Animal Talk – July 2019

behaviour

PETTA LK

Handling

gerbil

How often should I

handle my gerbil?

G

erbils are social

animals, so they should

be handled daily. Wash your

hands before picking up your

gerbil to prevent spreading

germs. Don’t pick him up by his

tail, and support the underside

of his body with one hand.

Laura McKeen

Resource guarding

When is a dog’s resource guarding unacceptable?

R

esource guarding is a natural behaviour
and is necessary for survival in any
species, including humans. If we didn’t guard
our resources, we wouldn’t survive. Dogs may
resource guard their food, food bowls, bones,
toys, beds, furniture and even people. None of
these are unusual. That said, resource guarding
can escalate, become extreme and dangerous,
and it can result in harm to another animal or
person. It then becomes unacceptable and the
reason it is happening needs to be looked at,
addressed and managed. Resource guarding is
very stressful for the dog.
If Rover is happily enjoying his evening meal
and Fido comes along and tries to take it, Rover
will probably growl or snap at Fido. Rover
has every right to do this. He is protecting his
resource, his food – acceptable behaviour.
However, if Rover viscously attacks and injures

Fido, that is not acceptable. A situation like this,

for example, could be managed and prevented

by separating the dogs when they are eating,

picking up the food bowls when they have

finished, putting the bowls away and only then

allowing the dogs to be together.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented,

addressed and managed. I would recommend

contacting the Animal Behaviour Consultants

of SA for a referral to a qualified behaviourist if

you are unsure about this and for more specific

advice for your situation.

Alyson Kingsley-Hall, behaviourist

DID YOU KNOW?
Gerbils live on average
between two and four years.

A happy dog is ...

... loved.