Woofs of Bournemouth

15/12/2024

Dogs, cats, rabbits and so on are NOT Xmas presents!
Get your kid a teddy!

19/11/2024

ARE YOU MANAGING?
Are you managing your dog’s environment to prevent or improve unwanted behaviour?

As people, we tend to prefer and look for the more complicated solutions to problems. This tendency is termed “complexity bias” - the tendency to prefer complicated explanations and solutions instead of looking for the simpler ones.

Surely a complicated, time consuming, detailed solution has to be more effective, superior, impressive, or correct?

Complexity bias is so relevant when it comes to changing a dog’s unwanted behaviour. We often get so stuck on trying to modify behaviour through counter conditioning, desensitization or detailed training plans when sometimes the simplest solution to the problem lies in simply managing the environment.

Dogs will do what dogs do – when an opportunity arises to help themselves to food left on a table, to bark at the gate at anyone passing by, to have a drink from that big water bowl at the perfect height, that we call a toilet, to running off with irresistibly smelly dirty underwear, to rummaging through bins in search of anything that may or may not be edible, to running out an opened door in search of adventure - the list is long - dogs will be dogs.

Parents of little children use management all the time without giving it much thought. Baby locks on cupboards, covers on electrical sockets, valuable or dangerous items put far out of reach, fences and locks around pools, etc.

We wouldn’t just train a toddler not to stick their fingers in an electrical socket, not to open cupboards, not to touch a hot plate – it’s far safer, simpler and logical to first manage the environment, to prevent potential incidents.

The same principle should apply to managing a dog’s environment to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The more a behaviour is practiced the more difficult it is to prevent. The more a behaviour is rehearsed the better dogs become at it.

Preventing the behaviour from happening in the first place by using management is the logical, simple and effective way to address it.

Be a good manager – it’s far less stressful, for both us and our dogs.

02/11/2024

Good infographic!

Reactive dog ? Fearful dog ?
These signs can be subtle or are slap in the face obvious.💥.
Trickier still....not all stress is bad either.
We have just made a video about turning fear to confidence and I know many people struggle with an anxious or fearful dog....you will find it really helpful. (Link in comments).✅

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

22/10/2024

Asda are selling no noise fireworks!

19/10/2024

Our gorgeous lad, Reggie, is eagerly waiting for his new 'paw-rents' to come along and welcome him into their world 🌎

At only 1-year-old, Reg would love nothing more than to find new owners who have the time & patience to settle him into his forever home, and continue the amazing progress he's made during his time with us.

As he's only a youngster, this handsome chap still has a lot to learn about the world, but he has been doing so well with his training and his cheeky personality is beginning to shine through!

We would love to find new guardians who can commit to regular visits at the centre and, once Reggie's happy, will be able to provide a quiet environment whilst he adjusts to his new homelife.

If you'd like to find out more about rehoming this darling boy, please head to our website at: www.mgar.org.uk/54495 and get in touch with our Lincoln Farm team for further details 🐾

16/10/2024

12/10/2024

….

01/10/2024

It’s pumpkin season and there are so many ways to feed this fiber-rich superfood! 🎃🍂

After removing the seeds, steam or bake your pumpkin until the flesh is soft. Scoop out the flesh and freeze in ice cube trays to use all winter! (If you buy canned pumpkin to feed to your pets, make sure to only buy 100% pumpkin - preferably organic - NOT pie filling, which can cause GI problems).

You can also feed raw, unsalted seeds one at a time for perfectly sized, magnesium-rich training treats. Feed up to 1/4 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight, spread throughout the day.

In our book, The Forever Dog LIFE , you can our other favorite remedies for GI distress AND recipes to help you incorporate pumpkin into your pet's diet. Now available, and on sale at your favorite retailers.

12/09/2024

Love this group!

08/09/2024

Please remember with your dogs it’s that pig time of year again!

28/08/2024

🐾🐶🏋️‍♀️ NEW CANINE FITNESS CLASSES 🏋️‍♀️🐶🐾

Is your Fury friend ready to get fit and have some fun? I am so excited to announce our brand new 6-week canine Fitness Classes led by certified Veterinary Physiotherapist Olivia Lancaster. 🎉

👩‍⚕️ What's included?
• Tailored exercises to suit all breeds and fitness levels
• Guided 6-week fitness program for your dog
• Focus on strength, mobility and overall well-being
• Expert guidance to help prevent injuries and improve health
• Support group to guide you through your at home training

Whether your dog is a couch potato or a fitness fanatic, this class is perfect for enhancing their physical health in a fun, safe environment! 🐶💪

📅 When: starting Friday 6th September - Friday 11th October
📍Where: Burton Community hall, Christchurch
💲Price: £85 for 6-week course
💬 Limited places available! Message us to reserve your place today.

13/08/2024

Great infographic

DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF!
Resource guarding – also called possessive aggression

We all guard our resources, it’s a natural reaction to a threat of something we value being taken away.

It’s essential for survival and dogs or other animals would not survive in the wild if they didn’t guard their resources.

We also don’t get to decide what’s valuable and what’s not – different things have different value to different dogs and at different times.

Food is usually the most common, but toys, furniture, different items, places, or even a certain person are all things that may be seen as a valuable resource.

A dog turning their head away, freezing, a hard stare, whale eye, moving away, growling or snapping may quickly escalate into a serious bite in an attempt to protect that valuable possession.

Punishing or forcing a dog to give something up is probably one of the worst things to do.

Resource guarding is rooted in the emotion of fear – the fear of that resource being taken away.

Punishment and force further increase that fear, which only increases and reinforces the need to protect that resource.

When a dog is guarding food or an object, we can change the negative emotion of that fear into a positive one by swopping or trading something that has a similar or higher value than what the dog has.

This is one of the most effective ways to address resource guarding of objects as it works at the root cause of the behaviour by changing the emotional response.

A dog resource guarding a person is more complicated to address. A full history of the individual dog, family dynamics, attachment styles, situation and environment all have to be assessed before planning and working on a solution.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented, managed and addressed and by starting early, understanding why dogs feel the need to resort to this behaviour and doing what we can to prevent it from happening in the first place.

11/08/2024

Looking for a friend?

02/08/2024

It's HOT out there! ☀️ 🔥 Please be cautious about having your dog accompany you to outdoor events (especially if they are on pavement!) and be sure they have lots of shade and fresh water when they do need to be outside. Do you know how to recognize signs of heat stroke in dogs?

If you observe these signs, get your dog out of the heat and to a veterinarian immediately - heat stroke can escalate fast!

Read more about it here: https://otto.vet/pawsitive-heatwave-solutions/