K9 and Feline Pet Services Ltd

15/01/2025

.secret.dog.walker

09/01/2025

Not letting our dogs sniff on a walk is like taking us to an art museum with a blindfold on. Our dogs perceive the world in a way we will never fully understand. They use their nose to take in information and learn, much like their very own Wikipedia. It's how they make friends, sense danger, feel safe in their environment, and generally understand the world around them.

It's widely believed that only certain animals have consciousness and a sense of self. This was traditionally tested by placing a mark on the animal's face and showing them a mirror. If the animal touched the mark on their own forehead, it was thought they recognized themselves. Only some animals, like great apes, elephants, and dolphins, passed this test. Dogs failed, leading to the belief that they don't understand self-recognition.

However, Alexandra Horowitz recognized that dogs understand the world through scent. In a study, dogs were allowed to smell their own urine and another dog's urine. The dogs spent more time sniffing the other dog's urine, suggesting a self-association with their own scent, indicating a sense of self.

Picking things up in their mouths also helps dogs with scent and processing, similar to how we use our hands. It provides them with additional sensory information and helps them understand their environment better. So let your dog sniff and explore! Allow them to pick things up and process the world around them. If you ever get impatient, think about how you would feel if someone kept covering your eyes when you wanted to look at Facebook, your favourite TV program, your children's beautiful faces, a lovely flower, or even that spider you need to keep an eye on. Think about how you would feel if you were stopped every time you went to pick something up to look at it and feel it. Let dogs be dogs and explore in the way they were born to.

01/01/2025

26/12/2024

⚠️ BOXING DAY : EXTRA CAUTION REQUIRED ⚠️

Your dog or puppy may be over stimulated, tired, sore and irritable 😠 🥱 😩 😵‍💫

Take extra care today, please keep in mind that sometimes the first symptom of a dog or puppy being too tired, sore or over stimulated is behaviour change. Behaviour change which, in some instances, can appear to come from nowhere.

‼️ A dog’s usual levels of tolerance may be at risk of lowering.
‼️ Their startle responses may increase.
‼️ Their sensitivity to stimuli, including being touched, may heighten.
‼️ Their ability to recollect prior learned information (their training) may decrease.
‼️ Their social skills may become compromised, which may result in them failing to read the room or being more irritable.
‼️ They may be quicker to fatigue on walks.

Nick and I travelled to see my step mum on Monday. Christmas Eve, we spent the first part of the day cleaning the house and Christmas Day we travelled to see Nick’s parents.

My dogs don’t sleep deeply in the car and despite taking their beds to both family homes, they didn’t sleep for as long, nor as well as they would have at home. They were understandably easily disturbed by the activity and were even following me to the bathroom each time.
Our cleaning related hustle and bustle on 24th would have also interfered with their usual sleep quality.

Yesterday Amigo also dedicated a good hour of his day on his feet putting pressure on kitchen door activity - hoping for a management slip up that would get him access to the food being served and the plates being cleared away from the dining room. You can take the stray off the streets…… 😆

So all in all, across three days- I would guess that my dogs are about 15 hours in deficit (of sleep).

During sleep, stress hormone levels are lowered, the brain’s toxins are removed, cellular repair across the body occurs, and the immune system gets a boost. The body is given an MOT that helps regulate its responses to stimuli the next day.

This includes regulating the perception of pain and of course, quality rest supports the reduction of any inflammation.

My dogs were on their feet - getting up and down more than normal - across the past three days. Any muscular or skeletal pain can become heightened- especially for my senior dog Kanita.

Additionally, during sleep information is processed and stored. Whilst relevant for all dogs, those with young puppies should be especially considerate to the fact that there’s only so much sensory stimuli the young brain can process. A high intensity of stimuli (noise, sights, scents, and touch!) parallel to compromised sleep can lead to an over stimulated puppy- this usually results in a puppy that jumps and mouths more!

Lastly, most of us humans get tired from all of the activity. The usual level of management and ‘tolerance’ of our dogs and puppies may start to slip.

Contexts in which to be cautious:

☑️ Visitors arriving to the home- caution letting dogs greet them at the door or in narrow hallways!

Also be cautious of your dog accidentally escaping out the door or gate left open. Stay vigilant and remind guests to keep the usual doors and gates closed.

☑️ People touching your dog or puppy! Does the dog WANT to be touched? Have they asked to be touched? Is touching the puppy leading to them jumping and mouthing? Is the dog and puppy being touched and/or picked up too often?

