About Town Pet Care

19/08/2024

⭐️New Old Guy Alert 😅

So this guy went away for a few months and has come back to enjoy daily walks 😍 Toby has been back a while and I keep meaning to post his handsome face ❤️

Just when Luna thought she’d finally gotten rid of him he’s back 😍 He’s just finding his feet fitting back into larger groups again because he’s abit out of practice but is doing well and has mastered buttering me up by licking my arm when he sits on the front seat👍👍 🐾

Here’s to our daily dose of Toby madness

09/08/2024

⭐️Fun Friday⭐️
Inspired by Things Dog Handlers Say let’s be having your dogs breed without actually telling your dogs breed 😅 Go!👇

05/08/2024

Next level enrichment 😍😍🐥

29/07/2024

⭐️New Girls Alert🚨

These little cuties have been with us for three weeks now and I keep forgetting to introduce them 🙈

Welcome Nellie and her daughter Betty two senior ladies who are very sprightly considering they are ten and twelve years old 😍 They have come via Becky at Jurassic Bark Plymouth who has clearly done a wonderful job with them because they have slotted straight in like they’ve known all their new buddies for a really long time 👍👍

Here’s to lots of lovely Mon & Thurs walkies together ❤️

22/07/2024

⭐️Happy Monday Everyone⭐️

I have some news - I still have availability for August 4th Small Pup & Teen Pups Sessions.

❤️Spaces Still Available❤️

Sundays for 6 weeks for Small Pups at 4.45pm at St Edwards Hall Peverell from Aug 4th and Teen Pups from 6pm for dogs over 6 months old.

⭐️Creating confident owners and optimistic pets⭐️

Please message me About Town Pet Care for more details and what I can cover in those sessions.

13/07/2024

⭐️Just A Quick PSA⭐️
Lyme Disease UK

just thought I’d mention quickly that a customer of mine has got Lymes Disease and she said her doctor alone has seen 24 cases this month - so this is just a quick PSA to make sure you all wear long clothing and bug repellent in the long grassed areas and have a quick google of the symptoms as they can take up to 3 months to present themselves 👍

- check yourself regularly for ticks
- make sure you remove them within 48 hours
- look out for a bulleye rash
- look out for flu like symptoms following a tick bite
- get antibiotics for 4 weeks as soon as you can

10/07/2024

⭐️What’s Up Wednesday⭐️
Another Wednesday another new blog post -

Barking & Lungeing As People Leave is a common behaviour in herders and hunters I recently replied to an enquiry looking at how to train a twelve month old Australian Shepherd who was nervous in general around novel stimulus , who lives in a farm environment (riding stable) and didn’t have much experience of the wider world except for trips to the beach occasionally. He lunges forward when asked to meet and greet new people and also circles and barks when anyone tries to leave the premises or the group if they are out walking when off the lead....

Common in herders and hunters I recently replied to an enquiry looking at how to train a twelve month old Australian Shepherd who was nervous in general around novel stimulus , who lives in a farm …

10/07/2024

Never a truer word spoken from a highly respected highly decorated gundog trainer - if you would like to learn how to train smarter not harsher- my door is ALWAYS open. 🐶❤️ Positive reinforcement isn’t permissive it’s a sound knowledge of how learning theory works (adding something = positive & Reinforcement = that makes the behaviour more likely to happen again / a motivator ) and the mechanics of how to get there. 🐶

Over the years I've seen plenty of abuse to dogs in the name of dog training. It breaks my heart and it's certainly uncomfortable to watch.

It saddens me that 20 years on it's still alive and kicking. It's also strange that some people don't bat an eye lid and it's completely normal to them. I actually wonder what their upbringing was like.

What breaks my heart more than anything is seeing children handle dogs harshly because an adult has taught them to.

I remember a few years ago I had a client, he was a sports coach and a shooting man. He'd got his first Labrador that he wanted to use as a shooting dog. He was an intelligent man and as a coach he understood learning theory, good timing and using rewards as feedback.

