Wag & Mama

25/06/2024

High temperatures are my worst nightmare. They affect my business in all sorts of ways. Cancelling or postponing classes, rearranging or cancelling walks, communicating to clients and of course all the extra admin that comes with all that.

But ... I'd rather that than put a dog at risk!

Despite the education that us dog professionals try to get across each year that dogs can suffer in the heat and that they can and do DIE from heatstroke (which comes on very rapidly by the way), people STILL put their dogs in discomfort and at risk by walking and exercising them in temperatures their dogs are not comfortable or safe in or leaving them in cars to overheat.

Sadly, there’s also a lot of misinformation about how you should help a dog who has overheated and this includes not pouring water on them or immersing them. THIS ADVICE IS INCORRECT!!!

If a dog is too hot, you need to cool them QUICKLY!!! Remember "𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧, 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥'’.
𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑒 (𝑅𝑉𝐶).

HEATSTROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHICH IF NOT TREATED IMMEDIATELY IS LIKELY TO BE FATAL!

I obviously hope you'll never be in a situation where you have to do this but just in case you are, be prepared and read the CORRECT advice for cooling down a hot dog within the links below.

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/the-rvc-urges-owners-of-hot-dogs-to-cool-first-transport-second

https://drdavidmarlin.com/managing-dogs-in-hot-weather/

Please share but do not change or alter text or image. Thank you.
Amanda Childs ( Happy Buddies - Dog Training & Walking & Puppy School )

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC)

07/06/2024

02/06/2024

🤢 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 🤢

I had to remove one of these little blighters from Buddy yesterday and a couple of my walk doggo's have had them too. It's the time of year (Spring to Autumn) when we need to be checking our dogs for these 6-legged parasites which feed on the blood of animals.

Ticks are parasitic arachnids belonging to the spider family and come a close second to mosquitoes in disease transmission. Ticks can cause Encephalitis and also Lyme disease in both animals and humans which can be treated if caught early enough but can also be fatal.

There are 3 types of tick commonly found in the UK: the 🐑/🦌 tick; the 🦔 tick and the 🐕 or 🦊 tick.

Before feeding, ticks are very tiny but they are big enough to be visible, like little specks of dirt. Whilst feeding, they can remain attached for up to 5 days and grow in size becoming lighter in colour and can grow to the size of a pea.

They are mostly found on heathland and in woodland and like warmer and wetter conditions. Heather, bracken, grassland and woody areas are prime sites for ticks.

✅ 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 ✅️

After a walk, check your dog's entire body, by running your hands all over them, feeling for any lumps or bumps but also looking out for tiny ticks that may not have attached and started feeding yet.

Pay particular attention to your dog's head, neck, armpits, legs, feet and ears.

🚫️ 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸 🚫

Never pull, squeeze, burn or suffocate a tick (i.e. with Vaseline) as this can cause further problems. When a tick becomes stressed they release saliva which is what carries the disease and if the body is pulled away leaving the head in your dog, the saliva released can cause irritation and lead to an abscess and risk of infection.

Instead, invest in a proper Tick Twister (a special hook) which we'll shortly be stocking in our Dog Shop. The small tool fits under the body of the tick and you gently twist the tick slowly out removing the head and legs so it doesn't regurgitate inside your dog.

If you're not confident in removing the tick yourself, if you are unsure if you've removed the whole thing or you grow concerned over a tick bite, book an appointment with your vet 🏥.

🐶 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🐶

Unfortunately, there is no absolute way of protecting our dogs from ticks but we can reduce the chances of them attaching to our dogs. Spot-on treatments, sprays and collars are available which act as a repellent or kill the tick if they ingest the substance that impregnate the dogs' skin.

©️ Written by Amanda Childs
Happy Buddies - Dog Training & Walking and Puppy School.
References: RSPCA and Countryfile

09/05/2024

𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙫 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩

Have you ever had a boss who was a micromanager? I have and it wasn't pleasant. The constant interference, the constant exertion of control, the lack of choice, the lack of trust...it all resulted in a difficult working relationship. That degree of control stifles opportunities to learn and to grow. Having someone constantly hovering and telling you what to do 24/7 isn't a recipe for a healthy, co-operative relationship. It allows no one to thrive and can result in either dependence or the decision to opt out of the relationship (guess which one I chose...)

A skilled manager trusts their team. They make sure their team has the skills to undertake the task (and if they don't they teach them), they communicate the task effectively and then allow their team to get on with it without undue interference. They observe and give feedback when needed. They accept (embrace?) the individuality of their team members and allow them the freedom to express that individuality.

And yet so many people fall into the trap of micromanaging their dog. Constantly controlling their behaviour - don't sniff that, don't walk there, don't pick that up, come here, leave that, eh eh, play with this, don't touch that - and it's no fun for either end of the lead.

So how can we switch from suffocating micromanaging to effective management?

• training - teach your dog how to do what you want them to do and then give them the space to do it
• create clear boundaries and patterns to help your dog understand what you expect and then let them behave within those boundaries without interference
• let your dog be a dog - that might mean sniffing gross stuff, rolling in the occasional muddy puddle - but they're a dog and should be allowed to act like one
• resist the urge to rush to intervene every time your dog is working something out and give them space to learn and make choices

Our dogs absolutely need our guidance and teaching to help them navigate our human world but that shouldn't extend to trying to control them to within an inch of their life. That's exhausting and can result in more problems than it solves. Letting go of the need to control everything can feel scary but it's ultimately liberating. For everyone.

