Happygoluckypaws

10/12/2024

The Power of Canine Loyalty: The Inspiring Story Behind Edwin Henry Landseer's Painting "Saved"
In 1856, British artist Edwin Henry Landseer created a poignant painting titled "Saved," which tells the story of a devoted dog's heroic rescue of his owner from a shipwreck. The painting is based on a true event that occurred over a century ago, when an English merchant and passenger ship, the "St. John," sank off the coast of Ireland in 1845. The tragedy resulted in the loss of many lives, but one remarkable story of survival and loyalty emerged.
A Newfoundland dog named Swain, who was on board the ship, refused to leave his owner, a young woman, behind. As the waves crashed against the shore, Swain swam with the woman to safety, saving her life. This incredible act of loyalty and bravery inspired Landseer to create his iconic painting, "Saved."
The painting depicts the moment when Swain and the woman reach the shore, exhausted but alive. Swain is shown standing proudly beside his owner, his fur soaked with seawater, his eyes gleaming with devotion. The woman lies on the ground. The painting is a testament to the unbreakable bond between humans and animals and the power of canine loyalty and rescue instincts.
Landseer's "Saved" has become an iconic representation of the Newfoundland breed's reputation as loyal and heroic companions. The painting has inspired countless reproductions, adaptations, and tributes, cementing its place in the hearts of art lovers and dog enthusiasts alike. The story behind "Saved" serves as a reminder of the enduring power of love, loyalty, and companionship between humans and animals.

06/12/2024

Barry the St. Bernard, Alps Rescue, 1895
In 1895, an incredible story emerged from the Swiss Alps involving Barry, a St. Bernard famed for his remarkable rescue abilities. Barry saved a stranded mountaineer who had become disoriented and collapsed due to exhaustion. Barry was trained by the monks of the hospice in the Alps to find lost travelers, and he carried supplies and warmth to those in distress. The story of Barry's heroism spread throughout Europe and North America, turning Barry into a symbol of hope and bravery, and a photograph capturing one of these rescues was widely circulated, evoking admiration for rescue dogs everywhere.

02/12/2024

Dogs die. But dogs live, too.
Right up until they die, they live.
They live brave, beautiful lives.
They protect their families. And love us.
And make our lives a little brighter.
And they don't waste time
being afraid of tomorrow ..

Dan Gemeinhart, The Honest Truth 🐶

Artist Credit: 'Best Buddies' by GallowayArts via Etsy

26/11/2024

Sophie is so polite 🐾💓

When I'm walking a dog on the lead, I always like to position the dog away from the road.

This is Sophie communicating with me that she is coming to my space and me to sniff the tree in front.

I put slo mo in the video to see how many signals she uses.

She sniffs the ground in the beginning and moves slightly curve towards me, then stopsfollowed with lip lick and eye blink.

This is the subtle signal from dogs that are often missed by us.

But if you pay attention and observe them, they never stop communicating with us.

26/11/2024

Ⓣ🄷🅴ⓡ🄰🄿🅈 Ⓣ🅤ⓔ🆂🅳ⓐ🅈 🙌

If you've ever seen a dog snorting, making interrupted, choppy noises and sounding like a choo-choo train, you are most likely witnessing reverse sneezing.

Of course, a dog affected by sneezing can have other conditions, such as an obstruction of the nose with a piece of food or a blade of grass. There may also be a polyp or a nasal growth present.

In the case of Rocky, the Pomeranian on the right, there was no obstruction and in fact the reverse sneezing had always been there as a puppy but recently got worse, hence why his mum made contact to see if there might be a homeopathic remedy that might ease his condition.

Most conventional medical articles connect reverse sneezing with congenital, often breed-related anatomy. Some dogs, especially short-nosed breeds, have shortened and compressed airways, leaving less room for air to pass through.

Reverse sneezing often affects smaller dogs, but any dog can be affected. When the airway in the area of the soft palate is narrow, the air passes by faster, increasing the likelihood of the soft palate ‘fluttering in the air' and making the familiar noise.

However, there are some other potential causes of reverse sneezing that are often forgotten.

Diet : Diet and reverse sneezing can have a hugh impact on seasonal allergies that can then cause an aggravation of reverse sneezing. Usually by restricting grain, dairy and sugar in the diet improvements can occur.

