The Canine Coach

24/08/2024

We’re pleased to welcome the new Pet Abduction Act, coming into force from today, 24 August, which introduces tougher penalties for stealing dogs- up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

This law is a crucial step in recognising the emotional value of dogs and the devastation caused to victims of pet theft.

Find out more and get tips on keeping your dog safe: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtheft

23/08/2024

Gorgeous Bonnie pictured here has just completed a 5 hour training package with me and I'm delighted that her pawrents are so happy with the results.

When the dreaded adolescence hit Bonnie's recall went to pot and they were concerned for her safety. Add to that she was pulling dreadfully on the lead, as many spaniel owners will testify, this can be a very common issue.

Now they can enjoy their walks and give Bonnie a bit more freedom in the process, win win!!!

If you need some 121 training help please get in touch.

20/08/2024

(Almost) seeing double!

19/08/2024

Yay!

VISITOR INFORMATION - BEVERLEY BROOK

Some good news to start the weekend. We have heard from Thames Water that testing of the ditch and Beverley Brook shows that the water is now clear of sewage and oxygen levels have increased,

We understand that the Environment Agency have also taken samples, and they have not advised us of any issues.

The signs will come down over the weekend.

19/08/2024

On world photography day I just wanted to share this pic I love of Bonnie running towards me with her pals Daisy and Jazzie behind her.

Such joy warms my heart!❤️ 🐾❤️

19/08/2024

Scent Detection workshop for Pet Dogs
with UK Sniffer Dogs qualified instructor

Sunday 8th September
**2 spaces left**

❓Did you know?

🐶Dogs have an extra olfactory organ.
Jacobson's organ, also known as the vomeronasal organ (VNO), is a patch of sensory cells in the main nasal chamber that detects moisture-borne odor particles, including pheromones.

🐶This helps dogs identify suitable mates, discern between friendly animals or potential predators, recognise emotional states, tell when someone is pregnant and detect illnesses!

➡Dogs noses are just incredible! If you want to work with your dog and their incredible sense of smell Scentwork could be just the thing you’re after.

It is
✅Mentally stimulating
✅Suitable for all dogs, all breeds, all ages
✅Low impact sport so suitable for dogs who may not be able to enjoy other dog sports
✅Known to create happy dogs through the release of endorphins while they work
✅A great outlet for their natural behaviours

▶I have 2 spaces left on my next workshop on Sunday 8th September at 10.30am in KT4. Cost is £85 for the 2.5hr workshop.

18/08/2024

Yes! These fab little honey pot enrichment toys from Soda Pup are only £13 at the moment on Amazon, my two love them.

Great alternative to a kong for making frozen treats using liquid like the yoghurty water my two are enjoying on top of some wet food.

Nom nom nom!

17/08/2024

VISITOR INFORMATION - BEVERLEY BROOK

Some good news to start the weekend. We have heard from Thames Water that testing of the ditch and Beverley Brook shows that the water is now clear of sewage and oxygen levels have increased,

We understand that the Environment Agency have also taken samples, and they have not advised us of any issues.

The signs will come down over the weekend.

17/08/2024

Did you know ant powders can still make your dog sick, even if they aren’t highly toxic? 🐶🚫

Ant powders don’t often cause severe poisoning but they can still make your dog ill!

Here are 4 common signs that your dog may have been poisoned...

1. Excessive drooling
2. Small pupils
3. Increased body temperature
4. Problems with walking and being unsteady

Learn more about the dangers here: https://bit.ly/3YAStNe

16/08/2024

Lovely testimonial from delightful Dolly's pawrent!

Although I specialise in spaniels and doodles, they're not the only breeds I work with.

Every puppy or dog I work with is an individual, just like you, and my aim is to work with you and your pup to navigate those tricky days of puppyhood, teenage times and beyond - to help you on the road to the happy days you hope for.

If you're thinking about getting a new addition to the family contact me for my Prep for Your Puppy video consultation - you can be anywhere in the country to take advantage of this session to set you up.

I also offer 121 training packages in SW London and Surrey.

15/08/2024

UPDATE - ALL CLEAR!

VISITOR INFORMATION - BEVERLEY BROOK

Thames Water have made us aware that following a mains failure, sewage is making its way into the Beverley Brook on Wimbledon Common.

We advise that people and dogs should keep out of the Brook, from Wimbledon Common and downstream, until the situation is resolved.

13/08/2024

After a good romp on the common it was lickimats for my two with a bit of refreshing cucumber and apple before nap time.

!
➡️➡️➡️ to see how much they enjoyed them!

12/08/2024

Very sad to share with you that Pepper crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday.

