Newsletter – November 2011 2011January/February 09
Learning About Animals was set up to provide information and promote interest in the welfare and behaviour of animals. The aim is to bridge the gap between professionals & scientists working with animals and the public.
If you have any suggestions for future events or if you would like to be considered to be a speaker please contact me.
I am also a qualified equine behaviourist and run consultations in Surrey and the Home Counties. For more details please visit the relevant section of the web site.
EVENTS LIST
HORSES: Series of six evening classes in equine behaviour
Six evenings every Thursday
from January 19th -
Held at the Holistic Horse and Pony Centre in
East Horsely, Surrey. 7.30-
First Aid for Dogs: course with Claire Hemmings
Saturday 25th February 2012
£40 for
the four-
RABBITS: Rabbit behaviour day
Sunday 26th February 2012
A whole day dedicated to rabbits.
Covering rabbit behaviour, body language and communication, how to have a happy rabbit,
how rabbits learn and how behaviour problems can develop.
£20 for the day; £15 for
members. Details. Taking bookings now.
DOGS: The Holistic Nature of Canine Behaviour Problems with David Ryan
Saturday 24th
March 2012
This one-
£45; £33.75 for members. Details Taking bookings now.
HORSES: Exploring the latest findings in equine cognition
31st March 2012
Morning
lecture with equine scientist Leanne Proops; £15, £11.25 for members. Details) Taking
bookings now.
Learning theory day
Sold out previously -
Amber Batson: one cat event and one dog event -
The Good News Box
1. Rescued bear starts new life LINK
2. Update on rescued dolphins LINK
3. California bans trade, sale and possession of shark fins LINK
4. Catalonia’s last bullfight has taken place LINK
5. Shark off the menu LINK
Interesting links
1. Can an ape learn to be human? LINK
2. Why people should act more like whales LINK
3. Is my horse happy? Article by Ben Hart LINK
4. New report on shopper attitudes to animal welfare LINK
5. Keep up to date with the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust’s newsletter LINK
6. Antarctic orca travel to warmer seas for ‘spa’ treatments to rid themselves of algae and regenerate skin LINK
7. Fish have personalities LINK
8. Carrot stretches for horses are beneficial LINK
9. Animals can tell right from wrong LINK
10. Britain’s unwanted dog problem LINK
Intestine in Cambodia!
Last newsletter I was awaiting for a material model of a pony’s intestine to arrive through the post. Well, it did arrive and soon accompanied me to Cambodia where I was visiting the Cambodia Pony Welfare Organisation as part of my job with WSPA.
Many people do not realise how long the pony’s intestine is and the model helps to explain common problems such as colic. Learning in an interactive way like this helps people to remember the information, and it’s more fun than lectures.
THANK YOU JONI CASWELL for making the model.
Science updates......
1. The effects of diet and weaning method on the behaviour of young horses LINK
2. Domestication causes reduced genetic diversity in stallions LINK
3. White-
4. Fish in crowded boring aquariums are more aggressive LINK
5. Study shows worming tablets less stressful for horses than paste in syringes LINK
6. Stabled horses more at risk of colic LINK
Fantastic new rabbit book
Understanding your rabbit’s habits by Tamsin Stone
I honestly believe that this is the best book for rabbit owners on the market. Uniquely
it focuses on rabbit body language and packed full of illustrations it is very clear
and easy to follow. It is ideal for teenagers but detailed enough to satisfy adults
too.
In the box below I discuss how the lack of information available about how to interpret
body language of dogs and horses is partly responsible for many animal welfare problems
and this is definitely also the case for rabbits in the UK. Most owners simply can’t
tell what their pet rabbits are trying to communicate to them and because they don’t
understand all the amazing things that rabbits do, all too often the life of a pet
rabbit is to be confined to a hutch in the corner of a garden. Woefully inadequate.
This book covers body language but also puts it into context of rabbit care -
This book will encourage responsible ownership that enables rabbits to behave as they are meant to and is a must for any Christmas list! Available on Amazon here.
