The Pawfect Solution

11/11/2023

31/10/2023

12/10/2023

We're back!!!
Starting with a new tracking workshop on Saturday 4th November
Time - 1.30pm until 3pm
Location - Bishopstoke woods.
Cost - £65 per handler/dog pair
Limited places to assure you of as many goes possible. Teach your dog to use their nose to find a missing person. Great fun, an excellent way to build a bond and you will have a happily exhausted dog at the end!
To confirm eligibility and book your place please email [email protected] for a registration form.

06/10/2023

💥 FIREWORKS 💥 Be proactive, not reactive!

Fireworks season is approaching and for most dogs with behaviour problems, this time of year can really set things back. It is not uncommon for us to have cases who report a more serious incident (involving other dogs or humans) or increased fearful behaviour following the 5th of November.

Do remember the delayed effects of stress. Behaviour is also at risk of escalating when the body and brain is trying to recover from a stressor- rather than only reacting during the stressful event.

🗣️ “Yeah, well…..my dog's fine with fireworks"

Even if your dog has not shown a negative response to fireworks previously it’s sensible to be prepared.

Dogs who react to other sounds around the home may generalise this behaviour to fireworks. Alternatively, exposure to fireworks may escalate or intensify their response to other sounds.

My experience is that many dogs show an increase in sensitivity to fireworks at 2-3 years of age onwards and we know from research (Mills 2018) that the risk of developing sound sensitivity increases with age, which may likely related to pain (flinching/startling hurts so negative associations are made with the sound!).

⚠️ Please do not consider your dog fireworks proof based on their early years.

All dogs’ behaviour is vulnerable to change and 10-12 months is a long period of time to pass since the last fireworks event. Please don't assume your dog will be fine this year, although hopefully they will be!
👀 It's sensible to get observable evidence that they are coping and relax proactive protective strategies accordingly.

I encourage my clients to proactively protect their dogs from fireworks rather than to action things once their dog is stressed and scared.

Here's some strategies you can do to proactively protect your dog from developing a fear of fireworks or to prevent existing anxieties and fears escalating:

🔊 Wall of sound
Playing brown noise, relaxing music, tv etc every evening from around mid-october onwards (area dependent of course, may need to be earlier or later in the month based on where you are).

🪟 Drawing curtains/blinds before it gets dark.

🌚 Avoiding walks in the dark
You'd be amazed at how many dogs develop a fear of fireworks based on one going off while they were out on a walk. Daylight walks or early morning walks are safest, and ensure your dog has toileted before 6pm early October and 4pm late October onwards. This is so they can avoid the garden until their pre-bedtime wee.

🎶 Playing music on your phone whilst you take dogs out for their bed time toilet visit can reduce exposure or intensity to some fireworks.

🧘‍♀️ Promoting Relaxation
Giving chews, lickimats, kongs, snuffle boxes/mats and treat searches around the house can all help facilitate a calmer state. Your dog may then be more likely to enjoy an exercise such as settle on a mat, where you can build relaxation.
Start these strategies and training as soon as possible so you do not ask them of your dog when they are stressed and scared.

Some dogs also enjoy a den like environment in a small or covered space. For such dogs, creating a den that is somewhat insulated from sound (thick heavy blanket, under the stairs/table etc) may be helpful.

❗️Remember ❗️A place is only a safe place if one chooses to be in there and can leave at any time. For e.g., A shut crate may appear to work- because your dog may appear to be resting in there. However, they could be interanlising their stress and more likely to communicate how they truly feel for being given the opportunity to express themselves more.

🎶 ➕🍖 Ad hoc counter conditioning
If you see your dog detect a firework and consider reacting (ears twitch or pulled back, sudden head lift or turn, getting up and standing still) - quickly praise and treat. Do the same with other noises that are similar.

One study (Reimer 2020) found that relaxation training, adhoc counter conditioning and situational anxiety medication in combination had the best effect on dogs.

