Juvo Animal Behaviour

16/08/2024

Meet Lewy 💚 This gorgeous little guy has been working with me while navigating through puppyhood. His family are all about adventure and taking him with them, while also meeting his needs and being careful not to overwhelm him. He has already been introduced to loads of different experiences and even different countries!

Socialisation needs to be done carefully. It is about gentle and positive exposure to lots of different things that your puppy may encounter in their life - BUT… they need to feel comfortable and happy or relaxed about it (or you run the risk of creating fear around those things instead).

Lewy’s family like travelling and it will be part of his life forever, so we talked about how we could introduce it carefully at a young age to set him up to love it and feel confident about it.

We now have a little explorer on our hands 🐾 Huge praise for Lewy’s family who have been careful to meet his needs from day one and now have an adventure buddy 💚

15/08/2024

🙌🏻

25/07/2024

Huge congratulations to Abi and Mable who graduated from their Life Skills for Puppies course last weekend 🎓 💚 🐾

We covered all the foundations to give her the best start in life and added things to Abi’s toolkit to refer back to as Mable gets older.

Abi was really good at watching Mable and getting her timing spot on to help Mable learn.

Well done guys! 🥳

23/07/2024

Puppy services 🐶 (more to follow soon ☺️)

11/05/2024

Happy graduation day to Melissa and little Luna 💚

Luna has just completed her private Life Skills for Puppies course and she absolutely smashed it!

We started with 4 sessions at her home and then finished off today in our private paddock. This allowed us to test some of the skills she has been learning over the course in a more distracting environment. She was fab!

Very well done to Melissa for taking everything on board over the last five weeks and putting it all into practice. She has been a fantastic advocate for Luna and I’m really proud of her.

Well done girls!! 💚

19/04/2024

Really important to remember for your pups. Socialisation must be done carefully 🐾

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR VERY CUTE PUPPY..

Or they may grow up to be worried about people..

All puppies are adorable but some seem to get much more attention than others. If they have unusual markings, or are a rare breed or look like a teddy bear or are absolutely tiny, they may get even more attention than your average pup.

Your very cute puppy may get loads of attention from people. You may get groups of kids reaching to touch them, people trying to pick them up etc. it may feel like this is great socialisation for them but it may be too much for some puppies.

I see so many clients with gorgeous dogs and their adult dogs have become reactive to people and may bark or snap if people reach out to touch them. There are many reasons this can develop but a significant one is that cute puppies can sometimes get overwhelmed by well meaning strangers when they are tiny.

Some puppies can find all this attention and the 8 million hands trying to stroke them too much and then you risk them being overwhelmed and becoming worried at a young age.

Socialisation, where we help puppies to feel comfortable to all the things will experience as an adult, can actually result in sensitisation. If puppies are sensitised they grow up to be scared of the things you exposed them to, and in adult dogs, this can result in anxiety that comes out as barking, lunging, growing or snapping at people if they find them scary. Puppies absolutely need exposure to lots of nice people of all different ages and types but it needs to be done sensitively and shouldn’t be a free for all. We need to manage socialisation so that it’s fun and feels safe for our puppies.

It’s a really important skill to be able to judge if your puppy is doing okay during socialisation and an even more important skill to know what to do if they aren’t coping.

When you are out with your puppy observe their body language carefully- are they wagging softly and trying to approach the person who wants to say hi to them? Are they able to eat treats and is their body looking soft and relaxed? If they are backing away, yawning, cowering or their tail is tucked then we need to advocate for pup and say ‘sorry they don’t want to say hi right now’

It’s often easier to see pups body language if they are on the ground and not being held by you. If they are being held it can be hard to tell if they are trying to move away and don’t want to be touched.

Be careful how people interact with them- not too many friendly hands reaching out at once, don’t let them get overwhelmed and don’t let people pick them up if they don’t want to be picked up (most puppies would prefer to stay on the ground). Try and make sure people use 1 hand and not 2 to stroke pup (this avoids hands clamping either side of pups face), ask people to stroke for a few seconds and then stop- if pup has had enough and doesn’t ask for more affection we need to respect that and move away. If your puppy has had enough, get them out of the situation and don’t ever worry about offending people- your puppy’s emotional needs come first.