Make sure everyone, especially children, leave a resting puppy or dog well alone and that there's understanding of what 'no thanks' looks like (they don't approach to interact when asked, or look away, move away or tense up when being interacted with).

☑️ Monitor anyone playing with the dog/puppy very carefully. Normally, it's the humans that struggle to regulate their behaviour intensity or duration - and the dog/puppy simply responds to that.

☑️ People (including children) behaving in an animated way (loud noises and sudden or unusual movement).

☑️ How WE humans respond to undesired behaviour. Are we appearing confrontational? Are we intensifying the level of stimuli or calming things down?

☑️ Leaving dangerous foods and items around. Keep things out of reach of your dog or shut them away from your dog.

If your puppy or dog 'steals' an item that they 'shouldn't have', trade it for treats. Don't rush to grab things off them and ensure everyone present knows to do the same (or better yet, alerts you to do it). You'd be suprised how many bite incidents happen towards people who aren't the dog's primary carer and who go to take things off the dog/puppy.

☑️ Interacting with unfamiliar dogs on walks (or even their buddies!). Dogs who are tired or in pain may be more quick to be defensive, over stimulated dogs and puppies may be more likely to socialise inappropriately- which may result in them being the target of defensive behaviour.

☑️ The walk itself! Pay attention to the environment, something that’s harder to do when walking in a group!
Be aware and considerate of others, but also towards livestock and wildlife if you’re walking somewhere different to usual.

Keep your dog on lead if you’re not sure their recall is up to the usual standard! Remember, memory recollection AND sensory processing is compromised when dogs are tired.

Lastly, if your dog doesn’t normally go on epic, long hikes, then stick to a distance similar to their usual walk duration. Please don’t exhaust your dog by taking them on an endurance hike they’ve not built the fitness up for, or that they may be too old or less physically able to enjoy.


Today we are meeting my brother, his wife and my two young nephews at the pub for lunch. Kanita doesn’t like children too close and Mohawk gets a bit nervous of their excitement- so we have opted to meet away from the home so my dogs aren’t put in a situation they may struggle with more than normal.

It’s just not worth the risk! I’d rather be labelled as too cautious than there be a concerning or serious incident. My dogs will be happier at home resting.

Be your dog's advocate ❤️

18/12/2024

Your friend (and mine) they’re awesome! Save their number incase you have a little naughty doggy who eats a cheeky Christmas no no. Or anything that isn’t dog friendly!

https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk/

09/12/2024

Re-sharing .secret.dog.walker

09/12/2024

06/12/2024

Facts lol

.secret.dog.walker

05/12/2024

🎄 Calling All Dog Food & Treat Companies: Help Us Spread Christmas Joy! 🎄

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and we’re looking for kind-hearted companies to help us make Christmas extra special for the dogs at our Sanctuary.

Every year, we create Christmas stockings filled with treats and toys for our furry friends.
In the past, I’ve even dipped into my personal funds to ensure every dog gets something, but this year is proving particularly difficult for us.
We’re reaching out to ask for donations of:
• Dog treats
• New toys
• Tins of special Christmas dog dinners

If your company is willing to assist, we would be incredibly grateful, and we’d be happy to discuss this further via email at [email protected].

Your support will bring so much joy to these dogs who, sadly, are away from their owners this Christmas due to difficult circumstances.

Let’s come together to ensure they feel the magic of the season! 🐾🧡

03/12/2024

Donation made 🎄🎄

03/12/2024

Donation made 🎄🎄

🎄 This Christmas, Give the Gift of Hope 🎄

Instead of spending money on Christmas cards this year, why not donate that amount to a cause close to your heart?

At Dogs on the Streets, we are dedicated to helping dogs and their vulnerable owners, but right now, we’re facing serious challenges due to rising costs and limited funds.

Do you really need that spiced latte or chocolate-topped coffee every morning? Consider donating the cost of just one cup to help us provide vital vet care and support for the dogs and communities who depend on us.
Unlike big charities with flashy ads, we don’t have a fancy fundraising team—just a small, passionate group working tirelessly to meet the growing demand for our services.

Every pound counts, and your generosity can make a real difference.

If you’ve got some spare change tucked away or feel inspired to skip the cards or coffee for a day, please consider supporting Dogs on the Streets. Together, we can ensure our mission continues and that no dog—or their owner—is left behind.

https://dogsonthestreets.org/donate-new/
�🙏 Thank you for your support, and wishing you a warm and joyful Christmas season. 🧡

29/11/2024

This Christmas Greyhounds will be dying in the name of entertainment, please say NO to a night at the dogs.
www.CAGEDNW.co.uk