Puppy Parenting

10/05/2024

26/04/2024

"Does your lifestyle meet a dog's basic needs "

This is a great post:

Yesterday I read a post on a colleague's page which should have been entirely noncontroversial. The post stated that dogs shouldn't be regularly crated for 8 hours or more at a time. Incredibly some people pushed back hard on that point on the basis it excluded people who worked full time/long hours from having a dog.

And there's the rub. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙜. Much as they might want one. Not everyone's lifestyle is compatible with dog ownership. Which can be a bitter pill to swallow if you desperately want a dog in your life but that doesn't make it any less true.

Dogs need social contact*. They need space to move*. To deprive them of these things has a detrimental effect on their well being, no matter how loved they may be. So if the only way someone can fit a dog into their life is to leave it alone & crated for 8-10 hours every day they really need to do some soul searching and consider the dog's experience, not just their own wants.

If you do work out of the home for long hours and still want a dog in your life then you have to be prepared to pay for support to help you care for your dog - a dog walker, pet sitter, day care etc. And high quality, ethical pet care costs.

Does that mean that those who work long hours out of the home and can't afford high quality pet care can't have a dog? Yes, very possibly.

Owning a dog isn't a right. It's a responsibility which means that you have to consider the dog's welfare ahead of your own wants. There will be many such decisions along the way and the first one is whether your lifestyle can meet a dog's most basic needs. And if it can't, the answer should be 'no'.

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*𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘴:
• 𝘉𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢 𝘉, 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔 𝘉 𝘏, 𝘷𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘑, 𝘥𝘦 𝘝𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘏 𝘞, 𝘔𝘰𝘭 𝘑 𝘈 (1998). 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭, 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢, 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 58: 365-381.
• 𝘉𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢 𝘉, 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘞, 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔 𝘉 𝘏, 𝘔𝘰𝘭 𝘑 𝘈, 𝘷𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘑 (1999𝘢). 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 66: 233-242.

09/04/2024

The Glasgow Dog Trainer accompanies this video with some extremely wise words and compassion.

I love this post as yes, it’s far from ideal, but unfortunately s**t happens! Please read and play video with sound….

And yes, I am promoting another trainer here, but that doesn’t bother me - especially if this helps to improve awareness and training for dogs (and people) using kindness and compassion.

04/04/2024

Horrible stuff - find out why I advise against giving your dog rawhide...

Rawhide chews might seem like a tasty treat for your dog, but they come with hidden dangers that every pet owner should be aware of. In this infographic, we'll explore why rawhide chews should be avoided and the potential risks they pose to your beloved pet's health.

09/03/2024

Please follow the rules if you choose to visit Church town, Saltash with your dogs and put them on a leash in the relevant areas.

It's such a beautiful place. It would be so sad to see dog owners banned from here, because some ignore notices put in place to protect our birds and their environment.

⚠️ Dog owners warned after ignoring rules at nature reserve beauty spot ⚠️

One dog owner said although he’d seen the signs about skylarks, he was choosing to ignore them.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/dog-owners-warned-after-ignoring-9141224

20/02/2024

I have had a few clients express interest in becoming a professional dog walker in the past. There is a lot more to this than meets the eye and a lot needs to be considered . IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) now offer this course which would be a great course for anyone considering this….

Professional Dog Walking Course

10/02/2024

Are we expecting too much?

Naturally I observe dog behaviour, and recently have seen so many young dogs being told off in pubs and cafe’s for getting up from laying down, stepping towards another dog, coming out of a sit, sniffing towards food at the table. Constantly told ‘no’, ’off’, ‘sit, ‘down’. Or worse, forced into a position they want the dog to be in or yanked around.

Then, finally, when the dog does settle, or when there are brief periods when it settles, or returns back to where the owner wants it to be, laying down quietly etc, nothing is said to them! How do they know this is what you want and that this is when you are pleased with them?

More and more dogs are in pubs, cafe’s etc these days. When a young dog is in a busy pub or cafe they are surrounded by people, dogs, children, food with lots of smells and movement all around them. Naturally they may struggle to listen to you and remain calm if they are over stimulated by all around them. Firstly, perhaps this is not the best place for them, are you expecting too much?

Set them up to succeed. Have something for them like a nice stuffed Kong to help to encourage them to settle and praise them when they do. Go to quiet places at first and not for too long, so that they can learn to get things right without too many distractions; and keep praising them when they are getting it right. Telling them ‘no’ all the time is not helping them to learn what you do want, and if you are saying ‘no’ all the time perhaps you are in the wrong environment for them - not all dogs enjoy sociable environments.

