Elaine Henley at Animal Behaviour Clinic & Take the Lead Dog School

06/08/2024

Thankfully these poor wee souls have loving homes now…. 💕

Puppies rescued from lorry with 'life-threatening diseases' get new homes. https://buff.ly/3yiWLOx

17/07/2024

....."Bringing a puppy home is usually a happy event, but sometimes the life change that comes with it can provoke significant negative emotions. Researchers found that almost half of dog owners experience anxiety, weariness or frustration during their dog's puppyhood stage...."

I think many of us have experienced the "puppy blues". I know I did when Haggis came to live with us...he had severe weaning distress and had difficulty settling on his own for any length of time. I remember dropping him off at my husband's shop as I had an appointment, and then deciding that I would be "later" to collect him- those few hours of peace were bliss! We came home early from a trip away, because he wouldn't settle... He was jolly hard work! We got there in the end, but those first 4 months were tough going at times.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240628125158.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3rJ4T2Hzn0e_6J4FhGR63WRLcpTjNnwrhXH-3jtnZDil5Yp_agcRdIqn8_aem_PBbVsNqSG3c9vhUhE9spXA

Bringing a puppy home is usually a happy event, but sometimes the life change that comes with it can provoke significant negative emotions. Researchers found that almost half of dog owners experience anxiety, weariness or frustration during their dog's puppyhood stage.

15/07/2024

Although this video refers to Cavaliers displaying this behaviour, I see it frequently in other breeds: bull breeds, springer spaniels and border terriers. Often it is presumed that the dog is bored, lacking stimulation etc- but there generally is a physical trigger. However once the underlying medical cause for the behaviour is treated, some dogs still perform the behaviour. That's where Clinical Animal Behaviourists can assist to identify which factors are maintaining the behaviour and offer behaviour modification to reduce the dogs need to perform the behaviour.

Lets talk about Fly Catching!

This video is at the request of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel community who would like veterinary professionals to know more about this disorder.

This is a very poorly understood disease and despite recognising it for decades we still do not know the pathogenesis or even if the dog is hallucinating.

A common finding in affected dogs is gastrointestinal disease (for example inflammatory bowel disease or intolerances/ allergies).

In this short video I show an affected dog and discuss management. Thanks to Cavalier Matters and Bliss Cavalier Rescue for material.

https://youtu.be/fGBKod8bVWY?si=GFhc7KGvl-68MnrA

14/07/2024

What’s better than an early morning play with the spaniel next to us? Some R & R before a busy work week ahead… working with care-givers and their dogs.

05/07/2024

When wee Haggis had a play date with Ruckus from Mutley Snaps Photography 💕Both boys are now shattered.

Even though they are very different sizes and weights- they played very respectfully with each other.

03/07/2024

A few weeks ago, we did a thing- a crazy thing....We took wee Haggis and the other two away to Italy in the MoHo! What could possibly go wrong when taking a 6 month old pup on such a long road trip? But you know what? He coped really well and if I am honest probably a bit bored when he got home again ;-)

He traveled in, slept overnight in and had regular nap times in his soft crate. As he is crate trained at home and used to being in his soft crate, this was an easy one for him to cope with.

From Calais he went to the City of Brugge- where he met a lovely Vet, who presented him with his Belgium Pet Passport. Now Haggis has more rights to roam Europe than I do! I'm not sure he liked getting a necessary second Rabies shot or blood taken for the rabies titre test- but he soon forgot about it.

Brugge to Luxembourg to Switzerland were quick night time stop overs before Italy! Long travel days coupled with shorter but more frequent walks. Plenty of chews to keep young mouths occupied.

Haggis loved Italy and Italians loved Haggis :-) There was no where that he and his sisters weren't welcomed with cries of "Bella, Bella ciao, bellissimo" Haggis lapped all the attention up, and dutifully did all his cute moves to win over even the hardest hearts.

Italy is very dog friendly, the dogs were able to visit Pompeii, the Valley of Temples- without anyone batting an eyelid.

Haggis went to beaches, wee ancient towns, restaurants.... even Mount Etna and wasn't fazed by any of it.

It was hot, darn hot- so we made sure that they were always as cool as possible, lots of water, shade and not walking them during the hottest part of the day.

The drive back from Sicily was going to take a long time of constant driving :-( So we cheated and got the ferry back....22 hours on board in a dog friendly cabin! Haggis and his sisters got to sleep with me- and they thought this was the greatest thing!

If you are thinking of traveling with your dogs, but are unsure of how to go about that initial AHC to get them out of the country, or the simple logistics of it all....then do feel free to contact me.

28/04/2024

Some of you were asking me how I have managed to get the girls plus a Haggis to pose for their "dug on a rock" photos... The secret is Arden Grange liver paste :-P Even wee Haggis will do anything for a lick of this. I call it their payment for playing along with my silly requests. This was last weekend in the Glen Coe area.

18/04/2024

I can't believe that wee Haggis is now 6 months of age! Today he was dropped off at the vet for his wee boy operation- and I am looking forward to getting him back home, complete with surgical suit. Decisions on whether or not to neuter has to be made on a case to case basis- there isn't a blanket rule or a one hat fits all approach to this. These are my reasons for having Haggis done:

***He lives with two unneutered female dogs, Cara is a slapper 😉 She can spot a male dog from a mile away, and does her flirty dance- even when not in season.

***Neither girl can be neutered- Islay because of her SM, collapsed disc and hip dysplasia. Cara is on vetmedin- so no one wants to do any operation on her, unless it is for a life threatening reason.

