Alexandra’s Fur Babies

06/08/2024

The face of an angel…. The work of the devil… damn grass seeds 😤

11/06/2024

Ohh, you are so sweet 🥹

09/05/2024

27/04/2024

There’s just something mesmerising about spaniels 😍

13/04/2024

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

What do you understand that phrase to mean?

When I ask this question the response is often that it’s a positive term suggesting a balance between learning and play, or taking all of a dog's needs into consideration. Which perhaps isn't surprising since 'balance' generally has positive connotations - 'balanced diet', 'work life balance' etc

𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿....
..what it actually means is training which uses both positive reinforcement and punishment. Usually physical punishment and usually using tools which cause pain or discomfort like slip leads, choke chains, prong collars & e-collars, and positive reinforcement.

The term sounds innocuous, even benign. But it is a euphemism for the use of force & physical punishment; a way to make what the public might find unpalatable sound more ‘consumer friendly’.

So, the next time you see someone described (or describe themselves) as a 'balanced trainer' keep in mind what it really means and ask yourself if that’s what your dog deserves.

12/04/2024

Ethical dog training is based on the belief that all animals should be treated with respect and dignity.

It emphasises the importance of positive reinforcement, which focuses on rewarding good behaviours instead of punishing bad ones.

It also strives to avoid using physical forms of punishment or coercion such as electric shock collars or choke chains. Using these methods can cause fear and anxiety in your dog, leading to long-term behavioural problems, even aggression.

Ethical dog training respects not only the physical well-being of your canine friend but also their emotional needs by enhancing their feelings of trust and security towards humans as well as helping them understand what is expected from them behaviourally by providing clear boundaries and expectations through consistent communication.

This helps keep both you and your dog safe while forging a strong bond between you two built on genuine love, kindness, patience, understanding and mutual respect. dignity.

20/03/2024

20/03/2024

2024 Membership 🐶 💕

16/03/2024

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

12/03/2024

I am absolutely heartbroken to be writing about the loss of dear Cuthbert 😢🐶 Such a beautiful dog with a wonderful temperament; a puppy soul in the body of an experienced dog, you brightened up my afternoons with your ballerina spins, hand bops, tearing the meadows up, exploring the woods, and building the path, for you to then destroy the paths and run off with all the sticks, your absolute love for toys and games, the amount of balls we lost and destroyed but watching your puppy spirit come out was always worth it! How excited you were to be out and on adventures, we had our special bond, that you knew when I pulled up and so did the neighbours 🫣 but oh Cuthbert you sweet boy, you are so loved and I’m going to miss you so so much 😭 sleep tight angel 🐶😭🕊️ 🌈

12/03/2024

"Why is cruelty legal when it's branded as training?" .- from my friend Sandy Machado (who shared an excellent post about this, please check it out on her page)

I will never stop educating about this.

It's not just about tools, it's also about attitude.

"I've never seen them do anything aversive or cruel with my dog"

This is a common cry from those who defend "trainers" who use these tools. It's because we fundamentally lack the knowledge to recognise it or it's because we are so indoctrinated into thinking that harshness, however slight, is necessary for teaching.

Consider our upbringing by parents, clergy, school teachers. How much of it was truly kind, gentle abd effective? How sensitive were we to the adult's breathing pattern, their tone of voice, then tension in their face and body, the harsh eye contact, the just-harder-than-necessary physical contact (hand or arm holding)? When we grow up with these and actively don't take steps to learn other ways, this is what we do with those in our charge when it's our turn.

When it comes to our dogs, it doesn't even have to be those tools. It's the tightening of the lead, the pull back, the setting of the jaw, the holding of the breathe, the clicking/snapping of the fingers, the "tsssst," the "eh-eh," the leaning forward, taking space, the finger point,, lack of humour, humility, understanding, compassion, kindness, the dismissiveness. And on and on.

This takes work. A lot of work. Constant work.

I decided to do my best never to be harsh with my kids over 20 years ago. I've in the main succeeded with that. It took my longer to apply this to my dogs, but in the main, I'm succeeding. Because I committed to it. It takes effort not to fall back into old patterns when I'm tired, stressed, unwell. It's not easy but nothing worthwhile ever is.

Slow down, respond, rather than react. Give your dog a minute. Or two. Let them sniff. Understand that the walk is hugely about enrichment, not about distance travelled in a certain time. Give your dog space to move, put their lead on and take it off with consideration for their body. Do the same when drying them. Put their food out with kindness, warmth, humour. Enjoy them. Love them.

Then start applying this to everyone we come into contact with (I'm still working on that one, as you can sometimes see from my sarcastic, and often hilarious, retorts to some people on this page).

Kindness is not softness nor weakness. Neither is gentleness. Our dogs didn't decide to be here, humans did. We need to step up.

17/01/2024

Apologies to all my clients, I am taking some time away from messages but I will get back in touch soon, thankyou for your understanding ❤️‍🩹

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas to all my fur babies 💕
I am overwhelmed with all the beautiful gifts, tips and appreciation from my wonderful clients, thankyou so much! Without your continued support over the years I wouldn’t be living my dream, so thankyou with all my heart, Alexandra ###

09/12/2023

Earlier this week I had a 1-2-1 catch-up, as part of the Federation of Small Businesses - FSB/-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub programme with the lovely Alexandra Lowe who owns and runs Alexandra’s Fur Babies in , .

Alex told me all about how Alexandra's Fur Babies is an established pet care business, offering a range of services from dog walking to overnight pet sitting and dog training. Alexandra is an experienced dog trainer and holds diplomas in canine behaviour, care and welfare, canine body language and animal management and is currently working towards level 6 as a canine behaviourist. She went on to explain how she offers puppy training, 1:1 behaviour modification, specialist workshops and online training. As a NICE (National Institute of Canine Ethics) member, Alex told me that you can be reassured she is only using up to date training methods, which are kind and force free, to help resolve your dog’s behaviour problems.

We chatted through Alex's future plans for her business and how FSB might be able to assist her with those plans and various documentation we are able to offer to save her considerable time within her business.

All in all, a really great chat - I always love to hear all about small business owners' plans and aspirations and how we might be able to help make those a reality!

If you think you might benefit from a virtual 1-2-1 business support session, wherever you are based across Staffordshire and the , please do get in touch: [email protected]

16/09/2023

I have the cutest study buddies 🙊

10/09/2023

What a week 🥵 Thankyou so much to my fabulous clients, you have been so patient with me whilst we swapped and changed time slots, some cancelled so I was able to get around to all my doggies, allowed me to host pool parties in your garden, others kept me going with refreshments and cold drinks! You are amazing and I couldn’t do this without you 😘 THANKYOU! and of course so much love and appreciation for the beautiful doggies who have patiently gone along with all my silly games and activities to try and keep them cool in this weather! I am so grateful to you all 😘 roll on a cooler week!

20/08/2023

I get to spend the whole week with my little friends 🥰🥹

18/08/2023

Sometimes we colour code our dogs 🤭 😄

18/08/2023

Just look at the beautiful faces I get to spend my days with 😍

17/07/2023

I have no words 😂😂🤭

14/07/2023

my little Rosie kisses

12/07/2023

You are so god damn cute 🤩

11/07/2023