Happy DogsTas

12/06/2023

How awesome is this 🐾🐾🐾

10/03/2023

Are you a plant lover with a curious fur baby? Not sure what plants are pet friendly? We've put a small list together.

14/02/2023

05/01/2023

This is by FAR one piece of advice that can help everything.

There is one thing that ALL good trainers have in common.
We are TOTALLY aware of EVERYTHING around us.

We may be helping the dog in front of us but we are TOTALLY aware of what is behind us, around us, the sounds, the movement....the possible and probable.
The environment and what is around can both positively or negatively affect your dog....immensely.

Windy day ?
Your dog was aware of the 20 dogs on your street...now it is aware of 100 in the area and cannot pin point their distance as well as before. This can make some dogs on edge. The information is distracting.
Most trainers dislike wind.

Car parked ?
There could be a cat under it, a dog about to be let out of the back seat or boot area. Is there a driver in the front about to drive off....is it likely to be a very noisy car ?

Children in a front yard playing ?
Are they about to run out the gate ? Does one have a scooter about to leave ? Are they quiet or are they excited ?

Dog behind a gate ?
Is it older ? Is it there to alert its humans ? Is the gate secure or is there a section of the fence it could easily jump?

Dog on lead being walked ?
Is the walker aware of their own dogs behaviour ? Is the dog straining on the lead (this can lead to a reaction for some dogs). Is this dog giving yours a heavy stare or just a glance ?

At a local field....
Is there another dog or more than one ? Is someone throwing a ball nearby and oblivious to how close it can get to your dog. Is a dog off lead running and in a hyper excited state ?
Is one dog barking incessantly ?

So....how on earth can this help your dog ?

Awareness, awareness of environment, possible issues and most importantly how your dog reacts.
Many times I am told behaviour has come "out of the blue".
In the vast majority of cases it hasn't come out of the blue......all signs were already there.
Just not picked up on.

If you can tune into the environment and watch your dog you WILL learn valuable information.

Is the wind too much ? Does it negatively impact your walk every time it is windy ?
That is information you can use. Walk when it is calmer.

Is your dog ball obsessed ? The dogs at the field have a ball 30 metres away from you.....is that why your dog has changed their behaviour ?

Does your dog suddenly dislike large white dogs ? Are you aware that the dog that barks the most on your walk is the large white dog on the corner by your house....the same corner where loud cars speed past ?

This takes a while to perfect but you can absolutely start to tune in more by stopping a few times on your walk and listening to the environment around you.
That is a great start.
Can you hear that loud motorcycle down the block heading your way?.....you can now prepare your dog that doesn't like motorbikes (with focus on you, encouraging sniffing to relax or pull out a treat/toy to focus on or sniff out).

Did a mower just start a few doors in front of you ? Cross the road and encourage calmness and reward looking at the mower from a distance instead of forcing your dog to walk right past the object it dislikes.

All of this helps you make better decisions, but much more than that you will begin to see and hear things that affect your dog that you would have never noticed before.
You will KNOW that your dogs tail is bristling because you are coming up a parked car that a cat has just ran under, you can cross the road to avoid an issue......or get focus on you as you pass.
You will KNOW that the hesitancy in walking past a certain house is because there is a dog on their path that stares heavily at yours...again you can help your dog through that now you are aware.......BEFORE an issues occurs.

So give it a go.
Start to listen.
Start to look for possible issues rather than be forced to be reactive.

I promise you it will change everything.

26/10/2022

14/09/2022

I'll have doggy treats available again this Sunday at The Woodbridge Market Tas. Come and say Hi. If you want a change of scenery for dog walk, there is a nice track in Woodbridge & also there's the Art Trail at Birchs Bay for a longer outing.

06/09/2022

Coming to The Woodbridge Market Tas on Sunday 18th September 🐾

28/01/2022

A friend posted some photos today of me at the beach last year. I thought I'd make a little clip. Dogs know I carry treats, homemade sweet potato treats, and there's a few who run to me when they see me coming but they all must sit first.
The last in series is the best behaved 😉🐾

10/12/2021

From my memories 4 years ago

10/11/2021

12/10/2021

Who can relate? 🤪

08/09/2021

30/08/2021

12/08/2021

All dog owners of Kingborough will be able to discover new walking areas when the next stage of Kingston Park Playground is built.