Reverse sneezing caused by collars, retractable leashes : If you have a dog that pulls, the collar presses on the jugular veins and the blood outflow from the throat and head are partially obstructed and the soft palate will swell up. This can easily cause reverse sneezing in a predisposed dog. Choke and martingale collars are reported to be the worst, but regular collars and unforgiving nylon leashes can also be the cause. Retractable leashes are also problematic because they are spring loaded and a dog needs to apply force to extend them. The brake system of the leash is even worse because it creates a severe and traumatic jolt every time the brake button is pressed.

Stress and reverse sneezing : For dogs that are generally anxious any particular trigger event can exacerbate a reverse sneezing episode as can any other environmental changes.

In the case of Rocky, more than likely the cause is related to his breed and genetics but the recent aggravation would appear to have been triggered by stress and recent roadworks that were increasing dust and other air allergens.

A homeopathic mix of low potency Nat Mur, Silica, Alium Cepa, & Sabadilla is being used to reduce the most immediate exacerbation, however a constitutional homeopathic approach may well be able to have a more direct impact on the condition.

If you have a dog with reverse sneezing - firstly check out the diet, examine closely the leads and collars that you use , look at allergen exposures particularly environmental and see if they can be mitigated and don't forget any stress through changes to routines or environments - all of them can have a multi-layered effect and a holistic approach needed to improve the problem. 🙏

24/11/2024

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love.
They depart to teach us about loss.
A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart...

Erica Jong ✨

Credit to unknown artist

24/11/2024

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know about evil, jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a mountainside on a glorious afternoon is to go back to Eden, where doing nothing was not boring: it was peaceful.”

- Milan Kundera

18/11/2024

🅜🅾🅝🅳🅐🆈 🅼🅘🅽🅓🆂🅔🆃🤔😼🤷‍♀️🐕

𝐆𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐧 is a blanket term that refers to various proteins found in grains. Generally, gluten from oats, rye, barley and wheat cause all the problems in people with sensitivities. 🌽In humans, gluten typically causes either an allergic reaction or an autoimmune response, such as celiac disease. While food allergies and sensitivities can be triggered by any ingredient or additive in a dog or cats diet, wheat gluten (plant protein) certainly can also be a source of food allergies.🍞Most of the animal dry food contains glyco-proteins, and Dr Haan ( DVM) and Dr Symens(DVM) have expressed concern about four key foods - gluten-containing grains, casein( dairy products), soy and corn. 🍜

Most people associate allergies with digestive issues (leaky gut syndrome), skin issues and chronic ear infections - which are all potential signs of gluten sensitivities ( along with other possible causes). But most people are not as aware of the potential impact that gluten has on the musculo-skeletal system.

𝐀𝐧 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐨𝐠s 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 ?
Kortekaas explains that most damage from gluten in humans was found at the cecum area of the colon. In cats and dogs, the right kidney is located the closest to the ilio-cecal valve which then reduces the motility of the right kidney. Gluten is understood to reduce the motility of the intestines and the internal visera and subsequent fascia restrictions result. Fascia not only connects internal organs but muscles and skeletal structures running throughout the body.🐈 Therefore a restriction in this connective tissue can have flow on effects to anywhere it attaches . The deep ventral(viseral) fascial lines connect into the pelvis, hock and also into the diaphragm and cervical region. 🐾

It is believed that where the body has a "weak link" from an old injury, infection or genetic weakness, then this is where you may find what Korekaas refers to as a "gluten irritation"in those areas. It is believed that with cats chronic urinary tract infections could well be attributed to alternations in the mechanics of the kidneys, ureters and bladder as a result of gluten😾

𝙒𝒉𝙖𝒕 𝒄𝙖𝒏 𝒃𝙚 𝙙𝒐𝙣𝒆 ?
Bowen therapy, craniosacral and osteopathic approaches can provide some immediate rebalancing energetically and physically, however dietary changes are needed for lasting and successful healing to occur. It is claimed that it only takes one gram of gluten to continue the impact, so even those treats need to be examined closely as well.😏

05/11/2024

Announcing coming in 2025..........