👩‍⚕️ Speak to your vet!
Please consider getting situational anxiety medication lined up for the 4-6th November. Dogs with intense fears may benefit from a longer period. These medications can decrease in availability this time of year due to demand, so please speak to your vet about it now.

You will need to do a baseline test at home away from firework noises (and children and other dogs) so you can assess how your dog responds to the medication.
Tests are needed as sometimes dogs can become excited on the wrong dose (not helpful) and there is a risk of disinhibition with some drugs. This means that dogs who use warning signals may be more likely to escalate to biting (because they loose that inhibition). Hence why we recommend no children or other dogs close by as a precaution.

Please be reassured, negative effects of these drugs are relatively uncommon. More often than not- situational anxiety medication does what it's supposed to do and dogs become a bit d***y and sometimes even hungry (useful for counter conditioning). 69% of cases in the Reimer study reported an improvement.

🧠 Another benefit is that some medications can inhibit/block memory of an event, which is great at preventing existing fears escalating.

For those whose dogs are already on medication, there are many situational anxiety drugs that work well in combination with others- so please do talk to your vet!

I will be medicating my own dog Kanita on the 5th to protect her from becoming stressed by the fireworks and have found this has had a huge impact on her tolerance to them when she detects them outside of this date, as well as reducing her sensitivity to the sounds of gunshots (Note, I do not live in the hood, I live rurally! 🤣 ).

🪴 The Reimer study found neutraceuticals and herbal remedies did not report enough improvement to rule out the placebo effect. For dogs with a more strong sensitivity to sound, I do not recommend neutraceuticals as an alternative to medication- as it's not worth the risk of it not working in my opinion.

🏡 🌳 For dogs who have severe fireworks phobias or who are extra vulnerable (health conditions etc) - try get away somewhere remote for the peak time and book yourself into somewhere remote for a few days break! Do this ASAP if not already!

Sound sensitivity is a tricky thing for dogs to fully overcome, especially as it so often increases with age until the hearing starts to dwindle.
I recommend being proactive in protecting your dogs regardless of whether they have an established fear or not.

I’ll share some more tips and strategies you can do to protect your dogs in a couple of weeks 👍

04/09/2023

This weekend, we are the host venue for a KAD Kids Around Dogs event. Nathan Dunleavy, a KAD accredited trainer, of Nathan’s Paw Training - Ethical Dog Training will use our quiet space for a 30 minute talk to educate children and parents about understanding dogs.

The children’s talk is from 12am to 12:30pm on Sunday 10th September. Nathan and Debby Lucken (the founder of KAD) will be on hand to chat with parents and children from 11am and 3pm, and you can drop in at any point.

There is limited space for the 30 minute talk - you can book a free ticket here: https://ow.ly/ls7z50PHtFJ

No ticket is required to just drop in and chat to Nathan and Debby outside the talk time. Debby has also designed a successful protocol to help children overcome their fear of dogs. She and her professionals run these for schools as well.

03/09/2023

A lot of people I work with have grown to understand the links between pain and behaviour in dogs. Cats too, as they age or after injury will show pain in very subtle ways. As caregivers we need to be aware and mindful at all times so we can provide the most appropriate care and ultimately, enjoy as long as possible with our beloved pets.
It’s great that Linda is spreading awareness on this massively important topic. Please share her videos to spread awareness and help many other pets who may need a voice to find help. 🥰

28/08/2023

BBC breakfast recently hosted a behaviourist who made comments alluding to the importance of keeping dogs “at the bottom of the pack” in “the hierarchy”.

This has many implications, the term 'dominance' and the alpha dog, top dog label, can be used by a number of pet owners and pet professionals, but under some circumstances this theory can be used in a misleading way leading to incorrect training techniques.

The theory of 'dominance' as a corrective technique has led to an increase in punishment-type behavioural corrections. This punishment training style is both concerning to evidence-based behaviour professionals who note recent literature highlights the negatives and damaging effects these corrections can have on dogs.

Remember that 'behaviourist' is not a protected title, anyone can call themselves this title. Make sure the advice you take is from one actually working within current evidence available and is qualified, insured and safe.

