Happy Hounds Dog Services

15/09/2025

😆😆😆 Emma Ward

Chihuahua Joins Wolf Pack Caught on Camera

In Ely, Minnesota, locals were used to a scrappy stray chihuahua roaming the streets. Despite his size, he carried himself like he owned the town—friendly, but fearless. Then one day, after more than a year of sightings, he suddenly disappeared. With wolves moving closer to town, many assumed he’d been eaten.

But a month later, a farmer’s trail camera revealed the truth. The missing chihuahua wasn’t gone—he was trotting confidently with a wolf pack. When a wolf expert was asked how this was possible, he laughed and said, “I’ve met many wolves and a few Chihuahuas, and I was always more scared of the Chihuahuas”

15/09/2025

Once again harnesses and which to use raised its head in puppy group.

It’s a hard one to approach because lots of YouTube stuff will tell not to use a harness. That they make your dog pull.

Truth be told how many are using collar and lead and getting dragged down the road?? How’s that working out for ya??? Pants for some I’m sure.

Truth is any tool for training can be misused or overly relied on. For my mind, if I use a harness and it stops my dog hurting me or themselves while train I’m ok with that. I can walk you out on the harness, then walk you home clipped to the collar when energy levels are lower. So it’s easier for both of us to work together.

Set yourself up to win with training. Make your life easier.

I use Mikki Walk Rites or the Perfect Fit harnesses. I avoid like the plague slip leads, choke chains and Julius K9 harnesses. Air supply is not an option for any dog. Hence my loathing of choke/check chains. I keep slip leads to capture a stray dog. I don’t work with them at all. Again, air supply is any mammal is not an option!!! Thinking a dog won’t pull due to pain is illogical as well. Most pull away from the source of pain. That being YOU!!

Still reading??? Well done you. Have a biscuit as reward. You’ve earned it!!

I prefer harnesses that allow for shoulders to move as intended. Let’s not make my lovely canine physique friends anymore money. Lovely as they are!! 🤭🤭.

Harnesses will NOT train your dog. They will prevent a bad behaviour reoccurring daily and becoming ingrained. You WILL still have to put that in.

Is there anything better though, than walking with a well trained dog next you looking the bee’s knees??? 😉🐝🐾🐾

For help with loose lead work call Paula 07866-270133. Or DM.

14/09/2025

My Magic Maeve. It’s raining outside. There’s a chill, ok not much of a chill but any excuse to put the fire on!!

No sheep work we’ve decided today. I say we, I mean I can’t be bothered to get wet. Everyone has had an extra long walk earlier today. Just in case the weather really is that bad we can’t get out again later.

12/09/2025

As ever I’m falling miles behind on my socials. I know I’m supposed to but…..rather be training!!

Have to tell everyone about my second visit today with the lovely D Do Ron Border Terrier. Young little man who was developing a couple of worrying habits. Running children made him reactive. On occasion dogs as well made him reactive. Somewhat unpredictable in his patterns. Just to keep me on my toes. Cheers Ron!!

Last time I worked with him I left everyone working through some pattern games, going over his basic obedience and starting on the clicker training track. When we took him to the local park I could see and feel his tension. He couldn’t take food because he was too ramped up.

What a lovely change today. His children issue is very much under control. Just wonderful because that is a stressful problem for the humans to deal with. Then we get anxious, dogs sense it, they get anxious and everyone is in a downward spiral. So lovely to hear he’s vastly improved there.

With dogs he’s had a couple of issues so today that was the focus. WHAT a difference!! Today he would and could eat in the same park. Not once did he react. He came close but was very easy to get back on track and chilling out again. Admittedly cheese and sausage went a long way.

Best part??? The humans can now see and understand his body language much better. Now everyone is having a ‘ conversation’ and everyone feels heard. Ron can rely on his humans to not push him over his threshold. We can all see at times the active avoidance he enters when feeling worried. We can redirect him much easier now and help Ron to be more relaxed. Well down Relaxing Ron!! 🤣🤣 and the humans!! Don’t forget who’s buying the cheese and putting the work in. Well done to everyone.

If you are having reactivity problems with your dog. Feel free to call Paula for simple to follow methods that work. Paula 07866-270133.

03/09/2025

Tick season. Ugh!!!!!

‘Orrible things they are and Dougie ( always Dougie) has just picked one up right by his eye on the walk.

Very simple to remove using a tick remover. Awkward spot though when it’s next to your eye. Still a sit, tick remover and some twirling and one tick fully removed. Mouth pieces checked to be present before disposing of mini beastie. Leaving the mouth bits behind is how infection can start. If in doubt contact your vet. Please be careful of using some methods you see on line. Can cause more harm than good.

Why is this on a training page? Because without constant handling and positively reinforcing him for it, I might have struggled to sort Dougie on my own. Handling is very important in dogs of all ages but it starts from puppyhood. How we do the handling sets the tone for life. That is why positive is important to me. Colin would probably be more trouble to get to hold a hound correctly. So I get the dogs used to lots of early handling. To the point Dougie pushes in front of everyone to get brushed. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. Isla is the same as well. Maeve sits giving out kisses. Dee rolls her eyes but stands nicely. Ellie likes a good brush out. Joe is getting sore these days so we take it much slower and softer.

Dougie is all set to go again though. I’m happy to kiss him again now. Honestly, always Dougie!!!

02/09/2025

Reminder!!!

Puppy Power Course starts this Saturday, 10.30am at Davyhulme first scout.

