The Pawsitive Dawg Coach

23/06/2024

We're finally seeing some of that warm weather we've been waiting for. It's lovely to have some sunny days, but to keep pets safe during hot weather! ☀️

23/06/2024

We're not nasty, we're not bad, we are not even mean.
We are just a bit scared or nervous sometimes.
All you need to do is give us some space, and the world feels much less frightening sometimes.
When my human asks you to call your dog back, its not beccause they think your dogs bad or naughty either, We just like different things.
And they are just trying to help me feel safe.
Next time you see a dog wearing yellow, will you do something for me?
Just give them a little more space. It will mean the world to us 💛

15/06/2024

Number one rule in training - use it or lose it!
When your dog learns a trick, skill or behaviour, you need to still keep practicing it for the brain retain that neural connection. If you don’t, it will become extinct.

11/06/2024

To create a change in behaviour, the brain need to create new connections. (Neuroplasticity) This can only happen when a dog is in a calm and relaxed emotional state. This is why behaviourists recommend calming activities like scent work and Freework on a daily basis before the therapeutic work can begin.

03/06/2024

01/06/2024

Well done to Sarah and Murphy, Loki and Janine, Neil and Dexter who achieved their L1 Parkour Award.

30/05/2024

The 3 second meet and greet to unknown dogs is 3 seconds for a reason.

24/05/2024

Pet Abduction Bill becomes law.

The Kennel Club, one of the UK’s biggest organisations dedicated to dog health and welfare, has welcomed the passing of a new law which will introduce a specific criminal offence for those who steal pets.

Under the Pet Abduction Bill – a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Anna Firth MP – anyone found guilty of stealing a pet will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. The Bill has today (24 May) passed through its final stage in the House of Lords and will become law.

“We’re thrilled that this important Bill – which introduces a new and specific offence to tackle pet theft – will become law,” comments Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs at The Kennel Club. “We applaud the hard and persistent work of every organisation and individual who has been raising awareness of this issue and calling for action for many years.

“Currently, the theft of a pet is treated no more seriously than the theft of a mobile phone, despite the utter heartbreak it causes. This new law is desperately needed to ensure that sentencing provisions reflect a dog’s sentience and their role within their family, as well as fully taking into account the emotional harm inflicted on the victims of this crime.”

The Kennel Club has long campaigned on the issue of pet theft, lobbying for sentencing to recognise the emotional value of a dog and for better reporting and recording from officials so that underlying causes of dog theft can be tackled. Its ‘Paw and Order’ campaign, launched after lockdown to urge action, illustrated the need for reform and spurred thousands of dog lovers across the UK to write to their MP. Statistics gathered as part of the campaign revealed the failure to tackle a crime that is devastating nearly 200 families every month, as just two per cent of dog theft cases in 2020 resulted in a criminal charge.

17/05/2024

Behaviour therapy for an anxious dog requires an holistic approach with as much rest and relaxation as activity.

Credit: CED

13/05/2024

You don’t need to be able to speak French to understand the impact of different harness designs on your digs movement.

11/05/2024

Little anxious Ruby is developing confidence and enjoys her Parkour sessions. Great spotting technique from her handler too!

11/05/2024

As the sun comes out, so does the barbecue. Just be mindful of your pooch.

🐾 Keep the tail-wagging fun going safely! BBQ season is here, but remember, our furry pals need some extra TLC during those sizzling gatherings. From heatstroke to hazardous leftovers, let's keep them out of harm's way. Check out our latest blog for essential tips to ensure a paw-some BBQ for all! 🍖🐶

https://www.nutravet.co.uk/keeping-pets-safe-during-bbq-season/

03/05/2024

Proud to be an affiliate of Pet Remedy.
25% off all Pet Remedy products for clients. The active ingredients in these products works with the pet's own natural calming mechanisms by mimicking GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), which is a natural calming agent present in all mammals, birds, and reptiles. Message me for details.

02/05/2024

These are last years pics. We took care to find a spot where they wouldn’t squash the bluebells. Easier with a small dog, but please don’t squish the flowers when you get your dogs to pose for a photo.

28/04/2024

Your dog may be a social butterfly, but the dog they meet may not be!