Interactive pilot Workshop designed for Dog Professionals

‘Enhancing Canine Well-being with Hydrolats’

This interactive, pilot workshop is designed for dog professionals—including trainers, behaviorists, groomers, shelter workers, walkers, doggy day care and veterinary staff—interested in integrating hydrolats into their practices.

Hydrolats, are gentle, water-based plant extracts known for their therapeutic properties safe, effective, and simple to use when working with dogs.

Full information will be coming soon!

04/11/2024

🐾There are some methods that may seem logical on the surface, but can have unintended consequences when it comes to teaching dogs what we think is ‘good’ behaviour.

One common approach I’ve noticed people do is holding their dog by the collar and asking them to sit. If the dog doesn’t respond the owner pushes their bum down forcing them to sit. While it might seem like this gives you control, it can backfire by causing stress, anxiety, and worsening your dog’s behaviour – and it may also cause discomfort or pain by forcing them with your hand into the sit position.

Let me explain why physically holding a dog in place isn’t helpful and what you can do instead...

The Problem with Physical Restraint: It Increases Stress!

From the dog’s perspective, being held by the collar restricts their ability to make choices, particularly in situations they find stressful. Dogs naturally find ways to feel safe, and one of their primary coping strategies is to increase distance AWAY from something that feels like a threat. When you take away that option by physically restraining them, it can trigger stress and discomfort.

Imagine feeling cornered with no way to move – this is what many dogs experience when held tightly. The more restricted they feel, the higher their stress levels can become.

🔴Loss of Control Fuels Anxiety and Reactivity...

Just like humans, dogs feel more secure when they have control over their interactions. When a dog loses that control—especially in the presence of a trigger, like a strange person or another dog—it can lead to heightened anxiety.

This anxiety can manifest as reactivity, such as barking, growling, or lunging. What looks like 'bad behaviour' to us is often a dog’s way of expressing that they feel overwhelmed and unsafe.
In these moments, holding your dog still adds fuel to the fire. They’re already stressed, and now they have no way to escape the situation. This makes them more likely to react aggressively or develop a pattern of reactivity in the future.

🔴The Impact of Blocking Natural Coping Behaviours...

Dogs have their own natural coping strategies, including moving or looking away from the trigger (avoidance), sniffing the ground, yawning, shake-off, pacing, or licking their lips to self-soothe. These actions help them regulate their emotions and feel safer. But when we stop them from engaging in these behaviours by holding them by the collar, we remove the tools they need to manage their stress.

This sense of being trapped can escalate fear or frustration, leading to an even stronger reaction. If a dog feels they have no way out, their behaviour can quickly spiral, creating more long-term issues.

🔴Adding to Their Vulnerability...

When you hold a dog in place physically, you increase their sense of vulnerability. They now have two things to worry about—the trigger they were already reacting to and the fact that they can’t move. Even dogs with a generally friendly temperament can start feeling defensive when restrained, especially if they’ve had negative experiences in the past.

This is why some dogs may bark, snap, or lunge even more intensely when held by the collar. Their behaviour isn’t about disobedience—it’s a desperate attempt to protect themselves from what feels like a threatening situation.

🟢Positive Alternatives of What to Do Instead…

Rather than relying on physical restraint and forcing a sit give your dog distance AWAY from the trigger. Allowing them space helps de-escalate a potentially tense situation and helps them feel safer, reducing the chances of a reactive response.

Gradually expose your dog to their triggers from a comfortable distance—far enough that they notice the trigger but don’t react. This isn’t about your dog focusing on you; instead, you want them to visually engage with the trigger and calmly process it. When they stay relaxed while observing, reward them to build positive associations. Over time, this helps reduce their reactivity.

A well-fitted ‘Y’ shaped harness with a handle allows you to guide your dog gently without restricting their movement. It’s a safer and more comfortable alternative to holding their collar - which also puts pressure on the oesophagus and trachea.
helping
Training your dog isn’t about control—it’s about teaching them how to navigate the world with confidence and helping your dog develop the coping skills they are missing. Physical restraint, such as holding them by the collar, may seem like a quick fix, but it can actually undermine your training efforts and your dog’s trust in you.

If you're having difficulty managing a highly reactive dog, seek out a qualified force-free trainer in your area who uses science-based methods.

03/11/2024