Happy Buddies - Dog Training & Walking

26/08/2024

It's International Dog Day today and to celebrate, I thought I'd share a photo of my two little monkeys!

I love my boys so much. There are actually no words to describe the love I have for these two. They are my heart ❤️ and there's nothing I enjoy more than spending time with them.

"𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱,
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀,
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘀,
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴,
𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀."
(𝐿𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑎 𝐽𝑎𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑘𝑖)

24/08/2024

I'm not a fan of Lily Allen and hearing this on the radio today hasn't helped me to change my mind unfortunately.

Some people, when they get a dog have an idea of what they think a dog should act like without really considering what a dog should act like!

What is normal and common dog behaviours can be annoying and frustrating for us humans sometimes, but most of the time, the behaviours happen because of things us humans have or haven't done to help prevent them.

Something as valuable as passports and visas should not have been left in a place that was accessible to her dog. Simple.

If you are thinking of getting a dog and really can't cope with normal dog behaviours (or in the very least, invest time and patience in understanding them and money in training or veterinary fees as some of the behaviours might be bought on due to medical reasons), then a dog simply isn't for you.

Let dogs be dogs. Guide them with training, help them adjust to being in a human world but don't expect miracles from a completely different species with its own very natural instincts and behaviours.

PS. Whilst her reasons for surrendering her dog are, in my opinion, ridiculous (and if it has been reported correctly) then I'm glad she did it as there's now a chance her dog will find a suitable home. 🐶

23/08/2024

Does anyone else pack their dogs their own suitcase when going on holiday?

Buddy and Fudge know it's holiday time when they see their favourite toys and treats being packed (not stuffed Buddy!!!) into their suitcase!

Is this another reason to call me a crazy dog mum or am I not alone? Help me out here folks ... my husband thinks I'm nuts ... I think I'm just organised! 🐶💼🐶

21/08/2024

Awwww well done little Ottie!!!

Congratulations on completing your 121 Puppy Training course. You've stolen a piece of my heart!

I've loved working with Ottie and her family, they've been so good with her training.

I'm very excited about seeing Ottie again on another one of our courses ... she's the right amount of cuteness, sass and cheekiness! 🐶

21/08/2024

What do you get if you cross 3 Cockapoo's and a Dalmation?

Spotty Poo's!

Yeah I know, the dogs didn't find it funny either! 🤣🤣🤣

20/08/2024

🎓 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎓

It was our last graduation of the summer last night and what a gorgeous bunch of puppies they were, spanning 2 courses. A real mix of breeds and different needs which always opens up opportunities for further coaching and learning for our dog guardians ☺️.

Their courses were a bit of a hybrid due to the heat we've experienced. Most sessions were face to face but two transferred online so the puppies could stay in their nice cool houses. They did REALLY WELL!

CONGRATULATIONS to Bonnie, Juno, Mabel, Minnie, Mochi, Ottie, Sasha, Wilf (and Leo, Rio and Sunny who couldn't make their final session).

With their foundation skills completed, I'm looking forward to seeing them back for the next stage of their training!

🎓🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🎓

17/08/2024

WOW what a bundle!!!

As a Puppy School Tutor I'm excluded from applying (Buddy and Fudge are very sad about that) but you could make your dog's day if you win this!!

Instructions on how to enter are within the post below ... just click on it, follow the very easy steps and you could be the winner! 🐶

16/08/2024

🤣 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🤣

So here's mine ... share your favourite animal related joke in the comments below ... keep them clean(ish)!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀?

𝗔 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿!! 😂😂😂

16/08/2024

If you'd like raise money for charity whilst walking your dog, then sign up for the Phyllis Tuckwell, Hospice Care 'September Walkies Challenge'!

This campaign encourages supporters and their dogs to walk 100k over the month of September and raise money for Phyllis Tuckwell, Hospice Care.

It's free to sign up and you can find more information within this link:

https://www.pth.org.uk/news-and-events/events/upcoming-events/september-walkies-challenge/

16/08/2024

Great post.