He told me he'd come to me because over the years he'd seen how some trainers treat and handle their dogs in the field and he had two young daughters. He wasn't comfortable with it himself and he didn't want his daughter's to grow up thinking it was an acceptable way to treat animals.

That dog sat beautifully and steady on its first day on the peg. He was so proud of her.

These are my people, the people that I love working with.

Those who wants to do better, those who want to meet their dog's needs as well as their own and make the dogs learning journey as positive as possible.

We can still teach rules and boundaries with reward based training, positive is not permissive.

There is nothing more wholesome than seeing a child train a dog with kindness and compassion.

01/07/2024

⭐️Happy Birthday To About Town Pets⭐️🎂

To celebrate my business turning 12 years old today 🎉 I am please to offer two new training packages About Town Pet Care message me if you would like support with teaching recall or are struggling with a dog that pulls. Learn my techniques in how to
👉Train Fast & Slow &
👉Creating FOMO in your dog
Starting Sunday 21st July🚨

⭐️Recall Crew
🐶3 members spots will get👇
Package Includes: 90 minute webinar
4 x secure field training practical sessions
3 x real life “walk and train” sessions to put what we’ve learned into practice
Access to a private FB support group

⭐️Loose Lead Crew
🐶3 member spots will get 👇
Packages include: 90 minute webinar
3 x secure field training practical sessions
4 x real life “walk and train” sessions to put what we’ve learned into practice
Access to a private FB support group

24/06/2024

⭐️There’s a lot of Facebook scams going around at the moment promoting mis-information ⭐️ please don’t repost it instead get yourself over to Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners for to date information
But don’t just take my word for it - Dr Jacqueline Boyd bust some heatstroke related myths below 👍👍 Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Animal Scientist and Canine Consultant

As the 🌞 makes an appearance in the UK (and elsewhere!) it's time to (re)bust some myths about keeping your dog cool.

An amber alert ⚠️ is out for many parts of the UK, so being prepared is sensible!

A fab resource (which uis also evidence based!) is Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners so give them a follow.

Also.... myths to bust.....

1. Cold water WILL help cool a dog in an emergency situation!
2. Ice 🧊 in water or as a treat is not a truly terrible thing to do (but not ideal for sn emergency!)
3. Immersion in cold water (but keep airways clear!) can be ideal to aid cooling, especially in an emergency - my own dogs choose to do this!
4. Hoses and sprinklers to encourage dogs to air snap and ingest water may result in water intoxication (so be sensible with access).
5. Cool first, call vet then transport if a critical, heat related situation occurs.

I'm off to exercise mine before it gets too much warmer now..... 🌞

Enjoy the sun but stay safe too 🌞

08/06/2024

⭐️Happy Saturday Everyone⭐️

I have some news - I still have availability for next Sundays course if 6 sessions for small pups and teen pups.

🤩This Sunday- Don’t Miss Out!🤩

Sundays for 6 weeks for Small Pups at 4.45pm at St Edwards Hall Peverell from June 9th and Teen Pups from 6pm for dogs over 6 months old.

⭐️Creating confident owners and optimistic pets⭐️

Please message me About Town Pet Care for more details and what I can cover in those sessions.

05/06/2024

⭐️Just For Fun - Name This Breed⭐️
This is what happens when I take the afternoon off I end up rare breed spotting at Mount Edgecumbe 😅😅

⭐️Super duper bonus point if you spell I correctly ……. I couldnt spell it 😍🐶

03/06/2024

⭐️Modern Dog Professionals keep their knowledge up to date and never stop learning 🐾 Don’t expect anything less 🐶

Thanks to Heidi Mitchell at all creatures great and small for a very in depth and fun day of learning last weekend👍👍❤️❤️ and to Melvin for enduring my bandaging skills 😍

01/06/2024

⭐️Happy Saturday Everyone⭐️

I have some news - I still have availability for next Sundays course if 6 sessions for small pups and teen pups.

