Usen Behaviour Referrals

12/07/2024

Chloe is a really talented caring veterinary physiotherapist, love this post!

Huge thanks to Chloe Blyth Veterinary Physiotherapy for coming out to see our pups today!

Chloe is an essential part of keeping our disabled pups healthy and pain free! Plus seeing to any new pups in need we have in

Today she saw our little Maltese newbie Sam.

This poor little guy arrived as a private surrender - little did we know that this boy is blind, deaf, and with neurological issues 😞 he has now seen the vet, who has recommended physio to improve his mobility

Chloe was amazing in helping us try to figure out how best to help this little chap, and figure out a forward plan to help improve his quality of life

Would highly recommend Chloe if you’ve a pup, kitty, or horse/pony who needs some help living pain free ❤️

08/07/2024

Really happy to accept insurance work, many pet insurers are now processing direct claims so it’s just the excess for clients to pay out! Check your policy and get in touch to find out more👌

02/07/2024

🐾Everything from an informal chat, proof reading reports, troubleshooting plateaus, regressions and everything in between. Really happy to help🐾
Pricing starts at £35 p/h remote. Call or message ☎️

07/11/2023

01/11/2023

⁉️Is there something on your mind that you’d like a sounding board for? My Zooms are friendly and constructive, and suitable for dog owners and fellow professionals. Whether you own a dog and would like to ask a behaviour related question, or you’re a trainer, walker, boarder, or indeed another behaviourist. I am really happy to chat.
Really competitively priced at £35 per hour (& also happy to use other platforms eg FaceTime/WhatsApp if preferred). Give me a shout!

31/10/2023

We talk a lot about clarity for our dogs. Clarity for us humans is also very important in all areas of life. I try and ditch acronyms and jargon as much as is possible/practical. It provides clarity and reduces additional Q&A (therefore more time working with dogs, win win!). Yes, it’s crucial to know the reasons behind why we do what we do, but I guess what I’m saying is there’s beauty in simplicity so we can focus on the big picture and not get bogged down in semantics.

25/10/2023

Separation and isolation related issues have a huge impact on both canine and human quality of life. Please get in touch if you need support, I have both remote and in person options to choose from, and an excellent success rate.

18/10/2023

☔️Stormy out!☔️Throwback puppy pic to cheer me up!❤️

18/10/2023

🧨Fireworks🧨If your dog has known noise sensitivities, speak with your vet now. They can connect you with a behaviourist that they are happy to refer to and can dispense medication if appropriate. Many behaviourists fees can be claimed under most major pet insurance policies.

It is technically too late this year to try and start a program of desensitisation. This is because it takes approximately 3 months (varies) for new neural pathways to form and consequently new behaviour patterns to embed.
Dogs learn by conditioning or association, therefore well intentioned efforts to play ‘scary noises’ can in fact have unintentional outcomes. Some examples from enquiries:
1) fear of a room in the house where noise was experienced
2) suspicion of food (and in some more extreme cases, anorexia)

Consider whether playing noises is suitable for your individual dog.

A well constructed program of desensitising and counter conditioning takes circa 3 months and incorporates far more than just sound. Sound will be carefully delivered at a specific level and location and will have a metric for progression. It will carefully and systematically expose the dog to visual stimuli, vibrations, smells and more, it should be tailored and progressive, and will often require a team approach (ie with vets, vet physios, alternative healthcare practitioners, dog trainers and more)
There’s plenty of great advice out there for general management eg walking in daylight hours only, having cosy nights in with your dog, checking security of premises and equipment etc Adjunctive methods such as holistic healthcare support and mental/physical stimulation during daylight hours are also key ingredients to the calm canine recipe!
If you feel as though you would benefit from tailored advice, do get in touch to book in for a Zoom call.

17/10/2023

Some handy tips for scary season🎃

💚 Independent Vets for your pets💚

🐾🐾💚 🧟‍♀️ Halloween Pet Survival Guide 🧟‍♀️ 🐾🐾💚

🧹 Make a den for nervous or scared pets in a quiet area. Leaving a radio on for back ground noise can help. You could have more visitors or knocks on your door than usual and unfamiliar people approaching can make some pets anxious.

