Dogs: Their Secret Lives

Person_one

I'm just watching the first two episodes on catch up, what a fantastic programme!

Its so sensible, everybody should watch this whether they own or like dogs or not. It would be so useful in helping people understand dogs a bit better.

So far they've emphasised the importance of exercise, socialisation, reward based training, debunked 'pack theory' and now they're very clearly and simply dealing with BSL.

Highly recommended if you've not seen it yet. Record it!

Rev

I can't say I'm surprised about the overweight dogs.

The amount I see when walking mine is outrageous. Especially staffs/labs/bulldogs. People seem to think they should be fat.


Also the amount of people who tell me my dogs are underweight when they are in fact ideal weight just shows how little education people have in that area.


I've always weighed my dogs food with scales and as for treats they get fruit and veg. I don't expect everyone to be as strict as me about it but there were some who didn't even know how much was recommended for their dogs, because they'd not bothered looking, which to me is astounding. Surely it's basic common sense to see what the bag says is the amount your dog should be eating.

Person_one

This programme presented the issue in a way that isn't going to make people feel stupid, or lectured, or will put them off listening though. It was very well handled and if enough people watched it could well make a difference.

The 2nd episode is even better, I'm very impressed to see such a sensible, calm, fact-based approach when the rest of the media is so hysterical about dogs these days.

RuthnJasper

Which channel is it on? Forgive my daftness; I don't have a TV but can watch on iPlayer (or similar) post-broadcast.

Not sure Gisele (dog) will thank me, but it sounds like a good series.

Person_one

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Which channel is it on? Forgive my daftness; I don't have a TV but can watch on iPlayer (or similar) post-broadcast.

Not sure Gisele (dog) will thank me, but it sounds like a good series.

Channel 4, I've just watched it on 4OD.

Its a bit 'preaching to the converted' for experienced, knowledgeable dog owners, but its still a good watch, especially some of the stuff about behaviour and how our dogs respond to our emotions in the 2nd episode.

RuthnJasper

Person_one wrote: »

Channel 4, I've just watched it on 4OD.

Its a bit 'preaching to the converted' for experienced, knowledgeable dog owners, but its still a good watch, especially some of the stuff about behaviour and how our dogs respond to our emotions in the 2nd episode.

Brilliant, thank you P-one. :beer:
Just had a look at their website - I agree with your take on it but it does look fascinating. I love studies and research like these types of things - endlessly interesting to me. I wish I had a job in that area!

tea_lover

Definitely sounds worth a watch, thanks for the tip. I don't have a dog (my cat would never stand for that ) but I find anything like this really interesting.

Paradigm

Excellent find Person_one, really enjoyed them.

elsien

I watched it. I like the way with the aggression one that they showed that dogs show aggresssion for a reason, not because it's innate. (The thuggish great dane could have been Gitdog in a different body!)

trolleyrun

I liked the programme and liked it. If you want to watch how not to make a good "naughty pets" programme, tune into Pick (channel 11 on freeview) at 5pm weekdays. I nearly had to throw my tv through the window