Hedingham Hounds

24/01/2025

My clients gorgeous Foster dog!

Happy to support with training if you choose to share your sofa with him 💙

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FhC4D8Jmu/

24/01/2025

24/01/2025

Hold on to your puppies 🌬️

📿 Ensure your dog is wearing a collar and id tag
👀 Check fences or keep on a Flexi in the garden
🐕‍🦺 Keep dogs on lead (wind can kick up scents and make it harder to recall)

23/01/2025

"Rollo, with three of his activity feeders. Never eats out of a bowl! His favourite is a ball with holes, keeps him occupied for ages. Look forward to next session."

I LOVE IT when clients complete their homework, bag of treats ready for you on Sunday!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑬𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕?
Instead of feeding from a bowl, use that food to get their mind working. You can hide it and play find, you can wrap it in a towel, you can use it for training, you can take it on your walk, you can use any one of hundreds of interactive food toys and puzzles, you can scatter it across the floor, you can make a food trail, stuff it in a Kong and let them eat when you eat or put it in your empty food boxes and let the dog rip it open.

𝑺𝒐, 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒈𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕?
Because they don’t just deserve a life, they deserve a life worth living.

Quoted from:
Shay Kelly
WHY DO DOGS NEED ENRICHMENT?
https://shaykelly.com/2017/09/09/why-do-dogs-need-enrichment/

23/01/2025

Are you being anti social?

When advocating for our dogs that need space, for whatever reason, there are a number of ways to keep safe.

Saying ‘No’ is not anti social.

Asking a person if they would give you a minute to move out of their way is not anti social.

What else is not anti social?
Using a natural barrier like a parked car to obscure vision.
Crossing over the road.
Turning around and changing direction.

What is anti social?
Allowing unskilled, off lead dogs to get up close to a dog that may need space. This is especially true for unfamiliar dogs.

We don’t know what we don’t know. We don’t know how our Dogs will respond to the other dogs and vice versa.

During a recent walk with my dogs on lead, around pavements and quiet but sometimes fast moving traffic on the roads I took clear and immediate action to prevent an unsolicited approach from a number of off lead dogs.

I kept calm and projected my voice to say, ‘NO’ at the dogs which stopped them in their tracks. I then projected my voice to say ‘Call your Dogs back now’.

I stood still and waited because, in this context, walking away could have triggered the dogs to make another fast approach and get into my dogs space.

The guardian tried to call the dogs away. Five attempts at recall. Didn’t work. But, my own body language prevented those dogs moving further towards us and helped them to move away and back to their owner.

I waited until they disappeared into their house and then we moved on. I took a breath, the dogs took in some more sniffs and we had a little reset.

Ruby coped extremely well. With support and advocacy she has developed her skills and all we got today was some medium pitched whimpering, no pulling on her lead and she trusted that she had the skills to cope and trusted me to support her in this situation.

Just a minute later we have a large dog approaching, on lead and we were able to cross the road. Ruby had a look and looked away. It would be understandable for her to have a bigger reaction so soon after the loose dogs.

A minute later we spot another dog on lead walking towards us and we go to cross the road. We are told, that their dog is okay. I said mine isn’t, in a polite way and off we walked.

I was not being anti social.

I was advocating for my dog.

Had I continued and walked towards this dog and had my dog had a vocal reaction, there would have been a shift in the dynamic of this interaction. It was simple and easy to cross the road and prevent a potential issue.

I have been told a dog is fine plenty of times and then the dog has lunged, growled, barked and then told that the dog has never done that before.

I advocate, I manage the situation and keep myself and my dogs safe.

Ruby was able to look and look away, move freely, sniff and reset without any vocal reaction to this dog that was just 10 feet away.

This would have been way too close for her not so long ago. It would be too close for her for certain dogs and people.

Our final challenge was a jogger in the road heading our way.

We crossed over and utilised an opportunity for Ruby to sniff but understandably, after all of the previous inputs stacked up this person was too close for her comfort and we had a mid vocal reaction. It was quickly over with and recovery to base line was quick too.

We were not being anti social.

An unfamiliar man was running towards us and we created distance so that we reduced the likelihood of a significant reaction.

I have lived in Towns and highly populated areas that have made walks pretty tricky. There are some areas where dogs are regularly off lead or frequently rush out of homes and gardens. Walks with our dogs and advocating for them can be a challenge.

We may not have access to a car and be limited for choices and that can add pressure, especially when our dog needs space to feel safe.

For us too. Dog bites, fights, altercations, human to human and dog to human are on the increase.