New on-lead dog walking areas will be part of the new development. The areas marked in orange - in the photo - are the pathways where dogs will be allowed on-lead.

Dogs on-lead are also allowed on the green spaces after Stage 2 is complete, such as on the events and picnic lawns.

There will be dog drinking stations throughout the site, tethering locations, and waste bag dispensers. A variety of non-toxic plants will be used throughout the public open space to provide your beloved companion with ample opportunity to sniff their way around the interesting pathways.

For information about responsible dog ownership please visit https://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/services/animal-management/dogs/

31/07/2021

29/07/2021

Yay! We have the go ahead for the return of our market on August 15th in the newly renovated hall - check out it's new hat!
This market will be a fundraiser for Dogs' Homes of Tasmania & we will be asking for a gold coin, or what you feel like donating, on entry.
If you have doggy treats, toys or tinned food you would like to donate, we are a drop off point. (Please no Baxters brand or those coloured treats as they upset tummies or worse)
We will also accept any donations of blankets or towels & pass on to animal rescues if the Dogs Home don't need them so if you are doing a clean out, pass them on for a good cause.
We have a full house of fabulous stallholders, some new & many of your favourites. I'll be posting teasers of them over coming weeks.
So put the date in your diary for market party day on Sunday August 15th at Woodbridge WOOHOO!!

30/06/2021

30/03/2021

03/03/2021

Resource guarding is a normal ‘survival skill’ behaviour that dogs exhibit to varying degrees.  It can range from not worried at all to growling and then to biting.  Warning signs are constantly given off by the dog, escalating as the dog gets more annoyed / worried.  It can cover food (inclu...

22/01/2021

***WHY YOUR LOST DOG MAY NOT RUN BACK TO YOU***

I was reminded once again this past weekend how much we dog owners don’t know about missing pets. That’s not a judgement in any way, just an observation. So few of us really know or understand what happens to a pet when they become lost.

This past weekend someone asked me why any lost dog would not just go to their owner once they saw them. It’s a good question. I think most of us just assume that our own dogs would come running to us as soon as they saw us. After all, we’ve cared for them, fed them, cuddled with them and loved them. But, sadly that is not the case for every lost dog – even your lost dog.

I first read this story (“Dog Lost for Four Months Recognizes Family by Whistle“) on Life With Dogs back in October. It’s a good example of how a lost dog can become confused and disoriented when they are lost for several days or months. Luna, the dog in the story, was missing for four months. When her family finally found her again, she didn’t recognize them, and even walked away from them when they arrived to be reunited with her. It took two days, six visits and a distinctive whistle by the owner, for her to realize it was them. What had been a puzzling circumstance finally resulted in a happy reunion for all.

She was “crying and yipping the whole way,” said Julia. Luna jumped into Bruno’s arms and began licking his face.

As many of us already know, not all dogs are created equal (if they were our lives would be pretty boring!). Some dogs are happy-go-lucky, love people and other dogs, while others are much more wary and unsure. Puppy mill dogs are especially wary of strangers. They’re also more skittish. They are less likely to stick around and see if the human approaching them is “their” human or someone intending to harm them. As a result, they are much harder to catch and usually have to be trapped.

But a dog does not have to be a puppy mill dog to react this way. Many lost dogs tend to go into “survival mode”. They are frightened, unsure, hungry, tired (exhausted) and on constant alert. In many cases, they are fending for their lives. The longer they live in this state the less likely they are to recognize their owner on sight – and in fact, they are less likely to stick around and wait to see if the person approaching them is their owner.

A year ago this week, my foster dog, Cupcake, was missing. As a lost dog and owner, Cupcake and I had a lot going against us finding one another again – she was a puppy mill dog, had only been with me a little over a month, and was frightened of strangers. She was dodging traffic, coyotes and people in the twelve days she was missing. Talk about being in survival mode – she was definitely in it.