🧹 Trick or treat - If you intend to leave treats outside place them in a container with a sign to 'please close the lid'. Chocolate and sweet treats are poisonous for pets.

🧹 Don't dress pets up in costumes. This can cause them stress and injury.

🧹 Keep candle lit pumpkins away from the reach of pets. The flickering light from the flame is fascinating to some pets and could result in burnt noses or paws.

🧹 Where possible walk dogs in daylight. Trick-or-treaters in costume could be scary for our pets.

🧹 Keep party foods and treats out of reach of pets

🧹Many pets love to play with dangly decorations however if they get hold of them they could end up chewing or swallowing something harmful.

If you have any concerns regarding your pets or just need some advise please contact us - 01684 290500

Crescent Veterinary Centre
Independent vets for your pets

04/10/2023

💙Otis is 13 today💙the sweetest soul, it is a privilege to be your human Otis. I love you ###x

15/09/2023

Enjoy a low-res high-fatigue vid of me🙈😂Dog Law has been a hot topic again the past few weeks. I’m fortunate to have access to experts in the field and keep up to date for my work. I’m side stepping the DDA1991 section 1 convo, it’s been widely discussed and I’m sure you guys have read and watched loads on it recently. But I try and take the opportunity to throw in section 3 to the conversation as current legislation (& also other relevant dog laws). It begs repeating and not every dog owner is aware.(also should have said assistance dog!)

07/09/2023

💙🌍Golden.

03/09/2023

03/09/2023

🔥☀️HEAT🔥☀️One of the accelerant factors for dog bites.

It is not a coincidence that there is a higher prevalence of incidents in this past week (and subsequent new requests for help). Add in the start of school summer holidays and the bar is raised yet further. Extremely sad😞 Please please afford your dog with their own cool space and remember that daily routine, diet and sleep quality suffers in very hot weather! Stay safe and if you have concerns get in touch.

03/09/2023

💯 agree. The industry is at point of crisis. Signed and shared.

I try very hard to stay out of the dramas of social media. Many trainers have gained their reputations on being controversial or sensational. They play into humanity's need for drama and excitement. This sadly leaves the people who are doing their jobs, because they are passionate about dogs and their humans welfare and spend years studying and working hard, in the background.

Because understanding why animals behave the way they do. Understanding neurology, biology, anatomy, physiology. Having an understanding for emotions and sentients takes time, takes effort, and quite often takes you on a journey that means you have to take a look at yourself too.

And when you put all this k owledge into practice to support animals, both human and otherwise, it can be slow, hard work and isn't good for TV.

Look at every time they try to make a TV program that grabs the general public's attention. All of the reality TV programs. They don't do well because people are trying to understand one another, they sell because they bring out the worst in us, and that's interesting to watch.

Many of you may not know, but we are at a crisis point in our industry. Due to social media and TV and what sells, we are seeing a rise in the abuse of dogs. If we saw this happening to children there would be uproar. TV companies would be taken to court. People would be arrested. And people would have severe backlash from the General Public. But apparently swinging dogs around by their neck shutting doors in their face, and making dogs with arthritis walk on slippery floors because apparently, it's due to the dog being stubborn, has become everyone's entertainment. Even the good dog TV shows still need to look Sensational to gain everyone's attention.

This shows a very ugly side of our Humanity and all of us have a duty to do something about it. Society is often judged on how it treats other animals and we are treating the very animal that we've been calling our best friend for thousands of years appallingly.

In my opinion, the rehabilitation of dogs belongs in private between professionals, the guardians and the dogs. The more we keep using their suffering to make 'good T.v' the more abuse and mistreatment of dogs will become the norm. Sadly, it is already happening.

What can you do?