This posts focus is on advocating for our dogs during our walks. It seems these days that it isa real challenge to enjoy a safe walk that doesn’t involve off lead, unskilled dogs making inappropriate approaches.

We can reduce the risk by choosing the optimum time and location for our walks as often as possible.

We can use our space and environment to protect ourselves and our dogs.

We can say NO and no really does mean no if a person tries to approach.

I have such peace of mind when I have successfully advocated for my dogs and kept us safe.

23/01/2025

🎉 Puppy Parents! Let’s Talk Socialisation 🐾

There’s so much confusion around what true socialisation really means for your pup! Many well-meaning efforts can actually do more harm than good. So, let’s break it down and make sure you’re on the right track to raising a calm, confident dog.

🔴 Socialisation is NOT:
• Throwing your pup into chaotic situations like dog parks or daycare.
• Letting them greet every single dog or person on walks.
• Allowing strangers to invade their space with unwanted pats or kisses.
• Forcing your untrained pup into noisy, overwhelming environments and hoping for the best.

✅ Socialisation IS about:
• Teaching your dog to interact calmly and appropriately in controlled settings.
• Showing them that ignoring other dogs on walks is perfectly fine (and actually better!).
• Advocating for your pup by telling strangers when it’s not okay to approach.
• Gently guiding them towards healthy behaviours instead of reacting with fear, aggression, or over-arousal.
• Building their focus so they see YOU as their most valuable resource.

True socialisation is about teaching your puppy how to exist calmly in the world—not pulling, panicking, barking, or lunging at every distraction. Exposure alone isn’t the magic key—guidance is everything!

The ultimate goal? A dog that stays calm, confident , and focused on you, no matter what the environment throws their way. 💕🐶

Ready to start on the right paw? Share your thoughts or questions below! 👇
Full details of all our courses here www.peopleanddogs.co.uk

22/01/2025

Pet Remedy are proud supporters of the UK Dog Behavior & Training Charter

Many years ago Pet Remedy's very own pet behaviourist, Andrew Hale, had the idea to try and get the progressive side of UK Dog Training to come together behind a simple idea - to make a statement about ethical training and professional conduct that could be used to lobby on policy (such as banning shock collars) and provide some assurance and accountability to the public. From that idea, the UK Behavior & Training Charter was born.

Once set up, Andrew handed over the reins to his brilliant colleague Carolyn Menteith, who is bringing the charter to greater prominence in so many ways. This podcast with Victoria Stilwell (who is herself a Director of the charter as VSPDT and VSA are signatories) is about what the charter is currently up to. ♥️
Listen to this important Victoria Stilwell Podcast here...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Qb9Fe6h7q1SKvR3hsYyVa?si=4xaT2zVmQxOYxqiaPwDJAQ&nd=1&dlsi=a830b72d98be418d

22/01/2025

22/01/2025

🗨️ How long will it take to fix my dog?

I don't fix dogs, they aren't broken.

We choose to have dogs and therefore it's our responsibility to support them. If we see our dogs behaviour changing, get a vet check then contact a professional. It won't go away it needs understanding and modifying, sooner the better.

📵 My work phone goes off at 7pm - this means I get to focus on my family, I don't always answer or reply to messages straight away. I won't be answering those "urgent" Facebook or WhatsApp messages at 10pm

💷 My prices reflect my experience, qualifications, certifications and CPD. All my prices and qualifications are on my website. If you're looking for "cheap" look elsewhere.

🫵🏻 You chose to have a dog, give them the best start and prevent behaviours from escalating. Don't wait for a problem to develop to then try "fix" it.

👀 I am looking for clients that want to support their dog long term, no quick fixes (although most behaviour changes can be modified quickly with some tailored support)

🥅 Do you have realistic goals? How long has your dog been displaying the behaviour? Are you able to make changes to your habits, routines or environment to better support your dog?

💬 Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein.

📱 So if your looking for someone that has a genuine passion for supporting you and your dog, someone that provides a holistic but tailored approach then book a call and we can discuss your requirements.

❌ If your looking for a quick fix with little effort, look elsewhere.

www.hedinghamhounds.co.uk
07980183220

21/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSKVFwJ4m/

*** DUE TO THE OVER WHELMING REPONSE WE HAVE RECEIVED FOR THIS POSITION WE HAVE NOW CLOSED APPLICATIONS ***
Would you like to join our team here at Linkswood?
We are looking for an enthusiastic weekend receptionist who loves 'meeting and greeting' people to cover our very busy reception.
You will be working with one other receptionist, two vets and two vet nurses on a Saturday and Sunday, working between 8.30am – 1.30pm.
If you are interested please email FAO Avril: [email protected]

20/01/2025

⚠️ REACTIVE DOG? ⚠️

Is 2025 the year that you stop suffering in silence and start supporting your dog to help modify their behaviour?