Just because a dog is little, doesn't mean we should ignore their communication!! 🐶

SMALL DOG, BIG SCARY WORLD

People often think of very small dogs as being anxious and reactive and to be honest, quite a few are. It’s easy for people to ‘blame the owners’ or say that they have ‘little dog syndrome’ or even that they are ‘bossy’ 🙄 Really though, we need to be understanding of what life is like for really tiny dogs.

Tiny dogs often don’t have much control over their lives- they can be picked up easily (even if they don’t want to be) and they can be made to do stuff as they are small. People notice if a 40kg dog is worried about going into a busy park or a cafe and plants their feet and refuses to move but with a tiny dog, you can just make them do it even if they don’t want as you can pull them or pick them up ☹️

Tiny dogs often get overwhelmed before they’ve even got through puppyhood and many are fearful by the time they are 4 or 5 months old 😢 Big dogs may run up and knock them over, even in play bigger dogs can be overwhelming if you are 50 x smaller. Lots of hands reach down to touch them and yes, there it is again, strangers may also pick them up (whether they like it or not). Physically they may be delicate (my yorkie’s legs are made from matchsticks 😂) and may be hurt accidentally during normal dog interactions.

Everything is big and potentially dangerous when you weigh a couple of Kg and are about 8 inches tall. The world can be a scary and overwhelming place.

It’s easy to see then why so many littlies end up worried by the world and particularly by other dogs.

Tiny dog’s signals that they need space are also ignored often; people take notice of a GSD showing it’s teeth or growling and give them space but many people would laugh or totally ignore a tiny dog’s identical communication asking for space. How many ‘funny’ videos are out there that show tiny chihuahuas showing all their teeth and people are laughing at them? 😢 It’s not rocket science that they may then escalate to actually biting if their warnings are ignored - and they get called ‘snappy little dogs’ and again, misunderstood 😢

Small dogs can often miss out on having their species-specific needs met: their need for exploratory behaviour, for social contact; their needs for enrichment and physical exercise too and this impacts on them and their ability to cope. They are still proper dogs with the same needs.

I’ve been really lucky with my handreared yorkie, she’s fabulous with people and absolutely loves dogs but it’s been a bit of a mission to make sure things have gone right. It’s taken time to get her comfortable around bigger dogs on walks and I haven’t socialised her in the same way I have my other dogs as she could easily have become fearful (and then reactive).

When she was a puppy I did let her meet loads of dogs but I was been really careful and it was almost all onlead and with dogs I know and who I knew would be nice to her. Even now she’s an adult I continue to make sure she meets nice dogs and we frequent loads of national trust places as she can meet lots of sociable dogs there who are all under control. The last thing I wanted was for her to be really scared by another dog or physically hurt (she has deformed back legs that put her at huge risk of injury). She goes to offlead places too, but generally with one of my big dogs there too (she has big body guards) 😄

I’ve had to make adjustments to life to keep her safe and make sure she has a happy life and that she doesn’t become reactive. It’s been worth it as she has stayed so sociable (but as an adult she loves small dogs best). If I’d just walked her where I walked my big dogs all the time I would think that by now she would have been flattened or overwhelmed and may have become dog reactive. It’s totally understandable why so many tiny dogs are fearful.

My tiny dog also wouldn’t have had enough repeated, safe and positive controlled interactions with friendly dogs right throughout adolescence if I hadn’t carried on with all the cafe/pub/NT visits and that would have been detrimental. It’s not enough to just do this stuff when they are tiny puppies and then stop at 14 weeks old as adolescence is when if can often all start to go wrong. (It’s also a good justification for my many pub and cafe visits with Twig 😂)

We can’t forget the impact of genetics too and that’s a factor in why many small dogs are reactive; some genes for small body size are linked to fearfulness and reactivity and there may also be epigenetic factors too.

We can all be a bit more understanding too with small dogs and their owners. Don’t berate them for picking their dogs up if that’s what makes their dog feel safe- it won’t be what’s caused their anxiety and it might be what they need to feel safe right now. Don’t let your dogs overwhelm them (even in a friendly way). You’d also think it’s common sense to not pick strangers small dogs up without asking but people try to do it all the time 🙄

We have lots of anxious tiny dogs who absolutely thrive in our reactivity classes, we can keep them safe and make sure they aren’t overwhelmed and also help them to feel more confident around other dogs again.