When we finally were able to see each other again it was at a warehouse loading dock. Even as people blocked all her avenues of escape, she continued to run back and forth, trying to find a way out. I was standing right there and she didn’t even recognize me. I called her name and she kept running. I asked if she wanted to go home to see Daisy and Jasper (my other two dogs) and she stopped for a second, then kept running – she was in survival mode, searching for a way out.

It wasn’t until I sat down with my body turned sideways from her, with my head bowed down and avoided eye contact with her, that she came close enough to smell me. I still remember the moment she started to realize it was me. She lifted her nose to the air and sniffed me. Then she moved closer and sniffed again. When she finally got close enough to really sniff me, and to hear my voice, she sighed. It was at that very moment she realized it was me. She leaned into me. She finally knew she was safe.

11/30/2011 – The day Cupcake was found. That’s me in back carrying her.

All lost dogs act differently. As owners, we need to know that before our pet goes missing.

We need to know that chasing a lost dog is one of the worst things we can do. It only reaffirms to the dog that people should be avoided.

So what should you do when you encounter a lost dog or your own lost dog?

Sit down.
Turn your body so your back or side is to the dog.
Keep your eyes averted and bow your head so as to look non-threatening.
Toss tasty treats (hot dogs, chicken, smelly cheese, etc.) behind you or to the side of you.
Don’t talk.
Wait patiently for the dog to approach you. Don’t make any sudden movements, but continue to toss treats.
Don’t grab the dog when they get close, but wait patiently and build trust.
Speak softly, but if they back away, stop talking and just continue to toss treats until they trust you enough to come closer.
As a dog owner, it pays to know what to do if your dog becomes lost. Below are some sites with some great tips on what to do. I really encourage you to check them out. (on original post)

ORIGINAL POST: https://nodogaboutit.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/why-your-lost-dog-may-not-run-back-to-you/

(Toni)

17/01/2021

Something to be aware of

27/06/2020

Winter is upon us and the cold weather brings seasonal pattern changes to potential hazards for your pet. Read on to learn more about hand warmers, winter plants, antifreeze, vitamin D supplements, cold and flu remedies and pesticides.

Hand, foot and body warmers – these disposable products contain iron which can be highly toxic if ingested. Early signs of iron toxicity can include severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which can escalate and become life threatening.

Plants – some daffodils, daphne and Autumn crocus are flowering now. All parts of these plants are poisonous if ingested. Mushrooms are also still actively growing; please be cautious and keep an eye on your pet whilst walking them and where possible remove any mushrooms from your yard before your pet has a chance to play with or eat them. A mycology service to vets and pet owners is available if you would like to have any mushrooms on your property identified to know if you should be concerned: https://animalpoisons.com.au/mushroomidentification

Antifreeze – contain varied concentrations of ethylene glycol or other toxic glycols. Many animals will voluntarily drink antifreeze if spilled or leaks onto garage floors or driveways. Even small ingestions in animals can result in severe or fatal poisoning due to kidney failure.

Vitamin D supplements – ingestion can cause a life-threatening increase in blood calcium levels which can affect every organ in the body and be fatal if treatment is not started promptly.

Cold and flu medications: contain a range of drugs, many of which can be poisonous. Pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) can cause stimulatory signs such as agitation, hyperactivity, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure and tremors. Dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) can cause a range of signs; from lethargy and wobbliness through to stimulatory signs similar to those described for pseudoephedrine. Paracetamol is very dangerous, especially for cats, and may cause liver failure and changes to red blood cells. Ibuprofen may lead to stomach ulcers, vomiting, kidney damage and seizures. Small ingestions of nasal sprays containing oxymetazoline and xylometazoline can cause slowing of the heart, slow breathing, low blood pressure and possibly coma.

Herbal cold and flu remedies: may contain the sweetener xylitol which can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels and liver damage in dogs.

