Should Pet Owners Be Learning Doglish?

Pet Owners are regularly given advice by pet insurance providers in an effort to keep their pets safe. This usually ranges from keeping them well protected during fireworks celebrations to ensuring that they are safe from theft or going missing.

However, one professor has been issuing a different form of advice for pet owners, one that might have some people scratching their heads.

According to sites such as AnimalFriends.org.uk and the Calgary Herald, Dr Stanley Coren – the psychology professor of the University of British Columbia – has been encouraging dog owners to learn ‘Doglish’.

Dr Coren has authored many books on the subject, which aim to bridge the gap between pet and owner, allowing the owner to better understand the needs of their pet so that they can take better care of them.

There are many ways of understanding our pets, according to the professor, such as observing the speed in which it wags it tail, with a slow wag meaning that the dog does not want to be approached, whilst a muzzle nudge implies the dog wishes for acknowledgement from its leader.

However, due to the amount of communication skills dogs exhibit from their tails and ears, those with docked forms of these features are less able to communicate clearly.

But Dr Coren is not the only one encouraging ‘Doglish’ in the United States. According to the Los Angeles Magazine, a new US show presented by former KGB and Red Army dog trainer Vladislav Roytapel is appearing on American screens this year. In it, Roytapel communicates with dogs with the same language, having learnt it from his many years training dogs in Russia. However, it is yet to be seen whether he will follow in the footsteps of Caesar Millan, also known as the Dog Whisperer.

Though ‘Doglish’ sounds strange, there are many benefits of understanding our pets. Many owners fear their dogs are unfriendly and surrender them to shelters as a result, when the dog might have given ample (yet misunderstood) warnings that it wanted to be left alone at a certain time. By understanding our pets we could manage their behaviour better, meaning less claims on our pet insurance policies.

Sources: AnimalFriends.org.uk, Calgary Herald and Los Angeles Magazine

M&S Insurance Highlights the Spending Habits of Pet Owners in the UK

Pet owners love to ensure that they have done their best to care for their pets and this is something that is feeding down into their food buying habits.

According to figures released by Mintel Reports, £1.7 billion was spent on pet food in 2008, accounting for the 14.5 million cats and dogs that are owned by the British public. It highlights the sheer amount of food that is bought and consumed in the UK.

But M&S highlights another study in their press release, one that suggests that not only are British pet owners spending more, they are also more conscious of the food that they place in their bowl. This was part of a survey by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association.

The results are published as M&S Insurance announces a competition to win a year’s worth of pet food with M&S Pet Insurance.

The figures highlight one of many ways in which UK pet owners are looking after their pets, with various pet insurance providers encourages dog and cat owners to take better care of their pets to avoid a hefty veterinary bill. After all, a healthier pet that eats healthier food might not need treatment for obesity and as a result, will avoid their owner paying out on their pet insurance.

The study demonstrated that as much as 90% of pet owners are aware of what goes into their pet’s bowls, ensuring that they purchase the best quality food that will not be detrimental to their health.

Charles Sweeney of BestPet Pharmacy commented on the relation of pet food and the health of the nation’s pets: “Obesity is an increasing problem among cats and dogs. Pets that carry too much weight can suffer from heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis.

“Responsible pet owners who ensure their cats and dogs have a healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce expensive vet bills in the future.”

Of course some ailments are unavoidable and so even if someone owns the healthiest pet alive, they would still be encouraged to take out an adequate pet insurance policy that will protect them in case of an unforeseen illness or accident. Whilst pet insurance cannot ensure that a pet’s life can be saved, it can take steps to ensure that they receive the help that they require.

Source: M&S Press Release October 2009

Sainsbury’s Finance Outlines Growing Trends Concerning the Problems Pet Owners are Facing with their Cats and Dogs

A study carried out by Sainsbury’s Finance has shown that around 3.35 million cat and dog owners around the United Kingdom have been experiencing problems with their pets’ behaviour between July 2008 and July 2009.

There are various theories as to why pets are acting out in certain ways, but a similar study recently brought attention to the growing number of pets that are being left at home on their own for extended periods of time. Though dogs left alone for 4 hours or less a day is not frowned upon, some owners have been known to leave them for 8 hours or more, which Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance warns could cause behavioural problems.

Many of the behavioural conditions that Sainsbury’s Finance has witnessed in regards to the study were moodiness (accounting for 5%), aggression (at 2%), loss of appetite (at 2%) and depression (at 1%). There are also significant numbers of cats and dog acting out by causing destruction to furniture, with 1.3 million pet owners accounting for this, whilst 915,000 acted with nervousness or timidity.

Naturally, this means that many pets are requiring veterinary treatments for a variety of reasons, which is why people are highly encouraged to seek an adequate Pet Insurance policy to cover the costs. Whilst some pet owners are put off by high prices, there are pet insurance policies out there that suit various needs and do not have to be expensive to cover adequate ground.

The study highlighted the area of the UK most affected with behavioural problems as Yorkshire and Humberside, with the Eastern region of the UK least affected.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, Joanne Mallon, commented on the results: “The current economic climate is placing a lot of people under increased stress, and unfortunately this anxiety can have an adverse effect on the household’s pets. 

“Cats and dogs can be very sensitive to their owner’s feelings and behaviour so changes in mood such as irritability, distress or remoteness could be sensed and leave the animal themselves, agitated or depressed.”  

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release July 2009

Sainsbury’s Finance Highlights 3.8 million Missing Cats and Dogs Over 5 Years

Continuing to highlight problems facing pet owners in the UK, Sainsbury’s Finance has highlighted the rising numbers of missing pet dogs and cats across the British Isles, whilst encouraging pet owners to take out a to cover associated costs.

With the large number of missing animals over the last 5 years amounting to 3.8 million, Sainsbury’s Finance points out, in their study, that of all those who have owned a cat during this period,12% have experienced them going missing at some point, with 4% of dog owners suffering a similar fate.

Of these, a little over half of animals reported missing during this period were returned alive, with 32% claiming that the pet was never seen again and 14% reporting that they turned up deceased.

Of the remaining 45% of pet owners whose pets were returned alive, there were various circumstances that accounted for this, with some saying their cat or dog returned on its own, some saying they found them and a further percentage claiming that a third party returned their beloved animal to them.

Many people seem not to realise how far reaching pet insurance policies are in these situations. Whilst most people are aware that veterinary costs can be covered by such policies, as well as other factors, it should also be highlighted that some pet insurance policies cover the costs associated with missing animals. In most cases this amounts to advertising costs in the search effort and compensation for pets unreturned.

However Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Finance Pet Insurance Manager points out that “not all pet insurance polices recognise the importance of providing support in the form of advertising or reward benefits to owners who have lost their pet”.

This highlights the need to shop around for a pet insurance policy that suits the areas the individual thinks are necessary.

It also highlights various methods that pet owners can undertake to ensure their pet is safe, with Sainsbury’s Finance recommending micro-chipping pets, ensuring they wear a collar or ID, securing property boundaries, supervising animals, using a dog walker and varying routes on walks.

With these steps, we could one day see the figures for lost or stolen animals declining.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release May 2009