Rural Tails Pet Care

11/11/2024

Sunshine!! ☀️

10/11/2024

This weekend’s projects! A nice shelter and picnic bench for those rainier days.
It’s all coming together, next to build are the obstacles.
In the background we are working on the website and online booking facility.
As soon as we are ready we will announce the official opening! Not long now 🤗

10/11/2024

Great info 👌🏻

WHEN SECONDS COUNT

This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but about how to go about it, if and when it does happen, in a safer way.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough information for dogs to know – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I need you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well. This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources and links to learn more about body language -
On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://www.dogwise.com/on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-2nd-edition/?srsltid=AfmBOoqj8ruQJx5bCP7qWb03TqCyAGfmAvCj988UuWk_L1_UHbYcZsES

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://www.heska.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TVBC-Canine-Dog-Body-Language-handout.pdf

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

06/11/2024

Does it get anymore squishable?! 😍

05/11/2024

Dexter asking so nicely for a treat 😆

04/11/2024

It’s been a 25k steps kinda day 🤪
Lovely to see Murphy again though!

03/11/2024

This…

01/11/2024

Ernie, proudly sporting his remembrance poppy 🫶🏼

31/10/2024

Wild child 🐾

30/10/2024

Just a few from today.
Happy Halloween for tomorrow and I hope your pets stay calm and safe for the night 🎃

29/10/2024

Lulu and Ziggy. 🫶🏼

15/10/2024

Miss P was impressed with the farmers straight lines 👌🏻

15/10/2024

Mac….
Of course he goes by many other nicknames I’ve assigned to him - Macaroni, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Macaroon, president Macaron, Pac-a-Mac, Old MacDonald, Macadamia Nut, Apple Mac, etc.
He ignores all of them 🤣

15/10/2024

Stanley 🫶🏼

15/10/2024

Woodland walks with Monty, Luna & Billy 🌳

13/10/2024

Perfect headrest 🤣

13/10/2024

Billy insisted on riding shotgun ☺️