https://www.timetopet.com/portal/paddypetcare

Paddy Pet Care, Thorpe Le Soken, Clacton-on-Sea (2024)

02/01/2024

16/09/2023

15/09/2023

To Paddys regular return guests please be advised that in 2024. Paddy will be restricting guest numbers to just one of the pack at a time, unless they are two dogs from the same household or dogs. Bookings are already being taken for the popular weekends and summer holiday months. Do contact David in the normal way by whatsapp or [email protected]. Should you already have specific holiday dates set for next year do provisionally reserve your weeks / fortnight breaks even if your do not have a firm holiday booking as yet. In January 2024 the booking schedule will be opened up to the recently onboarded dog's and the newbies familiarising this autumn and winter months. Thus, first come first reserved in 2023. First come first confirmed bookings in 2024!

04/06/2023

Sunday Sessions at The Crown with or with out , Just Lee and Cookie

23/05/2023

Safe and sound advice shared courtesy of KarmaK9 Dog Training Essex et al. Thankyou for this Gary.

A day in the life of a reactive dog

Hello. I’m a reactive dog. People call me ‘reactive’ because I sometimes bark, growl and lunge towards other dogs, people, cats, cars – some of those things, or all of them.

‘Reactive’ is a label though and I would like you to understand what it’s really like to be ‘reactive’ and how I actually feel when I ‘react’.
If you are a ‘reactive’ dog, certain things, taken for granted by other dogs – such as a simple walk in the park or a trip to a dog show, become a bit more complicated. While I would love to be able to investigate all the fantastic smells in the park, or have a great time in a training class, scoffing off some yummy treats and exercising my brain cells, life for me is sadly full of anxiety and fear, and instead of enjoying these events, I am constantly on edge.

Why, you might want to ask? Can’t you just, like, get over it?

Nothing ever happens to you when you are out, why get yourself so worked up?

The problem is, ‘getting over it’ is not that simple. My anxiety and fear stem from many things – I might not have been socialised properly when young, or I might have had a bad experience. That means that certain things (other dogs, small children, load noises, people coming up to say hello) fill me with anxiety, fear or sometimes even panic. In many of those situations, if I could, I would probably run away, but many a time I can’t as I’m attached to a lead or cornered (like when another dog comes up to me and doesn’t want to leave me alone). But what sometimes works to make scary things go away is barking and growling at them – even bouncy dogs eventually get it. And while I might not look pretty or friendly when I growl and bark and lunge – hey! It works to get me out of a sticky situation and makes me feel safe again.

It’s not easy to feel scared every time I leave the house, and it’s not nice to see my owner tensing up or upset every time I feel I need to react. People shout abuse at me sometimes, ask my owner to muzzle me or even never walk me. But frankly, I don’t mean anyone any harm, I just want to be left alone. My owner works so hard to convince me that life isn’t all that scary after all – she feeds me yummy treats when a scary things approaches, she keeps me safe by helping me move out of the way rather than walk towards what is bound to upset me, she really, really tries, and I am slowly learning to trust things that used to freak me out loads.

But every now and then, just when I start thinking that maybe other dogs, people, cars etc. aren’t that scary after all, someone or something comes up a bit too close and my old fears come back – and all I can do is panic and scream (that is bark, growl and lunge) to make them go away.

So next time you see one of us – reactive dogs – out and about, please please – don’t judge. Don’t shout abuse at my owner who is trying all she can to make me feel safe. If you’re asked to call your dog away, please do, and don’t ask questions or claim your dog can do no harm as he’s friendly (to us, reactive dogs, that’s sometimes even worse!). Don’t let your children stroke us unless our owner says it’s fine. Just give us a bit of space so we can be on our way.

Thank you so much!

