Number of Rescue dogs rising because of lack of education & discipline in dogs
Sara Muncke MCFBA
The dramatic rise in dogs being allowed to become out of control and ending up
dumped in rescue centres is a problem that Sara Muncke, Centre Manager of the
Chilterns Dog Rescue Society, has to deal with on a daily basis.
Sara has worked with rescue dogs for thirty four years and has charted the
deterioration in dog behaviour linked to poor owner management over this time.
Sara confirms that the vast majority of owners she is in contact with (about a
thousand a year and rising) wish to rehome their dogs because they are in
situations which have been created, or at least exacerbated, by ineffectual
leadership.
Owners who give confused or inconsistent messages to their dogs or buy into
fads and fashions in training have the greatest problems living with their dogs
and then in rehoming them successfully when they can no longer cope. Dogs
belonging to owners who engender respect and positive behaviour through
discipline, exercise, affection and structure are not only less disadvantaged by
any social or economic factors affecting the home where they live but also settle
more readily into new homes if necessary.
Whether the issue is aggression to people, dogs or other animals, anxiety or over
exuberance or destructive behaviour, Sara believes the common denominator is
always a lack of leadership.'