Laura McAuliffe 2024
Photo shows my yorkie meeting two other small dogs in a cafe

14/08/2024

🎓 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎓

Oh gosh what a group! Such lovely puppies with their lovely humans! My Wednesday evenings won't be the same without them!

They've all done so well. Some of these little pups were shy and worried when they attended their first Puppy School class but that soon changed! They were all so excited to be in class each week, some were quite vocal about expressing it too 😂. They've achieved great results with their training and just wait until you see their graduation tricks ... coming up in a separate post tomorrow!

CONGRATULATIONS you super group!! I'll miss you! 🎓🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🎓

14/08/2024

🎓🏅🥉 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 !! 🥉🏅🎓

Last night saw these gorgeous and fun groups complete their Canine Hoopers courses. We had both a Beginners and Bronze graduation!

These guys have been super! Their course has been affected by the heat but they have all been so understanding and accommodating when I've postponed or rearranged their classes. They've been superstars!

Well done to:

𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀:

🔵 Danny Boy
🔵 Finley
🔵 Frankie
🔵 Gary and
🔵 Turbo

𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲:

🔴 Daisy
🔴 Ren
🔴 Tilly and
🔴 Twiggy

Congratulations to you all! 🎓🐶🎓

14/08/2024

Here's the link to BBC Surrey Radio, where I did a live interview this morning about the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's decision to reduce the number of dogs a person can walk from 6 to 4.

Relevant section and my interview starts at 2.22.24 (for those that would like to listen)! 🐶

Peter brings you the perfect start to your day in Surrey.

14/08/2024

Did anyone hear me live on BBC radio this morning?

I had a 5 minute slot to talk about the change to the number of dogs that one person can walk in Reigate and Banstead! 🎙

13/08/2024

With immediate effect, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have implemented revised dog control orders which limit the amount of dogs to be walked, throughout Reigate and Banstead, to 4 (previously 6). Although no enforcement will take place until October.

Whilst I agree this is a good step forward (I only walk 4 client dogs at a time anyway), I'm disappointed by the way this has been done (I'll explain why later in this post).

In my opinion, the number of dogs walked by a person is not the only cause of the issues they say they are facing. I and many of the good, professional dog walkers could happily, safely and respectfully walk 6 dogs whilst another could walk a single dog that is an absolute nuisance and out of control. In fact, I've witnessed more incidents with dog owners rather than professional dog walkers.

Unlike dog boarding, dog walking isn't licenced. So anyone can walk a group of dogs ... yup, anyone! This is not an easy job and it's a huge responsibility. Dogs have different needs, different personalities, different motivations, different abilities. A reputable professional dog walker will match dogs and they won't be afraid to turn a dog down if it doesn't suit the existing walk pack.

I wouldn't in a million years let just anyone walk my dogs. I would want them to be trained, qualified, experienced, knowledgeable, have a good understanding of canine body language and be insured!

Reducing the number of dogs a person can walk does not ensure an ethical, reputable, knowledgable dog walker. Only licencing can do that. So in my opinion, this new rule will, on it's own, do nothing to improve the issues behind why they have implemented this but instead it will cause stress and anxiety to those who do a good job and whose focus is on the welfare of the dogs in their care.

In addition, the way this has been implemented is pretty unbelievable. I've had several calls from dog walkers this morning all in a huge panic, their stress and anxiety going through the roof because journalists have informed them of the change. JOURNALISTS!!! This has not been effectively communicated and today is the first we are hearing about it and via social media and journalists.

It has also been implemented with immediate effect and although no enforcement of fines will take effect until October I believe, what they haven't considered, I can 100% guarantee, is the quick to complain Joe Public who will see a dog walker in the next couple of months walking more than 4 dogs who go straight to social media to complain and as a result damage the reputation of a hard working, caring, small business owner who is doing their best during what is a transition stage.

So for those that want to keep their reputation intact only have a few hours to contact clients and most likely say goodbye to some of the dogs they have walked for years and developed strong, loving bonds with. Heartbreaking. This not only leaves the dog walker heartbroken and stressed with the decisions they have to make, but it may leave their clients in a position where they no longer have someone to look after their dog.

