Wag School

24/08/2023

https://www.facebook.com/brightdogtrainingUK/videos/865355071114074/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

15/08/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100064667170077/posts/685753180256915/

13/08/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100001631378030/posts/6717736484957331/

21/07/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100068243926722/posts/597891342495658/

Hu***ng can be funny, annoying or embarrassing for us humans. So why do dogs hump, and what can you do about it?

Sometimes hu***ng can be completely fine to be left alone, and sometimes it can work to positively interrupt the dog (call their name, or another interrupting cue) & redirect to an alternate, & incompatible, behaviour. Interrupt-redirect if the hu***ng behaviour is causing frustration to another being, & help calm the hu***ng dog.

More on this topic from PPGA member Cooper and Kids : https://cooperandkids.com/why-does-my-dog-hump/

20/07/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100068243926722/posts/597446472540145/?app=fbl

Having a dog who growls, barks or lunges on lead can be incredibly stressful. There are so many potential underlying causes, and resultingly, training plans.
At the core of all of them is helping our dogs become calmer in this environment. Your local PPGA trainer can help sift through which methods may be most appropriate for your dog.
Some general advice to get you started: https://positively.com/dog-behavior/aggression/leash-aggression/

15/07/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100001631378030/posts/6622859917778322/

Enrichment on walks is a great way to provide mental and physical stimulation for your dog while also making walks more enjoyable for both you and your furry friend. Here are some ideas for enrichment on walks:

Sniffing: Allow your dog to stop and sniff interesting smells along your walk. Sniffing is a natural behaviour for dogs and can provide mental stimulation and enrichment.

Obstacle Course: Use natural elements in your environment, such as logs or rocks, to create an obstacle course for your dog to jump over or weave around. This will provide physical and mental stimulation.

Hide and Seek: Hide treats or toys along your walk and encourage your dog to find them. This will provide a fun and stimulating game while also reinforcing positive behaviours.

Change of Scenery: Vary your walking route and explore new areas with your dog. This will provide mental stimulation and new sights, sounds, and smells for your dog to investigate.

It is important to always prioritise your dog's safety during walks and to be aware of your surroundings.

29/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100068243926722/posts/586222236995902/?app=fbl

At AutumnGold we have an informal group of trainers and dog friends who get together regularly to do a bit of dog training, go for group walks, and give our dogs free time to play. During play time…

27/06/2023

22/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/abcdogsinhome/videos/276402475047552/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

05/06/2023

Why do dogs growl at people? Your dog is probably trying to protect himself, but there are some ways to alter their aggression.

05/06/2023

There are also lots of myths about what causes separation anxiety, including being too caring or letting your dog sleep on your bed. Just. Not. True.

26/05/2023

So very important to get pups to learn to like being handled - makes vet visits and grooming so much more tolerable for them.

23/05/2023

These are great for pups. KMart used to sell a very inexpensive version - hopefully they still stock them but they are now widely available.

The benefits of a lick mat for a dog include slowing his eating and controlling anxiety and boredom.

18/05/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063668105874/posts/694261749372756/?app=fbl

“Your dog should only sniff when you tell him he can”

That’s what one of my clients was told…

I mean, where do you even start with that? Under what circumstances do we need to micromanage & control another being’s existence to that extent?

Dog sniff. Scent is their primary sense. They sniff to obtain information about their environment. Sniffing offers them a sensory experience which is beyond our comprehension. It’s natural, normal, appropriate, functional behaviour.

Imagine if someone tried to curb or control your vision. What would that feel like? How would you feel about them? Would that make your life better or worse?

You can be in control without being controlling. You can have both boundaries & freedom. Let them sniff…

13/05/2023

Congratulations to our puppy school graduates at Concord Vets on Wednesday night. Well done Blaze, George, Lily and Twiggy!

