource,s and resources come in a variety of forms. Some may make sense, others may not. It may also seem surprising to you that your dog may resource guard items because they have an abundance of things. Food, toys, you…..but resource guarding isn’t about things. It’s about feelings as R+Dogs explains it including:
The fear of losing out on something
The fear associated with not having any control
The fear that comes with intimidation (implied or unknowingly present)
The fear of the unknown
The fear of no escape
The fear of being unsafe
Resource guarding can also be linked to pain so please have your dog thoroughly checked for pain by your vet.
Trigger stacking – when the behaviour happens “out of the blue”
We’ve all experienced days when it feels like everything is going wrong and we’re left feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and ready to lash out at the next person who speaks to us. This person may think we have a serious attitude problem or need anger management when in reality, we’re just having a really bad day and don’t usually act this way. The same is true for dogs. Behaviours that appear out of the blue or are out of character can often be attributed to the stacking of different triggers.
A trigger can be anything that causes a dog to become overwhelmed and have a negative reaction. These can be small, seemingly insignificant things that we may not even notice, but they can add up and eventually lead to a reaction that is out of proportion to the stimulus. When the dog’s stress levels reach a certain point, the next event, no matter how small, can cause an unexpected reaction.
Examples include: Someone at the gate, the garbage truck passing, a strange man fixing the pool, someone on a bike passing, other dogs barking, a kid that hugs the dog, etc. If this happens each on a consecutive day, you likely avoid the stacking, but if it all occurred in one day, they might “snap” with something simple due to stacking of triggers.
WHY PUNISHMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER!
Punishment is not the solution because it only suppresses the symptoms. Physical, punishment-based training is outdated. Such methods may include the use of choke chains, shock collars, or alpha rolls (physically rolling a dog onto the ground and holding him there) and hitting them. While these methods peaked in popularity in the 1960s, the science of dog training has advanced significantly in the last 50 years and today’s reputable trainers/behaviourists overwhelmingly shun them in favour of positive reinforcement or reward-based conditioning. Remember punishment, whether physical or mental, can harm your pet.
Never punish a growl, which usually precedes the bite or snap action. This way they will learn from you that it is safer to skip the growl because you will punish it, and then they bite “out of the blue”. A growl is a way of communicating that they are not happy and that they need your help! No bite is “out of the blue!”
You need an aggression-modifying action plan. A blanket approach can’t be followed for aggression and an evaluation by a qualified behaviourist, not just a dog trainer, is important as well as addressing the individual needs of that animal if it is correctly identified as aggressive behaviour.
My first stop will always be to go for a vet check to rule out any underlying medical issue or pain.
Educate yourself about dog body language so you can be aware of your dog’s more subtle agonistic behaviours. Listen to what your pet is saying through their vocalizations or body language. TEMP – tails ears/eyes, mouth and posture. Also learn basic first-aid for pets in case of an emergency.
Find out what is the cause of aggression or stressors, and the stress levels. Look for subtle signs too. Avoid putting them in situations where they may be compelled to act aggressively and also to help them cope. Take steps to eliminate it from their life if possible. If it is something that can’t be removed, try to manage it by removing the dog from the environment when the stressor is present or re-directing your pet’s attention. If it is too difficult to be removed or managed, try to change their opinion of the stressor (gradually) through counter-conditioning or behaviour modification in the presence of the stressor. Redirect their attention or give them a job. Always stay calm!
Contact a behaviourist and make the time to follow the plan. Search for a behaviourist near you and ask for references. Remember that you need to look out for your pets, so if you feel uncomfortable with any trainer/behaviourist, then walk away and find someone else. We only support fear-free reward-based training methods. You can follow R+Dogs more on aggression and reactivity.
Aggressive behaviour – Image by Dr. Karen Becker
Become a calm-confident guardian by setting rules and boundaries and being consistent.
Meet all their needs physically and emotionally through species-appropriate enrichment.
Never force affection and let them come to you.
This only includes the basics and each situation must be assessed by a qualified behaviourist and an individual plan needs to be formulated to help the particular animal cope.
Many people wait too long before getting help for their dogs. Invest in learning about body language so you can help your pet to better navigate this human world they were forced into. They are your responsibility and just as most won’t dump their angry child on an already overwhelmed welfare system, you shouldn’t give up on the animals in your care because you are not meeting their needs or understanding their behaviour.
Next week we will look at the body language of dogs.
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER!
Disclaimer: I am not a behaviourist although I research these topics.