Yes, I agree there are some rogue dog walkers out there who I wouldn't want anywhere near my dogs or yours but there are also some FABULOUS ones. Ones who have been walking up to 6 dogs beautifully for many, many years without any issue or complaint. Will reducing them to 4 make a difference? No.

Will reducing the unqualified, inexperienced, un-insured dog walkers to 4 dogs make a difference? No.

It's licencing that will make a difference.

One other note is that I feel really disappointed that the council hasn't asked us for our input/suggestions or thoughts. Yes, we had a chance to complete the survey, but only as a resident (and only if we saw it on social media). I and many others would have welcomed a meeting to seek our opinions and thoughts on how we (the professionals and business owners) think things could be improved. Many of us would wholeheartedly welcome licencing.

Finally, I really hope that all the wonderful fellow dog walkers I know locally, are OK and I hope that the dogs they may need to give up don't end up with a reduced walking experience with someone less reputable.

For anyone in the Council responsible for implementing this and future changes, please know that I would welcome inclusion in any discussions where future changes need to be fair, unbiased and ultimately EFFECTIVE in the improvements needed to the dog care industry. 🐶

Councillor Jed Dwight Rebecca Paul MP Love Reigate and Banstead

11/08/2024

𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀 - 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲

My dog Buddy has arthritis and we do as much as we can to help him live more comfortably with it.

Most people associate it with older dogs, however, contrary to this belief, arthritis often develops in dogs at a young age with routine screenings revealing that 2 in 5 young dogs have arthritis 😱.

Arthritis is a common condition in dogs and it can cause pain, inflammation, reduced mobility and progressive joint deterioration.

Spotting the signs of arthritis is crucial for early intervention and treatment and this link includes a BRILLIANT video by Dog Arthritis AWARE showing some of the signs to look out for.

https://dogarthritisaware.co.uk/about-arthritis

They include:

🐶 A spinal sway
🐶 A bunny hop
🐶 A sloppy sit
🐶 A small dog skip
🐶 A duck feet pose
🐶 A head bob

Behavioural changes can also occur and these can often be misread:

🐾 Laziness could be lameness
🐾 Lagging behind on walks could be hesitation or hurt
🐾 Tiredness could be tenderness
🐾 Boredom could be their pain bothering them
🐾 Being needy could be seeking comfort
🐾 Reactivity (resource guarding, growling etc) is also an early sign of pain or discomfort.

No matter how old your dog is, please do have a read of the article in the link below and watch the video as it shows some clips of dogs demonstrating the above symptoms and these may be things you've seen in your own dog but which you may not have realised, might be linked to arthritis. 🐶

https://dogarthritisaware.co.uk/about-arthritis

11/08/2024

You'd think a little trip to the garden centre would be a happy one. Then you see:

🥵 3 dogs being walked around the garden centre (I'm in shorts and a strappy top feeling hot, sweaty and uncomfortable)

🥵🥵 On my way home, a man walking a dog who's clearly been to the park and has a ball launcher under his arm.

The worst one though?

🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 A female jogger running on pavement with her very hairy black dog trying to keep up on lead. (I wasn't only concerned about the heat but his gait was bad and he probably has uncomfortable joints too).

IT'S 29° outside people!!! Have some sense PLEASE. This is not what your dog needs from you right now!!! You are NOT being kind to them and you are NOT considering their needs or health. As for the jogger ... I'm actually lost for words and can't get your poor little dog out of my head. I really hope you get home soon and before your dog really starts to suffer!!!!

Jogging ... with your dog ... on pavement ... in 29° and rising ... ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID??? 😡😡😡

09/08/2024

How lovely is this Olympics story.

After her winning swim in the River Seine, Van Rouwendaal pointed to and kissed a tattoo of her late dog Rio's paw print on her wrist.

She explained that after she lost Rio she didn't care about swimming for three weeks but then decided to do the swim for him ... and she did ... she won!

What a wonderful way for her to commemorate her special boy. ❤️

More on this story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/c20lmypk13lo.amp

08/08/2024

"Fear is the easiest thing to condition in dogs and the hardest to resolve." 🐶

Fear is the easiest things to condition in dogs and the hardest to resolve. Fear can come from many places, many of which we don't control. This infographic is my most downloaded and shared resource. In fact, many vets and Veterinary Behaviorists use this handout with their own clients! Link in first comment to grab your own copy.