Read more below 👇

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/dominance-debunked

26/08/2023

‘Dog Daddy’ is planning to visit the UK in September as part of his tour. We can only hope to educate owners ahead of time to save any more dogs, or even just one, from suffering from the extreme methods he uses. We need to educate as many as possible that these methods are not only unethical but very dangerous. Please please share!

25/08/2023

ABTC Statement on Augusto Deoliveira’s dog handling practices.

12/08/2023

When we are working with our dogs it’s important to have a good understanding of what anxiety, fear or arousal looks like in our individuals.

That way we know at what point we can work with them, when we are making progress and moving forward with care and when we just need to get them out of a situation or gain distance.

07/08/2023

Yes! I’m proud to have 18 years registration with APDT under my belt. When the industry requires mandatory regulation I will be pleased to step back a bit. Still a few years away, I am told.
Until then and especially when I hear every week that other local so called professionals rely on intimidation and punitive techniques at worst and distractions and bribery at best to withdraw money from well meaning families in the name of dog training I will continue to help as much as I can.
Please make sure you are working with an accredited trainer. Someone who works hard to stay up to date and can prove their continued learning if required to do so. Someone who has more to loose than a bruised ego if they get it wrong. Someone who is passionate about driving the industry forward and who wants the best for our animal friends and will put that above profit every time.
Anyone who talks of pack leadership, being the boss or leader, who uses equipment to control your dog, who tells you it’s you that is in the wrong or that you need to send your dog away for training should be avoided at all costs.
Dogs are peaceful and loving creatures. They require love and support and gentle guidance so that they may make the appropriate choices in our crazy world.
Be the best human for your dog. Learn their language. Choose to work with only regulated professionals.
You won’t regret it.

21/07/2023

Please join me on my new page..

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=159171190106478&id=116955950994669

Hi everyone and welcome! I feel truly blessed that you have found my page, thank you for following my work 💜

My soul purpose in this life is to empower those animals in my care and those who find their way to me with their families. I am here so that their voice may be heard. I can bridge the gap in communication between you and your pet and have a unique blend of skills and qualifications which have brought me to where I am now. I am blessed with many abilities which help me to communicate with animals both in this life and those who have transitioned into the realms beyond the rainbow 🌈 😇

I am so fortunate to have gained many skills and learned from some fantastic teachers over my life so far, mostly the animals themselves but some pretty amazing humans too! Being shown the paths and trusting the right ones to follow has led me to this point.

My wish is to create a unique experience for you and your animals, combining all my knowledge and sharing the Devine wisdom which has been shared to me through my spiritual guides. I specialise in holistic care for senior pets and those who are living with ongoing pain and dis-ease.

I have completed level 2 animal reiki training in the Let Animals Lead method by Kathleen Prasad (taught by Elaine McCarthy) and am honoured to be able to offer distance reiki sessions for your animals. This aids relaxation and healing from within. It is a fantastic support for any pet who is struggling emotionally during times of stress such as being newly rescued, change of ownership or house moves etc.

I am a UK Registered Veterinary Nurse and as such strongly believe that my care for you and your pet is wholly complimentary and not to be used in place of veterinary care at any point. I fully respect the veterinary profession which I have been part of for 30 years and understand that my place here is to offer only kindness and support and most importantly to do no harm.

I am an Accredited Animal Training Instructor with ABTC and APDT uk. This means my methods of working with your dog are force free and will not cause additional stress of any kind while they are learning new behaviours. I am able to offer one to one lessons both in person or online to help harmony flourish in your home and to help your dogs understand this crazy human led world that they have found themselves in. It can be very confusing to understand humans.. let me help you so you may hear them and understand their struggles as well as their joys and loves in life. I have 18 years experience of teaching both classes and one to one lessons as well as teaching human students to train dogs.

I have lived alongside and loved many species of pet animals. I have experience with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, tortoises, fish , hamsters, rats and mice. I have worked with horses and donkeys and particularly love my communications with the many wild animals especially birds who surround my home here in the beautiful Hampshire countryside.

