DOMINANCE OR PREFERENCE?
Q: Hi PETS, I have a pet dog, Fluffy, who will not sit on the ground. She’ll sit on rugs, chairs, mats, shoes, feet, our other dog — but her behind will never touch the floor unless we’re offering her a treat. Is this a dominance thing, or does she just not like the cold? Lizzie, via email
A: Hello Lizzie. This is another great question! We often misinterpret our dog’s behaviour for dominance, when really they are just showing a preference. Many dogs, mine included, don’t like sitting on wet or cold surfaces. If you think about it, most people don’t either!
In winter, I often get emails from dog owners telling me their dog has started to toilet inside the house. This is not surprising…