02/08/2024

🗳 𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲? 🗳

Voting for the Dog Friendly Awards 2024 has now opened and we'd love it if you could vote for us!

The Dog Friendly Awards are your opportunity to recognise and reward dog friendly places and pet businesses that go the extra mile for the benefit of the UK’s 12.5 million dogs and their owners.

All voters get entered into a prize draw to win £1000 to spend on a dog friendly holiday and the finalists and winning businesses are invited to an Awards ceremony in November!

Your vote would mean a huge amount to us. It's very quick and easy to do taking only a couple of seconds (a bit longer if you choose to include a lovely review 😃)! Just click on the link below!

https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/trainers/listing/happy-buddies-dog-training-and-walking-89425

THANK YOU SO MUCH!
🐶❤️🙏💙🐶

Happy Buddies Dog Training and Walking Has Been Entered In The Dog Friendly Awards

01/08/2024

Such a great post.

As you know I have two dogs and they sleep in very different ways. Buddy, once he's asleep that's it, he doesn't move much but Fudge is a fidget. He not only changes position regularly in the night, but also location. Sometimes he's on our bed, sometimes he moves to the floor, sometimes he's out in the hallway. His movements have certainly increased in the heat.

So imagine how uncomfortable he would feel if he was crated. Crates can be great, but not all the time. Sometimes, we have to consider whether they are comfortable and if the crate provides them with enough choice. 🐶

🥵 DOG CRATES & HOT WEATHER! 🥵

Last night this guy had me up twice. He’s not very good at communicating he needs to go out and does displacement behaviours like rolling upside down making a quacking noise, a weird burping noise or pacing up and down the hallway.

Despite having the fan on in the hall and access to a cold, hard floor in different areas, he was too hot!

Dogs often change their position and location multiple times across a sleep/rest period. This is especially the case for thick or double coated breeds or individuals who ‘run hot’.

Amigo and Kanita will stay in their beds in the bedroom all night but sometimes Kanita gets out of her bed to lie on the floor.
(Yes, they sleep in our bedroom! They have the choice to sleep elsewhere, but they want to sleep close as a group).

However, across the evening when we are all hanging in the lounge all three dogs are changing where they rest frequently. With the current heat, despite having a fan on, they are changing positions about 2-3 times each per hour!

One reason dogs change the location or position of where they sleep is to regulate their body temperature.

Another reason is that different sleeping positions may better support different phases of sleep.
Being able to stretch out fully promotes REM sleep- the phase of sleep where memory consolidation and recovery from stressors is at optimum!

Think how about your quality of sleep lying down vs when sat upright! Do you do the nodding dog? 😴 🛌

Taking this species-specific sleeping behaviour and the current hot weather into consideration, it’s important to consider whether your set up for where your dog sleeps is allowing them to regulate their temperature.

Whilst positioning a fan towards a dog who is crated is considerate to them over heating, dogs who aren’t crated can demonstrate a preference to move away after a duration of sitting in front of a fan. 🪭

It’s not uncommon for dogs to suddenly develop an aversion to their crates during hot weather. This may be due to heat, or even due to an increase in audible sounds at night due to open windows 🪟

My preference is that dogs have the freedom to regulate their temperature and stretch out fully by being given more than one option of where they can sleep rather than contained in an area with limited space.

A compromise to providing total free range- where your dog can access multiple sleeping spots in various locations and of various surfaces- may be a dog bed in a room behind a stargate, or a crate with an open door paired up with a large puppy pen. However, be mindful the only padded surface isn’t in a small, contained space or that a hard floor is the only alternative to a thick, cushioned bed! A nice rug or padded mat may provide an in between.

If your dog genuinely loves their crate and considers it to be their consistently comfy bed and safe place - they’ll go inside on their own accord and stay inside even when the door is left open.