My first puppy as an adult was my northern inuit Elsa, pictured here. She had striking facial markings and was an unusual breed so people were magnetised to her. Kids would surround her and hands would constantly reach out to touch her wherever we went. I probably oversocialised her and she was most likely overwhelmed by too many friendly people looking back, she was much more sensitive than I first realised. She grew up to not love new people much (she absolutely adored all dogs) and her extensive socialisation may have been part of the reason why.

I never ever made the same mistake again with all the puppies I’ve had since and I advise my clients to tailor the socialisation experience to their own pup. Some confident puppies lap up all the exposure to people you can give them and don’t find any of it overwhelming and some more sensitive puppies need a much more controlled and careful socialisation. If you aren’t sure what your puppy needs, getting professional help before any issues develop can be a good idea to get you off on the right track from the start.

If you’re now in the position of having an adult dog who reacts to people and you think it may be as they were overwhelmed as a puppy, don’t blame yourself. It can be hard to judge and we all do the best we can at the time. There are often many factors that contribute including genetic traits, pain and ill health and very early experiences too. Getting professional help can help sensitive adults to feel happier around people too.

Laura McAuliffe 2024, Dog Communication

14/04/2024

I’ve spoken to hundreds of puppy owners in my time, and I often have similar conversations with people who feel very alone in their situation.

Akin to human parenthood, having a puppy can turn your life upside down overnight, and nobody can fully prepare you for it.

Along with all the cuteness and fun, puppies often initially come with sleepless nights, someone constantly needing your attention, being restricted with going out, your life revolving around toileting, possessions getting damaged, and needle teeth hurting you.

You also have to somehow make sense of the constant conflicting advice coming at you from friends, family, well meaning strangers, the internet and the TV.

It can be frustrating, exhausting, leave you feeling guilty, and to top it all off it can somehow make you feel embarrassed and even isolated.

You are not alone. It’s okay to tell people it’s hard and it’s okay to ask for help. I see you. Your feelings matter.

Puppyhood can be extremely tough, but there are suitably qualified and experienced professionals available to support you and make it easier. You do not have to deal with it alone 💚

13/04/2024

Meet Luna 💚 This little bundle of energy had her first session of my Life Skills for Puppies course today and she absolutely smashed it.

While they are experienced dog owners, having a puppy is new territory for Luna’s lovely family. They are doing an absolutely fabulous job with her already, but thought they would benefit from some appropriate guidance and support while navigating puppyhood and I think that’s really sensible. Well done guys!
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04/04/2024

Sadly, TV dog shows are most often led by unqualified people who give poor, often welfare compromising advice. This clip did initially make me laugh… keep watching.

It shows how highly edited tv shows are to portray quick, successful fixes, but the sad thing is that these people that were struggling haven’t really been helped. Shows like this not only give people poor advice, but it then leads people watching at home to feel like they are massively failing when it doesn’t work for them.

Please seek support from a suitably qualified professional if you need any help.

02/04/2024

Completely free course available to everyone 💚

So this year we put together a completely FREE course discussing canine body language. It's available for anyone to watch (not just professionals) so if you're interested or know someone that might be (your clients included) please do sign up and share far and wide💚
https://pact-course.thinkific.com/courses/PACTtastercourse

27/03/2024

Have a lovely Easter weekend, but as always… be careful! 💚 🐣 🐰
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18/03/2024

I had the pleasure of working with gorgeous little 10 week old Archie last week 💚

His family are doing brilliantly and are meeting all of his needs, but he needed a little extra help to build his confidence and start developing a bit of independence.

While is it natural for puppies to want to be with us all of the time, it isn’t always possible to maintain it. If we help them to gently learn to feel comfortable and safe when you aren’t there, it can be beneficial for everyone.
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14/03/2024

What happens when you reach out to me for help?
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13/03/2024

It has been a very busy and tiring but fulfilling and lovely year with my lovely little family 💚

It is now time to dip my toe back into the waters of dog behaviour and remind myself what I have been missing 🐶

I am operating on a very part time basis, but Juvo is now back open. My admin days will largely be Tuesdays and Thursdays so replies will likely be on those days.