❤️Spaces Still Available❤️

Sundays for 6 weeks for Small Pups at 4.45pm at St Edwards Hall Peverell from June 9th and Teen Pups from 6pm for dogs over 6 months old.

⭐️Creating confident owners and optimistic pets⭐️

Please message me About Town Pet Care for more details and what I can cover in those sessions.

29/05/2024

Part Three In the previous blog posts in this series we looked at two ways in which we can set up our adolescent or high energy breeds of dog for success in regards to trying to train them and getting them to a point in which they might actually be able to concentrate on the task you are trying to set them....

Part Three In the previous blog posts in this series we looked at two ways in which we can set up our adolescent or high energy breeds of dog for success in regards to trying to train them and gett…

22/05/2024

⭐️Raising Awareness Post⭐️

👉Did you know that there were 45 recorded dog bites to our posties in Plymouth in the past year 💔

👉To help reduce this our local postal service has joined forces with the Blue Cross animal charity- to try and raise awareness in dog behaviour for body the postal workers themselves and also dog owners on their routes.

⭐️The blue cross are hosting FREE webinars in July and Sept for posties and dog owners alike - please utilise these free resources.

I would appreciate if you woukd take the time to read the following resources and share or tag people it might benefit to try and keep our posties safe ❤️

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/protecting-your-postie

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/dog-awareness

Protect postal workers: Even the most loveable dogs are territorial so keep them secure to ensure safe and hazard-free deliveries to your doorstep

17/05/2024

⭐️Hey who’s up for a bit of Friday Fun? ⭐️

Post below what your dogs favourite
enrichment activity or toy is👇

🐶it can be a simple DIY toy or a fancy “genius” toy ❤️
🐶Bonus points if you have a picture of them doing said activity 🤩

16/05/2024

Does your high-energy pup pull on walks? 🐾 In my latest blog post, I dive into two structured walking techniques that can help promote a calmer stroll for our energetic furry friends! 🚶‍♂️ Don’t miss out! Click the link in my bio to read now! 📖 #

15/05/2024

It always makes my day to recieve feedback like this 👍

Bellas owner has really put in the effort to get Bella to a place where she is genuinely comfortable to be left on her own in very short increments - now she can continue to add time and keep smashing her goals.

So pleased ❤️🐶
If you or someone you know needs help in putting a plan together to help dogs with separation distress please dont hesitate to tag them in this post ❤️About Town Pet Care

13/05/2024

Part Two - The Structured Walk mDo you have a dog that is manic for the first 5-10 minutes of your walk?

Do they pull you down the street? If yes then, make sure you pop over and read PART ONE in this series to see how “Pre-walk” training and games can help you before you even leave the house here in part two 👍

Part Two – The Structured Walk Do you have a dog that is manic for the first 5-10 minutes of yourwalk? Do they pull you down the street? If yes then, make sure you pop over and read PART ONE …

07/05/2024

Pretty straight forward stuff, there’s no need for your non-working dog to be loose near any prey animals. There is no such thing as one hundred percent recall and there is no need for it if they are recalled way before they reach potential livestock areas at a distance and put back on a lead for a safe distance 🐑

SHEEP !! 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

🐾 My dogs ignore sheep and they are pretty well trained with an excellent recall and focus off lead.

However last week I took the dogs out on a long walk.
A significant part of the walk involved walking down a lane past (not through) fields of sheep with new born lambs.

So I put them on lead. Why?
Because I respect the farmer 👨‍🌾and the 🐑 sheep. I don't want the sheep to feel worried about their lambs. My dogs have zero need to be off lead here so they are not.

If your dog is a risk to sheep, keep it away or on lead, it doesn't have to physically make contact with sheep to cause them harm.

It's stressful for a prey animal to have a predator in its environment.

🐑 If you see Sheep, put it on a lead
🐑 If you hear Sheep, put it on a lead
🐑 If you think there might be Sheep, put it on a lead

🚜The Country Code say keep dogs on a lead near livestock!