I hope your enjoy my posts as much as I enjoy making them. Look out for upcoming courses and please get in touch if you would like help to further your connection and bond with your animal companion.

Shelley x

16/07/2023

🐶🔬📅 To Spay or Not to Spay, That is the Question Webinar Series 📅🔬🐶

📚 Part 1 with Dr. Jessica Hekman
🗓️ Saturday, August 5, 2023
⏰ 11am to 12:30pm EDT (USA and Canada)

📚 Part 2 with Dr. Kathy Murphy
🗓️ Saturday, August 26, 2023
⏰ 11am to 12:30pm EDT (USA and Canada)

Enroll Here!! 📝👉 https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/reproductive-hormones-and-behavior

Neutering, the surgical sterilization of dogs, is a common practice aimed at controlling animal populations, and sometimes at addressing behavioral problems. While its reproductive and physiological impacts are well-documented, there is a growing interest in understanding more deeply the potential effects of neutering on the neurobiology of canines.

📚 PART 1 with Dr. Jessica Hekman 🩺
Veterinarians used to routinely recommend that your dog be neutered (spayed or castrated) at 6 months of age. That recommendation has been questioned in the past decade as information about the possible health consequences of early age neuter (or neuter at any age) comes to light.

Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD, will discuss what we know about the relationship of spay/neuter timing and changes in the risk of development of cancer and/or of orthopedic injuries such as cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL tear). She will also talk about how spay/neuter can affect behavior, for better or worse. She will specifically discuss some recent studies and will detail problems designing effective studies to ask these questions. She will also cover alternative approaches to the traditional spay/neuter surgery. If you are wondering when, or if, you should neuter your dog, make your decision based on facts, not emotions.

📚 PART 2 with Dr. Kathy Murphy 🩺
Hormones play a crucial role in regulating various aspects of brain structure, development, and function in canines. Understanding the intricate interplay between hormones and the canine brain is essential for comprehending the physiological and behavioral complexities exhibited by dogs.

Neutering can influence the neurobiology of dogs through various mechanisms. Firstly, hormonal changes resulting from neutering can alter the balance of s*x hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, which play a vital role in the development and function of the brain. Studies have shown that neutering can lead to reduced levels of circulating s*x hormones, potentially influencing neurochemical systems and pathways involved in mood regulation, cognition, and behavior.

Behavioral changes following neutering have been reported, including alterations in aggression, fearfulness, and sociability. For instance, reduced levels of s*x hormones could influence neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in regulating mood and behavior.

Enhancing our understanding of these relationships will contribute to a comprehensive knowledge of canine neurobiology and inform approaches to optimize the well-being and behavioral management of dogs.

In this webinar, we will explore the many ways that s*x hormones influence brain development, structure, and function, facilitating a deeper understanding of the interplay between s*x hormones and behavior. We will build upon Dr. Hekman's webinar and explore the 'whether, when, and how to neuter?' for different situations with the aim of providing what's needed for you to make informed neutering decisions.

📚 Learning Objectives:
1️⃣ Understand the role of s*x hormones in shaping brain structure and development in canines.
2️⃣ Identify the impact of s*x hormones on brain function and behavior in canines.
These learning objectives aim to provide a foundation for understanding the intricate relationship between hormones and brain structure, development, and function in canines, ultimately fostering a comprehensive understanding of the impact of hormones on canine neurobiology.

📌 This is an online event.

You will be able to view the webinar even if you cannot join us on the live event date. The recording will be available for viewing for up to 12 months. This webinar will be recorded and sent out within two weeks after the live event.

CEUs pending:
- KPA
- PPAB
- IAABC
- CPDT
- RACE

💰 Tuition:
General Admission Tickets – after July 22, 2023: $129
Early Bird Tickets – before July 22, 2023: $89
Shelter/Rescue/Vet Student/Vet Tech Tickets - no expiration date: 30% off general admission ticket (discount code is SDFWBV)

Discounts are available for groups of 5 or more - please contact [email protected] for more information.

