Fireworks
Happy Friday everyone!
Around this time of year I usually post on FIREWORKS and how you can help your dogs deal with what is going on around them. Usual disclaimer: my opinion, based on my experience, meant with the best possible intentions.
As you can imagine, I get asked a lot about what the best thing to do with dogs when fireworks are going off. I think the best thing to do is split this into two: dogs that have experienced fireworks before and those that haven’t.
Couple of notes:
- If you have a rescue and are not sure whether they have experienced fireworks (or similar), treat them in the ‘new to fireworks’ category. And importantly, do not watch them more for reactions. They will definitely be watching you for your reaction.
- When I say don’t touch/cuddle them, I mean more than you usually would. I am not advocating neglect or lack of love, I am advocating leadership.
Now to business:
Dogs that have not experienced fireworks, let’s start with that….
The most important thing here is how you react. My routine would be:
1) As it gets dark, draw the curtains.
2) Settle down and turn the TV/radio on, normal volume
3) Continue as you would normally do on an evening
BUT, what you don’t do is act in any way differently
1) Don’t turn the TV/radio up extra loud
2) Don’t give the dog any attention that you would not normally do
3) Where possible, try and have their first firework experience without additional people visiting as this provides additional things for the dog to get excited/stressed about.
When the fireworks are going off, don’t touch the dog, don’t speak to the dog, don’t look at the dog. Act as if nothing is happening and you are confident and in control. They will be looking to see how you react to the sounds and sights that they have never seen before. If you can send them the message that this is completely normal, they in turn, will relax and embrace your calmness.
The dog is looking to see if you are calm or concern
Today I am mostly eating wortleberries….
Wolfie and Loki will forage happily…Sonny and Browndog like them to be picked for them (we’ll be peeling them next)…. Trampus is way too busy running to stop to eat…Nelson isn’t interested and let’s them drop (easy pickings for lightening-speed, food-orientated Browndog), Rooster prefers to play with a stick (or a stone….grrr….if we aren’t watching) and Banjo will wander over and have one if he is in the mood.
It’s really funny how all their characters are clearly in display over just one simply activity. It’s fascinating.
Happy Saturday everyone,
Ian and Clare
When you are a bigger dog in your head than you actually are…. There is literally no stopping Rooster!
There’s nothing like a puppy to bring a smile to your face. Got to love him :-)
Happay Saturday Everyone…
Anyone else got hairy friends that are more than generous with their hairs at the moment?
Loki absolutely loves a good scratch :-)
We are brushing all of ours on a near daily basis at the moment and swear the amount of hair in the bin would make up more dogs than we have in the house!
What fun!
Ian and Clare
Happy Sunday Everyone.
We have been extremely lucky to have spent some time in India as a family over Easter. Whilst we were there we met Saksham Patel, one of the Naturalists at a camp we stayed at. We were extremely touched by Sam’s work and we have attached it below. Sam rescues dogs. The first photo is a dog that Sam has kept: when he rescued him after a car accident, and then when he has recuperated - what a difference.
But Sam also creates dog ‘wheelchairs’ for those dogs that have been paralysed. You can see a couple on here.
It is amazing, wherever we go we see people that have their lives intrinsically linked to dogs.
Thank you Sam for sharing with us the wonderful work that you do. You’re amazing!
Ian, Clare and George x
There is something about the sun coming out that has brought the best out in the boys. Nelson started the ball rolling with his regular wallow and then Loki, Trampus, Banjo, Wolfie piled in. Closely follows by Rooster in his first immersion. Previous to this he has played around the edges but today he was right in.
Not sure what the tadpoles made of it all but we’re in no doubt they will still be there, tails wiggling, tomorrow 🙂
The boys are now chilling out in the garage….it’s too much mud for even the Campbell-Cooper household to handle!!
#exmoor #iancooperdogs
Happy Christmas Day All!
Hope you enjoy the dogs when you get a bit of downtime post Christmas Dinner.
With love,
Ian, Clare, George xx
#iancooperdogs #dogslife #labrador #rescuedog #exmoor #foxredlab
It’s only a matter of time…every day Rooster is a little more confident…every day he’s a little closer to an Exmoor plunge pool!
‘Twas two weeks before Christmas
and all round the lounge,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a hound….
….until a trout sandwich was procured and then it was eyes on! :-)
Loose Lead Walking
We don’t often share client feedback as it seems a little bif headed, but Jasmin sent this video in a few days ago and we thought it might be good to share and say that there is always hope! If you aren’t sure what to get friends and family for Christmas then perhaps the gift of a loose lead and a non-dislocated shoulder might be a good option :-)
'We are SO happy with the result - Luna is honestly like a different dog overnight! She is walking so perfectly at heel, on the lead! We’ve never had that before, and it’s now a joy to take her out - we can’t thank Ian enough!' - Jasmin
I work with you to understand your dog's behaviour and to change your relationship so that you are working together. You can see this in the video as Luna is walking alongside her owner with a loose lead and regular glances up to 'check in'. This is changing behaviour, not training, so results are seen immediately. My methods are neither treat-based nor harsh and we just need one session.
If you have any questions, please do get in touch: [email protected]
Ian
Www.iancooperdogs.co.uk
#iancooperdogs
Absolutely hilarious….I have no words 🙂
Do watch to the end
Disclaimer: Ian neither tolerates nor condones this behaviour. I, on the other hand, love anything that brings a smile to my face!
Clare x
Happy Friday Everyone!
It's Clare and my turn to write a post (as opposed to typing what Ian is speaking - often with me yelling at him to slow down!) and I'd like to come at it from a different angle...from the side of the 'normal' dog owner.
Ian and I met due to our (David, George's and my) unruly and quite anxious spaniel Trampus. Trampus stayed with Ian for a week's residential whilst my late husband was having a craniotomy in Plymouth hospital and Ian worked on his recall, listening and heeling. He also tried to get some weight on him as he burned up everything we could get into him! So, I was one of Ian's clients - I was one of you.
Whenever possible I try and get out with Ian as I love to see him work, he never fails to amaze me; and I love to witness the range of emotions within with owners: first anxiety and concern, leading to embarrassment and then wonder, relief, happiness and hope. My emotions did the same (especially embarrassment when Trampus decided to do about 20 poos all over Ian's yard!) But quite often, after all those emotions comes self-doubt and disparagement. And this is what I want to write about.
From the moment that Ian starts a session, he is working with both you and the dog. You may not think it, but he is listening to every word, watching every movement: piecing together all the parts of the puzzle to create the right plan, the correct solution. I have watched him adjust how he trains, how he talks, the levels of reassurance needed. He understands you as much as he understands the dog and the plans and actions, whilst all based on the same underlying principles, are tailored to what you, your dogs and your family/friends need.
Over the course of the session you move from Ian working with the dog, to you both working together and, by the end of the session, to you on your own.
You are working with the dog, helping them to understand what you need, helping them to display the behaviours that you want.
Not Ian.
You.
So, when the