We have couple of spots left. Book quick to avoid disappointment.

Contact Paula for info or booking form.

07866-270133

23/08/2025

😆😆😆

22/08/2025

Ladies. Always take care of yourselves. Always let people know where you will be and for how long. I count myself as very lucky it’s never happened to me physically. Certainly had verbal abuse of all sorts thrown at me. Including being threaten with physical injury.

With my 1-2-1’s I leave addresses with Colin. There is a dog trainer in USA who has never been found from an appt. Over 25yrs ago how I think.

Stay safe. Your dogs need you.

This is a deeply personal post and not something I'm comfortable sharing, but for everyone elses safety, I feel I have to warn others. This all happened in Coulters Wood, beside cathkin braes.

Unfortunately while on my last walk of the day, I was assaulted by a stranger. The dog had got away from me after I slipped, so I was running after him, and as I went past this stranger, he grabbed my hair and dragged me off the trail. I know exactly what he was trying to do, and he came close to succeeding, but god love that dog, he came back when he heard the struggle and went mental at this guy who was hurting me. He scared him off and he ran away. I grabbed the dog and literally ran for my life. The police are aware and dealing with it, I'm so exhausted, I've spent 3hrs with them and later the CID. So the right people know. But I feel others need to know to try and keep safe. Please don't go out alone if you can help it, I know I wont be for a while.

I'm ok, shaken and bruised, but ultimately I am ok and thats what I'm trying to take away from this. Doug.... you are an absolute HERO, and I owe you my life. Thank you ❤️ Photo of my special guardian angel!

15/08/2025

You are going to hear me say this time and again over the next few months, maybe years!!! Gut Biome. Gut Biome!! Gut Biome.

It affects your dog in EVERY way!!! Every single way. From behaviour through to physical aspects. That’s the mental to physical. How can you feel good if you have a tummy ache? Or your skin itches constantly? Or you have a bad headache? Or your hormones are out of whack?

Simple answer is you can’t feel good. You’ll be short on temper. Faster to react, maybe less active.

No I’m not going all woo woo on you. It’s now science working on several diseases that show the gut biome could be the issue. Including human diseases such as MS. That the gut and how well those bacteria are in the gut, that affect the overall health of a being. Including creating cravings for certain food stuffs. Even the RCVs are doing studies and looking into the benefits of certain oils and bacteria.

So this morning on our walk Ellie started to eat unripe blackberries and the young leaves. She’s not poorly in any way that I’m aware of, obviously her gut is telling her to eat these. So I let her. She very purposefully chooses which ones and eats those. Dee loves very young himalayan balsam flowers, possibly the nectar because they must be fresh open.

We all know dogs love a good mouthful of horse manure. Fresher the better!!! Full of bacteria. Or mud!! Few of mine like eating top soil off the fields at certain times of the year only. Fresh grass but then they aren’t sick with it. Bacteria. Must be something in it because if I offer a well known stacked crisp they refuse to eat them. Not food to them!!! Clever dogs! I should live by the same rules. Although not too sure about eating horse muck. 🤔🤔🤣🤣

So guess I’m saying watch your dogs. They’re clever. They know they’re own health pretty well. Within reason of course!!!! If your dog is living off mud there’s a problem. See your vet.

Pica is craving strange things as foodstuffs. That needs a vet too!!

I’ve put the video on. Love to hear about your dogs!!!

12/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19ALupAvme/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This has drifted into my feed this morning. Usually I won’t watch because it’s bad for my blood pressure. However, today I did.

This dog is NOT aggressive. This dog is resource guarding and terrified. This dog does NOT want to perform these behaviours. It’s become a bad pattern of behaviour reinforced by the humans involved.

The clues???

Spittle on the lips- fear response, body is throwing out masses of Adrenalin.
Showing of teeth-fear response. Confident dogs don’t show you their weapons. They just bite you.
Ears pulled back - fear response
Eyes wide open-fear response.
Barking and posturing -fear response. Confident dogs don’t posture. They just move forwards.
Backing off-confident dogs don’t back off. They meet you.

Watch the dog change as he moves into the dog run area. It’s all fake from the dog. It’s become a bad habit between owners and dog. Over a highly important resource. PLUS the area itself. It’s starting to bleed out across other areas of life. As resource guarding often does.

This is NOT a difficult case to resolve. You don’t even need the tennis racket to sort it out. My heart hurts for this dog. It’s deeply misunderstood. It’s a breed we have bred purposefully, to have a heightened possession skill. Somehow or other it’s become a little skewed here. Breeds prone yo this are lots within the gun dog group. Plus cockerpoos and Frenchies. It’s very common. How you handle it affects the outcome.

If your dog has these issues, and they start very small!! Please call me BEFORE it gets to this stage. Prevention is better than cure!!!

Paula 07866-270133.

04/08/2025

The next Puppy Power Course starts 6th of September at Davyhulme First Scout hall. Course lasts 6wks and costs £95. Each session is an hour long.

The course covers

Basic positions
Loose Leashwork
Basic Recall
Handling skills
Impulse Controls
Problem Prevention!!!!!

The trick is prevention in most cases. If I can give you a skill set to help prevent the problems, that’s the answer. I can give you the answers to the problems as well.

Each week we have a problem time to discuss issues and answers. Don’t feel isolated or lost!!

Contact Paula 07866-270133 or DM for a booking form. Places are restricted to 6 puppies/course to give individual time. Book fast to avoid disappointment.