20/04/2024

Smart meters causing some issues with dogs. Below is shared with permission. This is not the only story I have heard.

“I had a smart meter installed in my house a few months ago didn't think anything of it.
My cockerpoo started acting snappy and agitated and for a week I thought I need to take him to the vets very out of character, he couldn't settle I couldn't touch him.
Then he started barking at the side of the cupboard where the smart meter had been installed and going crazy.
Instantly dawned on me that he was reacting to the signals. I invested in a smart meter cover that cuts the signal and instantly the dog was back to normal.

I wanted to share my story because I never expected this to I interfere with my dogs well being and now I wonder how many other poor doggies maybe affected”

18/04/2024

👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

16/04/2024

Contrast of relaxed, happy heart rate vs stressed and anxious.
With humans, deep controlled breathing can help regulate the heart rate. We can’t tell dogs to take deep breaths but we can give them opportunities to sniff and scent to restore the body to homeostasis.

13/04/2024

You wouldn’t say to someone grieving over a lost friend “you can get another one” Grief over losing a dog is real and the psychological effect of ‘feeling’ they’re still with us has a profound effect on dealing with that grief.

The research considers the psychological impact of these experiences, highlighting their importance in the grieving process for pet owners.

10/04/2024

As a home boarder, the guidelines for inspection require stainless steel bowls for drinking water and food. This research shows why!

08/04/2024

I always recommend a Y shaped harness to avoid thyroid or trachea problems but I never realised how dangerous it was first small dogs to wear a collar or T shaped harness.

As a small dog advocate, as well as informing about the inaccuracy of "small dog syndrome" I also like to educate on the vulnerable physiology of our smaller dogs, including tracheal collapse.

Trust me when I say TRACHEAL COLLAPSE KILLS. My Yorkshire Terrier Beanie passed because by the end of her life she had 2mm to breathe through (and couldn't fight resultant pneumonia). The vets were stunned I'd kept her alive as long as I did with such a tiny windpipe once they had x-rayed her.

Thankfully I was aware her trachea was vulnerable, even when I adopted her age 9. The gagging noises/reverse sneezing if anyone so much as accidentally touched her neck briefly was a big give away.

BEANIE NEVER WORE A COLLAR AND WAS CERTAINLY NEVER WALKED WITH ANYTHING AROUND HER NECK.

My heart absolutely rips when I see small dogs walked in thin collars or slip leads etc. Especially when they are straining at the end of the lead or lunging and the only thing that stops them is the classic cough as their windpipe is distressed even further.

Small dogs absolutely MUST be in harnesses. Absolutely MUST.

My small dogs now don't wear collars and never have in their lives, but they still have vulnerable necks. My senior boy Raggy will gag when drinking cold water. My younger Lucy will fall into reverse sneezing if she gets too excited and can cough if her neck is touched. She also routinely wakes herself up gagging. These are symptoms and they need to be appreciated for what they are: a real vulnerability.

We can't necessarily stop tracheal collapse; but we can certainly not allow our human choices to worsen it.

BODY HARNESSES FOR SMALL DOGS PLEASE! And a Y-shaped one at that. Some harnesses these days do still press on the neck (like the Julius K9 types). Look for a harness that leaves the neck completely clear (such as perfect fit).

And of course absolutely ZERO lead popping for our small dogs. The collapse is something that can worsen with trauma to the neck, or indeed entirely collapse altogether.

We don't wear a seat belt around our neck for obvious reasons. It's the same principle.

Protect their necks 🐾💜

31/03/2024

I am a 21st Century Dog, please understand my breed needs.

-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.
-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.
-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you.
-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines, you dress me up and carry me in a bag.
-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, because I’m made to stay indoors.
-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.
-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.
-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because I try to chase bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.
I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog and when you do - **meet their needs not your wants**

30/03/2024

Does your dog notice the change in routine?

28/03/2024

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28/03/2024

Dog toys looking a bit ragged? Head over to Tug-e-nuff for a great range of toys for training with 15% off today.

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24/03/2024

Your dogs genetic predispositions are a gift, work with them and find safe outlets for their innate behaviours.