I am also offering services at a reduced rate of 30% off until further notice. Prices to be updated on the website soon ☺️

03/01/2024

We don’t agree with the ban on XL Bullies, due to the lack of evidence that banning breeds causes any positive effect on dog bite numbers. We understand emotional drives which result in bites and which can come from a dog of any breed.

But the ban is here and so we hope that our infographic can help anyone affected, and please know that we stand with you.

**** updated version ****

Please note the updated version on our page - if you are unsure if your dog will be typed we still recommend seeking expert advice and attempting to get your dog typed. But if you are unable to do this before 31st Jan we recommend registering as there is no way to do this after this deadline.

If it is then found that your dog is not typed you can then be removed from the register.

30/12/2023

If you own what may be classed as an XL Bully Breed and are not sure what the new laws will mean for you and your dog, please read this asap to clarify and get support. There are deadlines looming to apply for exemptions and certain criteria must be met.

Feeling for anyone having to navigate through this and the decisions you may be forced to make in the coming weeks.

What to do if you own an American Bully XL

16/12/2023

I hope you are all well and are ready for having a good rest in the next week or so.

I’ll be a little more active on here over the next couple of months as I ease back into working after my maternity leave, but for now I’ll leave you with this little reminder ☺️

03/11/2023

🙌🏻 Excellent advice from Companion Minds 🙌🏻

It's that time of year again, when our pets have to deal with the difficulty of random, sudden, extremely loud noises from all directions. Firework season is a difficult time of year for a lot dogs and puppies. 🐶

It's too late in the year now to effectively do any training around firework noises. Desensitisation needs to take place well outside of the context to start with, and built up very gradually for it to be effective.

However! There are lots of ways we can try and protect our dog's from the full extent of the worry. It is much better to prepare all of this even if your dog has not been worried before, or you have a young puppy, rather than be caught out by a severely anxious dog with no way of supporting them.

🐾 Close curtains/blinds to block their visual access
🐾 Play the TV/radio loudly to block the sound of fireworks as best as possible (as long as your dog is not worried by the TV noises- playing music loudly is normally more 'normal' than sudden having a film or eastenders very loud!)🎵
🐾 Make sure you've stocked up on a variety of chewing material and have stuffed kongs/lickimats/snuffle mats ready to aim to distract the dog from the noise. They won't eat if they are very worried, but if you can set everything else up and get them eating before fireworks start and throughout you may have more success in distracting them. Likewise make sure the puzzle/chew you're offering isn't 'too hard work' that the dog can't be successful in gaining the food quickly enough or they may not bother with it when they are on edge.
🐾 Every time a bang goes off, 'act silly' to try and behave in a way that is incompatible with being worried- offer them treats or a game with a toy.
🐾 Walk your dog before it gets dark, or not at all, to prevent being caught out by fireworks on a walk.
🐾 Make sure your dog has had a toilet break in the garden before it gets dark too and only take them into the garden supervised and when you are certain there are no fireworks going on!
🐾 Ensure your garden is fully secure before allowing them out (back gates etc) in case they bolt (and/or keep them on a secure lead if you need to go into the garden). Be careful of opening the front door too (shut them away to answer the door). Lots of dogs bolt from home during fireworks in an attempt to escape (and of course they can't escape so keep running).
🐾 Be at home by the time it gets dark and available to your dog. They will likely cope much better if you are around. You CAN provide confident calm reassurance to your dog if they come to you for it, but try and behave 'normally' rather than in 'worried' fashion. Some dogs won't want to be touched when they are worried either so read what your dog needs.
🐾 Make sure your dog can access a den or 'safe haven'- a place where they feel safe. If they don't have one of these you can set one up now and sprinkle treats in there from time to time to encourage its use.
🐾 In moments of real worry they may want to bolt under a bed/into a cupboard/behind the sofa- allow this to happen as preventing them from doing so may exacerbate their worry! Don't force them to come out.

