Dogwalkinghertford

09/01/2023

An aggressive behaviour in dogs manifested as “grumbling”, growling, snarling, teeth baring and snapping at the air is a complex issue to deal with and let’s discuss a few reasons behind it:

Has he got any exercise today? Some dogs need it more than others, for example sheep dogs, can run 20-30 miles a day everyday - has he not been able to do so?

Does he have a place for an undisturbed sleep? Sometimes it’s tricky to rest enough around children or in areas with a lot of foot traffic and the dog may end up feeling sleepy and irritated.

Is there a nervous, shouty atmosphere at home that he could be affected by?

Has he spent enough time to chew upon provided toys/bones? It helps young dogs when they are teething.

Is he bored or not stimulated through enough play and tries to get that surplus of energy out?

Female dogs in season experience hormone changes that can cause irritability and even pain during ovulation. Unneutered males can fight among themselves over territory.

Does the dog have any health problems or could be in pain? This may have a huge impact on his behaviour and the dog may interpret any physical interaction as a potential attack.

What sort of background does the dog have? Early experiences or anxious mothers can affect a puppy into his adulthood.

Were there any bad experiences with people at all? Dogs that are afraid of people can go into a self-defence mode without warning, especially if they were shouted at to stop growling when stressed. Dogs that associate an approaching hand with negative things or pain will defend themselves even when the person has good intentions.

Were there any negative experiences with dogs? These situations, especially when experienced at a young age, can leave mental scars and trigger growling and biting responses.

Thinking about these reasons can help us identify the solutions - whether that’s increasing time for an exercise or seeking behaviourist advice to help deal with serious issues.

PS. I included neutral footage here as if I did notice any aggressive behaviour I’d react straight away and would not produce videos instead. :)

Kat shared a post on Instagram: "An aggressive behaviour in dogs manifested as “grumbling”, growling, snarling, teeth baring and snapping at the air is a complex issue to deal with and let’s discuss a few reasons behind it: Has he got any exercise today? Some dogs need it more than others, for...

04/01/2023

On it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmtQVOUqDUn/?hl=en

03/01/2023

Young dogs have growed up with their brothers and sisters with whom they played daily, learning behaviours and their place in the pack.

And yes, they used teeth and claws to play. Being moved to a new home, around tall (for them) owners that make strange noises, the puppy has a lot of energy and big curiosity to explore the surroundings. He wants to do so with the tools he has, so will employ teeth and claws again.

We may not like it around our nice cushions, sofas or the comfy slippers and the first response is to tell them off.

The misunderstandings are likely to pile up as the puppy does not understand the raised voice and commands.

Imagine if you were transported somewhere new and lived among warning signs, being scolded in an unfamiliar language every time you tried to explore the place.

The dog will need time to learn gestures for behaviours we don’t want, followed by associating the gestures with words. What can help us here is getting their energy and curiosity to work during play time.

You don’t have to buy toys, although useful, as anything can become a toy - a sock stuffed with other socks, a piece of strong fabric, any animal-safe materials that won't break or get swallowed quickly.

If you are getting toys, you have a big choice out there, but it would be useful to match the toys to the breed you have. For example, working dogs, hounds or gundogs retain their hunting abilities and they need to exercise their mind a lot.

Chase and retrieve games or ‘find it’ games are great for them as they get to use their intelligence and sense of smell. Guarding dogs like possession games (tugs-of-war), while terriers prefer ‘shake-and-kill’ games with soft toys.

Playing with a dog a few times in short daily sessions choosing moments when they are good creates a bond with your puppy and a respect in their eyes since you are the source of fun activities.

Reward them when they retrieve the toy and also try to win more times than the dog, so your leader's place is maintained. Keep them entertained and you save your possessions and your mental health by raising a happy dog.

02/01/2023

Hello and thanks for visiting the account.

My name is Kat, I grew up on a farm and have been looking after dogs and cats since childhood. When circumstances allowed, I owned an older cat whom I cared for till the end.

I currently have a 7-month old working cocker spaniel and look after him through walks, training, cuddles, washing muddy paws, getting him to sleep with a yellow carrot toy. I will look after your pet like my own, getting to know the personality and habits.

I am currently freelancing and have the flexibility to walk your beloved pooch around your calendar. Working in the Hertford area, I will pick up the dog from your place.

I will be looking into finding out as much as possible about your dog to help you with the care: age, s*x, breed, diet, habits, medical history, behaviour around dogs and children, any training undertaken, likes and dislikes.

Dogs have several basic needs that we control - such as:
Food (meals, treats)
Play (games, chewing)
Social contact (cuddle, stroking, praise)
Access (outdoor spaces to explore, walk, exercise)

Some of these you will fulfil as the owner and pack-leader, others I’ll help you with and provide your lovely dog with much needed exercise and play time, so you are free to do other things.

Best way to contact is via email in bio.

31/12/2022

Each week of ‘puppyhood’ is the equivalent to around five months of human development, so it’s important to socialise dogs as early and as often as possible (given the health and training have been cleared). A puppy will approach new experiences without fear, and having positive ones makes him generalise the world around him.

Looking at the world from the puppy’s or smaller breeds’ point of view (being small, vulnerable, with limited knowledge, approached by unknown dogs or humans) can help predict the behaviour.

Socialisation is more difficult when the puppy grows older but still possible and worth doing, will just be requiring more effort.

For example, if the dog had a bad experience with a large dog running fast towards him, we can try to arrange another experience and introduce the same or similar dog on the leash moving slowly to allow our dog time to relax and approach the larger dog at ease to build confidence gradually.

The scariest the original experience, the more positive encounters have to be arranged to try to compensate for the original one.

I observe if the tail is wagging and the body relaxed - the signs of a happy dog.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmwymE6Ku0k/?next=%2F

30/12/2022

Picking up the signals the dog is sending when they want to drink.

I am using the Makerfire water bottle brand, it’s convenient for the puppy and all the leftovers in the blue bowl can be recycled and absorbed back into the bottle, so you don’t waste resources and won’t run out of water on walks.

It also stops dogs from drinking puddle water which can lead to gastrointestinal issues.

Kat shared a post on Instagram: "Picking up the signals the dog is sending when they want to drink. I am using the Makerfire water bottle brand, it’s convenient for the puppy and all the leftovers in the blue bowl can be recycled and absorbed back into the bottle, so you don’t waste resources an...

29/12/2022

A happy explorer