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

26/10/2024

It's this wee menace's birthday today- he's one! The height of nonsense, he loves his snuggles. Taking everything in his stride, he's curious and mischievous.
Happy Birthday Haggis, we can't imagine life without you.

10/10/2024

From puppy hood, the girls have been taught to "settle" in a variety of places; going to the pub, dinner at a restaurant, on trains, ferries, when I stop to blether.......and importantly at the vets!
NOTE: Haggis wasn't here, or it would have been a riot- he was left with his dad ;-)

Islay and Cara were so chilled out on their visit to us that they fell asleep in the consult room 🐾❤️

24/09/2024

Wee Islay has been chosen as Miss January for the Cavalier Matters 2025 calendar! 🎉💕🎉

Islay is our much loved SM warrior- she has Syringomyelia, a collapsed disc and hip dysplasia- requiring pain medication and physiotherapy for life. Now Islay didn’t come from a puppy farm or backyard breeder- oh no, she came from somone who claimed to “do the tests”, “who cares for the breed”… the breeders claimed that Islay was a “one off”, that they were “devastated”…. Aye right!

When I went public about Islay I was shocked at how many other owners had been duped by the same breeders, and whose dogs also had horrific and life changing conditions. Yet the Kennel Club do little to monitor poor breeding practices- and continue to register pups from these breeders.

The breeder told me that she knew which German bred dog had brought SM into her lines- but despite knowing this continued to breed… and breed…. And breed.

Cavalier Matters raises money to highlight health issues and fund research.

https://cavalier-gift-shop.org/cavaliers-calendar-2025.html

22/09/2024

Haggis has been attacked by a dog...then another one....

At 10 going on 11 months, Haggis is growing up- rapid! We all know that we should socialise our puppies, right? As responsible caregivers we spend a great deal of time exposing them to people, dogs, traffic, travel and lots of other situations. We teach them manners, patience and self control.

But here's the thing, that early (and hard work) doesn't end there as young dogs go through another sensitive period at the time they begin to mature....yes, around 10 or so months of age. This can be the age that your young dog suddenly becomes worried about things that they weren't previously concerned by. For male dogs- even those who have been neutered, they may become a target for other male dogs. This is the age that you really don't want them having bad experiences, as those can stick around into adulthood.

So, I was really not amused when out walking Haggis one night on a campsite, and a large male dog ran free from his owner and attacked Haggis! I faced up to the dog, as hubby got Haggis and the other two away. The owner of the dog had difficulty in getting her dog under control, but at least he did not pursue Haggis. My reply to the owners protest that her dog was not aggressive was straight to the point. Ok, I was livid.

Now, wee Haggis seemed OK that night- no damage done, eh? The next day he tried to move away from bigger dogs that we encountered, and from a place of safety barked at them. The following day this quickly progressed to a lunge and bark- as he became more confident in seeing them off. He really had gotten a fright- all of his previous encounters with unknown dogs had been positive, so nothing prepared him for this.

A week of robust DS/CC has reaped rewards and he's not as bad, as he begins to feel better about being near other dogs. Then BANG! Another male dog was snarky towards him, shattering his fragile confidence once more. This time I know that the DS/CC will take a wee bit longer with a lot more generalising...walks on his own, walks with the girls and in multi locations.

We will get there in the end.

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.