The Dog Coach Edinburgh

01/11/2023

Yesterday, Defra released their official definition of an XL Bully, along with the restrictions and requirements that will come into place on the 31st Dec. From 1 Feb 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog. The Scottish Government has yet to decide whether they will enforce the ban.

It's a really uncertain time for these dogs and a worrying time for owners. If you believe your dog is an XL Bully or could be considered as such, read through the requirements and reach out for support, if you are unsure about any training requirements.

We’ve added XL Bully type dogs to the list of breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 🚫

From 31 December 2023 breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing an XL Bully dog to stray will be illegal.

These dogs must also be on a lead and muzzled in public from 31 December.

If you wish to keep your XL Bully type dog, you have until the end of January to register them and comply with strict requirements.

Details on the exemption process will be provided in due course.

Read our guidance to prepare for the ban: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs

17/07/2023

There have been reported incidents of dogs becoming sick from Inverleith Park. The cause is unconfirmed but thought to be discarded fertiliser around the central bushes. There are now signs in the area, but do keep your dogs on lead or away from the allotment and central area, until cleared!

30/05/2023

Ticks are a common parasite that are out in force this year! While incidents of Lyme Disease are thankfully rare, it is thought to be on the increase.

Check your dog regularly for any new inhabitants. There's a debate about the best technique to remove a tick. Some places advocate lifting ticks straight up, others a lift and twist motion. I would wiggle the tick tool underneath the intruder, gently lifting and rotating anti-clockwise. Go slowly. You're aiming to remove the tick in one go. If you fail, use tweezers to remove anything you can see. As always, if in doubt, head to your vets.

23/05/2023

TINNED FOOD RECALL! Lily's Kitchen has a voluntary recall notice in place. Take a look if you feed 400g multipacks and have purchased from Pets at Home.

28/04/2023

Sleep is crucial for health and wellbeing. Understanding your dog's wake/sleep cycle can also help alert you to changes.

Humans with condition can have disturbed sleep, and similar symptoms in dogs indicate cognitive decline is under way

09/12/2022

Brrrr, the temperature is definitely dropping.

Take care with your dog outside. Different breeds will cope differently in the cold. Be sure to wipe off your dog’s paws after going on a walk to remove any ice and salt.

Older dogs or dogs with any musculoskeletal issues will feel the cold more. If your dog is a short haired breed it might benefit from a jacket. Paw protection is generally not needed unless the temperatures fall below -5, however they can help if your dog’s curly coat collects ice balls!

Cold temperatures can dry out the paw pads. If your dog has dry or chapped paws, dry them off after a walk and hydrate the pads with some organic coconut oil. It’s okay if they lick it off!

31/10/2022

Pumpkin can be a great source of fibre. It can help soften or firm up your dog’s stools. They only need a small amount.

Pumpkin seeds are also rich in proteins, fatty acids and minerals. Toast the seeds and offer your dog a teaspoon full for a healthy boost. They’re also considered a natural de-wormer!

26/08/2022

Blackberries are growing everywhere at the moment. They are a great snack for you and your dog. They are highly nutritious and provide antioxidants, fibre and a little natural sugar. Offer your dog a few and see if they like them. Some dogs will scavenge for them naturally!

15/07/2022

If the weather predictions are correct, we can expect some soaring temperatures over the weekend and early next week. Overheating can lead to heatstroke, which can have some serious consequences for you dog. Keep them cool and adjust your exercise routines if you need to.

20/06/2022

Last chance to get Asparagus in season. Give it raw, steamed or cooked!

04/06/2022

It's that time of year again! If your dog has a double coat or long hair, it can be great to use a "zoom groom" style brush to help remove the shedding hair. It's messy and best done outside!

These are nice gentle massaging brushes and are good for touch sensitive dogs too. They can also be used wet to help wash your dog. I find using this in combination with a "FURminator" provides a really good groom.

Regular grooming is also a great way to check on the health of your dog's skin and coat.

Crafting with pet hair optional 😂

Top tips - cat versions work just as well and might be better if you have smaller hands or a small dog! If you have a wire haired dogs a grooming block (the type used with horses) would be a better choice.

