September 2020,
We Meet TV’s Vet on the Hill
Wait! Give dogs their space too! Why parents should ask before letting kids pet dogs
PLUS PET STORIES/TOP PET Vet PRODUCT REVIEWS & MORE INSIDE
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Give Dogs their Space too!
Tony Knight, an internationally-acclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, responds to a reader question on why parents should always ask before allowing children to pet dogs...
Tony Knight, an
inevitable death of aforementioned family pet. I regularly receive inquiries from people asking me how to guarantee that their dogs will be wellbehaved around children. My reply is not always well received, but I make no apologies for it.
internationallyacclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on why parents should always ask before allowing children to approach strange dogs...and cats...
When you study dogs, you quickly see that personal space is a big issue for them.
Once, while attempting to enjoy a coffee at a seaside Dogs are mostly very coffee in Australia, I tolerant with puppies, witnessed an allowing them to climb unprovoked dog all over them and grab attack. Two Dog expert - Tony Knight their tails. However, Chihuahuas were tied there is a limit to what up outside café, chihuahuas did not react to this they will put up with. minding their own business. attack, but it could easily have Sometimes a puppy will go Suddenly, from nowhere a man been a different story. over the top with their playful holding what was clearly a pestering and receive a recently hatched baby sideways glance, followed spotted them. by a growl. If they don’t take the hint then, they are liable “Oh look,” he said to the to receive a reprimand in the baby, apparently under the form of a grab of the mistaken belief that the muzzle. This grab with the baby understood him, “two mouth is a clear signal that cute little doggies!” they have gone too far and should leave the other one I virtually spat out my mouthful It seems that a terrible story of alone. a child being badly bitten by a of latte as he proceeded to Sometimes, the human dog is never far from the walk right up to the tethered headlines. So often, the culprit members of the dog’s family twosome, bent down and can also be told off for getting it is a family dog rather than a shoved his baby – head first I wrong. Over 95% of dog bites might add – right into the faces random attack by an unknown occur because people do not assailant, leading to the of the dogs. Fortunately, the
“Personal space is a big issue for dogs...”
glance, followed by a growl. If cuddle, whereupon we all The behaviourist immediately they don’t take the hint then, heard a bloodcurdling scream went right up the dog and they are liable to receive a (well, there were two actually – started stroking its head. When reprimand in the form of a grab one from the cat as it was the dog growled, it was of the muzzle. This grab with picked up, followed by another branded a menace. the mouth is a clear signal that by the man as the claws went they have After a gone too far telephone and should session and a leave the little online other one coaching from alone. yours truly, Sometimes, the owner is the human now seeing a members of much calmer the dog’s dog in family can general, as also be told well as now off for getting knowing how it wrong. Over Most dogs are fine, but always ask permission from the owner to educate 95% of dog people on before petting them! bites occur how to because people do not respect into his arm). The attitude of interact correctly with dogs. the restaurant manager typified a dog’s personal space. Have you ever heard the expression, our general response to a cat The rule is so simple, it is attack. “Yeah, don’t pick them “Let sleeping dogs lie”? There amazing that so many people up”. is a good reason for this sage get it so hopelessly wrong; if advice… you want to say hello to a dog, When a cat clearly shows that it call the dog to you. This way, wants to be left alone, nobody On a slightly different note the dog has a choice at least. If says a word. When a dog does it comes to you, it has done so (again an incident involving the same thing, it is accused of of its own free will. If the dog food and/or drink), I was being aggressive, categorised recently at a restaurant near doesn’t come, take that as a my home in France. As we sat as “dangerous” and the usual really clear signal that they are advice is to kill it. Only the other outside, we were immediately not ready yet. the centre of attention of some day, I helped someone in stray cats that apparently lived Toulouse with a dog that had A student of mine in Sweden been given a Category 3 status asked how she could stop in the hedge opposite the of aggression by vets and a restaurant. Another diner people constantly coming up to behaviourist. The latter has started feeding the moggies pat her dog. Her dog does not visited the house after the vet (mission accomplished for the like having their space invaded who was bitten advised the cats). He then made the error and despite putting a T-shirt on owner to get an “expert” in. of trying to pick one up for a it telling people to give them
Be gentle...
space, nobody takes any notice. I advised her to buy a soft muzzle and put it on her dog. This has nothing to do with the dog being aggressive, but if people can’t read, they might think twice about approaching a dog wearing a muzzle. As I often say, training dogs is the easy part…
the pooch, and one by one they call him to them. Alfie gets lot of cuddles and the children learn a valuable lesson that could save them a lot of pain and anguish in the future.
rules of engagement with dogs. There has to be an invitation before a fuss or cuddle can happen. Give a dog the chance to make their own decision to approach when asked too and the cuddle will be much happier – and safer - for everyone.