Try introducing a little settle mat/towel folded on the floor for them, if they go on it, praise them, drop a treat on it. If they sit on the mat or show any signs of settling on it without being told to, then calmly praise them some more, give them a few more treats. If they go off the mat, nothing happens, but when they return back on it they get more praise or a treat - they will soon learn the mat is where the good stuff happens….

03/02/2024

January pups 😍

I helped their owners with advice on biting and nipping, barking and general excitement as well as reassurance that they are doing things right with their pups ~ exactly what I'm here for!

07/01/2024

Please let them sniff, that's what dogs do!

They are seeking information - smells are everything to a dog.

It's hugely beneficial and essential for their wellbeing.

I try to stop and wait when Indie sniffs, rather than carry on walking, otherwise she stops sniffing to keep up with me - it's her walk, not mine.

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas to all my current and previous clients, along with all who follow and support Puppy Parenting.

Wishing you all the very best for 2024 for you and your dogs. xx

23/12/2023

So important ....

20/12/2023

Christmas can be stressful for some pups and dogs as busy households get hectic, excitable and noisy.

The above can lead to a dog or puppy trying to communicate that they are unhappy or stressed/uncomfortable and needs space. This communication will be given by using its stress signals first, but if that doesn't work it will growl....please listen to them and do not tell them off.

To find out more about their stress signals and to try to avoid your dog from feeling the need to growl (or bite) especially at children, you may find this useful.

We'll discuss why a dog might growl at children and how to help the dog feel safe around children. A growl, as well as other strong "get away from me" signa...

16/12/2023

A reminder of some common Christmas risks for your pets as the festivities approach....

14/12/2023

20/09/2023

Busy couple of weeks with gorgeous pups. Met lovely owners who just wanted some advice to help and be kind to their pups through teething, toileting and what they do best......biting and nipping!

It can be a lovely but sometimes difficult time having a new pup in your home. There is lots of conflicting, incorrect and out of date advice that can be very confusing for owners, nevermind detrimental to your puppy.

I'm here to help, in person and via Zoom!

31/08/2023

A repeat post from a few years ago - try not to leave it too late to start preparing your dog for the 'fun' thing they call fireworks 😡

30/08/2023

A Dalmatian, Sprollie and Cocker Spaniel.😍

Each one at a different stage and age with different needs, breed traits and personalities to consider.

During these 3 separate consultations I covered the 'puppy blues', preparing to introduce a new puppy to another dog, recall, loose lead training, dealing with biting/nipping and jumping up, as well as an introduction to settle mat training and positive socialisation.

All with kind, positive, reward based training... it's great to help to support new and existing clients.

22/08/2023

Thanks Aileen, this is so true. Please do not under-estimate the commitment, patience and time you need for a puppy.

16/08/2023

Lovely visit last week to Looe where I met this gorgeous pup, Ruby. 🥰

She was so sweet, sleepy and relaxed, which enabled her owner to have a good chat with me and for me to answer any queries, offer advice and tips to ensure the best start for Ruby, and reassure her owner of all the great things she was doing with Ruby.

Over the next few weeks her owner is going to work on slowly building up Ruby's confidence in being left alone for very short periods (avoiding her getting distressed).

Positive, gradual socialisation for Ruby to learn about the world around her.

Introduction of some basic recall training - she was fab at this at the end of our session!

31/07/2023

As well as one-to-one consultations in your home, I also offer Zoom consultations, so if you need a bit of guidance/advice about a behaviour with your puppy, or to help prepare you before getting a puppy, please do contact me.

www.puppy-parenting.co.uk

29/06/2023

So true! I have just come back from London and couldn't believe how many dogs and puppies were giving very obvious body language signals of stress in extremely busy areas. It was so hard to watch, particularly as their owners seemed totally oblivious to how stressed they were feeling. It was so sad - if a circumstance had arose to further stress them, sadly a bite may have been their only way left to communicate how uncomfortable they were feeling. 😔

On a positive note there were some dogs and pups that were amazing, taking it all in their stride, very comfortable with their surroundings!

19/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/reel/799566071576213

18/06/2023

It was lovely to visit and support a new local business in Saltash this week. Dawn showed me Shampooch Dog Grooming Parlour!