26/05/2022

Just reading this made me itchy... 🐾

22/05/2022

Dogs colour vision is dichromatic. So they don’t have the ability to distinguish red and green pigment, similar to people with red-green colour blindness! They do have the ability to see some ultraviolet light but we’re not quite sure if they actually process it.

19/05/2022

Fab Food of the month. Inspired by the seaside weather! Kelp is a type of seaweed that packs a powerful nutritional punch. For you and your dog.

10/04/2022

There is no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth. But adding variety to their diet can have some great consequences.

09/04/2022

Thanks to all my lovely clients, I rely heavily on word of mouth to generate business. However, like so many other Edinburgh dog businesses, I’ve been targeted by a troll who is leaving us all bad reviews. These reviews impact on how Google and Facebook choose to list my page. This can be really devastating for generating new clients.

Can you help? If you haven’t already done so please leave a Google review or Facebook recommendation. This will help minimise the impact of the spammer!

Here’s a picture of me and some of my biggest fans for tax 🐾🐶

31/03/2022

Top tips for those daily walks!

16/03/2022

For optimal health, your dog should be eating a colourful array of fresh food. It’s good for you too! Raw, steamed, flash fried or cooked - it’s all good. What hasn’t your dog tried yet?

24/02/2022

We've been having some wonderful weather lately! ☔️ So you may have been bathing your dog more. Dog grooming products can be super confusing. Marketing labels can't always be trusted. Dogs are really susceptible to ingesting what's on their coat so it's important to trust the ingredients in your dog shampoo. Here's a useful website where you can check the safety of the ingredients in your products: https://www.petshampooingredientdatabase.com/

22/02/2022

Double trouble.
Did you know that dogs can mimic behaviour? Researchers found that dogs with stronger social bonds have a higher level of mimicry! Try yawning at your dog and see what happens. 🥱

13/02/2022

Rainy day training goals right here:
https://fb.watch/b8SrpCbnBx/

20/01/2022

Obesity is a major welfare concern and is on the rise in our canine companions. Do we do enough to review what we're feeding them? This is worth a listen... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1rgw

What we feed our four-legged friends and what it reveals about our relationship with food

13/01/2022

Just like us, chronic pain can influence how our dogs feel and how they behave. Osteoarthritis is a condition that is prevalent across all breeds. Data suggests that around 1 in 3 dogs will have this condition. At least, 80% of dogs over the age of 8 years old will suffer with it. So I’m delighted to announce that I’m a CAMadvocate and can help identify the early warning signs. Together we can

11/12/2021

Chewing is a healthy activity for all dogs. It’s great for working the paw muscles, helping with teething and reducing stress! Just make sure your pup has an appropriate chew toy. It can help if it’s splattered in liver paste too 😋

09/12/2021

It's beginning to look a lot like…rawhide season! Rawhide and nylon chews are highly processed with chemicals that strip the nutrients. Some also include glue and toxic chemicals. They are however widely available and festively packaged.

It may look like a great stocking filler, but a natural chew is a much better option. Also avoid puffed ears and snouts. It may be labelled as "natural" but if it no longer resembles its natural form, it has been treated to make it more appealing to us shoppers. Heavily processing dog chews is totally unnecessary. If you want a puffed chew without chemicals, puff up the end of a yak stick by popping it in the microwave - voila!

28/11/2021

Reflections on snow.

As the weather turns colder, you may be using more antifreeze. These products can contain ethylene glycol, which can be tempting for your dogs to lick. It’s extremely toxic, so be sure to wipe up spills and keep out of reach.

Rock salt is also a common de-icing product used on the roads. It can get on your dogs paw and fur and can cause increased thirst, vomiting and lethargy. Be sure to wipe your dogs paws, legs and stomach after a snowy walk, especially if you’ve kept to cleared roads and paths.

26/11/2021

Ever taken your dog shopping? The St.James Quarter offer complimentary pet carriers for dogs up to 50kg. You can book ahead or visit the Guest Mobility team on level B2 of the SJQ car park to pick up a carrier.

The St James Quarter is a new district of the city that connects the existing streetscape to a mixed-use destination of the future – anchored by places and experiences that will draw people from one place to the next – a key component of the map of the city. Boasting a world-class retail, leisur...