Canines & Friends

06/02/2025

I NOSE HOW YOU FEEL
One of the most incredible things about dogs is their ability to recognize and respond to our emotions, but just how do they know how we’re feeling?

They may not understand the emotion we are feeling, but their brains are wired to understand whether that emotion makes them feel safe or not.

From an evolutionary perspective; for their survival, it was and still is, important for dogs to know which humans were safe to be around and which were not.

Dogs recognize the different chemical scents we produce through our skin or breath, our facial expressions or body language and our tone of voice.

Although we’re not aware of it, we emit different scents when experiencing positive emotions compared to when we experience negative emotions. Dogs have an amazing ability to recognize these different scents.

A dog's sense of smell is incredibly powerful and far superior to ours. Dogs have +/- 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose, sometimes more depending on the breed, compared to +/- 5 to 6 million in humans. In addition to this, the part of their brain that processes scent is around 40 times bigger than ours.

Dogs also recognize our facial expressions and body language. Just like we might stay well away from or not want to interact with someone who looks really angry and be more drawn and responsive to a happy, relaxed looking person.

Tone of voice – more info on this in my previous post.

Dogs can be such a comfort to us when we need emotional support or aren’t feeling well, but some of our emotions many have a negative effect on them.

Working with or interacting with a dog when we’re feeling angry, stressed, frustrated or having a bad day is not a good idea. It’s far better to wait until we feel more relaxed and calmer.

Dogs have rich emotional lives – just as we should try to be aware of their emotions, also be aware of how our emotions may affect them.

04/02/2025

So very much deserved ...

I will recommend Dana to anyone who wants that extra special insight.

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01/02/2025

27/01/2025

You are never to old :-) ###

25/01/2025

This for me is incomprehensible

Despite previous cross party support, today the Labour government blocked our Tuks Law bill without a single thought to the dogs and cats who have a Rescue Back Up registration on their microchips, not a single mention of the pets of domestic violence victims affected by this block which has now kept them in a situation where there is a continuing risk of their abuser being able to euthanise their pets because it is not mandatory to scan a microchip and check the microchip status, and no acknowledgement of the owners of pets who have had their loved ones euthanised by persons not registered on the microchip database.

That Labour have taken this action today is not only bitterly disappointing to us but it’s a failure to deliver a safe environment to the most vulnerable in our society.

We must thank Chris Vince MP for his help and support which so far has been great - but we have to ask …WHY are Labour opposing this bill?….is anyone prepared to contact their Labour MP and ask?

Rebecca Harris MP has always been a huge supporter of Tuks Law and we are so thankful that she has taken this up following James Daly’s excellent work and so to see it blocked by Labour before it was even heard is disgusting and to us it shows a blatant disregard for animal welfare and common sense.

If a healthy animal is facing premature death and there is an option available to save it… why would those in power choose not to support it

23/01/2025

PLEASE STAY SAFE EVERYONE !

Your dogs will be happy to stay at home, there are lots of things you can do to keep them occupied.
Try to teach them that new trick you been meaning to do, or just cuddle together in front of the fire if you have that opportunity.

20/01/2025

Please sign and share far and wide ... thank you

If you live in Scotland, please sign this petition to be put before the Scottish Government.

Please share this post too.

https://greens.scot/ban-electric-shock-dog-collars

19/01/2025

I came to the conclusion that I will no longer offer any dog classes, my forte and my passion for that matter, lies in 1 to 1 training by addressing behaviourial and psychological issues.

I would normally meet you in your own home, but if this is not an option for you, I will be able to use the Ringford Village Hall as a meeting place to provide the same consultation, guidance and training.

I also offer one hour 1 to 1 hands on training sessions here around Ringford, Barstobrick and Queenshill.
If however you are for various reasons not able to train your dog you can drop him of here or depending on where you are based I will pick him up and work with him.

I work with any breed, any behaviour issues, any age, make and model ;-)

If you feel that I might be the right person for you I will be happy to take your call for an informal chat, or receive your email and message.

I look forward to hearing from you.

18/01/2025

Calling a pack of hounds your own is no doubt many peoples idea of heaven.
It is incredible to think that they are loyal companions who will have a special bond with their other pack members, and it is easy to paint a very romantic picture.
Real life however can be rather different.
Living in a multi dog households can be incredibly stressful for all concerned, and often just keeping the peace is a full time job.
If you feel you would like help to decipher the dynamics within the group and to work on building a more relaxed and calm space please be in touch.
There will never be a quick fix, and at times strict rules needs to be put in place to manage behaviour.

Please have a look at my website for further information.
www.caninesandfriends.co.uk

I am happy to take your call for an informal chat to see how I can be of help, or receive your email or message.
[email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you.

17/01/2025

Something so close to my heart...
A lot of behavioral, but also health issues come from early spaying and neutering.

12/01/2025

I must apologise for my absence lately, I am trying to deal with Mia, she has dementia and lately had a bout which is impacting all our lives here at Canines & Friends.

I spend most nights trying to keep her calm as she has started to get bad night terrors keeping everyone awake for hours on end.

Mia is nearing her 16th birthday, we have come through thick and thin together and I am not sure if I would have got through it all without her and of course all of my dogs.

It is my time now to make sure that she is being looked after to make her life as comfortable as possible.
She still loves the ball and has a great time running around with the rest of them, although she hardly ever gets the ball as Chester is now faster than any of them :-) so I make sure I throw it in a way she can catch it.
Keeping her occupied and keeping her mind stimulated is so important.

I know so many of you have gone through this and are going through this as we speak, it is heart-breaking and the feeling of helplessness is overwhelming.

Please enjoy your wonderful companions and make the most of every day, they deserve to have the best life as they give you so much joy and unconditional love.

10/01/2025

An old post, but sadly still the same scenarios :-(

You possibly know that rescues are my favourite dogs, you might also know that I had huge issues and questioned my sanity many times during years of working with behaviour issues.
I would not change anything though, the rewards where just immense.

I have come to a point where I really need to have my say and let people know that I am really not happy when I am being used like a bin, damping sob stories, long winded explanations of a horrible situation with a dog at home etc. on me.
Talking for 1/2 an hour or more (because it is my job to help and because I do not like to think that dogs and their owners are suffering ) then telling them that I will be happy to be of help.

This happens mostly with rescue or second hand dogs. People complaining that after 4 weeks their new family member still has bad recall, still is scared and nippy at time, does not like visitors, still pees and poops in the house, drags the owner all over the place when out for a walk and just about everything under the sun.

The conversation normally ends up with ' thank you I will be in touch ' which fine of course.
In general I will check in within 2 to 3 days to see if my help is still wanted, or if someone else is better suited, or if they are trying to go it alone. Then I know and what ever is decided is good.

When I am being told though, that the dog is going to be returned to the rescue, or is being passed on to someone else I am not too happy what so ever.
I will always give my time freely when someone needs help, that is a given, but this takes the biscuit.

Please anyone out there who is looking to take on a rescue dog, especially from a foreign country , please do make sure that you have all the facts, that you understand that this is not going to be plain sailing (you can be lucky of course ) that you need to be committed to the task ahead of you.

If you can not give your all and be there for the duration you might as well just forget about it.
I know we all get bombarded by sad stories, being told that rescuing dogs is the only way to go, but please please think before you dive in the deep end.

Thank you for reading this. Enjoy your most incredible companions, because incredible that is what they are.

07/01/2025

And so say all of us...Happy New Year dog lovers 😍🐶🐾🐾
via Red&Howling