If a child is too young to understand the rules, they should always be supervised To find out more, visit: when around dogs. It is usually www.tonyknightdoglistener.c the case that a family dog om attack has happened when I have visited schools before everyone’s backs are turned for with a very tolerant dog called a moment. I do appreciate that Alfie (I have been invited by the it can only take a split second teachers I hasten to add – it for something to happen, so would be weird if I just turned being extra vigilant or keeping up outside the schoolyard) to them apart from each other teach kids how to safely when in doubt is best. interact with dogs. The children I use the “Simon Says” game to line up on either side of me and help children understand the
THE VET On The Hill We meet TV Vet SCOTT MILLER of ‘Vet on the Hill’ fame.
Scott with his Border Terrier Betty
We meet TV Vet SCOTT MILLER of
his wife Zöe. Scott is currently the
‘Vet on the Hill’ fame.
proud owner of three veterinary
A passionate animal
practices, located in Richmond Hill,
advocate, Scott was born in
St Margarets and Old Isleworth.
Brisbane, Australia to British
Scott’s skill and charisma caught the
parents. He graduated in 1997 from
eyes of producers and viewers when
the University of Queensland
he received a chance call-out to
Veterinary School and began his
attend a sick chicken on the first
career working at the RSPCA clinic in series of Big Brother. After this, he Sydney. After years of experience
began working regularly in the
working with animals, Scott moved
media, hosting Extinct for Meridian
to the UK and settled in London,
and regularly appearing on BBC
where he set up and ran a small
Breakfast News, GMTV, Blue
animal practice for over four years.
Peter, The Paul O'Grady
In 2008, Scott set up a practice in
Show and CBBC. He appeared as an
Algarve, Portugal, where he married expert vet on BBC's coverage
of Crufts, and was the regular vet
get to work with animals all day which
on This Morning for six years.
makes up for it!
Later he featured on Sky 1's Pet
Nation and became one of the lead presenters on children's programme, Who Let the Dogs Out
How does being a vet differ in Australia compared to UK?
and About? for CBBC, and Vet on the The Brits are truly wonderful animal Hill on Channel 4. We speak to Scott
lovers so allow us as a veterinary
about why he became a vet.
profession to flex our clinical muscles, going to great lengths to treat their
Why did you decide to be a
animals. I think this is because of the climate...In Australia the dog and cat live
vet?
mainly outside so in some cases the
I was seven years old and camping in the
relationship between owner and animal
middle of the Outback with my family. I
can be less strong. In the UK, we have a
woke up first early one morning and
very close intimate bond with our pets
crawled out of the tent. I spotted a rabbit
because they spend so much time
on the horizon and thought I'd try to see
snuggling up to us during the long winter
how close I could get to it...I got so close
months and can also come along to the
that it actually sniffed my hand before
pub!
scampering off. It was a magical moment, just me and a wild animal, and from then on I knew I wanted to be a vet and work with them for life.
Has it lived up to your expectations?
Do you enjoy being a ‘TV vet’? Any downsides? It's been an amazing opportunity, but can be very challenging as sometimes our job can be extremely difficult and performing it under the spotlight can make it even
It’s been fantastic. It is incredibly
more so. But I feel it has been an honest
challenging, emotionally exhausting and
portrayal of an every day practice,
not particularly well paid for what we do,
showing both the highs and the lows, and
but it is incredibly rewarding, I love
hopefully allows the public to see the
making friends with the clients and you
Veterinary profession in a very positive light.
What do you think is the future of veterinary practices? I hope that there will always be a place for independent veterinary practices but I can see why we are moving towards a corporate world. I like the quirkiness and individuality of independent practices cat and some rescue chickens.
and hope clients continue to support them as local businesses.
Do you have a good work-life balance and what would you What advice would you give a young person thinking of change if anything? becoming a vet? When filming, a long clinical day can be even longer, which can be pretty
Do lots of work experience and don't be
challenging to achieve a good work-life
shy of hard work as there is a lot of it
balance when our standard days are
coming your way. And smile, enjoy what
already 10hrs long. But when I am just
you are doing and who you are doing it
doing the day job I am pretty efficient with with, because there is lots in our profession that is sad, so you need to 20 years experience behind me, so I can enjoy it more and also get home to my
balance it out with some lightness and
family on time...ish.
joy where you can, to stay mentally healthy and continue to enjoy practicing
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as a Veterinary Surgeon.