30/07/2024

This is why I don't train using techniques that punish dogs. The fallout of using punishment can have a big impact on their behaviour and wellbeing plus your relationship with them. 🐶

Punishing an animal can have significant negative consequences for their behavior and overall well-being. Here are just a few examples of the fallout of punishment. ​

​

To learn more about training, consider completing our DogWise course https://coape.org/coape-courses/dogwise/

29/07/2024

🌡🚨 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗢𝗚 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 🚨🌡

Temperatures have risen again and it's not safe for dogs to be out in this heat. I've made the following arrangements for Training and Dog Walking this week:

𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:
Transferring online

𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄:
Rearranged for Saturday morning

𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄:
Cancelled and Pop In's offered instead

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸:
Decisions will be made re dog walking, classes and 121's the night before once we have seen updated temperature forecasts.

We will ALWAYS do what is best for the puppies and dogs in our care and we will NEVER put a dog at risk.

THANK YOU to everyone who has been understanding of our alternative arrangements. Trust me, I don't enjoy this extra work or stress but if it means all dogs remain safe, then it's worth it! 🐶

28/07/2024

An absolutely brilliant post.

When choosing a dog, your research should include looking at breed traits and whether you are able to cope with those traits and instinctual behaviours. If you aren't, then it's best to reconsider that particular breed/crossbreed as it's unlikely those traits will change.

There's no point getting cross or frustrated with your dog if the traits they are displaying are what comes instinctually natural to them. Instead, remember, you bought them into your life (after hopefully doing your research) and so you need to work with those traits, not against them. You'll need to find appropriate outlets for them and manage those behaviours.

Set yourself and your dog up for success from the outset ... if you are thinking of getting a breed/crossbreed that has breed characteristics that you're not keen on or aren't willing to accept, choose another breed/crossbreed that might suit you and your family better as this will make for a much better and healthier relationship.

Thank you Dog Communication for this lovely post about Twig! 🐶

23/07/2024

OMIDOG what a fabulous competition!!!

Who's gonna enter! Would LOVE one of our graduates to WIN!!! 🏆

22/07/2024

💤 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝘀 🛌

I did a 121 training session last week for Branston and one of the things his mum wanted help with was trying to prevent Branston from being on their sofa.

Now, before I go any further, my dogs are allowed on our sofa's and I just wanted to say there is no right or wrong here, it's very much an individual preference. In Branston's case, as he is a young puppy, his family, certainly at the moment, would prefer he stayed off their sofa because it's new and he's still in the toilet training and chewing stage!

Now, I could have given full on training advice about how to train Branston to stop jumping on the sofa but that would take time and his family are really busy. My aim is to always set dogs and their families up for success, so instead, I opted for a much quicker and far easier solution than a full training programme on this occasion.

What was the solution?
A raised dog bed!

There's generally a reason your dog wants to get on your sofa rather than lay on the floor. These reasons can include; 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙧, 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡.

Being higher up, provides your dog with much more information and gives them a better perspective of their surroundings.

There are also many benefits to providing your dog with a raised bed. These include:

🐶 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩
Raised beds offer a firm and supportive surface that can help alleviate pressure on a dog's joints and muscles, especially great for older dogs or those with arthritis or joint issues.

🌡 𝙏𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Raised beds keep your dog off the cold or hot floor, making them suitable for any season. They provide an improved airflow around the entire bed, including underneath.

🧹 𝙃𝙮𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙚
They are easier to clean and they reduce the risk of allergens and pests.

🏋‍♂️ 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
They are easy to move and can be suitable for indoors and outdoors.

🐾 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙-𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜
They are comfortable because they are taut rather than stuffed. This makes them safer abd durable for bed chewers!

For little Branston and his family, this was a win win! His family had a quick solution to their issue and Branston got a great, elevated and comfortable place to rest, near his parents sofa!

Feedback received since our 121 is "Thank you for the tip on a raised bed for him, he loves it🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🐶"!

20/07/2024

Lovely round robin walk from Ticehurst, around Bewl Water and back again today. We love our walks together, but we especially like finding new ones like this one! 👣🐾👣🐾

This walk was taken from the book by Ben Giles, East Sussex - 40 Coast and Country Walks. 🐶

20/07/2024

I've got a nasty bite causing cellulitis (again) and I've just told my husband I'm off to the vets.
🤦🏼‍♀️