10/05/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063668105874/posts/690269073105357/?app=fbl

Potentially unrealistic expectations -

• that a puppy will amuse themselves quietly while you work (or, rather, will amuse themselves in a way that's acceptable to you....)
• that a puppy can be left alone for prolonged (or even brief) periods
• that a puppy will settle independently in a bed/crate/pen right from the start
• that a puppy will tell you when they need to go out to the toilet

Puppies need our time, our attention and our supervision. They need us to teach them how to settle. How to be alone for brief periods. How to relax in a pen or a crate. Where to toilet. What their routine is. What the rules of living in a human home are. They need us to adapt our routines and lifestyle to accommodate their needs. They need us to devote the time to them that they need and deserve.

Unrealistic expectations result in avoidable frustration. Expecting your puppy to snooze quietly at your feet while you spend the morning in Zoom meetings might be setting both of you up to fail! If you go into things with your eyes open and accept that, in the early days, your puppy will need a lot of your time & attention and you set things up to make that possible you'll make both your lives a lot easier. Remember, your puppy needs you!

08/05/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100057683131617/posts/667663525166413/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

19/04/2023

How long should you walk a puppy depends on her age. A new puppy should go on a walk for no more than five or 10 minutes – here’s why.

16/02/2023

How to counter misinformation about companion animal behavior.

28/01/2023

Learn the signs of dog anxiety so you can avoid having your dog shut down.

28/01/2023

Congratulations to our puppy school graduates at Concord Vet Hospital last Wednesday evening. Well done Tilly, Misu, Zuma and Louis. We missed you Kiaora!

13/01/2023

LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINATIONS ARE BACK IN STOCK AFTER A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE 🥳

It is recommended you consider getting your dog Vaccinated for Leptospirosis if you live in the Inner West or if you see rats in your area or around your house.

22/12/2022

Are neighbors complaining about dog barking? Do NOT get defensive! The following are ways you can peacefully diffuse this potentially hostile situation.

16/12/2022

At this time of year - it is common for pets to get into foods that are toxic. These foods are often inadvertently left around the house such as under the Christmas tree, or near an easily accessible bin. If you think your pet has ingested any of the foods listed below - it is important to reach out as soon as possible. Three hours is the magic window where we can effectively induce emesis (make them vomit!). After this time - it may be too late to decontaminate your pet.

Chocolate is toxic - and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, rapid heart rate, seizures and death.

Macadamia nuts are very toxic to dogs and can cause paralysis from the neck down.

High fatty foods are among the WORST things we can feed our pets. Food such as ham, sausages, nuts, lamb, bacon, salami, prosciutto, chicken skin and any fatty offcuts. These can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but worst of all they commonly lead to PANCREATITIS. Pancreatitis is a potentially fatal condition that does not show for 5 - 7 days after ingestion of fatty foods in dogs. In most cases - it is treatable - however it is a lengthy, painful and expensive treatment course. Best avoided!

If you are concerned your pet may have ingested something they should not have - don't hesitate to give us a call on 9743 1715.

14/12/2022

Congratulations to our puppy schoolers who graduated last night from our final course for the year at Concord Vets.

Well done Ronaldo, Kiko, Darius, Douglas and Don!

29/11/2022

TRAINING TUESDAY
Puppy Toilet Training

To achieve quick and easy toilet training you will need to be extra diligent in the first few weeks of bringing your new puppy home. The extra time you spend toilet training will pay off 100 fold when you have a perfectly toilet trained puppy who can be trusted not to toilet in the house by 12 - 16 weeks of age.

Some quick tips
🐶 Where you want pup to toilet is up to you – outside on the grass or garden bed or in a specific spot or inside on newspaper or a specific toileting area (e.g. fake grass).
🐶Watch for any signs of sniffing the ground, circling, whining and immediately go to take them outside.
🐶Once outside - wait for pup to go to the toilet – be patient as this may take a while – as soon as puppy is finished – praise lavishly and give them several treats one at a time. THEN wait a few more minutes before heading inside (pups sometimes will take multiple times to fully empty the bladder)
🐶 Go out regularly - Take them out to go after play, eating or drinking or after they have woken up. If they don't go the first time you go out, wait ten minutes and try again.

*If they have an accident

Accidents are always our fault and never the puppies. Sometimes providing an indoor option such as fake grass within a pen can provide an alternative for times when you can't watch them. Remember they are still young and under development, so expecting them to hold it in at a young age is unrealistic.