Woof – Donation Box
In 2012 there will be a box at all Learning About Animals events for donations of old dog toys, towels and anything useful for dogs for distribution between two main charities:
1. The Dogs Trust Hope Project works with homeless people who own dogs to offer advice and support and free veterinary care for the dogs. For many homeless people their dog is their only friend and companion. Donations are distributed to homeless dog owners.
2. The Celia Cross Greyhound Trust -
Membership Scheme
Learning About Animals has set up a new scheme so that regular attendees to events can benefit from a discount. Many of you come to events regularly and it’s greatly appreciated. See this link for more details about how to join for 2012.
Christmas Gift Ideas
Christmas cards/ gifts/ calendars available online from the following charities:
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Fair Trade and ethical living gift web sites:
Animal adoptions available from:
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Charities supporting humans:
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Three things to do for animals
1. Re-
2. Read something you liked recently? Sometimes its easy just to write in to comment
on TV programmes or magazine articles when we disagree with them but we should use
positive reinforcement with the media too -
3. Send a dog/cat/rabbit treat to a rescue centre or drop around with some old towels
-
On You Tube...
1. Primatologists aren’t reacting to the 'released chimp' video in the same way that
people are reacting to it on Facebook. Great ending but shame that the reports on
this don't mention that chimps 'smile' when they are very scared and hug when they
need reassurance -
2. Criminal Penguins -
3. This powerful short video, A Better Way to see Orcas, by The Orca Project contrasts the lives of orca in captivity with life in the ocean.
New Online Animal Welfare Course Launched
The Online Certificate in Animal Welfare is a new course provided by the Cambridge
e-
For more information visit the CEI website.
Whale corner...
November 5th and 6th saw Europe’s first whale festival. The two days were packed
with workshops, inspirational talks from experts including Mark Cawardine, a virtual
whale watch, an exhibition of inside a whale, inflatable life-
The event was organised by Planet Whale -
A new film about Keiko the orca who starred in Free Willy and was eventually rehabilitated to the sea was screened at the event. The film is a poignant reminder of why cetaceans shouldn’t be kept in captivity and that many still are struggling in horrendous conditions worldwide. The DVD of the film can be bought at the official website.
A related news story is that PETA has recently filed to sue SeaWorld about their captive cetaceans LINK.
On a lighter note, to make an origami whale see this LINK.
Is it bad if my horse/dog ...?
I am often asked if it is ‘bad’ when a horse ‘licks and chews’ or their dog chases
light reflections and many other behaviours. My answer is inevitably ‘it depends’
followed by many questions. This reflects the exciting and occasionally frustrating
thing about studying animal behaviour -
Generally, you can't look at a behaviour in isolation and say for sure what is happening. For example, a horse pawing the ground might be due to frustration or confusion during training, at feeding time or when tied up but horses also paw the ground when exploring, grazing, clearing snow, if irritated by mites or in some play patterns/communications with other horses.
To help us consider whether an animal is behaving in a normal or abnormal way, or if they are showing a behaviour due to stress or a different reason we need to ask lots of questions and to observe the behaviour in context. Would they do this behaviour in the wild? When? Is the behaviour we are seeing out of context or in context? Is the intensity/frequency of the behaviour normal? For example, a horse eating some wood is normal, around 10% of their diet is browsing on bushes and trees, but eating their way through a stable or tree would indicate some behavioural issues. Is the behaviour a learnt behaviour? What is maintaining the behaviour?
We must appreciate that a snap-
The misinterpretation of animal behaviour due to lack of understanding and availability of good quality information is a key motivation behind Learning About Animals. With the increasing number of different training methods for dogs and horses this is now more important than ever. Until there is a better understanding of how to interpret behaviour and body language people won’t be able to assess which training methods are more ethical and which should be avoided and thus make informed choices. Sometimes I feel that more emphasis on learning and applying what is known about animals before ‘following’ a trainer would greatly help the animals who share their lives with us and hope that LAA events go a small way to helping that happen.