Pesticides – rodents and insects can seek shelter inside our warm homes leading to increased pesticide usage by households. If pesticides must be used, use pet safe options if available or ensure they are put out and stored in areas your pet can not access.

If you think your pet has been exposed to any of these products, call us on 1300 TOX PET (1300 869 738) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for a tailored risk assessment and recommendation, including first aid measures. Our service is free for all pet owners.

13/06/2020

Our incredible friends over at AHVEC - After hours veterinary emergency centre. have made some fantastic brochures about what to do in veterinary emergency situations, and we thought the best way to get this information out to more of you would be to share to our page! If you would like a physical copy of the brochures, they can be picked up from The Dog Clinic TAROONA.

🌊 DROWNING AND OTHER WATER HAZARDS 🌊

First Aid for drowning
🐙 Expel any water from the lungs & stomach by putting the heel of your hand in the dip behind the last rib & thrust up toward the head three or four times in a modified 'Heimlich manoeuvre". If the dog is small enough, you can hold them upside down by the hips to help drain water from the lungs
Stay calm & use a branch or fishing rod to hook the collar & pull your pet to safety if the water is deep
🐙 Place on their side with head and neck extended, with the head slightly lower than the body
🐙 Clear any debris away from the mouth & nose. Pull the tongue forward. Check the dog's gum colour – life threatening lack of oxygen turns the gums blue or grey instead of the normal pink
🐙 Expel any water from the lungs & stomach by putting the heel of your hand in the dip behind the last rib & thrust up toward the head three or four times in a modified 'Heimlich maneuver". If the dog is small enough, you can hold them upside down by the hips to help drain water from the lungs
🐙 If your pet is not breathing, or you cannot feel a pulse or heartbeat, begin CPR (see our previous CPR post!)
🐙 Contact your vet or AHVEC asap!
🐙 Wrap your pet in a blanket to prevent further loss of body heat
🐙 Remain calm!

🦞 'Near'& 'Dry' drowning 🦞
'Near' drowning is non-fatal water inhalation and survival for longer than 24hrs. In a 'near' drowning episode, cessation of breathing results in a loss of oxygen to the brain and a rise in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. It can also cause aspiration (breathing in) of water into the lungs resulting in damage to the lung tissue.

Some pets experience 'dry' drowning, where fear or cold temperatures make the airways spasm and close over. There may not be water in the lungs but the dog is still unable to breathe properly.

Do not fail to contact a veterinarian because resuscitation was successful and your dog seems to be recovering! Secondary complications such as electrolyte imbalance, pneumonia, collapse of the lungs (atelectasis) or accumulation of water in the airways (pulmonary edema) can occur after 'near' or 'dry' drowning experiences. These conditions can be life-threatening in their own right if not treated properly.

🐬 How to prevent your dog drowning 🐬
🦀 Very young, very old and debilitated animals are more likely to drown as they may be unable to swing, they lost strength more rapidly, or they are unable to get out of the water (eg. N a pool). Be sure to keep a special watch over these pets when they are near water.
🦀 Young children attempting to bathe a pet may hold the animal under the water without understanding the consequences. Do not allow small children to bathe pets alone. Instead, let them help while you bathe the pet.
🦀 Pet-proof pools and other water sites all year round to prevent tragedies. Supervise your pets near water so cooling off during the summer stays safe and winter time play won't be risky business. Water games should be fun for the entire family!

🐋 Swimming & beach play 🐋
You should always be careful if your dog is swimming in deep water as pets can drown if they get exhausted or swallow water whilst swimming. Keep close watch over your dog while they are in the water.

🦈 Other hazards near water include: 🦈
🐡 Expel any water from the lungs & stomach by putting the heel of your hand in the dip behind the last rib & thrust up toward the head three or four times in a modified 'Heimlich manoeuvre". If the dog is small enough, you can hold them upside down by the hips to help drain water from the lungs
🐡 Pufferfish and some jellyfish are poisonous to dogs if eaten
🐡 Glass and shells cut bare paws or legs easily
🐡 Other dogs at the beach may not be friendly, so take care and ask the owner before letting your dog make new friends!

