Dog Training Kirby Bellars Pet Services

16/05/2024

Spot the photo bomber!!!!!

04/04/2024

A new puppy in the house hold is such an exciting time for us all. My course is designed to help you both learn the best why to understand each other, it helps your puppy build its confidence so he/she can cope with our busy world. The course helps you to guide your pup towards the behaviours you want so your life together is fun and enjoyable.

31/10/2023

All serious horse riders should be prepared 👹🤡👻☠️👿

13/09/2023

Happy 4th birthday my lovely xx

11/07/2023

Well done everyone at our life skills class last night, on learning how to twist and turn and of course a very important middle. Great discussion on breed traits, park etiquette and how to help with frustration.

25/03/2023

Having fun working on our forward drive at Hoopers today. Even in the rain, wind and sun, a big well done 👏

17/03/2023

Wilbur came to stay and play x

17/03/2023

Happy birthday beautiful Dotty, thanks for the cake 🎂

28/02/2023

Birthday fun at doggie Daycare today! Two of our regulars are enjoying the same birthday!! What a special day for these special dogs xx

27/02/2023

What do you think? Is it sight, sound or smell?

02/02/2023

I love to see dogs being dogs but it's also a great opportunity to study and learn more about the language of the dog.

18/01/2023

Happy 1st birthday 🎂 Molly. All the dogs say thanks for the birthday treat xx

11/01/2023

A confident dog makes a happy dog.
A well-behaved confident dog makes a happy owner.
Both these things put together makes a strong trusting relationship that lasts a lifetime.
Join our puppy course and see how to train using the latest science-based knowledge.

08/09/2022

FREEDOM and RECALL HE HE HE

08/09/2022

Welcome Hamish and Flopsy hope you enjoy your stay x

08/08/2022

NEW PUPPY CLASSES STARTING ON TUESDAY THE 30TH OF AUGUST AT 6 PM.
Help your puppy to make the right choices in life by making the right choice now; sign up for our fun and exciting classes, with Jo our qualified IMDT instructor using the latest science based training.

Limited spaces available Tel. 07999336004.

28/07/2022

Frank decided not to go and see his friend today .......his house always seems to be so upside down

28/07/2022

Enough with the photo shoot were is our dinner!!

28/07/2022

28/07/2022

Its great to explore and enjoy the tranquility of the countryside well until someone does a belly flop!! But we are all different and enjoy different things. Do you know what rocks your dog's boat? Once you do you have your key to your training success!!

24/07/2022

Very interesting read and not just for collie owners written by one of my favourite collie experts Carol Price.

TODAY OUR BREED EXPERT looks at a less commonly recognised health risk to our dogs this summer:

WATER POISONING IN DOGS – BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS
As the weather hots up for many of us, the temptation is to take our dogs to streams, rivers, or the beach for them to jump into and cool off, or give them their own paddling pools.

However, in doing so, do be aware of a danger that is not always sufficiently highlighted, and may also be incorrectly diagnosed before the damage is done – and that is water poisoning. Where a dog simply ingests too much water while swimming, playing or retrieving toys.

A smaller amount of water swallowed – fresh or sea water – may do them little harm, but excess can have devastating consequences.

FRESH WATER
There are two types of water poisoning to watch out for. The first is from fresh water – i.e. rivers, streams, paddling or swimming pools, or even hoses and sprinklers. Collies can be particularly obsessive about water, too, and may gulp down far too much of it in games where they may deliberately try to make water splash and then bite and swallow it.

The excess water intake then depletes sodium levels in the dog’s body, leading to a condition called HYPONATRAEMIA, which can wreak terrible damage to all other organs in the body, including the brain.

Symptoms can include lethargy, bloating, vomiting, loss of co-ordination, drooling, pale gums and diluted pupils/glazed eyes. As the pressure in the brain increases, and its cells begin to die off, the dog may then have difficulty breathing, develop seizures, or slip into a coma.

