Good Dog Works!

03/29/2025

Please share

🚨 Parvovirus Alert in Our Community 🚨

Recently, several puppies in our community have tested positive for Parvovirus. Cases continue to emerge across the region, putting unvaccinated and young dogs at high risk.

Parvovirus is a highly contagious and deadly virus that spreads through contact with infected dogs, contaminated surfaces, and even human shoes or clothing. It attacks the gastrointestinal system, causing severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and often requires intensive veterinary care.

💉 How to Protect Your Dog:
✔️ Ensure your dog is fully vaccinated—puppies need a series of vaccines, and adult dogs require regular boosters.
✔️ Avoid dog parks, daycare, or high-traffic areas if your dog is unvaccinated or overdue for vaccines.
✔️ Practice strict hygiene—wash hands and change clothes if exposed to unknown dogs or environments.
✔️ Contact your vet immediately if your dog shows symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite.

Parvo can become life threatening if left untreated and vaccination is the best defense. Please share this message to help protect our community’s pets. Stay safe! 🐶❤️

03/19/2025

Ethics in animal training, not a topic for everyone :)
This paper is looong but offers some insight into how we approach the work that we do.

https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/iaabc-free/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJHlA9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVUyEw9lYizcijEf0GI2Z5JX-H7yQ-DFXNR_8ZWWsR0KaLLAxYlt2016PQ_aem_F1nIMOULcN2Jv47VgtEr8A

Abstract The animal training and behavior community has long relied upon frameworks, models, and graphic representations to explain and illustrate best practices. These frameworks have embodied guiding principles while providing information on methods, techniques, tools, and procedures for animal tr...

01/05/2025

Karen Pryor died today. What a difference she made! Her influence on modern animal training was immense and Don't Shoot the Dog made it accessible to pet owners.
For me, as a young trainer, it was her brief article On Being a Change Maker that informed how I approached helping people move to kinder training methods.
So blessed to have lived during her time.
https://deesdogs.com/documents/becomingachangemaker.pdf

12/25/2024

We wish you and yours the very best for this Holiday Season!

12/12/2024

Always the first question, especially related to a behaviour changes, but any really challenging behaviour.

Plus a relevant tangent in which I talk about birds

11/04/2024

The Daylight Savings Look!

11/03/2024

Tonight!Resilient Puppy Class for pups under 20 weeks starts Wed. Nov 6 at 6:30! First night without the pups. One hr per wk for 4 wks costs 150. with tax. Come Play!

10/31/2024

Deer hunting Season Oct 25 to Dec 7.
Stay on the trail and wear orange!

10/23/2024

A message from Emergency Services Director Evan Hale.

10/08/2024

For those of you waiting.

We got some mews! 🤩

We know everyone has been waiting to hear more about the Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospital in Stellarton. Are you ready?!

The opening to the public will be a little slower than we hoped as we are trying to recruit another veterinarian. This hospital doesn’t only serve the public but shelter pets of the North Nova SPCA and Colchester Shelter SPCA too. 🐾

We are also trying to learn about the needs of the community so we can better serve you and your furry friends.

What does it mean? 🤔

It means we will initially be open for two days during the week to the public, on Monday and Thursday, by appointment only.

We are also starting with spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and preventive medicine appointments.

And you can now book those appointments online at https://bit.ly/TartanTailsBookOnline. ⬅ When you book, please make sure to choose the nearest location to you.

Or you can contact us at 💌 [email protected] | ☎️ 902-934-1130 | 💻tartantailsvet.ca.

Please note that we don’t have a client waitlist. We will keep you updated as we expand our services.

The entire team at Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospital appreciates your understanding and we’re wagging our tails in excitement to see you in our newest hospital! 🥳

10/04/2024

Always thoughtful, sensitive writing by Patricia McConnell.

Recently I was on Zazie Todd’s brilliant Bark! Fest podcast series, talking about The Education of Will, and trauma in people and dogs. A participant asked an important question, based on having been seriously traumatized herself after her dog was attacked by another: How do you recover from that ...

09/27/2024

Sound like your dog is coughing up a fur ball? It is likely the sound of Canine or Kennel Cough making its annual Fall appearance. Update your Bordatella vaccination!
Here's some things to know;
Canine Cough
Please keep coughing dogs at home until at least a week after the last cough!
Canine Cough is a highly contagious, generally air borne upper respiratory infection which can be caused by bacteria or a virus often compared to the human cold. The most common form of Canine Cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. The lining of the trachea and bronchi become inflamed and when air passes over them it results in an irritating cough that sounds like gagging or coughing up a hairball.
The Symptoms
Symptoms generally begin 3 - 10 days after exposure. Canine Cough often sounds like your dog has got something caught in the back of his throat and he is trying to cough it up. He may also cough up white frothy foam. The dog is usually quite well (apart from the cough) with a normal temperature and usually engages in normal activities. They seldom lose their appetite. Coughing can become worse on exertion and can continue day and night which can be distressing for the dog's owner.
Complications
Dogs who may have compromised immune systems, puppies and geriatric dogs are more vulnerable to secondary infections. Watch for a raised temperature, lethargy, loss of appetite, eye and nose discharge or coughing up green phlegm as it is possible that a secondary bacterial infection can occur.
Treatment
Uncomplicated cases of canine cough usually resolve themselves without any treatment within 7 - 14 days. For symptomatic relief your vet may prescribe a cough suppressant or short term anti-inflammatory. They may also choose to prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms are severe or to lessen the chance of a secondary bacterial infection.
To aid the recovery of your dog keep them comfortable and reduce any stress. You can remove your dog's collar and use a harness for walks. Encourage him to drink water. Limit exercise.
Prevention
There are vaccines available for canine cough. Specific, non-routine vaccines are also available for Bordetella bronchiseptica. It is important to note that they are not as effective against some strains as others. Some strains are not included in any vaccine; therefore, there is no prevention against them.
Exposure
Your dog may be exposed to Canine Cough while in any social setting including Daycare, dog shows, group dog walks, Veterinary offices, Boarding or Grooming as well as the Dog Park.