Whiskers Pet Care Services - Four Marks

19/07/2024

This is so true!

26/06/2024

03/04/2024

Please don't throw sticks for your dogs ......

12/03/2024

Dogs really do know what time you are due home from work ...!!

I NOSE WHAT TIME IT IS!

Dogs just seem to know when it’s time for food, time for a walk or even what time we’re expected to come home, sometimes down to the exact minute!

Yes, they may simply know this from daily routines that create predictable patterns or certain cues that predict certain events, but there is far more to this ability to tell time than the obvious reasons.

One theory is that time has a particular smell. Different times of the day smell differently. Morning smells differently to afternoon or evening.

As air heats up over the course of the day, air currents change and move around, carrying molecules of different odours with it.

These changes become predictable and a dog’s incredible sense of smell enables these odours to become their “clock”.

One example is when you leave the house to go to work, leaving a strong scent behind you. As time passes, your scent becomes weaker.

Dogs predict that when your scent becomes weakened to a certain level, it’s time for you to come home.

The level of your scent predicts the time. As dogs can detect both strong and weak scents and all of the levels in between, it means that they are actually interpreting events across an interval of time.

Another way dogs may tell time is through circadian rhythms. Just like us, dogs have fluctuations in systems like hormone levels, neural activity or body temperature and these rhythms may help them to understand the approximate time of day - just like when our stomach starts growling when it’s nearly time for dinner or we feel tired when it's time for bed.

Dogs are not the only species that can interpret time. Animals that migrate or hibernate follow seasonal cues from nature in the form of daylight and temperature to know when the time is right.

Having hundreds of millions more scent receptors than us, a dog’s amazing ability to smell is likely the reason that dogs just "nose" what time it is.

17/02/2024

08/02/2024

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2536483276526624 Wi******er plumber goes viral after accidentally letting the cat out. Watch to the end!

19/01/2024

When choosing a trainer please ensure that they are totally committed to force free and positive methods only. Often I see "balanced trainers" advertising - what does this mean? Well, it often means that they mainly train with positive force free methods but when those aren't yielding results quickly enough they add in aversives, such as a e-collar etc. What happens when the e-collar doesn't give the desired results? Then we are on the path to further aversive tools and so on. Dogs deserve better and positive reinforcement and force free works, it just isn't always the "quick fix" that so many people demand these days.

One of the many issues with the use of punitive/aversive tools and methods is- when they don't work - the escalation of intervention can often be to add MORE punitive/aversive methods.

It is sadly now not uncommon to see dogs with an e-collar AND a prong collar on. Leading to the question, if one tool was so effective- why would you even need a second?! 🤔

This picture is an example of everything that is wrong with our industry. An 'professional' so uneducated, so unskilled that they have to NOTHING but multiple aversive tools and aversive methods to use.

I'm sure this was justified by using one of the many sayings we often see used to justify aversive tool use.

The dog being "a red zone dog", "highly aggressive" or perhaps they are "really high drive".
Of course let's not forget that......

🗣️ “Every dog learns differently"
and
🗣️ “Not every dog responds to positive reinforcement training".

My experience and that of thousands and thousands of others says otherwise.
Never let a trainer justify such abuse. No dog deserves this.

The dog pictured is on a choke chain, on an e-collar, on a prong collar- which is slung up high so any movement (even if to balance) causes it to dig in more than it is already.
As if that's not bad enough, the dog is balancing on a chair with a muzzle on.

Whilst the trainer probably thinks they're stopping undesirable behaviour, they're also inhibiting the ability for the dog to offer any desired behaviour at all. This dog has been given nothing but surrender as an option.

It's important to note that there are many balanced trainers who have an adequate knowledge of behaviour and training who would feel just as sad as I do when looking at this picture.

Whilst I do not advocate, nor am I permissive, of the use of balanced training methods and aversive tools, I am aware that there are plenty of balanced trainers who are incredibly careful about how and when they use tools.

I'd like to see such trainers speak up and call out the escalation of aversive tool use. I'd like to see these trainers openly discuss and educate on the risks associated with aversive tools rather than using ambiguous language such as 'when used correctly'.

The trainer of this dog probably thinks they are using them correctly.

I do not subscribe to 'correct' aversive tool use. I've not needed a tool in 13 years.
But, I do recognise that many people will not listen to those who do not use aversive tools, such as myself. They think we are bias, uneducated, inexperienced and yet to see the benefits because we haven't given it a go ourselves.

So, if you're a balanced trainer or an aversive tool supporting dog owner who is saddened by this picture- then please reconsider how you communciate your advocation of aversive tools.

Aversive tool use is IMO more popular than ever. This picture is an example of how things said online or inperson can be interpretted.

If you advocate for tool use and you do not openly acknowledge and educate on the risks associated with such methods, this is what can and does happen.

Note, discussing this risks on your platforms will reach more who are more open to aversive tool use (and thus, more at risk of fallout!) than if you acknowledge the risks only on discussions promoted by those against aversive tool use.
IMO- the use of aversive tools are never necessery and after working with thousands of dogs for nearly 14 years, I feel I have enough anecdotal experience (alongside that of my like minded colleagues) to maintain my stance on the matter.
Thanks to The Perfect Puppy Company for bringing this awful picture to my attention.