***We travel, we travel to countries where there will be wandering male street dogs- who may target an entire male competitor.
Speaking of male competitor, an entire Haggis would attract unwelcome attention from the local dog park dogs. He doesn't need that stress in his life.

***How awful for Haggis to have a life of being sexually frustrated.... ?

***I neither want marking behaviour nor territorial reactivity in my dogs.

***Haggis has lots of emotional resilience, he is a confident wee dog- friendly with all who he meets. Lowering his testosterone won't change that.

Neutering will neither change his personality nor his joy for life.

31/03/2024

Hasn't the weather been amazing for this bank holiday weekend? We took the dogs in "Donald" to the Isle of Gigha- Haggis's first time on a ferry...he had a blast on the beach and is a very tired wee pup!

25/03/2024

Dad didn’t tidy his shoes away!
Prevention is better than cure- if you don’t want your pups to chew things, put them away out of reach.

So how did I get the shoes away from Haggis? Well I waited until he got bored and had moved onto something else, then I put the shoes away. I didn’t try and force, or bribe him, both of which could lead to conflict and resource guarding.

Haggis knows an emergency “leave” for those important life threatening items he may pick up. This cue isn’t used for mundane everyday items.

10/03/2024

Some more inside gets into free ranging dogs…

07/03/2024

Interesting study.... I do wonder if some other breeds of dog could also have this gene mutation?

Simply tips for the food obsessed dog:

- change their diet to kibble "Light", this means that you can feed more without the extra calories.

- give the dogs more frequent meals, instead of the traditional 2x per day, increase this to 4+ smaller meals.

- use puzzle toys and enrichment toys to feed your dog, so that it takes them longer to eat whilst giving them brain drain.

- scatter feed outside or on an indoor floor.

23/01/2024

The dogs enjoying playing with their cardboard box…. The girls are becoming more tolerant of young Haggis- which is lovely to see.

24/10/2023

I’ve been passing on the details of this to a few clients- so o thought to post it here… an escape from fireworks, which will help our more sensitive dogs cope better.

27/08/2023

WOW- that’s some job, I can think of a few dogs who would like to apply for this position 🤣

05/01/2023

When dad takes the girls to work today- sofa time!

Couple of visitors today 😀

08/10/2022

Surprising eh?
Gundogs and their crosses really don'y need as mucjh physical exercise as most people believe. What they do need is lots of mental stimulation and down time.

Catch-up now on 'Gundog Games for Training and Behaviour Clients' at https://buff.ly/38oR8ke

11/09/2022

****URGENT****
There are too many people who neglect to take veterinary advice and have their dogs vaccinated for this, initially and yearly boosters.
Parvovirus can kill or make a dog very unwell- if they survive then there will be a huge veterinary bill for this.

Unfortunately there has been a confirmed case of parvovirus in the Ayrshire area.
Symptoms to look out for include:
⚠ Vomiting and Diarrhea
⚠Lethargy and weakness
⚠Unwilling to eat
⚠A bloated Stomach
⚠Fever
⚠Collapse
If you have any concerns please get in contact with us on 01292 430530.

19/07/2022

Our dogs are not used to this....for the first time ever I had to postpone face to face sessions and a court assessment until it cools off.

We've just measured the ground temperature outside and it's over 50 degrees! No walkies until it's much cooler later on please!

19/06/2022

In 2004 I conducted a pilot study to determine the prevalence of abuse towards animals when women are victims of domestic abuse in Scotland. A staggering 77% of pet owning women said that concerns for the safety of their pet had prevented them from leaving the abusive environment. There was simply no-where for them to escape to with their pets.

Over the years there have been some attempts to redress this. This is why Dogs Trust's Freedom Project is so vital- and it probably has saved many lives.

03/06/2022

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

03/05/2022

Teaching your dogs to settle is probably one of the most useful things you can teach them! Useful for taking them on busses, trains, to the vet or cafes, bars and restaurants…
Islay was lying down- until she saw me take her photo 🤣 Then she settled down again.

25/02/2022

About time......

The government says it is trying to close loopholes but the Greens warn the bill could open others.

19/02/2022

25/01/2022

Please protect the Haggis- keep your dog on a lead
Happy Burns Night

14/01/2022

THIS week sees the 150th anniversary of the death of Scotland’s most famous dog, Greyfriars Bobby.

14/01/2022

OMG love this!!!!

www.petcheckin.com.au

03/01/2022

Resource guarding is a serious behavioural issue- prognosis may be poor without input from a clinical animal behaviourist.
Please do not encourage your dog to guard objects- it’s not a joke, people may be injured and dogs euthanised.

WARNING
We are aware of a tiktok challenge where you take a bone off your dog and film their reaction.

DO NOT DO THIS. And please make sure any young people in your home know not to do this. This is the quickest way to teach your dog to resource guard and could lead to serious long term problems.

29/12/2021

Furry, cute, just lying there. Young babies and toddlers are drawn to them. The DOG.

Parents, please intervene and teach your child that the dog is not a place to sit or crawl on. Prevent these encounters by using gates and always being in between.

“Dog and baby on the scene, Parent in between!!!”

Too often young babies and toddlers are permitted to approach and freely touch the family dog. In many cases the dog is uncomfortable but does not want to leave as the trusted adult is there too. Over time this can lead to discomfort and your dog may communicate this with a growl or snap.

Allowing space NOW while baby is unpredictable and unsteady will increase your chances of comfortable interactions down the road.

Too much too soon is never the way. Don’t rush this process. Like anything else these bond take time to grow. Allow that time.

Your dog and child have time to build bonds with your help over time.