Animal behaviour expert Karen Wild discusses the life of a dog

I always say with dogs that you get the puppy stages, the teenage stages during which they can become very challenging and sensitive.

And once you’re past that, you get what I call the golden years. This isn’t old age. This is the adulthood that everyone dreams of and remembers from the dogs in their childhood. Then, for some dogs, their time runs out on this earth a little bit sooner than we might have expected.

This column is in part a tribute to dogs and owners that come to me for help.

I see how stressed everyone is feeling when there are problems. And I can see the dogs learning more and more about their owners in a good way.

Once we start to understand them better, owners go through a process almost like grieving. They come to terms with what can be changed, what might not have worked out in the past, and how things might be hard work for a while.

It’s always worth it to try and help them, and that doesn’t always mean training or desensitisation and counter-conditioning work for example.

Sometimes we might decide that we can no longer provide a good enough home for them and that they might be happier somewhere else. That is a very hard decision but ultimately, some dogs aren’t ever going to be at their best in their first home. They may have greater needs than that home can provide. It happens. It’s very upsetting and we try to avoid it of course.

Other times we realise that by changing things around, we can make things work - but this is always going to take time and a lot of learning for everybody. This has to be a team effort, and everyone needs to help. If there’s even one family member that won’t agree, or does the opposite of what is needed, it stops progress.

Where do we begin, however? The first step is to make sure the puppy you bring home, is one that is going to fit in. All dogs are gorgeous, but some can be large, and many are powerful and may have strong working instincts. For an experienced owner, without other commitments such as young children, they can be a joyful companion. But sometimes people don’t realise that these realities exist.

Don’t choose on looks or how your dog will make you appear when you’re out. Choose on what you can provide. Being a family dog is a tough job, so be the best family you can be for them and the life and times of your dog will be as happy as possible.