Paws 2 Pawfection

29/04/2023

🙌

Dogs all over England are smiling today. As of Feb 1st 2024 remote electric (shock) collars will be banned in England. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for 10 years to get this done! The dogs thank you!
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2023/april/cruel-electric-shock-collars-banned-in-england/

14/08/2022

Attachment! What is it? 🤔

Attachment was first researched in relation to human children/infants, and how they were treated in the first two years of their life affected their emotional bonds later in life. Children whose parents were unresponsive or dismissive to their needs, were irregular with their care, or were outright abusive to the children all developed insecure (avoidant, anxious, disorganised) attachment styles. Whereas children whose parents were responsive and caring to their child developed a secure attachment. This attachment meant the child felt more comfortable exploring and interacting with the world as they saw their caregiver as a secure base who would be there if anything ever were to happen. More recent studies have shown a similar development in dogs, that securely attached dogs will fair better in the environment than insecurely attached dogs.

So what can we do to ensure our dog has a secure attachment to us? Here are some ideas...

🐶 Don't have your dog 'cry it out' as a puppy! This was a large part of the studies with children and ignoring their emotional distress contributed to insecure attachment.

🐶 Make sure you train your dog with positive reinforcement, rather than any kind of punishment. Punishing your dog with certain tools or actions will not make you a safe space for your dog, and can create a confusing hot/cold dynamic for them.

🐶 Be understanding of their needs as a dog. Remember your dog has their own doggie needs and wants, make sure you are attentive to them and give them outlets for these behaviours rather than getting frustrated and simply shutting them down.

🐶 Listen to your dog's body language and react kindly. If your dog is uncomfortable in a situation, get them out of there rather than force them to continue with it. A dog that communicates their needs is not a bad or difficult dog.

It really is vitally important that our dogs feel safe and secure around us, we are their lifeline to the outside world and most things in their life. If they don't feel safe with us, where does that truly leave them?

You can check out the research review mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4348122/ -prbm-8-071

27/03/2022

20/03/2022

We’re in the Sunday Times!

A growing number of businesses specialise in helping pets look their best for their big role on the big day. Services includes baths and blow-dries

08/03/2022

We had a busy weekend collecting agility wins 🏆🥇 we now have more than enough wins to go up to the next grade!
So proud of my boy! 🐶😍
A strong bond is truly the foundation to everything ❤️

02/03/2022

❤️

27/02/2022

Another lovely review ❤️ I just love getting reviews like these!
Unfortunately it would appear that Facebook isn’t actually showing half of them 🤷‍♀️

25/02/2022

Another lovely review ☺️ These make me so happy 😀

18/02/2022

Keep yourself and your dogs safe today!
Mental enrichment and brain training are a great alternative to walks in weather like this.

14/02/2022

😂🤣 never gets old!

01/02/2022

Reactive Dogs Myths Busted ⬇️

29/01/2022

After the other day I thought this would be a great thing to share!

28/01/2022

I thought a little lighthearted post was called for after yesterday’s serious one 😊

27/01/2022

And this is why I’m not a fan of ‘Dogs Behaving Badly’, please read the shared post below.

It is for reasons, like this, why I am so passionate about educating dog owners to look at problems from a different perspective and to look at the root cause of the problem.

Seeing a dog being dragged, when it is in pain is awful and for me, it is something that I cannot bear to watch.

The other problem here, is that it was aired on TV, with a huge viewing audience. The ‘trainer’ was oblivious to what he saw and was blaming all the problems on the poor dogs behaviour.

As a trainer I am not like him!

2024 update -

This post was made two years ago and has recently been getting attention again. The sad thing is that actually nothing has changed. This program is still being made. There is ( as far as I know - and very happy to be corrected if I am wrong) no veterinary involvement with these dogs prior to filming.

How many more dogs are going to be labled as awkward, difficult, stubborn or just lazy when actually there is an underlying pain issue?