03/05/2024

I’ve just read a beautiful sentence in a canine enrichment book (Shay Kelly understanding animals😍) It says that
“A dog sniffing is like a canine version of singing for their brains” ❤️

I think what is meant by this is that music and singing has been proven to light up almost every part of our brains when looked at on brain scans in real time. Music is like mental flossing and can even be immune to some forms of dementia. 🎶 (dementia patients can’t recall details from their life but can sing along to songs from their past). This is why it makes us feel so good - it activates all compartments of the brain, almost simultaneously.

I can personally vouch for the extreme dopamine hit that I get from listening to beautiful music, singing along with it and also being “in it” and playing it too. It can even be euphoric and a difficult high to come down from even after the fact (still “buzzing” two hours after a gig is very much a thing).🥁

So now if we take a minute and transfer this to the analogy of sniffing in dogs, they are also using all of their senses but very specifically olfaction (using their nose) It must be like mental flossing for them too. Think about all of the things that they are doing at once. They are so engrossed in breathing both in and out when they search for the scent. Their brain is working overtime to process who the smell belongs to, what it might be , how long has it been there, which direction did it go?

I am very much suggesting that it does give them a brain wise buzz with a shot of dopamine from partaking in an activity that not only mentally stimulates them but also works them out physically too, when searching on the move.

When they “search actively” to pinpoint a scent they are fulfilling an inate behaviour that they have historically relied on for survival this would no doubt be what provides that “musicians high” after a very satisfying outcome such as finding a tasty reward at the end of a search, they too must have an extended feeling of elation at a job well done.

The take away from my rambling here is - give your dogs extra time on a walk to sniff something awesome and don’t rush them because they are caught up in a song only they can smell😅

Imagine if I told you to hurry up and that you were never allowed to listen to music again. Life would be pretty dull wouldn’t it.

Let them sniff 🐶

27/04/2024

💜Happy Weekend Everybody💜

let’s welcome Willow to our About Town Pets family - she started a few weeks back but I kept forgetting to do a lovely post about her- she has settled in nicely and likes to let everyone know she is in the van every time it stops 🙉 but she is learning who to play with and who to avoid and started having her lead dropped this week so recall is well and truly under way for this little superstar 😍😍🐶🐶 She started out in puppy class and then came for Friday walks, I’m sure as she grows in confidence so too will her circle of buddies 👍 Well done Willow 🐾

22/04/2024

Just a last minute reminder as per my days off list - I am off today and tomorrow back on Wednesday 👍

20/04/2024

Scratch board in action 😍 with our mate Marvin the poodle and demonstrated by his big sister Ketchup ……. Ps best name ever 👍

15/04/2024

⭐️Happy Monday Everyone⭐️

I have some news - I now have availbility on Mondays for training classes starting May 6th at the same venue at the same times so if you’d prefer a Monday class let me know 🐶

❤️Spaces Still Available❤️

Sundays for 6 weeks for Small Pups at 4.45pm at St Edwards Hall Peverell from April 28th and Teen Pups from 6pm for dogs over 6 months old.

Next round of puppy classes have now been confirmed - would like to offer my spaces here before I advertise to the wider world tomorrow 🐶🐶
Message me About Town Pet Care

11/04/2024

⭐️It’s National Pet Day Today⭐️

Let’s show off our Dogs - bonus points if your dog takes part in a dog activity that might not be the standard breed for it - For example our friend Jodie Harris has just put her chihuahua through scent classes 😍 How wonderful!

Show us all of them though you know you’re all welcome here 👍🐶

08/04/2024

⭐️Monday Check In ⭐️

Every Monday I will be giving you all the opportunity to let us know about your little wins last week🐶
Are you working on any training goals this week? 🐕
Have you had some little breakthrough with a reactive dog perhaps? 🐾
Has your dog found a new friend ?🐶
Has your dog found a new favourite place?🐕

Here is the place to let us know 🐶🐾
Because little dogs need a confidence boost too😍
📸of newbie Willow with her fellow mountain goat friend Ulla 😍🐐