The Moody Mutts Package
❌ Isn't a pack walk
❌ We don't use outdated methods
❌ We don't use flooding techniques
❌ We dont "correct" the behaviour
❌ There are no quick fixes to reactivity

The Moody Mutts Package DOES:

1️⃣ Includes a tailored 121 session.
Along with a detailed recap training plan and a 4 week group class

2️⃣ Is not breed specific.
Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a Great Dane I am able to tailor training to suit your breed and circumstances.

3️⃣ Is not just for aggressive or anxious dogs
The package is focused on being able to walk passed another dog without reacting, that could be out of fear but also due to excitement

4️⃣ Provides a safe and non judgemental environment.
All owners are there due to reactivity, no matter the breed. Allowing owners to implement training within a controlled environment.

5️⃣ Dog led training.
Ditching owner expectations and working on training at their pace meaning higher probability they will succeed.

6️⃣ Use scientific, ethical and kind methods
As a qualified and certified trainer I don't use slip leads, haltis or other aversive equipment to train a behaviour. Selina Fitzgerald is currently taking her Level 6 in Applied Animal Behaviour and is a member of the and The Association of INTODogs

Moody Mutts Package
💛 Tailored 121 session
💛 Detailed training plan
💛 4 week group course
💛 Ongoing support and workshops

Book a call to discuss your requirements in more detail.

20/01/2025

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION - IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!

I don't know how to say this more clearly and emphatically: Please DO NOT wait until your puppy has had all his or her vaccinations before beginning socialization. The socialization period is finite, limited, of short duration, ending at 14 weeks for the average puppy. This is a non-negotiable fact of nature and cannot be changed! 80% of the problems we deal with in adult dogs could have been avoided with timely socialization. You have a few weeks to get this right - your puppy will not wait until the holidays are over, you finish your overseas trip or your kids finish their exams. They will not wait until the weather is cooler (or hotter ) or you are less busy and they will NOT wait until all the vaccinations are done. They will continue to grow and develop emotionally, regardless of whether you are prepared or not. Those first 6 weeks when you have your puppy within that impressionable period will be gone in a flash, DO NOT waste them!

An absolutely miniscule TINY proportion of healthy, well cared for pups contract diseases and die - on the other hand, a huge proportion of dogs are euthanized or end up living severely limited lives due to serious social problems.

Yes, there are horror stories of puppies dying of parvo, but in some of those cases the pups had all their vaccinations and still contracted the disease, because there was a failure to immunize due to an inherent problem in the dog - so waiting for all the vaccinations before socialization made zero difference!

PLEASE also DO NOT wait for us to socialise your puppy for you. We also need a holiday! We worked right up until Christmas this year to accommodate new pups as far as possible, but for our own mental health we also need just a couple of weeks off. There are PLENTY of excellent articles on socialization DO's and DON'T 's. Start googling! Get proactive! I have shared numerous of these articles on this page previously and here is one I have written myself: https://www.tarynblyth.co.za/what-is-the-socialisation-period

Please note that what has been done cannot be undone! We are not running Hogwart's School of Magic - we cannot undo the damage caused by lack of early socialization, we can only help you manage it and try to do some form of damage control - there will always be scars. So, choose wisely how to spend those first few weeks with your puppy!

19/01/2025

Did you know a dog’s wagging tail isn’t always a sign that they are happy? 🐕

While it often conveys happiness, it can also convey fear, nervousness or insecurity. The speed, position, and accompanying signals like posture or ear position are key to understanding how a dog truly feels. 🐾

Check out our website 👉 https://bit.ly/Petplay-Mythbusters as we bust some of the most common myths. 👍

18/01/2025

HELP!

mail.com

How do I redirect if I can't log in?!

9 years of emails 🤦🏻‍♀️

Please use [email protected] or message 07980183220

17/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1648eYZe49/

Our dogs are like characters from a silent movie- it's up to us to read the cues and learn how to 'listen' as they will tell us everything we need to know.

16/01/2025

https://mailchi.mp/8df01eca15b6/new-year-new-dogs

Hedignham Hounds Logo of a dog wearing a morterboard