Cancellation policy: No refunds

🎓 Behavior Vets Membership 🎓
We are grateful that you trust us with your continued education, and we wanted to make it even easier for you to learn and grow with us. You can now gain access to ALL webinars for 25% off!!!

The Basic Level provides you with 25% off ALL webinars, seminars, and workshops! Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for animal training and behavior professionals are offered for current and future webinars, not past webinars. You will have access to our webinar content for the length of your membership.

After enrolling, you can apply the Membership discount to THIS webinar!

There are two ways to enroll:
Monthly: This is a subscription, which automatically renews at $29.99 each month until you cancel. You may cancel at any time.
Subscribe monthly here: https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/subscriptions...

Yearly: Purchase this package for $299.99 and save $60.00
Purchase yearly here: https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/.../basic-behavior...

02/07/2023

Definitely one for the diary ..

We are honoured that Dr Sarah Heath is contributing to the National Human-Animal Bond Awareness Day by discussing 'How to prepare cats & dogs for firework events'. We understand that this is an important topic so please On the day join our page or via Sarah Heath - Behavioural Productions at 11am. We will ask for questions you may have in advance so We look forward to seeing you there 🐶🐱

28/06/2023

It seems so obvious doesn't it, "Some Dogs Need Space". Why does your dog need space?

Fab drawing by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

07/06/2023

31/05/2023

Have you ever wondered if your dog might enjoy an enrichment puzzle? Not sure they have the concentration? Or maybe they work things out so quickly that you're stumped for ideas.

This weekend (Sunday June 4), we’re running a FREE puzzle enrichment session with the fabulous Sarah Pond, dog behaviourist from Fun With Dogs. All pups are welcome to drop by.

Sarah is passionate about helping caregivers bond with their dogs using fun and rewards. One of the main ways she does this is by using enrichment puzzles 🧩

Using Trixie puzzles, and her favourite Kruuse Buster activity mat and their press-ons, she'll encourage a dog to try a range of puzzle toys in a safe environment. Sarah will be on hand to educate about the benefits of puzzles.

Feel free to bring your dog along and Sarah can show you a demo in our manned, quiet space.

Where? Healthy Pet Store, SO40 3HX
When? Sunday June 4, 11am- 3pm

See you there! 👋

17/05/2023

Evening sunshine, connection with my elementals and dear Nala 🥰. Feeling grateful for the time we have together. 🥰😇🐱🍄🌷

14/05/2023

Dexter.. dreaming of his summer holibobs 💙.

14/05/2023

Tallie and babies started the weekend on a high for me. A privilege to be invited to talk to new families before the pups leave their mumma. In lessons today Yogi Mabel and Murphy rose to their challenge and smashed all their goals in a brilliant lesson. Dexter growing in confidence week on week and planning ahead for his camping holiday. And finally home with my own fur family who I love the mostest. 🥰

28/04/2023

A day we have wanted for a long time, Fantastic news! Thank you to those who worked tirelessly to get this to happen. 👏👏👏

In a historic moment for animal welfare, we’re welcoming news today that the Government is completely banning the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following our ten year campaign. To find out more, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/shockcollarsbanned

23/04/2023

A rather busy weekend. Fantastic training and cuteness overload with pet sitting. Lucky me 🥰
Dora, Oliver, Lucille, Miranda, Mabel, Murphy, Dexter and Hector. Didn’t manage to get photos of all but here’s a few 🥰

23/04/2023

Double cuteness! Mabel and Murphy came to school today. Mabel totally smashing loose lead walking and recall while Murphy supervised. 😂

23/04/2023

In the big hall today . Loose lead walking and recall lessons. Who will be joining us? 🐶🐶

01/04/2023

Have a good Easter everyone, dogs..stay away from the choccies, humans..have extra and enjoy your bank holiday. I’m away for two weeks now and will be back on 17th April. Keep up all your hard work, everyone is smashing it at the moment. Im very proud of you all and can go away without worry. 🐶💜🐶