In the dog house: Eight in 10 dog owners struggling with bad behaviours, according to new survey

LS93 — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:11:08 +0000

Dealing with a disobedient, unruly or excitable dog? You’re not the only one.

A new survey conducted by interactive dog toy company Tug-E-Nuff has revealed that eight in 10 dog owners are struggling with problem behaviours.

Almost half (46%) of owners say they’d like to improve their dog’s recall - with seven in 10 admitting it’s a challenge to get their dog to come when called.

Four in 10 say they find it difficult to get their dog to walk nicely on a lead and display calm behaviour.

Rounding out the list of the five most common problem behaviours is overexcitement (34%) and reactivity (32%).

When it comes to trying to overcome problem behaviours, a third of owners admit they feel unsure, confused or completely lost when it comes to training their dog.

And, it seems training is made harder for owners who have dogs with certain personality traits.

Two thirds of owners say staying focused or wanting to train is a challenge for their dog, whilst four in ten reveal their dog’s own nerves, anxiety or lack of confidence sometimes makes training more difficult.

Danny Nelis-Rouse, Managing Director at Tug-E-Nuff, comments: “From running off and not coming when called, to stealing food off the table, behavioural problems are common in lots of dogs.

“They can be frustrating to live with, and make going out and about a chore. They can also stand in the way of successful training. But, the good news is that there’s one trick that can be the key to easily changing behaviour for the better and that’s play.

“Play is absolutely essential, but it’s often overlooked. When we say play, we don’t just mean throwing a ball every now and again; we mean engaged, intense bursts of play with your dog that gets them fired up and raring to go.”

Danny explains that once a dog falls in love with play, it becomes the perfect reward for good behaviour, so owners can use it as part of positive reinforcement training. What’s more, a well-stimulated dog is less likely to display destructive behavioural traits.

Indeed, four in 10 owners declare that playing with a Tug-E-Nuff toy helped tackle training or behaviour issues with their dog, and half (51%) say it had a positive impact on their dog’s recall specifically.

“Our goal is to bring change, enrichment and positivity to dogs’ lives through the power of play, and, at the same time, improve the bond between a human and their dog, so it’s great to hear that our toys are helping so many owners achieve this,” adds Danny.

Owners struggling with a training issue or wanting to learn more about how play can help tackle their dog’s problem behaviours can boost their knowledge by taking Tug-E-Nuff’s Power of Play online course, or three-minute Toy Quest Quiz to receive a personalised play plan for their pooch.

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Is fetch over? New research reveals THIS is actually your dog’s favourite game to play

LS93 — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:14:15 +0000

Fetch might be a game that rings down the centuries, but it appears it’s no longer a pooch’s favourite way to play.

A new survey conducted by interactive dog toy company Tug-E-Nuff has crowned tug of war as the number one game between dogs and their owners.

Eight in 10 owners declare tug of war is their dog’s favourite game, compared to six in 10 who say fetch gets their pooch most excited.

Rounding out the top three games enjoyed by dogs and their owners is ‘find it’ games (54%).

Chase games are also popular, with one third of dog owners declaring these their dog’s favourite way to play.

Beyond this, it appears dog owners are getting very creative when it comes to playing with their pooches, citing piggy in the middle, herding games and even an obstacle course of toys as ways they play with their pooches.

Almost half (46%) of dog owners also take part in dog sports or activities with their dogs - in particular, agility (19%), scentwork (18%), mantrailing (5%), hoopers (5%) and even surfing (1%).

Danny Nelis-Rouse, Managing Director at Tug-E-Nuff, commented: “It’s great to hear that dog owners are keen to find more ways to have more fun with their dogs.

“Interactive play in particular can bring real change, enrichment and positivity to dogs’ lives, and help overcome training and behaviour problems as well as improve the bond an owner has with their dog.”

Nine in 10 owners play regularly with their dogs, according to the poll, and say that play boosts their dog’s happiness (58%) and motivation (44%), and has a positive impact on the bond they share with their dog (43%).

Dog owners who want to add more tail-wagging fun to their dog’s life can boost their knowledge by taking Tug-E-Nuff’s Power of Play online course, or three-minute Toy Quest Quiz to receive a personalised play plan for their pooch.

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In the dog house: Eight in 10 dog owners struggling with bad behaviours, according to new survey

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Is fetch over? New research reveals THIS is actually your dog’s favourite game to play

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