Young's Dog Services

09/08/2023

We are all aware that socializing your puppy is important. What does this mean though?

A properly socialized mature dog can do 6 things;

Greet other dogs/people in a gentle manner,

Understand that not all dogs are theirs to play with and deal with this emotionally,

Be able to handle when another dog is forcing a social interaction even when they do not want it

Disengage from a social interaction gently when the other dog/s is/are no longer interested in the interaction,

Disengage from a social interaction gently when they are no longer interested in the interaction,

Disengage from a tense situation calmly and with confidence.

All of these skills cannot be learnt during puppyhood however they can understand when they are, and are not, able to interact with another dog.

28/07/2023

27/07/2023

Had the pleasure of walking Denny (right) and Ted (left) today. Both bursting with character and super friendly to other dogs and people.

This can be achieved through regular training and a lot of love for your canine companions. Contact me if you are struggling with your dogs behaviour.

26/07/2023

Aversive training.

Today I would like to talk about the fallout of aversive training methods. Using a slip lead or prong/e-collar may reduce your dogs barking towards other dogs, or increase its recall at the press of a button, but how would you feel if any time you did something undesirable your breathing was constricted, or if you went out of sight of your friend group that they shocked you with a collar. Logically, I don’t think I would want to hang around those people for very long.

So on top of this, why should we not use aversive training with our canine companions. Ultimately the fallout of using them is a dog thats personality is suppressed. They will not want to try new things by themselves and seeing other dogs will still cause arousal, they just will not show it. What kind of a life is this for a sentient being? Science over the past two decades has been telling us that we no longer need these tools to help a dog that is struggling with its environment. We should listen to the evidence rather than a simple anecdote from a stranger who claims to be ‘good with dogs’.

26/07/2023

25/07/2023

Molly loves to roll on the ground. I think its because she likes the texture of foliage and dry leaves rubbing up against her giving her a full body pat. I love these behaviours in dogs, they are always so playful looking while they are rolling about.

25/07/2023

🌧️ Does your dog like the rain? 🌧️

We are all tired of it raining here in the UK at the moment 🙈

Do you have a dog who hates going outside when it's raining? 🌧️

Or does your dog not mind what the weather is doing? 🌦️

If your dog isn't a fan of the rain, here are some reasons why:

🌧️ They don't like the sound of the rain hitting the ground, because it can be really loud for them!

🌧️ They don't like the feeling of the wet ground on their feet. It's cold and damp and soaks into the hair on their paws.

🌧️ The rain can cloud their senses, making it more difficult for them to hear and see clearly which can make them feel nervous

🌧️ They may associate rain with thunder & lightning which can be scary for them

🌧️ Rain brings new smells to the area, which can feel overwhelming for your dog

🌧️ Other sounds like cars, people walking, cyclists etc are heightened when the ground is wet, which can be very over-stimulating for your dog

🌧️ Static electricity can build up in stormy weather, giving your dog little static shocks when they touch the ground!

So, if your dog is uncertain about going out in rainy weather, be patient with them and don't force them to!

Consider how the rain might be making them feel and if they might prefer to do some indoor enrichment activities instead of their walk, until the rain passes ❤️

There are loads of enrichment activities you can rustle up in a couple of minutes, with things you have lying around at home! You don't need special equipment or to invest lots of money to enrich your dog's life ❤️

Find out more in my latest book here ⬇️ books2read.com/essentialenrichment

21/07/2023

We were so touched to receive a Legacy Donation of over 11 thousand pounds from a lady who wanted to leave her estate to the rescue dogs. Her wonderful niece had been showing her the daily videos of our dogs and watching Lollipop and friends had bought her a lot of joy.

It is humbling for a small independent like ourselves to be be chosen for this gift of a lifetime and we will use the funds to help open the doors to Rescue World by Dogs 4 Rescue later this year. What a beautiful legacy for the dogs no one wants 💜

20/07/2023

Brief breed history.

The white German Shepard is a stunning breed of dog. They have been bred in Europe since 1882; however, the German Kennel Club, VDH, banned the registration of white German Shepherds in 1933 causing them to become less desirable in their native region which is part of the reason we do not see many of them in the UK. In 1912 a women called Anne Tracy imported a breeding pair of German Shepherds to the USA and by 1917 they had a white German Shepard pup. This puppy was then registered and by 1969 they had a White German Shepherd breed club, so it is safe to say they became popular.

It is reported that farmers could not differentiate between the white Shepherds and their sheep, this could be one reason the VDH decided to ban the registration of these beautiful dogs.

19/07/2023

Contact me for further information on any service!

16/07/2023

One of my favourite photos of Molly! I love when she does her ballerina spin. What is something that your canine companion does that you find irresistible?

16/07/2023

We cannot mitigate all stress for our dogs, however, it is important to try and minimize their stressors.

For the times that we cannot, or life has other plans, it is equally important to give the body time to regulate and reset.

And much like humans, when dogs experience stress, the amygdala, a region in their brain, triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol.

Cortisol enables the body respond to stress by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability (aka the fight or flight response). While cortisol is essential for survival, its prolonged presence can have negative consequences.

The half-life of cortisol in a dog's body is relatively short, typically ranging from 60 to 90 minutes BUT chronic or repeated stress exposure can disrupt the delicate balance leading prolonged elevation of stress hormones.

Dysregulation can cause changes in the structure and function of the brain. Specifically, chronic stress can result in a decrease in the size of the hippocampus, a region involved in memory and emotional regulation, while increasing the size of the amygdala, responsible for the processing of emotions.

These structural changes can contribute to heightened anxiety, impaired learning, and memory deficits as well as contribute to long-term health issues, including immune suppression and digestive problems.

Just reducing exposure to stressors is often impossible which is why working with a qualified professional is recommended for dogs who experience reoccurring acute or prolonged, chronic stress.

If you would like to work with us (the canine mental health experts) we start with a Behavior Assessment to understand your dog's history, current circumstances, routines and your life together so that we can start making immediate changes to improve your dog's stress.

Visit www.rplusdogs.com to book your assessment and put a stop to the cycle of stress for your dog - and you!

We can't wait to get started 💜