We have so many wonderful trainers and behaviourists that could fill this man’s shoes and provide far more valuable advice and training. Stop giving people like this man air time… pick someone who actually cares about the wellbeing of the dogs they work with instead of the cash going to line their pockets…

-

Some phrases used on this particular episode of ‘Dogs behaving (very) badly’ where 8 year old Ruby would only get off the sofa if the rug was over the laminate flooring, and would sit down and stop on walks…

‘being a madam’

‘Controlling the diva’

‘Indulging her with rugs’

‘Thinks she’s in charge’

OR

Is this actually a dog in pain, a dog scared of slipping and hurting, a dog trying to tell everyone that she’s uncomfortable?

It’s not indulging her with a rug, it’s making sure her own home is accessible and safe for her. She’s not ‘being a diva’ and refusing to walk, she’s telling you it hurts and she’s uncomfortable.

I’m very glad that the owners realise that this dogs weight is having a significant impact on her life but there are other things that need addressing here. I have no doubt they absolutely adore their girl, that is very clear to see, but I desperately wish they had the right kind of support for Ruby, not just let’s force her to walk and walk on a floor she’s is scared

Dogs Behaving Very Badly and The Dogfather (Graham Hall)… I’m afraid the blame falls to you on this occasion. You have a massive platform with thousands of dog owners watching every episode. How about talking about signs of pain? Indicators of discomfort? When behaviours actually tell us somethings wrong? Ways to adapt houses for older dogs and those that struggle with mobility? You could educate SO MANY owners but no, it doesn’t happen. Instead we just see an uncomfortable dog being forced to walk when she doesn’t want to, and live in an environment that she is scared of.

Dogs need us to advocate for them, to realise when we need to do more and to learn the ways that they tell us something isn’t right. Owner education is the key to this and this could have been a brilliant opportunity to do just that.

31/12/2021

✨Happy New Year ✨
Thank you to all my customers for supporting my small business, I have been rushed off my feet and loving every moment of it. This last year was the first year that from time to time, I had to implement waiting lists for new clients on multiple occasions. At the minute I am able to take on new clients from the second week of January and I’ll be responding to all new enquires from the 4th Jan.

To all my clients (present and past) thank you, I have enjoyed working with all of you! I have loved seeing you and your puppies / dogs grow together as a team ❤️

See you in 2022
✨Happy New Year ✨

24/12/2021

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎄
I hope you all enjoy the time off with your family and dog(s).

🎄I’ve now finished for Christmas but I’ll be working a couple of days with clients between Christmas and the new year but I’ll be back to normal working hours from Tuesday 4th January.

Once again Merry Christmas everyone!🎄

05/12/2021

Too true ❤️

11/11/2021

Not my words, but taken from another site. Still relevant.

You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free.

Q: What should you do next?
(Cue *who wants to be a millionaire* music).

Is it:
A: put your dog on a lead
B. Let your dog run over and say hello.
C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
Or
D: What dog? You were playing candy crush.

The answer is…. A.

Did you get it right?

Many dog owners don’t. They don’t understand what a negatively life-altering situation a rogue dog can be for on-lead walkers.

Here’s why:

Dogs you don’t know could be on lead for 100s of reasons.

They could be blind.
They could be recovering from surgery.
They could be deaf.
They could be aggressive.
They might be scared of being approached by strangers.
They might be training.
They could be a service dog.
They may be a rescue.
They might be terrified of dogs they don’t know.
They could be elderly or physically vulnerable.
They might simply prefer to walk on lead.

In the end, it doesn’t matter why they are on a lead. It’s none of your business. But what is your business is CONSENT.

Leads are a little flag that say “don’t come close”.

When you see them, putting your dog on a lead is respectful. You show the other owner that you CARE about their choice and consent. It doesn’t matter if your dog has 100% perfect recall. You respect the other person and their dog enough to be courteous and kind to uphold everyone’s safety by making absolutely sure everyone is on a lead (no matter how much you trust your dog).

As a person who is often walking a dog on lead for all of many the reasons listed, I can’t tell you how my heart sings when I see someone extend this gesture to me and my pack.

Your dog has no right or business running up to ANYONE (dog or human) without clear PRIOR consent to do so.