Untreated it can be fatal, but sometimes even after treatment, the damage done by the condition can be irreversible. Far more on the subject here:https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-drink-much-water-dangers-water-intoxication/

SALT WATER
Drinking too much salt water from the sea can bring about a reverse problem of far too MUCH sodium entering your dog’s body. This can lead to similar symptoms to fresh water poisoning like vomiting and diarrhoea but eventually more serious dehydration leading to brain damage and seizures. There is more on the subject here: https://pets.webmd.com/news/20180719/summer-safety-saltwater-a-lethal-threat-to-dogs

WHAT TO DO
If you see the beginning of any of the previously mentioned symptoms appear in your dog after a lengthier spell of drinking or playing in water, get them to a vet immediately, making sure you tell them you think water poisoning could be a possibility, and to urgently check their sodium levels to save valuable time.

Prevention, however, is always better than cure. So do be mindful of the risks of letting your dog ingest too much water, fresh or salt, anywhere. Particularly in one longer period. Also use proper floating and flatter retrieve toys that are easier for your dog to grab and close its mouth round in water, whereas rounder balls bob around too much, and your dog is likely to swallow far more water getting them.

As ever, commonsense is the key. Let your dog enjoy their watery fun and pleasures, while always being mindful of how much water they may be swallowing in the process – as some dogs will definitely swallow far more than others. Do not leave dogs unattended in paddling pools if they persistently try to disturb and then bite and swallow the water. And do not let them do this for more than a minute or so at a time, if they appear to be swallowing a lot of it. The same is true with garden sprinklers.

Also limit how much time your dog spends retrieving toys out of sea water, and make sure you also have plenty of fresh water on hand for them to drink afterwards. Life is always a balance between pleasures and risks. But in this case it definitely IS better to be safe than sorry.
All text © Carol Price 2022

24/07/2022

Welcome back to the troublesome 3 he he

30/06/2022

Well done Jane and Willow, tunnellering super stars!!!

30/06/2022

Hooper Stars Susan and Ralphy, did really well using the tunnels for the first time!

28/06/2022

Tunnel fun weeeeee!!

24/06/2022

Found this post very interesting and informative so wanted to share.

A PATH THROUGH THE DARKNESS: LIVING WITH A BLIND DOG. Although some visual deterioration may be common in much older collies, for Lynda Simpson’s Sam, from the Scottish Highlands, the change was far more dramatic. In that he totally lost sight in both eyes last year, at the age of four.

Lynda vividly remembers how she took him out one hot day, “and he suddenly seemed unable to see any of the sticks I threw into the river for him – as prior to this he’d had excellent sight. Then he started bumping his head into things and missing any treats my husband threw, and it suddenly dawned on us he could no longer see.”

Lynda quickly got referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist who confirmed that Sam had total retinal detachment in both eyes, leading to a permanent loss of sight. CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) was ruled out, as Sam’s litter had all been screened for this. There was a possibility it was PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) or SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Detachment Syndrome) but ultimately the specialist could not be sure that it wasn’t something more idiopathic.

“It was utterly devastating for my husband and I,” says Lynda, “and I cannot describe the overwhelming sadness we felt for Sam. But then after that, I just decided I would make it my life’s work to ensure he had the most fulfilling life. I searched Facebook to see if anyone had a positive story about walking with a blind dog, and there were posts everywhere about blind dogs still swimming and hiking, it was just so encouraging.”

Lynda says the “amazing thing is that Sam can still go for walks off lead, as we have so many wide forest tracks in the Highlands where he can’t go wrong. I also wear wrist bells on our walks and our other collie, Caley, has a bell on her collar so he knows where she is.” Lynda has also taught him new sound commands to help him navigate his way through life.

“Dogs are able to make mental maps of familiar surroundings,” she adds, “so it was very important after he went blind not to change anything at home. His water and food bowls can never be moved. Internal doors need to be kept open. We also have mats at the top and bottom of the stairs so he knows where he is and he is able to get up and down them.”

Lynda says she wanted to share her story in order to give other owners of blind dogs hope. “After Sam went blind, she says, “it was always my goal to find ways I could give him a life not too dissimilar to the one he had before. I just didn’t know if it was possible. But it is still possible to give your blind dog a very happy life, with the right training, love and patience. And that’s the message I would like to get across.”

24/06/2022

Breakfast time!!!

22/06/2022

Morning everyone, rise and shine!!!