30/09/2023

When you are the same size as your food bowl! Looking after this little cutie

30/08/2023

Wow, really interesting to learn how dogs "see" their world

10/08/2023

We are no longer part of the Tug-E-Nuff partner programme, regrettably their association with Absolute Dogs and the allegations surrounding puppy farming and unethical breeding left us with no alternative but to distance ourselves from them.

We are now looking to partner with another manufacturer of similar dog tug toys so watch this space!

21/07/2023

I will just leave this here, thank goodness this dog is safe, but such a recurring theme here. Why does everyone want the quick fix or the easy option? When it comes to dog training and behavioural issues there is literally no gadget or quick fix, it is time, patience, time, consistency, time and patience.

This is the side of rescuing that people don’t see, and just don’t realise how hard it is for us behind the scenes.
Strap in guys, while I explain.

This is Marcus.

His owner contacted me to ask me to rehome him, because….
‘He barks at other dogs and people when out so needs rehoming ’

Marcus is a 2 year old patterdale x Labrador.

He had been owned by said owner for… 5 weeks.

He’s just settling in, learning his new environment and family, and at only 2 years old he will be rather overwhelmed as well as adjusting to everything new.

Barking is how dogs communicate, and express their fears, and also excitement.

When I asked his owner what training she had been doing with Marcus to help him overcome his possible nervous behaviour, the answer was ‘he’s had none’

I explained I am full at the moment but I will let her know when I had room to fit him in.

2.5 hours later I receive a call from a vet practice.

Marcus had been taken to the vets to be EUTHANISED.

Put to sleep.
To end his life, because his owner could not be bothered to put any time or training into him.

THANKFULLY, the vets refused and called us.
They spoke to their behaviourist while they were there, and offered the owner sessions to help Marcus- the owner declined.

Killing him was the easy way to end her problem.

So, of course, with fear the owner would then just go to another vet and put him to sleep- I made room.
I don’t have room, but I’m not having it.

Marcus has been with us less than half an hour.
He has sat, taken a treat very gently.
Has met 6 dogs- enjoyed a sniff and his tail hasn’t stopped wagging

He hasn’t barked yet.

Too many people are getting pets without any consideration to the time they need to adjust, and expecting them to be ‘perfect companions’ without actually putting anything into them.

Take some responsibility and invest the time into them, you chose them to be part of your family. Stop destroying them just because you cannot be bothered to help them.
It’s not their fault.

You are safe Marcus, and loved.
You will never be treated so badly again, and that I can promise.

29/06/2023

Puppies are not clean slates !
You often hear people say 'get a puppy they are a clean slate'

As a behaviourist and breeder I can confidently tell you this is not true. Both nature and nurture has a huge impact.
A puppy will inherit genes from its parents and these genes will impact the puppies genetic potential to behave in a particular way.
Such as :
Using aggression as a strategy to deal with difficult situations
Sociability towards people and dogs
Fearful responses
Strong instinctive behaviour to hunt, chase, grab and hold.
Trainability including the ability to learn self control as humans desire it
When people breed dogs they sometimes select for specific traits and sometimes not. If someone is breeding for a particular look or just money then these traits can become altered becoming stronger or weaker or unbalanced.

Then the puppy is born and the first 8 weeks learning with the breeder will have an huge impact on the development of all these genetic traits.

My six puppies have all come from the same parents and been reared in the same environment. They have very individual personalities. The training and socialisation they receive in their new homes will only influence the genes and first learning, it won't change their personalities.

So if you are looking for a puppy
Firstly learn about breed traits and instincts and make sure you pick a puppy that will suit your lifestyle. For example there no point getting a breed that is 'aloof with strangers' if you have 3 young children and lots of friends visiting.

Secondly meet the parents or (genes), see what they are like. Make sure you are meeting the actual parents, some people buy in puppy farmed litters and then 'hire' an adult of the same breed to pretend the puppies were bred there!!

Thirdly make sure the puppy has had plenty of early neurological stimulation and learning before it leaves the litter. Ask these questions.
1) What have the puppies seen?
2) Who and what have they met?
2) What have they learnt?
3) How have they learned to play?
4) What do they do if they get frustrated?
5) What do they do if they get bored?

A professional trainer can help support and guide you on the process of looking for a puppy. Don't wait till afterwards for help.

Prevention IS better than Cure. This goes for training and socialisation too, get a professional to help and guide you.

Puppies are building neural pathways with every experience, every day, make sure they're building ones you like.

First Learning is the strongest, make sure you get it right first time.


Written by Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip.CABT
WaggaWuffins Canine College
Bury Lancashire

*Permission to share this post. No cutting and pasting please.

17/06/2023

𝘿𝙤𝙜 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 – 𝙄𝙨 𝙄𝙩 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜?

Dog daycare has grown hugely in popularity in recent years. And, like any new industry which has grown rapidly, the variety and quality of the provision varies greatly. So how do you decide –

• whether daycare is right for your dog?
• which daycare to choose?

𝗜𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴?