Shampooch only has one dog within the parlour at any time to reduce their stress and help to keep things calm, and Dawn has been specially trained in positive handling and reward based techniques. She will take time to get to know your dog and is trained to recognise how your dog is feeling - adapting or stopping things as necessary. Dawn explained her priority isn’t to necessarily finish the job perfectly, but to take her time, ensuring the dog feels as relaxed and safe as possible, giving them regular breaks when required.

She offers a great Puppy Package (see details below). It’ so important to get your puppy used to the groomers, from a young age, especially if you have a breed that will need regular grooming.

We wish Dawn the best of luck in her new venture - I think she’s going to be very busy! 🥰🐾

Realistically… if you’re going to start your Friday off strong, it needs to be with a Puppy Package intro session 😁 Aaaaaalllllllll the CUTENESS this morning when Master Shelby the 14 week old Frenchie came to visit me for treats and cuddles 😍🐶🩵

Approved by the lovely Justine at Saltash based Puppy Parenting my 🦴 PUPPY PACKAGES 🦴 provide the perfect introduction to the Dog Grooming process, and are designed to set your Pooch up for a life time of stress free grooming in the Pooch Parlour! 🦴

Puppy Packages comprise 3 sessions staring with an intro session to include a visit to the Pooch Parlour, treats and cuddles, a second big boy/girl session where you will leave your pup and we will get used to all the sights, sounds and feels of the Pooch Parlour with positive handling and reward based techniques and then a third session that will include a bath and dry and any light scissor tidying that they may need 🐶 Prices vary per breed and packages can be tailored to your pup’s own needs so please just pop me a message! 🫧✂️🐶

15/06/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=672772454865821&id=100063992174460

13/06/2023

Just a reminder as the temperatures start to soar from Blue Cross:

- Make sure your dog has access to clean water at all times, ideally a large bowl filled to the brim. Carry water and a bowl with you on walks.
- On hot days, walk your dog during the cooler parts of the day, in the early morning and late evening
- During heatwaves, restrict walks to early morning only. On very hot days the temperature is still too hot for dogs in the evening. - - Remember it is OK not to walk your dog every day during very hot weather – it's far better to be safe than take unnecessary risks.
- Watch your pet for signs of over-heating, including heavy panting and loss of energy. If you recognise these signs when on a walk, stop, find a shady spot and give your dog water.
- Never leave your dog (or any pet) alone in a car, even with the windows open
- Make cooling tasty treats by making ice cubes with your dog’s favourite food inside or stuff a Kong and pop it in the freezer
- Be particularly careful with short nosed dogs such as bull breeds, boxers, pugs, older dogs and puppies, and those that are overweight. These dogs can quickly get heatstroke in high temperatures, even on a leisurely stroll.

For more information:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/how-to-keep-dogs-cool-in-the-summer-heat

09/06/2023

So, so true :

Charlie has never shown much interest in horses. He’s never chased a horse. Or indicated he might want to.

But he goes on lead every time we see one. Because it allows the rider to relax knowing he’s under control. Because it’s polite. And because there might always be a first time.

We are privileged to have relaxed lead laws in the UK and our dogs have the right to be offlead in many places. But rights bring responsibilities and it’s our responsibility as dog owners to be considerate to the needs of others.

If we abuse our right to have our dogs offlead we risk losing it. And that would be to the detriment of dogs.

08/06/2023

LOST DOG - TAMAR TRAILS

A 1 and half year old female Beagle x Bedlington Terrier has gone missing on the Tamar Trails.
She is tri colour and has a 3 weeks old scar on her stomach.

Please contact us if any sightings or found!
Thank you, The Westmoor Team

05/06/2023

Some useful information and advice here from Rebecca for the adolescent stage of your dog’s life:

I often feel that the adolescent stage in a dog’s life is overlooked, while on the other hand there is a lot of information out there about puppies; some really good stuff, some not so good.

People often do a lot of research about how to care for their new puppy, but many people are shocked by behaviours that emerge once the puppy stage is over. Many surveys show that during this period of a dog’s life they are at the highest risk of being surrendered to a shelter.

I personally receive a lot of phone calls about dogs at this age. The puppy that was walking beautifully on the lead, staying close by their guardian’s side on walks, has all of a sudden started to pull like a train, running off and going deaf when called. Puppy biting is to be expected, but it gets harder when those bites are from an adolescent, especially with big breeds. They can now reach counter tops, their jumping up has stopped being cute and instead of everyone stopping to say how adorable your pup is, they are now shouting at you because your over -excited dog is scaring theirs and hasn't quite learnt how to read other dog’s communication properly yet.

