‘They’re not something you can Throw away just because you decide’
Irish dog expert Paula Doohan on pet ownership and RTE series Madraí… By Keeley Ryan
An Irish dog expert has told how would-be pet owners should have to take a test and get a license before getting a pet. Dog behaviourist Paula Doohan currently appears in the six-part RTE One and RTE Player series Madraí, which continues on Friday at 8pm. The show follows Paula and veterinarian Ellen Hegarty as they set out to help families who were struggling with their four-legged pals — and provide information and their expert advice along the way.
The programme covers a range of cases, both uncommon and common dog issues, whether it’s separation anxiety or constant barking; lead-pulling or furniture chewing or anything in-between.
The experts observed the behaviour and diagnosed the problem, before providing their advice and recommendations for the dogs – and often their owners, too.
Paula told Chic about how the series came about — and how she reckons people should have to take a test or earn a license to become pet owners.
She said,“we’d done the series Peataí and I suppose this is a sort of run-off — they sent out a call, and they were inundated with videos and questions about things dogs had had problems with, especially in lockdown.
“The last three years, the rescues and pounds have been inundated with animals. They were bought as pups because people were at home, but all of a sudden then they were going back to work and it was just ‘too bad’ for the dog — the poor animals, it’s not their fault.
“At the end, it does wind me up (that people do that).
“This is a live animal that’s learned to trust you, looks up to you — they love it to bits for a year or two, and then go, ‘ah, yeah, it’s filled its requirements’ and send it off. It’s so, so mean.
“You can’t go on the roads and drive a car without a license — and it should be the same thing for animals; there should be something people have to do before (they can have an animal). They‘re living beings, not something you can throw away just because you decide.”
As for how to know whether it’s a personality quirk of the pooch or a behaviour issue, Paula told how it all comes down to the dog’s background.
She said,“for example, like, if it’s a Lakeland Terrier or one of the little ones, they can have their little quirks.
“But most dogs can be helped from puppy stage, you can steer them in the right direction if you know what you’re at.
“A lot of people don’t bother training their dogs until they’re about six months old or thereabouts.
“And you go, like, ‘why would you let the dog run amok six months and then decide
‘oh, we need to get that dog trained’?’ Start the training from the moment that you pick it up.”
Paula also advised any would-be dog owners to make sure they don’t“ever get a pup younger than eight weeks”.
She continued,“from six weeks to eight weeks is a very, very crucial age for a pup — that’s when they learn about inhibitions, when they’re fighting too rough; they’re learning not to bite or that biting hurts. And they’re learning all that from their siblings.
“A lot of bad breeders will give away dogs up to five weeks — and the pups haven’t learned all that, so within a few months they’re snapping and biting.”
And Paula shared her top tips for anyone finding that their dog is experiencing separation anxiety.
She said,“it’s what you do when you come back home. If you’re leaving the house, just leave the house — don’t be saying, ‘I’m just going out, I’ll be back in 10 minutes’. It’s your house, you just leave.
“When you come back in, walk into the house and do what you have to do — but ignore the dogs, don’t be going ‘ooh, puppies!’ Or anything.
“Any time there’s been a separation, when you’re coming back and reuniting with your pack, be the boss. Walk in, you do whatever you have to do. And then when the dogs leave you alone, call to them.
“It sends the message, like, ‘I’m fine to look after myself, I’ll call you when I need you’. And they’re just like, ‘oh, thank god for that — she’s able to look after herself’.
“It takes a wee while, and they do chill out. There’s nothing worse than a dog with separation anxiety — and the only way a dog can relieve stress is chewing.
“So when they’re left in the house on their own, they’re chewing the sofa, they’re chewing the furniture — and then we come back to find the sofa chewed up, and we’re raging. And then the poor dog goes,‘i don’t know what’s out there, but it’s terrible, she always comes back angry’. It’s not the poor animal’s fault.”
As for her advice to anyone who might be thinking about welcoming a four-legged pal into their home, Paula encouraged any would-be dog owners to “have a good think about it”and“research the breed”to make sure they would be able to care for the pup.
She said,“if you’re not going to be about, or if the dog is going to be left alone for very, very long stretches of time, don’t even go there.
“Unless you have somebody that can pop in every four hours max, don’t even consider a dog — it’s not fair (to the dog).
“They need to be toilet trained, and it’s not just fair to them to leave them sitting in a crate or a room for hours.
“It’s just frustration building up, and then you’re heading for disaster.
“Think about it. Before you get one, have a good think about it — research the breed, make sure you can actually look after it and if you’re prepared to look after it for the next 15 years.” ■
Madraí continues on Friday on RTE One and the RTE Player at 8pm.
“A lot of people don’t bother training their dogs until they’re six months.”