Know as coprophagy (and sometimes, incorrectly, pica), this is quite common in dogs, although it seems disgusting to us. Other animals utilize food differently from dogs, so their faeces contain nutrients that the dog finds palatable or that his body craves. Dogs usually come to no harm from eating faeces, but the habit can lead to illness should they ingest dropping that contains viruses, parasites or anthelmintics (de-worming products).

Puppies do not have a prolonged attention span and tire quickly, so keep training session span and tire quickly sessions short. Five or ten minutes a day is plenty, and it is best if you can turn the training into a game. By doing this, your puppy is more likely to be responsive to your requirement. Whenever he sits unprompted by you, reward him. Then put the command ‘sit’ to the action and reward him with a treat. He will soon realize that ‘sit’ is rewarding and will start responding to the prompted spoken command. Follow the same principle with the ‘stay’ exercise. For further information on teaching sit and stay.

There are several ways to deal with faeces deposited in your garden or out on a walk. Find out if there are local authority bins specially provided for the disposal of dog faeces nearby. If not, wrap the faeces well in newspaper or a biodegradable bag and put them in your household rubbish (check with your local authority first). Alternatively, your can buy a ‘dog loo’ that you install in the garden, although reports on their effectiveness are mixed. Consult your vet practice or local waste disposal company regarding the disposal company regarding the disposal of waste from a dog receiving radiation treatment.

Remember that many sighthounds, such as Greyhounds, are likely to chase after other animals (especially small, furry ones), and kill them if they get the chance, unless they have been brought up with them. Similarly, some scenthounds are not suited to life as family pets due to their strong hunting instincts and sometimes powerful build, which is not a good combination when there are children and other pet in the household. It pays to research thoroughly the breed you are interested in before buying a puppy, or taking on an adult.

Correct, sensible handling from an early age usually negates problems, but there are some breeds that only experienced handlers should consider owning, and such dogs are not advised if there are children in the household.

While you want your dog to alert you to unwanted visitors, his barking at every person who comes to the door, such as regular delivery people, or who walks past the house can become a real nuisance. Introducing your dog to milk and post delivery people will teach him that they are ‘friends’ not ‘foes’ (getting them to give him treats is a good idea) and may help to cure the problem.

Whatever the reason for it, this behavior is difficult to cure without expert help, so it pays to find a good dog trainer who can advice on best course of action. Some trainers have their own friendly, trained dogs to help out in such situations and this often proves a real help, so try to find one who offers this service.

Anxious owners transfer their anxieties to other dogs, making them more likely to be negatively reactive with other people and animals. It would benefit you both attend a regular training/socialization class in order to lean how to cope in canine company.