07/05/2024

🧡UPDATE 18/5 - JESSIE IS SAFE 🧡

PLEASE SHARE JESSIE's POSTER IN THE KINGSWOOD AREA ❤ - missing since 5/5/24 she is an extremely nervous rescue dog. SHE IS NOT WEARING A HARNESS.

05/04/2024

🪵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 🪵

Whilst throwing sticks for your dog can appear like a great game, the dangers that come with this activity far outweigh the fun.

I wanted to share a story from one of my clients, with her permission, after she recently experienced a very traumatic situation. She would like to remain anonymous as her dog is still recovering (well thankfully) but she wants to help educate those who don't realise the dangers of throwing a stick for their dog.

Last Sunday, on Reigate Heath, her dog got a stick lodged in his throat causing a significant injury. This resulted in him needing emergency surgery. My client has always been paranoid about sticks but for some reason that she can't explain, she threw him one in that moment. It was a low throw and not fast but in true dog fashion, her dog sprinted to get it and the worst thing, but sadly not uncommon thing, happened.

Thankfully, she acted extremely quickly and rushed her dog to the vet who did a thorough examination and referral to a specialist veterinary surgery in Guildford.

She is certain that without her acting so fast and the expertise of the surgeon they might well have lost him 😢.

He is now, thankfully making a good recovery 😊 at home but it's worth mentioning that my client's insurance only covered a small percentage of the cost. She was lucky as she had savings to put towards what resulted in a huge bill. If she hadn't been able to do this, she dreads to think what the outcome would have been.

Dog injuries from sticks can range from cuts and scrapes in a dog’s mouth to infections from splinters to life-threatening injuries. It really isn't worth the risk especially as there are much safer alternatives such as dog-friendly frisbees and rubber sticks such as the Kong SafeStix that we sell in our online Dog Shop.

I've never thrown a stick for a dog and never will but that's because I'm aware of the injuries it can cause after I witnessed a similar event years ago. However, many people are unaware and so I'd like to thank my client for allowing me to share her story and help educate those who don't realise. I've also designed the graphic below in the hope that you'll all share this post to help raise awareness that stick throwing is dangerous and that injuries from doing it are not uncommon!

Thank you and keep on making a good recovery you gorgeous boy 🥰.

©️ Amanda Childs
Happy Buddies Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Services & Puppy School

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵.

02/03/2024

02/03/2024

February walks with our lovely doggies 🐶💕

23/01/2024

Awaiting chicken treats 💕

23/01/2024

Lovely first couple of weeks of 2024 with the doggies 💕

20/12/2023

🎄Christmas Safety🎄

🌟With Christmas fast approaching here are some thoughts to consider for a happy and safe festive season for you and your puppy / dog:

🎄Many foods and drinks such as Christmas pudding, cakes, mince pies, chocolate, macadamia nuts and alcohol are toxic or harmful if consumed by pups.

🎄In addition, cooked bones, Christmas tree pine needles, wrapped gifts and tinsel can also pose as hazards potentially causing internal blockages if consumed or injuries to feet.

🎄Ensure any candles that are burning are out of reach and be aware that the sounds of Christmas crackers, additional visitors, noise and changes to routine may all have an effect on your puppy.

🌟What can you do to help provide a happy and safe Christmas?
🐾You can:

🌟Ensure safety and protection from being able to consume toxic or harmful foods, plants, drinks, gifts and decorations
🌟Provide a quiet, undistrubed space away from people and the noise
🌟Supervise interactions with children at all times
🌟Provide food that will not cause an upset stomach
🌟Provide a nice walk or run either on or off lead / longline
🌟Try to keep to your puppies routine as much as possible.

19/12/2023

03/11/2023

❌ PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE SHOPS ❌

I just wanted to remind everyone that these dog treats are not good for your dogs and we would recommend you avoiding them, this christmas season.

The vast majority of these rawhide products and treats come from China.

Their journey starts with the hides being soaked in a toxic sodium sulphide to remove the hair and fat. More chemicals are used in order to split the hide into layers which is then washed with hydrogen peroxide to give the white "pure" look and remove the rancid smell.
Now comes the pretty festive colours and the glue to form cute shapes.

They regularly cause intestinal blockages and choking. The chews go slippery when wet and are near impossible to get hold of to save a choking dog.

Please be safe with your dogs!

09/10/2023

FOUND 🤗

08/10/2023

Still missing please share x

14/08/2023

𝐈 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏

Facebook is a marvellous platform for us, but it does keep on messing around with the algorithm of posts and page views it allows people to see. We do really need to keep our social media in the public view as it helps us raise our profile for our little charity, so we can continue to help as many dogs as we can. I’ve noticed over the last few months that views, interactions, likes and comments seem to be going down.
Can Mally and I ask a huge favour? Could I ask you to like this post so I know you’ve seen it. Maybe pop a comment below, even a picture of your gorgeous hounds and even better also share this post and our page with your friends and ask them to click the “Like and/or Follow button.
Let’s not let Facebook dictate who can see our posts or push us into paying for post Boosts.
Our followers and supporters are really important to us and we don’t want to lose contact with you all or you to stop seeing our post.