Daycare isn’t right for every dog. Here are some points to consider when deciding if it’s right for yours –

• Is your dog anxious or lacking in confidence? While an under confident dog might grow in confidence in a smaller daycare they are likely (in my experience) to struggle in a large scale daycare. It can be tempting to think that by being around other dogs they will ‘get used to it’ but, very often, it’s totally overwhelming for them and actually makes the problems worse.

• Is your dog super interested in other dogs? And, if so, is giving him pretty much unrestricted access to other dogs likely to be helpful? Or do you run the risk of turning him into a hypersocial, overly friendly dog?

• Can your dog settle and relax around other dogs? If not they are going to be exhausted (and not in a good way…) after a day at day care. A daycare may say they have ‘quiet times’ but saying that is one thing…achieving it is altogether different.

• Can your dog tolerate rude, socially clumsy dogs? Do they have the social skills to defuse and de-escalate tension or might they react if they feel painted into a corner?

• Are you prepared to neuter your dog early? Many local authorities make neutering by a given age (often as young as 6 months) a condition of daycare licensing however early neutering can often be at odds with the health and well being of the dog, particularly for large breeds.

• Why do you need/want daycare for your dog? Is additional care a necessity? Are you out of the home for extended periods? Does your dog have separation related problems? Or are you simply looking for a socialisation opportunity for your dog? What other options are there and which would suit your dog best? For example would they get more out of spending time outdoors with a dog walker? Do they need to have access to human contact at all times? Would a trip to the park meet their socialisation needs (bearing in mind that socialisation is not just about meeting other dogs)?

• How will you mitigate or avoid the potential behavioural problems which can arise from daycare? The lessons your dog can learn in day care are unlikely to be helpful in the rest of their lives. Think about what daycare might teach them…they get unrestricted access to play with lots of dogs lots of the time, they may get little practice settling and switching off, they are kept physiologically aroused a lot of the time, they often practice using their voice a lot. Are these things that might become problematic in contexts other than daycare? How will the young, adolescent dog who plays all day with every dog in daycare react when he’s out in the world and can’t interact with every dog there? Frustration? Barking? Pulling?

If you’ve answered these questions and are happy that your dog would benefit from (NB not just cope with) a day care environment how do choose the right daycare?

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?

There are many different styles of daycare from small, in home facilities which take only a handful of dogs to large scale daycares operating in industrial units which can have upward of 60 dogs on site. So what should you consider when choosing a daycare?

• Size. How many dogs are cared for at any one time? There’s a world of difference between being in a group of 6 dogs and one of 60. What will your dog be comfortable with (and what are you comfortable with)?

• How many groups does the daycare normally have? Will your dog be in a small group (

15/06/2023

With the weather warming ☀️ up here are our top tips on keeping your dogs cool 🌬

12/06/2023

It's hot.....🔥🔥🔥

And while most of us welcome a bit of sun for dog professionals it brings with it all sorts of headaches.

The current high temperatures mean it’s unsafe to train or walk dogs during the hottest part of the day. Asking your dog to be active outdoors in high temperatures is potentially dangerous for your dog and is a totally avoidable risk. No dog ever came to serious harm from a missed training session or a missed walk. But many come to harm every year from heatstroke.

No trainer or walker wants to cancel, especially at short notice. The vast majority of us are self employed and if we don't work, we don't earn. It would be easy for us just to carry on regardless but we don't because we have a duty of care to your dog.

We understand that cancellations at short notice are frustrating but if your trainer or walker does cancel due to hot weather be grateful that you have a responsible professional on board who places your dog's welfare above their own financial gain.

11/06/2023

For my outside dog training clients this week, it is going to be incredibly hot so lessons may well need to be postponed or moved to the evening, I will keep you all posted. Stay Cool!

10/06/2023

This is so true, a client this week asked me if it was OK to let her dog sniff, absolutely!

07/06/2023

A lovely message received today - Happy Birthday Lola 🥰🐾

22/02/2023

Wishing Megan my “puppy” a very happy 2nd birthday. Trained using only positive rewards based methods, there is no place or need for aversive or punishment based methods.

13/02/2023

Whiskers Pet Care Services are proud to be partnered with Tug-E-Nuff makers of the top tug dog toys, as recommended by trainers and loved by dogs.

As a partner, if you order through us you will receive a discount and for one day only, 14th February, Tug-E-Nuff are running this brilliant promotion to gift a dog in rescue a toy for each toy purchased through a partner.

Will you show a rescue dog some love this Valentines?

For one day only, Tug-E-Nuff are offering you the opportunity to Buy 1 & Gift 1. Treat your own dog to a fabulous tuggy and they’ll give a free toy to a dog in rescue.

You pay no extra, buy 1 toy - give a toy (for free)

Double the love and show a dog in kennels some love today.

Just head to the link below and take your pick of tremendous tuggies.

Ready, set… SHARE THE LOVE

Overcome training and behaviour problems, improve your bond and achieve amazing results – all while having loads of fun with a Tug-E-Nuff dog training toy.

02/12/2022

This ..... so true and so important to remember

07/11/2022

These cats are expert at Parkour!