2 Weekly Dog Polls - 16

Wow! We're flying through these polls, aren't we? And today we have yet another update in store for all you guys! Sorry about the delay of a couple of days; we have had a great deal of activity over the past weekend.

The question posed for Poll 16 was: 'What habits does your dog(s) have?'

You voted, and the results have been pounding in!

Getting in the human bede - 3 (75%)
Making up his/her own routine - 2 (50%) 
Eating dinner in different parts - 1 (25%)
Social habits - 1 (25%)
Doing something after something every day - 1 (25%)
Other - 1 (25%)

Could the 'Other' voter express what their 'other' was please in the comments below?

Whoooeee! Every option received a vote this time round! 

Colour key:

Red - Winner
Blue - 2nd
Green - 3rd
Black - no votes

Can dogs really have their own habits?

Of course they can! If a dog gets used to something in particular, made to do it day in day out (e.g. dinner at 6 morning and 4 evening, walks at 7, 12 and 3) then they are going to expect these things at that certain time. Certain actions you take, moods your dog feeds off you, certain clothes you wear can all have an effect on our four-legged companions. Say, when you sense to your dog stressed, wearing a builder's outfit, rushing out of the house in a cross way, no walkies at all, and come home late to ignore your dog and get on with paperwork… your dog will HATE seeing you in that builder's outfit! It's called association. And can dogs tell the time in a similar way to us? Read on to find out!

Can dogs tell the time?

Dogs cannot naturally use a clock to tell the time, and I highly doubt they could even be taught to do this. Just the same as most animals cannot be taught the human languages (maybe apart from apes…!). But dogs can judge time from the activities going on in the house if this follows a routine. When dinner is served. If the temperature gets colder at night, and outside gets darker and the humans always settle down for the night and everyone eats and all that happens at once….. its a certain TIME in the day! Who says time always has to be thought of as 'clocks'?

Can dogs get OCD?

Dogs who are neglected, e.g locked in a tiny, cramped cage for an agonisingly long amount of time can develop a TYPE of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Signs of this include constantly circling their cage without stop. This can make the dogs dizzy, painfully distressed and even depressed, and gain mental illnesses. Something I get mad about every time a news story hits home.

What's the difference between routine and habit?

You will be able to spot the difference between these two, sometimes mixedup and mis-understood pieces of vocabulary after reading and comparing the two accurate definitions.

Routine = something done on a regular basis, at the same time per day. E.g. dogs are fed at 6.30 every morning and 4.30 every evening.

Habit = something which has been implanted on the brain and that being struggles to break. It has become a normal thing; something that feels natural. This DOESN'T have to be in routine form. E.g. dog becoming defensive every time they meet another dog. This is now, from experience, the easiest, safest, and normal way to greet other dogs.

Are habits good, or bad?

Of course it depends on the habit! The example habit above is a very bad habit, and must be spotted quickly and broken as this could lead to aggression as this progresses. Habits of retrieving items to their disabled owner every time they are dropped, is a great thing for Dogs For The Disabled canines to gain. It really depends.

Keywords learnt for today:

~ Association
~ Habits
~ Routine

But seriously mum! We always go this way to the park.

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Poll 17 will be opening NOW! Remember to share what you think should be in place in the dog world, before the 2 weeks are up and information is given on the topic in a post following.

Poll 17 is on the subject of dog beds.

As we all know very well, our sleeping quarters are our charging stands!

The question posed is: 'What style of dog bed do you think is best?'

My bed is SO COSY!

You can choose ONE option.
Lets get voting!

REMEMBER, POLLS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG PAGE!

Earl and I.