Dawggone Walkies

05/04/2024

02/04/2024

11/03/2024

Steady-on Teddy, it's a bit slippy on 'ere!😄

10/02/2024

Kerala and Finny on a sponsored walk in Penllegaer Valley woods, Finny watches from a safe distance as Keira goes for a paddle❤️

31/01/2024

Nothing like a good ole DIY backrub, says she!😄

21/01/2024

Anyone who has one needs to know this!

If you own an XL Bully dog, there are steps you need to take before 31st January 2024.

Find out what the new XL Bully dog rules mean for you.

Learn more at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs?utm_campaign=XL_Bully&utm_medium=Paid_Social&utm_source=Meta&utm_content=No_Background

31/12/2023

Some of the 'stars' of 2023..🤩

30/12/2023

Hi everyone, we are now closed until Jan 3rd . Thankyou all for your custom this year, it has been a great pleasure to look after all your beloved, pampered pets.
Enquiries still welcome by text/whatsapp ONLY on: 07826327460.
Have a wonderful NYE celebration and see you all in 2024❤️❤️❤️🐕🐕‍🦺🦝🐩🐺🐈💥💥

22/12/2023

Marlie & Montie just wanna have fun, fun, fun till the 'ballie' goes back 'in his bed'😍😄

26/10/2023

One of 'those precious moments' ...

23/10/2023

Teddy met a new friend today🐕

12/10/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=733201118618459&id=100057857311489&sfnsn=scwspmo

Primrose (in the middle) snuggling up with her sisters. This dog was going to be pts in February due to her aggression.

I see lots of people justifying using aversive tools online, and it hurts my heart. I’m not going to lie, Primrose can be freaking annoying. She pushes me to the edge sometimes. I have raised my voice at her in the past 7 months. I’ve had to emergency scruff her. I don’t want to, but sometimes management fails and situations escalate. But that’s rare, and it’s not part of the training plan.

Several years ago, I worked with a dog that was the same age as my first reactive dog, Tulip. They were a similar breed and had similar behavior problems, namely dog reactivity. It wasn’t to the degree Tulip was reactive, and there was no human aggression. The differences occurred with our approaches to these dogs.

With Tulip, I chose a slow but steady training method. Building confidence, building positive experiences and giving her time to feel comfortable. The owners of the other little crossbreed decided to go with an e-collar, and to pin down and scruff the dog whenever they reacted.

A few months later, and their little dog was looking so much better than Tulip. It was no longer reacting at other dogs, whereas Tulip was. From the outside, it looked like the other dog was fixed. It was a great testament to punishment-based training.

However, the dog wasn’t more comfortable. It was just masking. And one day, out of apparently nowhere, it badly attacked another dog. There was no warning. It wasn’t just a snap, it was a determined and unprovoked attack.

Several years later, and Tulip is not only almost entirely non-reactive, she’s generally very social. On walks, where we had to put her on lead and dive into bushes, she’s now usually the first of mine to make new friends. She knows how to move away from other dogs if they make her feel uncomfortable, and will occasionally (very rarely) give a warning bark if they get too close, not a full reaction. I can’t even remember the last full reaction she had. She has two new dogs (the collies) living with her, something that would’ve been impossible before.

The dog that wore the e-collar? They still can’t trust her with other dogs. There has been no improvement, they are still wildly unpredictable and dangerous to have around dogs. The warning signals- the barks- were punished but the emotional response that drove the dog to bark was never addressed. They’re still a scared dog, but now they give no warning before they attack.

If you looked at Tulip and the other dog a few months into their training journeys, the other one would’ve appeared a success story and Tulip’s training methods would’ve seemed like a failure. But long-term, kindness, hard work and positive reinforcement won.

It’s the same with Primrose. It’s the same with almost every dog.

You think using punishment is your miracle cure? It might seem so right now. But time will tell…

16/09/2023

A fabulous time was had by all of us on Pennard golf course today

05/09/2023

Such a worthy cause, for a lovely lady who gives so much time to the MadAboutSchnauzers charity; shame we can't have the same type of 'medical insurance' for our furbabies as we do for ourselves..

I'm running this prize draw to raise money towards Veterinary fees, physio & rehabilitation For Chester’s on going medical issues

28/07/2023

R.I.P. Beautiful Lola, you are missed very much already and will be remembered with great fondness💖

24/07/2023

I was hoping to share this on here as the dog in question has been missing for four years, therefore could be anywhere, including Wales..
The dog is a Miniature Schnauzer called Winston. He has been missing from Cambois in Northumberland. He would now be about 8years old. there is a separate fb group set up in his name, called Winston Missing Cambois Northumberland..

23/07/2023

GivingLottery - a fun and easy way to support good causes in the UK!

12/07/2023

An absolutely fabulous solo outing with 'P-Dawg' and of course, the obligatory treats after!🤩

05/05/2023

A newcomer to the Dawggone Walkies 'portfolio' and what a stunning one she is, too!

27/04/2023

This is Darcie. She’s a three-year-old Newfoundland. She’s never lived in a home before and has never experienced love 😔💔 Darcie was one of around 40 dogs rescued in the middle of the night by the Many Tears Animal Rescue charity last week. Poor Darcie was found with sore skin and must have been in terrible pain. Thankfully, she’s now being cared for by kind volunteers who gave her a groom - and she’s starting to feel much better. She’s now looking for a new loving forever home - and is hoping to meet someone who can finally show her how wonderful life can be when you are loved 🥰 We’re rooting for you Darcie! 🙌

https://bit.ly/3AqULks