You have a responsibility to ensure your dog is in control in a public place. Failing to recall is an offense. It counts as a dog out of control in a public place.

Take note!!!

09/11/2021

This is why I don’t recommend the use of retractable leads!

About retractable leads - I have had many requests to post my thoughts on retractable leads, so here goes.....

Retractable leads seem to be rising in popularity and I understand that many people are firmly attached to using them, but please read below.

When used properly, a retractable lead can allow a well trained dog to have a little more freedom to move around, sniff and do their business, while the owner is comfortable knowing they can’t run off. They can be handy for things like bathroom breaks at night or if you are sitting in a quiet park and want to give your dog a little more freedom.

Unfortunately, they are usually not used correctly and can be very dangerous.

THEY DO NOT TEACH PUPPIES OR DOGS HOW TO WALK NICELY ON A LEASH - Retractable leashes do the very opposite as they teach your dog that pulling extends the lead. Unless your dog is trained to walk nicely beside you, they will want to make use of the length of the leash and run ahead of you.

RISK OF ROPE INJURIES TO DOGS & PEOPLE - Most retractable leashes are made from thin nylon cord which can cause burns, serious cuts or strangulation. There have been many cases of amputation of fingers, limbs and tails after being entangled – if you need evidence, have a quick Google.

The bottom photo was posted on FB by Columbia Animal Hospital and shows an awful injury caused to a client who grabbed the lead to try to pull their dog away from danger.

These leashes can easily trip a person or tangle a dog with another dog, which is also very dangerous.

RISK OF NECK INJURIES TO A DOG – if the mechanism is unlocked, and a dog runs to the end of the line quickly, it will jerk backwards quickly and can cause serious damage their neck and/or spine.

THEY ALLOW YOUR DOG TO RUN TOWARDS DANGER – some retractable leads extend many metres, which gives too much freedom and may allow a dog to get far enough away from a human to run into danger. For example, they may run onto a road or approach another dog or human. Larger dogs have been known to break the cord to chase something such as a bike..

THEY STRESS OTHER DOG OWNERS AND DOGS - many people do not want another dog suddenly running up to their dog. This can be very stressful for owners of reactive or nervous dogs who are trying to give their dog space from other dogs. Letting your dog ‘say hello’ to an unknown dog without asking the owner, is always risky. No matter how friendly your dog is, please remember the other dog may not be.

Thanks for reading!

** bottom photo credit – Columbia Animal Hospital

04/11/2021

Just appeared on my newsfeed so I thought that I would share it 😊

15/10/2021

Not just me that does this then 🤣
For me though I’ll sometimes say “good stretch” 😂

Legit

01/10/2021

Today is National Black Dog Day! 🐶🖤

National Black Dog Day on October 1st encourages the adoption of a dog in the darker shades. Unfortunately, black dogs are less likely to be adopted.

We’d love to see your black beauties! 👇🏻

To start things off here’s my handsome boy 🖤🐶 after his 2nd jumping win last month 💞

29/09/2021

It really doesn’t matter if your dog is friendly or not.

What matters is that you don’t take the choice away from another owner (and their dog) as to who they interact with.

There can be so many reasons why a dog and their owner need space from you and your dog.

Please allow them that choice 💙

28/09/2021

08/09/2021

👇

One of the big reasons that so many dog owners struggle to improve their dog’s reliability with following cues around distractions is that they never give their dog a chance to be SUCCESSFUL around distractions.

Practising your training with no distractions is important for when you’re first teaching a new behaviour, but if you’re only training at home your dog won’t get to practise with distractions at all. If you go straight from a no distraction environment to a super busy environment, your dog is likely to struggle and fail more than they succeed. Failing over and over again won’t improve your dog’s reliability around distractions either.

Instead, try adding some steps in between the two extremes, so that your dog has the opportunity to successfully respond to their cues around distractions. For example, if your dog will listen to their name in the house, but not at the park, try practising in your back yard. If your dog can walk nicely on leash in your backyard, but not once you step out the gate onto the street, try practising in your yard with the gate open. If coming when called away from playtime with other dogs is too hard, try calling them when they’re looking at a dog in the distance to start with.