🚑 The Dog Clinic 6227 9586
🚑 AHVEC 1300 302 912

12/04/2020

ALL DOG OWNERS PLEASE PLAN AHEAD for
SEPARATION ANXIETY

For those who have experienced separation related behaviour issues with their dogs, I know how hard you have worked to help them and I feel for you. Just be aware that the isolation and lockdown we now face may cause your dogs to regress. What I also predict, is it may also create separation anxiety in dogs who never experienced it before.

Dogs very quickly adapt to having their humans around and for most it is a dream come true, heaven on earth!! And you will see trainers and behaviour consults, from near and far, encouraging you to put more time into training and more focus on your dogs. This is fabulous, I agree, I will be doing it too...but with a very strong caveat...be mindful of what happens when life returns to 'normal' and your dogs go back to being alone all day, kids return to school and weekend sports and work keeps you in meetings late into winter nights. How is your dog going to feel? Lonely, isolated, bored, all the things you were feeling during lock down. Are you planning for this?

Some tips I have for you are
- Take additional walks without your dog, leave them home
- Get ready (showered, dressed, make up etc)as if you are leaving the house for work, as you always would, and leave, even if momentarily, you're still maintaining continuity of departure
- Get in your car, drive out to the letter box or wherever you're allowed to and read a book for an hour or facetime mates, anything that keeps you busy and your dog thinking you have left as usual, either for work, sport or chores
- Both go to the supermarket and even though only one is allowed inside and one has to stay outside, this will give your dog some time at home alone
- If you have an alarm that triggers behaviours in your dog, make sure to keep using it, even if a little later in the morning than usual
- If you have baby gates at the office door or bedroom, continue to use them
- If you adding more training into your dog's day, try to make sure it is something you can sustain once back at work
- As you are adding enrichment, try to think of ways you can continue to maintain that all year round

While this is the perfect opportunity for you to be proofing basic behaviours like stay, wait, bed, quiet, capturing calm, you want to avoid making the whole day about your dog doing awesome things that will suddenly stop in a month.

It is however, the perfect time for improving your own skills as a trainer with things like clicker, shaping behaviours and working on protocols to de-stress those anxious, fearful dogs.

I am sure as we get further into this there will be more ideas to add and please feel free to comment and make suggestions.

19/03/2020

Before the Corona Virus we were booked out for the Easter period and turning lots of people away.
In the last week we have had around 50 cancellations from now until approximately May 2020.
So if you plan to get away and travel within Tassie at Easter time please give us a call.
Stay safe and well and we look forward to seeing everyone when everything goes back to normal.
Hugs and kisses to all of our furry customers and their families ❤️🥰😘😍

06/03/2020

What you need to know about dogs and COVID-19 Coronavirus: STAY CALM!

There is NO evidence at this stage that there is any risk of contracting COVID-19 from your pet!

Let’s take a minute to get informed (and wash our hands!):

🦠 There are hundreds of strains of Coronavirus;
🦠 Dogs can contract certain types of Coronaviruses but NOT COVID-19, and are not zoonotic (i.e not transmissible to humans);
🦠 There is no evidence to suggest that dogs can act as a vector (aid in spread) for COVID-19;
🦠 You should never put a mask on your dog! Your dog can’t catch it from you even if you were infected. And putting a mask on your dog could actually compromise its breathing and cause a raft of other problems.

What you need to do:
🦠 Practice basic hygiene (wash hands regularly, hand sanitiser, stay home if you are unwell etc)
🦠 If you have a confirmed COVID-19 infection and your dog needs to come to the vet, please phone us and we will work out a plan to have your pet seen!

For the most up to date information on Coronavirus please go the World Health Organisation Website. If you have concerns for your health please contact your doctor or nearest hospital.

10/12/2019

🐾 TRAINING TUESDAY 🐾
A helpful guideline of what we should look for in acceptable and unacceptable forms of play between our furbabies! 💚

03/12/2019

Scamwatch is a website run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams.