Aunty Lou's Animal Care

01/09/2024

❤️

28/08/2024

FACING THE FEAR
There is a common disbelief that comforting a dog that is feeling scared, anxious or stressed will only reinforce, encourage the feeling and make it worse.

This belief is incorrect. Fear is an emotional response and one that a dog does not choose or decides to feel.

An emotion is an involuntary, uncontrolled response that cannot be reinforced.

Punishing fear-based behaviour is even worse than not providing comfort as it creates even more negative associations with whatever the “scary thing" is.

Behaviour and emotions are intrinsically linked in important ways, but they are still not the same thing and require different approaches when they become a problem.

Imagine an intruder broke into your home, tied you up and took off with your belongings. After being freed and getting help, a friend arrives to see how you are.

Your friend tells you that she can see that you’re really anxious and scared but she’s just going to completely ignore you, is not going to attempt to comfort you, sit with you or support you because by doing so she will make you even more afraid and upset. Does that reaction make any sense?

Why should it be any different for dogs that also experience a range of emotions? Why then is it still believed that we should ignore our dogs?

Probably because there is confusion and misunderstanding about the difference between an emotional response - which is an involuntary response and a learned response - which has varying degrees of conscious control.

If we acknowledge that providing comfort and support to a dog that is experiencing these emotions will not reinforce them, do we know if providing comfort will reduce these emotions?

Research on this subject is showing evidence that providing comfort and support in stressful situations decreases a dog’s heart rate, salivary cortisol levels, reduces stress responses and increases calm behaviour.

Ignoring a dog’s emotions because of misinformed advice in the belief that this will change the behaviour is more damaging than helpful.

We need to accept and acknowledge that our dogs are having an emotional response and not a behavioural problem.

We need to show compassion, understanding, be a secure base, a safe haven and provide the appropriate comfort when our dogs need it.

24/08/2024

My dog Poppy came 1st in grade 3 jumping class at an agility competition today ❤️

15/08/2024

REMINDER: Upcoming Annual Leave - Gentle reminder that I am on annual leave 7th - 15th September.
Sorry for any inconvenience

28/07/2024

The coming week is looking like it’s going to be very hot and sunny. I will start as early as possible to walk the dogs before it gets too hot but it looks inevitable that some walks will be shorter or cancelled. If there is no one home I will provide a drop in visit instead. The dogs welfare is my priority.

23/07/2024

Welcome Murphy and Evie to Aunty Lou’s walkies ❤️ lots of adventures to look forward to 😊

18/07/2024

REMINDER: Annual leave Thursday 8th August
Me and Skye are competing in the BFA flyball championships being held in the Midlands area this year with our team Kiddy Monsters!
They run from 8-11th August, with 8th being the time trials to determine which division the teams go into and main event on 10/11th.
Sorry for any inconvenience

13/07/2024

Lots of great walks and happy smiling faces this week! Also plenty of sticky balls and seeds 🙈 😂

11/07/2024

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

27/06/2024

A lovely week in North Wales. Feeling refreshed and looking forward to seeing all my furry customers next week. Weather looking much better (cooler) for some fabulous walks 😊🐶

25/06/2024

23/06/2024

Me and my dog Skye at an agility competition last weekend ❤️

23/06/2024

This week’s walks with all my favourite furry friends ❤️🐶

21/06/2024

Just a last reminder about my upcoming annual leave next week.
I am not available 24th - 28th June.
Sorry for any inconvenience. Thanks for your continuing support.
I will miss all my furry customers and look forward to seeing you W/c 1st July.

18/06/2024

A lovely walkie with the beautiful Daisy this morning ❤️

14/06/2024

Amazing walks with this lovely lot this week ❤️

14/06/2024

A fabulous first walk with Bailey this week, welcome to Aunty Lou’s walkies 😄🐶

14/06/2024

The lovely Dottie posing whilst on our walk yesterday 🥰

08/06/2024

After a good walk, I had some lovely cuddles with Dottie ❤️ whilst sitting until her family returned from an appointment.

08/06/2024

Lovely walks again this week!
Amazing dogs and beautiful places to walk. Weather was mostly ok this week as well 😊

04/06/2024

ESSENTIAL ENRICHMENT

Imagine being kept in the same space each and every day. You know every blade of grass, every scent, every brick, every piece of fence. You have no books to read, no TV to watch, no one to talk to, no interaction with the outside world and absolutely nothing to do.

Would this situation begin to affect your behaviour and influence your emotional, mental or physical state? What about our dogs?

Many dogs live in this type of environment and yet we wonder why they develop behaviour problems, bark excessively, destroy the garden, become over excited, over aroused or maybe just shut down or sleep all day having completely lost interest in the world.

Many behaviour problems are caused by boredom, a lack of mental and physical stimulation or being confined to the same space every day.

Providing enrichment for dogs is so important for their wellbeing and really doesn’t require that much effort from us.

There are so many simple ways to provide enrichment. An online search for DIY enrichment ideas will provide lots of ideas.

Older dogs may enjoy a ride in the car, sitting at a window watching the world go by, bringing the outside in – sticks, cones, grass etc. from different areas placed in a box for them to rummage through and smell, dinner in the park, or even just playing some doggie music will make a difference.

“Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and under-stimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioral flexibility.” - A biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation by Charlotte Burn - The Royal Veterinary College

Here are some links for enrichment ideas -
Enrichment ideas by Laura Gendron
https://missbehaviortraining.com/blog/diyenrichment

DIY boredom busting toys by Luke Balsam
https://wunderdogmagazine.com/care/awesome-diy-dog-toys-our-dog-trainer-made-some-boredom-busting-toys-and-you-can-too/

Link to a free introduction on ACE free work by Sarah Fisher -
https://animalcentrededucation.teachable.com/p/watch-this-space

02/06/2024

Freya in the foxgloves ❤️

02/06/2024

28/05/2024

REMINDER: upcoming annual leave

24/05/2024

Aunty Lou’s adventures ❤️ we did brave the elements this week

17/05/2024

Another great week, with this crew! 😊🐶🐱❤️