Written by the team at Pets in Practise "where determination and positivity, works!"
http://www.petsinpractise.co.uk/

****Edited to add resources 29/4/2018 ****
Why Shock, Prong and Choke collars should never be used on reactive dogs

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/chokeandprongcollarpositionstatement

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/shockcollars

Great websites about counter conditioning which can help both you and your dog cope and rehabilitate.

http://careforreactivedogs.com/

http://grishastewart.com/bat-overview/

This is the company that makes the muzzle featured on my dog. They are made to measure.
https://www.bumas.uk/mobile.php

Yellow Dog UK - Tabards and Dog coats

13/05/2023

A day in the life of a reactive dog

Hello. I’m a reactive dog. People call me ‘reactive’ because I sometimes bark, growl and lunge towards other dogs, people, cats, cars – some of those things, or all of them.

‘Reactive’ is a label though and I would like you to understand what it’s really like to be ‘reactive’ and how I actually feel when I ‘react’.
If you are a ‘reactive’ dog, certain things, taken for granted by other dogs – such as a simple walk in the park or a trip to a dog show, become a bit more complicated. While I would love to be able to investigate all the fantastic smells in the park, or have a great time in a training class, scoffing off some yummy treats and exercising my brain cells, life for me is sadly full of anxiety and fear, and instead of enjoying these events, I am constantly on edge.

Why, you might want to ask? Can’t you just, like, get over it?

Nothing ever happens to you when you are out, why get yourself so worked up?

The problem is, ‘getting over it’ is not that simple. My anxiety and fear stem from many things – I might not have been socialised properly when young, or I might have had a bad experience. That means that certain things (other dogs, small children, load noises, people coming up to say hello) fill me with anxiety, fear or sometimes even panic. In many of those situations, if I could, I would probably run away, but many a time I can’t as I’m attached to a lead or cornered (like when another dog comes up to me and doesn’t want to leave me alone). But what sometimes works to make scary things go away is barking and growling at them – even bouncy dogs eventually get it. And while I might not look pretty or friendly when I growl and bark and lunge – hey! It works to get me out of a sticky situation and makes me feel safe again.

It’s not easy to feel scared every time I leave the house, and it’s not nice to see my owner tensing up or upset every time I feel I need to react. People shout abuse at me sometimes, ask my owner to muzzle me or even never walk me. But frankly, I don’t mean anyone any harm, I just want to be left alone. My owner works so hard to convince me that life isn’t all that scary after all – she feeds me yummy treats when a scary things approaches, she keeps me safe by helping me move out of the way rather than walk towards what is bound to upset me, she really, really tries, and I am slowly learning to trust things that used to freak me out loads.

But every now and then, just when I start thinking that maybe other dogs, people, cars etc. aren’t that scary after all, someone or something comes up a bit too close and my old fears come back – and all I can do is panic and scream (that is bark, growl and lunge) to make them go away.

So next time you see one of us – reactive dogs – out and about, please please – don’t judge. Don’t shout abuse at my owner who is trying all she can to make me feel safe. If you’re asked to call your dog away, please do, and don’t ask questions or claim your dog can do no harm as he’s friendly (to us, reactive dogs, that’s sometimes even worse!). Don’t let your children stroke us unless our owner says it’s fine. Just give us a bit of space so we can be on our way.

Thank you so much!

Written by the team at Pets in Practise "where determination and positivity, works!"
http://www.petsinpractise.co.uk/

****Edited to add resources 29/4/2018 ****
Why Shock, Prong and Choke collars should never be used on reactive dogs

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/chokeandprongcollarpositionstatement

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/shockcollars

Great websites about counter conditioning which can help both you and your dog cope and rehabilitate.

http://careforreactivedogs.com/

http://grishastewart.com/bat-overview/

This is the company that makes the muzzle featured on my dog. They are made to measure.
https://www.bumas.uk/mobile.php

Yellow Dog UK - Tabards and Dog coats

13/05/2023

I love how these, and in particular this post is written from the dogs perspective . Thanks for sharing Gary at KarmaK9 Dog Training Essex

A day in the life of a reactive dog

Hello. I’m a reactive dog. People call me ‘reactive’ because I sometimes bark, growl and lunge towards other dogs, people, cats, cars – some of those things, or all of them.