This is not a 'how to' on adolescent dogs, but a few things that may help. As always, if you are really struggling, seek support from a force free professional.

Things to consider:

1. The behaviours they are presenting are often very normal! It can be really tough, but try to remember they are not being naughty, they are being dogs. Finding appropriate outlets for their normal dog behaviours is key.

2. Adolescence can occur at different ages depending on breed and also the individual dog. Many two year olds are still going through this stage.

3. Your dog is not just going through massive hormonal changes but changes in their brain too. Quick castration to reduce these hormonal changes can be damaging and often make situations worse. It's no different to a child becoming a teenager, apart from a teenager is usually a lot harder to deal with and the adolescent stage lasts a lot longer in humans.

4. Just because teething is nearing its end does not mean they don’t need to chew. Chewing is a large part of being a dog. Teething also lasts a lot longer than many think. With some dogs still suffering at 8-9months. Not all dogs love to chew the same things. Try different things to see what they enjoy.

5. Sleep patterns change. They will need less sleep and sometimes struggle to settle at night. In this case use lots of enrichment. This can include toys such as Kongs, Licki Matts, scatter feeding, and Snuffle Matts. Also have enriching walks; slow down, let them sniff, and encourage foraging. Running around like a loon isn't the answer and will only tire them physically, leaving you with a frustrated brain and an exhausted body which is a recipe for frantic, hyperactive and frustrated behaviours.

6. It is common for dogs at this age to have spurts of energy around late afternoon and evening. This can be difficult - I've known lots of dogs to start biting and pulling at their humans at this time. Try to initiate some level of interaction. Pre-empt this time. If you know they go a bit crazy at 5PM take them on a sniffy walk at 4.45pm. Do some scent work in the garden or around the house. Give them a frozen Kong or a raw bone. Make sure they have an outlet for their energy and frustration.

7. Adolescent dogs can have little spurts of fearful periods. It's common for them to sometimes feel overwhelmed by things they appeared to be OK with before. Let them explore at their own pace. Support them, be patient and don’t push them into situations they are struggling with.

8. Don’t stop telling your puppy they are amazing. It's easy to ignore the perfect pup walking by your side. It's easy not to notice the little glances back at you on walks. Don’t just notice the bad behaviours, do a happy dance and have a party every time they get it right. This will make them want to continue these behaviours when they reach adolescence.

9. Your dog’s behaviour will be somewhat of a yo yo. Seemingly forgetting everything they have learnt one day and being an angel the next. Keep at it, it's normal.

At this age they are finding out who they are in the world. They are exploring, finding out what works for them and what doesn't. Remember how it felt to be a teenager; the confusion, the change in how you thought as a child and then started thinking like an adult, the emotions flooding over you, the feeling of being out of control. Our dogs probably experience adolescent life in a very similar way.

They may appear to be over the top, stubborn, obnoxious pains in the arses, but they are struggling too! They need patience, support, consistency and outlets for their normal species - specific behaviours. Try to ride the storm with them, not against them. It will be worth all the hard work, I promise

03/06/2023

I saw Parker recently, it was lovely to see him again, he's a beautiful, gentle, loving boy 🥰.

He had been doing really well until a non-friendly encounter with another dog seemed to contribute to him gradually getting increasingly reactive to other dogs.

Who can blame him after a scare? He just wants to stay safe and keep dogs away at the moment, and this is his way of expressing himself.

His owners wanted some tips and advice as to how to deal with this as, understandably, it was quite stressful for them. I completed a consultation to help them manage the situation and gradually teach Parker that we will keep him safe, and that he can trust us, and as a result build his confidence.

It was lovely to get this feedback from them:

"We are continuing with the strategies you showed us, and there has been a marked improvement with Parker's reactivity to other dogs. There are occasional blips where we come across a dog by accident, or one comes running up out of nowhere but the vast majority of our walks are stress free. "

This was great to read and is down to the owners being consistent with the strategies, so that Parker does not feel the need to react - so well done to them!

Unfortunately, it also shows how difficult it can be when other dogs off-lead approach them.

I'm the first to say I don't expect dogs to act like robots or would want them to. No dog is perfect all the time, and occasionally an owners recall lets them down, and I do always aim to be understanding.

But we do all need to try to be considerate where possible, and if a dog is on a lead, try your very best to give them space. Recall your dog and pop them back on lead, or keep your dog away from them....trying your best to avoid the situation where you have to shout the "it's okay he's friendly" line! 🙈 He may well be, but it may not be helping the other dog or owner.