Stop watching, stop liking, stop sharing, complain and share and sign petitions.
https://www.change.org/p/stop-dog-abuser-the-dog-daddy-coming-to-the-uk?source_location=topic_page

25/08/2023

Fun day off with Cheltenham DTC competing in Tewkesbury. We had worked our classes by 10.15 and prize giving by lunchtime🥳

15/08/2023

******* Now booked, thank you all *******
Last spot available at summer offer rate

Wednesday 23rd Aug 6pm

Give me a shout if you’d like it!

⛱️☀️Summer Offer☀️⛱️

Would it help to have a third party, independent, confidential and totally professional sounding board?!(see what I did there🤣)
Example calls I’ve had in May/June

✅lifestyle change (new house/job/baby)
✅new dog/first dog
✅separation issues
✅peer review for other canine industry pros

Or anything else at all you’d like to discuss-I’m probably most helpful on the canine front tho!
I can draw on personal and professional experience to relay typical b-mod solutions from similar situations and help you troubleshoot.

For ALL of July and August I’m offering 1hr remote consults at just £20p/hr (normally £35).

Helpful, friendly and non judgmental - ping me a message!

Huge thanks to the very wonderful for this awesome summertime image of the late great

03/08/2023

Last few spots at offer price up for grabs!

⛱️☀️Summer Offer☀️⛱️

Would it help to have a third party, independent, confidential and totally professional sounding board?!(see what I did there🤣)
Example calls I’ve had in May/June

✅lifestyle change (new house/job/baby)
✅new dog/first dog
✅separation issues
✅peer review for other canine industry pros

Or anything else at all you’d like to discuss-I’m probably most helpful on the canine front tho!
I can draw on personal and professional experience to relay typical b-mod solutions from similar situations and help you troubleshoot.

For ALL of July and August I’m offering 1hr remote consults at just £20p/hr (normally £35).

Helpful, friendly and non judgmental - ping me a message!

Huge thanks to the very wonderful for this awesome summertime image of the late great

21/07/2023

And here they are, my final five Dachshund fun facts of my self proclaimed Dachshund week😂

🌭The Dachshund came first NOT the hot dog! The sausage based snack was nicknamed after the hounds.
🌭In the Wizard of Oz, a mini Dachshund called Otto was cast in the k9 role originally, before being ousted by cairn (a political replacement apparently)
🌭Giffords Circus in Gloucestershire have a Dachshund display team
🌭 There are Daxi races the Weinerschnitzel wiener nationals! They started in Aus and are now held annually in Southern California!
🌭Britains first cloned dog was a Daxi, she was called Winnie or Mini-Winnie

This concludes Dachshund week for me! There are plenty more fun facts, let me know your faves!

19/07/2023

Fun Dachshund facts for the day:
✅There has been a marathon route in the shape of a Dachshund, Munich 72 when they were the official mascot of the olympics! The Daxi in question was called Waldi

✅Dachshunds have a degree of baggy flexibility in their coat and skin to allow for squeezing in small spaces (after their badger quarry) without tearing themselves on roots and stones. They have webbed spades for tootsies for the same function down holes!!! was a true lady and would never have been up to subterranean nonsense though right ?!😂
✅Dachshunds suffered in the popularity stakes post WW1 and had several rebrands in the USA eg liberty dogs and the more literal badger dogs

More fun facts to follow!

17/07/2023

🤩Dachshund people you’re Fab-U-Lous!🤩I’m really grateful for the recent bookings and love hearing all about your wonderful dogs.

They’re a unique and much loved breed the world over, and their popularity is totally understandable. Beautiful soulful eyes, sassy cheeky personalities and wiggly butts!

Please enjoy these pics of friend’s dogs, Thankyou Camilla and Sue🥰

Each dog is wonderfully unique, but I can spot some breed specific themes that often crop up & link the general breed predisposition that often contribute to these problems. In very general terms….