❗️FINALLY- if you are concerned that your dog will struggle despite all of this planning, speak to your vet ASAP. There are several medications licensed for noise events and plenty of others that will be useful in reducing your dog's anxiety.❗️

And remember it's not just dogs who will be worried about fireworks- make sure:
👉 Cats are shut in the house early during this period and allow them to hang out where they want to.
👉 Small furries have plenty of appropriate bedding to hide in or better still, bring them inside too.
👉 Outdoor birds are secured in coops/runs.
👉 Indoor birds are secured in their nighttime cages and covered up.

🐶🐱🐭🐹🐰🦜🐔

If your dog has a difficult time of it this year, prepare them for it next year. Dogs Trust has freely available resource to work through: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/sound-therapy-for-pets

Get in touch if you have any questions.

19/10/2023

With Diwali and Bonfire night approaching, we have some TOP TIPS for keeping your pet safe this firework season.

Dogs:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fireworks-Series-Behaviour.pdf

Cats:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/APBC-How-to-prepare-your-cat-for-fireworks.pdf

13/04/2023

Little update…

My newest little buddy arrived safely in March.

We are all doing well, but as you can see I am currently a zombie.

I will be checking emails soon for any existing client queries.

30/12/2022

A reminder for tomorrow if it helps 💚

22/12/2022

I hope you all have a lovely festive period celebrating what and how you like best.

Here are just a few tips to keep in mind for your pets over the next week so they enjoy it as much as you do.

22/12/2022

05/11/2022

⭐️ IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ⭐️ 
For all current and potential new clients.

If you have been wanting to get in touch with me about your dog, please think about doing it soon.

From the end of January 2023 I will be going on Maternity Leave and will not be available again for behaviour consultations or training sessions until at least November 2023. 

For existing clients, I will still make sure I can support you via email where needed in that time, but follow-up sessions will be restricted.

As some behaviour work requires regular support and ongoing sessions, there are some things I will not be taking on after this month as I won’t be able to support you appropriately moving forwards.

I am always happy to have a chat with people who are enquiring and are unsure what help they need. If you have wanted to contact me, please do so asap so we can arrange a call over the next week to have a short chat and decide if it is appropriate for me to start helping you now until I am off or if it is better for me to refer you on to one of my trusted colleagues.

Thank you for your understanding. I just want to make sure you are all able to receive the support you need and deserve 💚

04/11/2022

This looks fabulous!

* Please note - any orders from 4/11/2022 will have a longer delivery time of up to 14 days while I wait for more stock to arrive next week! I have been overwhelmed with the support and the number of orders I received yesterday! Thank you all so much! *

So I’ve been working on a little project over the last 2 years! 📖🐶🐾 and here it is! My children’s picture book called “Don’t Hug Dug!” The story follows a girl called Poppy and her dog Dug. Like all kids, Poppy really loves her dog and wants to show him she loves him but sometimes dogs need space! Poppy learns how to read Dug’s body language and understands the signals he gives off when he needs space. On each page Dug demonstrates different subtle body language signals, so that children can learn the different signs that a dog needs space. Poppy learns the best way to show Dug she loves him isn’t by hugging him at all and by giving him something else that he really loves…..
To find out more and to order a copy of this beautifully illustrated book (illustrated by the amazing ) please contact me or go to http://donthugdug.bigcartel.com

03/11/2022

With Guy Fawkes Night fast approaching, please remember to check your bonfires for hedgehogs who may be sleeping.

