Call for owners to control dogs

KNOW THEIR LIMITS: From left, Cameron, Taragh (back), Ash and Bear with dog trainer Ann Kenny. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Expert appeals to owners

An experienced Whangarei dog trainer said owners needed to take more responsibility for their four-legged friends - especially before letting them off leash around other dogs.

Ann Kenny has been training dogs professionally for at least 20 years and has seven dogs of her own. She said it was important for owners to learn the personalities and limits of their dogs.

"Dogs are like kids - some are confident, some are shy, some are bullies. Owners need to be aware of that so they know what situations their dogs are going to be comfortable in," she said.

The comment comes after Whangarei woman Cara Kruger's 5-year-old fox terrier/chihuahua cross, Poppy, was attacked by a pit bull cross at the Whangarei Dog Agility park on Tuesday night.

The sign on the gate to the park says "Dogs must be kept under effective control". However, Ms Kenny said that was not always the case at the park.

"Owners go in and they're off socialising while their dogs are off socialising. You should keep focus on your dog at all times, that's not to say you shouldn't talk to people, but you need to keep focus."

Ms Kenny said it was important that owners allowed dogs to socialise.

"For me it's introducing them to as many new things as possible whether it's loud noises, kids, other dogs.

"Otherwise you create a dog that is neophobic and if you put them in situations where they're not comfortable it can be extremely traumatising for them," she said.

Ms Kenny said in the event a dog was attacked there was not much owners could do. However, she advised against yelling as it often exacerbated the situation. Ms Kenny said there were signs exhibited by dogs about to attack.

"Quite often you'll see them stop and freeze. It might be their head, or their eyes lock and their ears go up. It can be hard to spot when you're looking at your own dog and it can be very quick but almost always you see some kind of a freeze."

Ms Kenny said she knew of people who also carried around an umbrella when walking their dog as opening the umbrella could sometimes be enough to create space between two dogs.

Tony Gill, convener for the Whangarei Dog Park Committee, said most people who visited the Dog Agility Park had control over their dogs but from time to time there were owners who did not.

"Sometimes owners call their dog back to them but they don't listen," he said. "It's not just the dog park. You see it with dogs on a lead on tracks - you can still have issues."

After noticing some owners had no control of their dogs Mr Gill started up training sessions at the park. Last year they were free but this year they are $5 so the committee can fundraise for additions to the Dog Agility Park.