As your dog's reliability improves, you can gradually increase the difficulty of the distractions, always ensuring your dog is able to succeed.

Don’t forget to use high value reinforcers to reward your dog for work around distractions as well!

If you’d like to learn more about why dogs struggle to listen around distractions, check out That Dog Geek’s video: https://www.facebook.com/ThatDogGeek/videos/2010281532532636/

- Maddie Ross CPDT-KA

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For more graphics and videos on training and behaviour, check out our library: https://www.beacondogtraining.com.au/thatdoggeek

02/09/2021

Is your spaniel obsessed with chasing birds? 🐦

At around 10 seconds into the video a flock of birds flew out of the bush next to where we were walking. He thought about going to chase but with one word he chose me and then went back to calmly walking along 😊

29/08/2021

Long post alert 🚨

Yesterday my boy and I went to Iconix agility show. It was by far the largest agility event we have been to. First competition with sand arena, first time he’s seen a wall, first time in a ring without clear barriers, and first time in a ring with another ring so close with other dogs running.

And....

We came 1st 🏆 in jumping!!!!! 🤩🐶😍

So proud of my boy! It may not have been his best run he could have done but he was 1 of 2 in our class to not get eliminated! He’s only done a couple of competitions so far and we’re still building confidence in the competition environment as he finds it challenging. He still runs a lot better in training than competition.
We got a dreaded E in agility as did most of our group but the course and environment was the hardest we’d ever done. There was some lovely components that I’m very proud of but unfortunately I wasn’t clear enough so he back jumped ❌ and then the tunnel under the up ramp of the dog walk worried him too. All good practice and experience though 😊

28/08/2021

Stolen post, unfortunately I can’t credit as I don’t know who originally posted this but it’s too brilliant not to share to fellow spaniel owners! 😂🤣

Dear Customer,
Congratulations on acquiring your spaniel. Please find the instructions for your particular model listed below:
Although your spaniel comes fully assembled, due to particular issues during production, we do occasionally have issues with components such as screws. They invariably are either loose or missing altogether.

Mode 1: This is the sleep mode, activated for the majority of the day as the spaniel ages. This is normal and you should not worry about it, just accept the peace and quiet while you can.

Mode 2: Anarchy. Although we have tried to ease the effect of anarchy mode, it’s not always possible. There are inherent issues with the timer settings of anarchy mode in regards to there being none. Should your spaniel suddenly go from comatose to running around the walls, we cannot stop this feature.

Sunlight: Do not allow your spaniel to stay in the sun too long. They can burn if left unattended but they also recharge. Too much of a charge and mode 2 can be activated without warning.

Energy consumption: This has been an ongoing issue as their energy consumption is too direct. We have tried to put baffles, non return valves and diversions in place but none seem to work adequately. Safe to say what goes in comes out, in both solids and gas. The gas, although noxious, can only inhibit breathing of the owner for up to ten minutes.

Naming: Your spaniel comes untitled as we feel owners should use names of their own. If you are unsure, we have listed below a few names our owners like to use:
Sh****ad
You’re kidding me
Is that yours?
Don’t you dare
Ok, you
As***le
Put that down
Why?
Get that out of your mouth

The zipper: We ask you not to try to open a spaniel’s zipper on their back as this will invalidate your one hour warranty. Rumours that they are merely toddlers in a dog suit is highly contested.

Software: Your spaniel is pre-installed with the highest software and hardware. This includes the loyalty chip, the love every one chip, fun chip and, of course, the highly popular mayhem chip. They are all running on the Whatthehell operating system 12.2. Although this has been in circulation for many years, we have found it simply cannot be improved upon.

Should you have any queries you can reach us on 118-what-did-I-do
Thank you.
We hope you have many years of enjoyment with your spaniel. Please be aware that by the time you have read this, your warranty will have run out.
Unfortunately, we do not renew warranties and we do not offer refunds or returns..ever. It’s your problem now.

Added a photo of my boy because he’s adorable 🥰