A Bristol University expert has debunked the age-old belief that aggressive dogs have the desire to assert their 'dominance' over people and other dogs. Dr Rachel Casey, a senior lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare, spent six months studying dogs freely interacting at a Dogs Trust re-homing centre, and re-analysing data from studies of feral dogs. Dogs no matter what the dog name is but a lot of the dog breed tend to act in a similar fashion.

The researcher observed that individual relationships between dogs are learnt through experience rather than motivated by a desire to assert 'dominance'. In the study paper, Casey's team say that dogs are not motivated by maintaining their place in the pecking order of their pack, as many well-known dog trainers preach. The academics also say that training approaches aimed at 'dominance reduction' vary from being worthless in treatment to being actually dangerous and likely to make behaviors worse.

According to them, instructing owners to eat before their dog or go through doors first will not influence the dog's overall perception of the relationship, but merely teach them what to expect in these specific situations. They warn that techniques like pinning the dog to the floor, grabbing jowls, or blasting hooters at dogs will make dogs anxious, often about their owner, and potentially lead to an escalation of aggression. Dr. Casey said: "The blanket assumption that every dog is motivated by some innate desire to control people and other dogs is frankly ridiculous. It hugely underestimates the complex communicative and learning abilities of dogs.

It also leads to the use of coercive training techniques, which compromise welfare, and actually cause problem behaviours". The researcher added: "In our referral clinic we very often see dogs which have learnt to show aggression to avoid anticipated punishment. Owners are often horrified when we explain that their dog is terrified of them, and is showing aggression because of the techniques they have used " but it's not their fault when they have been advised to do so, or watched unqualified 'behaviourists' recommending such techniques on TV."

Veterinary Director Chris Laurence MBE, said: "We can tell when a dog comes in to us which has been subjected to the 'dominance reduction technique' so beloved of TV dog trainers. They can be very fearful, which can lead to aggression towards people."

Laurence added: "Sadly, many techniques used to teach a dog that his owner is leader of the pack is counter-productive; you won't get a better behaved dog, but you will either end up with a dog so fearful it has suppressed all its natural behaviours and will just do nothing, or one so aggressive it's dangerous to be around."

The study has been published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research.

Raring a pet may just will perhaps be the last word for many after one hears this. According to some American researchers, pet owners are at an increases risk of getting infected with the potentially fatal M.R.S.A. infection through dogs and cats. This comes after the head researcher from the University of South Florida, Dr. Richard Oehler, admits that M.R.S.A. and skin infections in dogs and cats can be spread through bites.

He believes that children between the age group of five and nine are at risk of dog bites the most, while for the elders, cat bites seem to have been a problem. So, what is the threat for? Well, according to him, these bites cause deeper puncture wounds than dogs, and carry a higher risk of infection and soft-tissue abscesses. If ones goes by the figures, it's believed that almost 20 per cent of the bites lead to severe infections, caused by bacteria in the animal's mouth, plus other infectious agents from the person's skin.

When asked to opine on the infection, the BBC quoted Oehler, as saying, "As community-acquired strains of M.R.S.A. increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonisation in domestic animals, often implying direct infection from their human owners". He also speaks about the infection in other animals. He adds: "M.R.S.A. colonisation has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection. M.R.S.A.-related skin infections of pets,” he says, is “seem to occur in various manifestations and can be easily spread to owners."

As far as remedies are concerned, any MRSA infection acquired from pets is treated with medication, as normal MRSA infections. "Pet owners are often unaware of the potential for transmission of life-threatening pathogens from their canine and feline companions," said the researchers. He concludes: “Precaution is the best remedy. Clinicians must continue to promote loving pet ownership, take an adequate pet history, and be aware that associated diseases are preventable via recognition, education and simple precautions."