Excessive/problematic barking: originally badger dogs, Dachshunds need to tell their handlers where they are, if you’re stuck down a hole no one is going to find you if you’re mute! Barrel chested, they have a big dog BARK!
Variable Recall: again, hunting ancestry makes for a high likelihood of scenting, chasing and selective hearing! It takes a strong independent thinker to follow quarry underground!
Isolation Distress/Separation Anxiety: It is easy for a Dachshund to become overly attached to their person and dislike being alone. They are particularly social dogs and historically would hunt in a group, and work with one main handler. Due to their obvious cute appeal, it is alas all too easy to form intense maladaptive relationships between dog and owner.
Various Aggression issues: Their alert watchdog nature makes them lean towards suspicion. This vigilance leaves them susceptible to making poor associations with new people/dogs/situations

Pain can sadly impact upon all areas, we know that there are common Dachshund health issues which can cause or exacerbate behaviour problems.

These are just some of the issues I see, each dog is different, my most over used phrase is “it depends”😂
Early training and smart management can overcome so many of these issues, they’re highly intelligent bright little dogs who love to learn. A teeny tiny Daxi I once knew had the speediest little whistle recall going!

Enjoy every minute training your gorgeous Dachshunds! I know wonderful game little dogs who love Hoopers, Rally, Competitive Obedience, Canicross and more!

12/07/2023

Cute!🥰
So my work is, for the most part, serious and sensitive. This does mean however, my terrible social media ability/interest is further worsened 😬🤣
So it’s the middle of the week and I thought I’d post an early pic of my WCS I was smitten the second I met her and she still loves my nose🙈🤣

26/06/2023

⛱️☀️Summer Offer☀️⛱️

Would it help to have a third party, independent, confidential and totally professional sounding board?!(see what I did there🤣)
Example calls I’ve had in May/June

✅lifestyle change (new house/job/baby)
✅new dog/first dog
✅separation issues
✅peer review for other canine industry pros

Or anything else at all you’d like to discuss-I’m probably most helpful on the canine front tho!
I can draw on personal and professional experience to relay typical b-mod solutions from similar situations and help you troubleshoot.

For ALL of July and August I’m offering 1hr remote consults at just £20p/hr (normally £35).

Helpful, friendly and non judgmental - ping me a message!

Huge thanks to the very wonderful for this awesome summertime image of the late great

10/06/2023

09/06/2023

🔥☀️Next week outdoor work is cancelled. This means there are a few extra Zooms available now, if you’d like a friendly constructive chat with a canine behaviourist, do give me a shout! I’d really appreciate any shares, I always put welfare first🔥☀️

Uk dog owners, yes, that is the sun! You are not hallucinating, this is not a drill! It has been MONTHS since we had hot weather. Take it easy out there this weekend, we beg you... Dogs die in hot cars AND on hot walks. 🥵🌡🐶

09/06/2023

🔥Heatwave!🔥Reminder to keep an eye on the conditions and adapt plans accordingly like Fran is here. I’m sure all of you on here are across this, but it’s a handy reminder to others! I shall be moody infront of the AC🤣

Hot weather protocol next week.

Messages going out over the weekend with plan of action 🐾

25/05/2023

Some top tips!

Whilst summer can be an enjoyable season for many of us, higher temperatures and summer activities can bring increased risks to pets.

We've put together some of our top tips to ensure that your pet has a healthy and happy summer! ☀️➡️ http://ow.ly/FKnP50OtaBW

17/05/2023

The ladies at Wye Valley Hydro are super. Friendly welcoming and professional (plus have excellent liver snacks!). Thankyou for everything you do❤️

HOW CAN HYDROTHERAPY HELP MY DOG?🐾

10/05/2023

TOP TIP
Consider how your dog (or client dog) processes the world around and within them. Go beyond the basics and get creative with sight, sound, sniffs, tastes and touch, balance, coordination and much more.

When I’m studying for anything I love to use either a favourite perfume or another specific scent to help memory. Parallels can certainly be drawn here with our dogs learning and retention.

Nose work is of course special, but don’t neglect those other senses!

Nose/chin/paw targets are great, we love our exercise prescriptions from the vet physio, low stress handling exercises. Contact heelwork Clicker work, whistle drills, marked retrieves, send away and more and more…..

How many of the senses are incorporated into your training and behaviour work? 5/6/9/21 or more?!