‘Reactive’ is a label though and I would like you to understand what it’s really like to be ‘reactive’ and how I actually feel when I ‘react’.
If you are a ‘reactive’ dog, certain things, taken for granted by other dogs – such as a simple walk in the park or a trip to a dog show, become a bit more complicated. While I would love to be able to investigate all the fantastic smells in the park, or have a great time in a training class, scoffing off some yummy treats and exercising my brain cells, life for me is sadly full of anxiety and fear, and instead of enjoying these events, I am constantly on edge.

Why, you might want to ask? Can’t you just, like, get over it?

Nothing ever happens to you when you are out, why get yourself so worked up?

The problem is, ‘getting over it’ is not that simple. My anxiety and fear stem from many things – I might not have been socialised properly when young, or I might have had a bad experience. That means that certain things (other dogs, small children, load noises, people coming up to say hello) fill me with anxiety, fear or sometimes even panic. In many of those situations, if I could, I would probably run away, but many a time I can’t as I’m attached to a lead or cornered (like when another dog comes up to me and doesn’t want to leave me alone). But what sometimes works to make scary things go away is barking and growling at them – even bouncy dogs eventually get it. And while I might not look pretty or friendly when I growl and bark and lunge – hey! It works to get me out of a sticky situation and makes me feel safe again.

It’s not easy to feel scared every time I leave the house, and it’s not nice to see my owner tensing up or upset every time I feel I need to react. People shout abuse at me sometimes, ask my owner to muzzle me or even never walk me. But frankly, I don’t mean anyone any harm, I just want to be left alone. My owner works so hard to convince me that life isn’t all that scary after all – she feeds me yummy treats when a scary things approaches, she keeps me safe by helping me move out of the way rather than walk towards what is bound to upset me, she really, really tries, and I am slowly learning to trust things that used to freak me out loads.

But every now and then, just when I start thinking that maybe other dogs, people, cars etc. aren’t that scary after all, someone or something comes up a bit too close and my old fears come back – and all I can do is panic and scream (that is bark, growl and lunge) to make them go away.

So next time you see one of us – reactive dogs – out and about, please please – don’t judge. Don’t shout abuse at my owner who is trying all she can to make me feel safe. If you’re asked to call your dog away, please do, and don’t ask questions or claim your dog can do no harm as he’s friendly (to us, reactive dogs, that’s sometimes even worse!). Don’t let your children stroke us unless our owner says it’s fine. Just give us a bit of space so we can be on our way.

Thank you so much!

Written by the team at Pets in Practise "where determination and positivity, works!"
http://www.petsinpractise.co.uk/

****Edited to add resources 29/4/2018 ****
Why Shock, Prong and Choke collars should never be used on reactive dogs

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/chokeandprongcollarpositionstatement

http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/shockcollars

Great websites about counter conditioning which can help both you and your dog cope and rehabilitate.

http://careforreactivedogs.com/

http://grishastewart.com/bat-overview/

This is the company that makes the muzzle featured on my dog. They are made to measure.
https://www.bumas.uk/mobile.php

Yellow Dog UK - Tabards and Dog coats

24/02/2023

WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAY?
Imagine going on a long-anticipated walk, through new scenery and enticing scents after being cooped up in the same place all day, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged or yanked along at a quick pace.

I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop, sniff and explore the environment. Dogs largely perceive their world through scent and it’s how they collect and process information and make sense of the world.

Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk really isn’t fair and as much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.

Allowing dogs to choose when to stop and sniff provides so many benefits – increases self-confidence, promotes calmness, lowers stress and anxiety levels, lowers pulse rates, reduces cognitive decline in older dogs and provides important mental and environmental enrichment.

Make time for a slow sniffing walk when you can, where your dog is allowed to choose which direction to go and allowed time to just investigate, interpret the environment and follow wherever their nose leads them.

It may take far more time and patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that particular blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it – after all, whose walk is it anyway?