NEVER punish if they wee/poo accidently - just pick them up and take them outside and see if they will finish. Punishing when they wee just makes them less likely to want to 'toilet' in front of us

*If you find urine or faeces in the house and puppy has left the scene, simply get out your enzymatic cleaner and clean it up and record the accident on the record sheet.

**For pups that have successfully been toileting and are starting to have accidents again - undertake a vet check to rule out a medical issue such as infection. Also check for any changes in their life and routine. Sometimes a big change can affect their behaviour. Go back a few steps and start training again.

25/11/2022

*** TICK ALERT ***

In the last two weeks we have seen THREE paralysis tick cases at Concord Veterinary Hospital. It looks to be a very bad tick season 2022/2023.

Whilst paralysis ticks are generally not reported in Concord - these cases were from close surrounding areas like Eastwood and Gladesville. One case was even in a 100% indoor cat (the tick was likely brought in on the shoes of the owner).

Paralysis ticks, as their name suggests, cause paralysis which can lead to respiratory failure and death. There is currently a nationwide shortage of tick anti-serum meaning eventually there may be paralysis tick cases that cannot be treated.

There are excellent products on the market to help prevent ticks and we are strongly encouraging everyone to treat their pets, indoor and outdoor, with a quality preventative.

For cats - Bravecto spot on is the best and safest preventative.

For dogs - Bravecto chews, Bravecto spot on or Nexgard Spectra are the best options.

Remember no product is a 100% guarantee so consider tick searching your pets daily throughout Summer.

22/11/2022

TRAINING TUESDAY
Have you fallen victim to an attack of the furry land shark?

Puppy biting is a normal behaviour. So why do they do it and what can we do?

🐶Biting is a normal part of playing with their siblings and to them a lot of fun. When we play with our puppy, they will grab at us to get us to play. Teach them how to play with us appropriately by redirecting to a toy like a soft tug toy.

🐶Puppies learn about their environment by putting everything in their mouth
Provide management such as pens/barriers to prevent access to unsuitable things like your shoes, the power cords, your un**es...... Also give them suitable options to chew and play with (think toilet rolls with dried treats to rip up, chews, frozen treats and treat dispensers)

🐶Make sure they get enough sleep. Often tired puppies tend to bite and mouth more than puppies who get enough down time. Set up a designate area for your puppy where they can rest and play. Puppy pens are great for this.

🐶Avoid Rough housing (grabbing, holding their mouth or playing with our hands) is not the best way to interact with our puppies. This just encourages biting and mouthing. We can play tug with a squeaky toy or a tug toy but this should not be our main game. Teaching tricks, such as shake or roll over, basic obedience, playing hide and seek or bring a toy back might be more appropriate.

🐶Should your puppy bite you – by definition any teeth on skin – stop the interaction, ask for a calm behaviour and redirect to something they are allowed to chew.
With patience and persistence, your puppy will understand that mouthing or biting will stop the game but keeping their teeth to themselves will get them the playtime they enjoy.

15/11/2022

Taking turns chasing, biting and being chased is a sign of healthy play....but NOT if its 80/20.

Loose and Wiggly. This is often a great sign of healthy play.

Dogs that play well often have bodies that are loose and wiggly. They can have open loose mouths, and the play is even .

Stiffness in either dog should be looked at closely, a dog that goes in again and again to nip when the other is down, or a dog that wants to play over and over with a dog that is clearly not interested....is not play.

Often dogs are forced to react when other dogs pester them for play, and that reaction is misinterpreted (by us) as play.

Loose and wiggly, 50/50, and always separate dogs if there is stiffness or it is obviously unequal.

The more positive experiences your dog has, the more it will continue to play well with others. The more negative experiences your dog has will form habits of playing with others that are inappropriate, and those habits can be hard to break.

Take the time to watch your dogs play, even if you have seen it hundreds of times.

Is it Loose ?
Is it Wiggly ?
Is it even ?
Is there chasing and being chased ?
Is it close to 50/50 ?
Are mouths and faces loose or tight?

Play is often misinterpreted and sometimes fresh eyes and a new perspective can often show us what we need to see...not what we WANT to see.