Our spiky friends are rapidly on the decline and you can help to prevent unnecessary loss. Follow this wildlife friendly advice from British Hedgehog Preservation Society:
• Don’t build your bonfire until the same day that you will light it. The longer it’s left, the more likely that a hedgehog will find its way into your bonfire.
• If you need to build your bonfire in advance, make sure you place chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom. This should be placed at an outward angle to make it more difficult for hedgehogs to climb.
• If you have stored materials for your bonfire outdoors, before building it move them to a different patch of ground before you start.
• Always place the bonfire on open ground but never on a pile of leaves as a hedgehog may be hiding underneath.
• Always check the entire bonfire for hedgehogs before lighting it. Remember that they tend to hide in the centre and bottom two feet in particular.
• When checking, lift parts of the bonfire section by section using a pole or broom. Do not use a fork, spade or rake as this may injure a hedgehog.
• Use a torch to look inside the bonfire and listen for a hissing sound, as this is the noise that hedgehogs make when they are disturbed or distressed.
• Always light your bonfire from one corner, rather than in the centre, in order to give hedgehogs a chance to escape if they need to.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November but don’t forget about our wildlife! 🦔🔥

Artwork by Becky Cameron Illustration ❤️

02/11/2022

Something to be aware of if you are adopting dogs from overseas.

Foreign imports: Your vets are concerned, and you should be too

➡️In 2020 more than 66,000 dogs were imported into the UK last year according to Animal and Plant Health Agency figures, with many more likely illegally smuggled.

➡️Evidence shows a recent rise in low-welfare imports and smuggling activity, with border authorities seeing around a 260% increase in the number of young puppies being intercepted for not meeting the UK’s pet import rules. These people do not care about disease or vaccination status.

➡️Data released by the Government shows a steep rise in confirmed Brucella canis cases since the start of 2020. With the increase in dogs imported from endemic areas the cases are growing and we are concerned.

☣️Why is this a concern?☣️

Imported dogs are causing real worry among the veterinary community.

Not only can brucella be transmitted to our UK pet dogs, as sadly seen in a recent case where four dogs had to be euthanased due to contracting the disease from an imported dog (also euthanased), but because this also poses a significant risk to you, your family and the public. In recent news a woman was hospitalised after contracting the disease.

➡️Humans can catch this and become very sick, requiring hospitalisation.

💬In a recent poll of over a thousand veterinary professionals on Veterinary Voices UK (closed discussion group) over 70% are changing protocols to protect their staff and other patients.

This includes:

✅Barrier nursing to protect other patients
✅Wearing PPE to handle the animal
✅ Isolating from other patients when hospitalised
✅Insisting on testing for brucella prior to elective surgeries
✅Refusal to see non emergency cases until tested

This is not an over reaction - this disease (and other zoonotic diseases) can have serious, life long implications to the health of our staff, you, your family, your children and even the public who come into contact with your dog.

➡️PLEASE, do your research before adopting or importing a dog, or any other animal, from abroad. ➡️Please talk to your vets first to ensure all health tests are complete and paperwork is legitimate.

Cat The Vet : http://www.catthevet.com/thinking-of-rescuing-a-dog-from-abroad/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-powers-to-tackle-cruel-puppy-smuggling-move-step-closer

https://vets.blog.gov.uk/2022/07/06/world-zoonoses-day-how-you-can-help-protect-our-dogs-from-brucella-canis/

https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/bva-calls-for-extra-vigilance-and-stricter-pet-import-measures-after-first-confirmed-dog-to-human-case-of-brucella-canis-in-the-uk/

British Veterinary Association - BVA Animal and Plant Health Agency

01/11/2022

Do you know how to speak rat? Our rats are telling us how they are feeling all the time, whether or not we know it! Not all communication involves vocalizations. We can help improve our rats' lives by familiarizing ourselves with their body language. Check out this infographic that the incredible Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin made for Second Chance Heroes that shines some light on what our rats are communicating to us through their body.

31/10/2022

If your animals are already frightened of fireworks or if they have not experienced them before, have a read of these tips to help them have a more comfortable night.

30/10/2022

Are you and your animals prepared for next weekend? 🎆

Look out for more tips here tomorrow, but for now:

- Start planning ahead by finding out if there are any displays local to you or if any of your neighbours are planning on setting them off at home.
- Ask what time they are likely to start so you can plan around them.
- In some cases people plan them on other days if family members are working on the 5th so be mindful that it may not just be for the one night.