Pepper was one of my very first doggos that I looked after way back when I started my petcare business in 2009 – you can see on the video how teeny tiny he was with my first dog Murphy.

Pepper often stayed with us, sometimes for the day, often for holidays, and he really was part of our family. He came on holiday with us. He was there when we had to say goodbye to Murph and he was there when we said hello to Bonnie for the first time.
He loved to steal your gloves right off your hands, would sit on your head if there was a thunderstorm and thoroughly enjoyed a good licky plate!

He has spent the last couple of years enjoying life on a farm – what a fabulous 15 years he has had. Sending big hugs to his mum n dad, who absolutely doted on this wonderful boy from day 1.

RIP darling boy, you are very missed.🌈🐾💔

05/08/2024

Did you know?

Dogs can smell the time!!! Smell not tell!

They can track the time from odours in the environment.

For example as the sun makes its journey over your house it will heat up different areas of the room releasing scent particles. The movement of those odours is detectable to our dogs.

So when you're amazed that your dog 'just knows' when its time for you to arrive home, this could be the answer, clever right?

If you want to have fun with your dog while developing their amazing nose skills why not have a go at scentwork?

Scent detection for Pet Dogs is
mentally stimulating
a great activity to enjoy together
physically tiring for your dog
and will give your dog some of those happy hormones which make them feel so good!

I have two spaces left on my next beginners workshop in Surrey KT4 on Sunday 8th September at 10.30am. The 2.5hr workshop costs £85

04/08/2024

VISITOR INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE THAT SPRINGWELL, TELEGRAPH AND THE REMPF CAR PARKS WILL BE CLOSED UNTL FURTHER NOTICE, THE WINDMILL CAR PARK IS OPEN AS USUAL.

01/08/2024

Great post attached below.
Something to think about in this hot weather?

I know my two have moved around quite a bit in the night this week too, as have I!

😉😉

🥵 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.

29/07/2024

Little woodland play from Dexter and Larry!

So glad Larry is able to play again after having to be restricted for a while due to pain with his hip dysplasia.

Still, making sure he doesn’t overdo it!

27/07/2024

❓ What’s this? A clicker you may say!

✅Well you learn something new every day.

➡️ Back in 2008 I bought a bunch of these clickers as I found them to be the most comfy in my hand to use when training my new puppy, Murphy girl.

➡️ swipe right to see pic of my beautiful girl, sadly no longer with us

🧐 anyhoo, met a new client today and we were talking about whistle training for their gorgeous sprocker spaniel and they said…oh yes we have a whistle, it’s attached to our clicker!

😮 what? I said, I’ve never seen such witchcraft!😝😝😝

😝 turns out it’s this exact clicker in a different colour I’ve been using for the last 15 years!!!! Never knew it was a whistle too.😝😝

23/07/2024

Did you know?

Your dog has up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to our 6 million and the part of the dogs brain that is responsible for interpreting these is 40 times larger than ours!

That's why they're so amazing at sniffing and scentwork!

If you'd like to do a new activity with your dog that they will LOVE, using their natural skills, get in touch.

Beginners workshops coming in September and October. Limited spaces.
Any dog can do it!

22/07/2024

🐶 Toby, Bon Bon, Lazza and Lucy.

😊 So proud of this little foursome this morning on our walk.

🧘‍♂️ Unusually, we came across a chap practising tai chi in a clearing just off the path where we were walking.

🐕 Now this is a situation where - if left to their own devices - Larry or Lucy may well have had a couple of woofs at seeing something out of the ordinary.

➡️ However, I consistently practise engagement, focus and recall activities with all the dogs I walk including my own two.

✅ Which meant we could shimmy on past without interrupting the guys flow. Happy days!

➡️ Training FOR the moment, not IN the moment!

🙌🙌🙌 Well done my gang! 😍😍😍

19/07/2024

They’re having their cool treats, looking forward to mine later!🐶🐾😎🐶🍦

16/07/2024

Beginners Scent Detection workshop for Pet Dogs.

Sunday 8th September (2 spaces left)
Saturday 19th October
in Worcester Park, KT4

Looking for a new activity to enjoy with your dog?

There are so many benefits of learning how to practise Scent Detection with your dog.

10 minutes of proper sniffing is the equivalent of an hours lead walk with your dog.

It's fun and a great way to bond with your dog in a team activity.

It is
✅Mentally stimulating
✅Suitable for all dogs, all breeds, all ages
✅Low impact sport so suitable for dogs who may not be able to enjoy other dog sports
✅Known to create happy dogs through the release of endorphins while they work
✅A great outlet for their natural behaviours

These are the last Introduction Series 1 workshops I will be running this year.

Spaces are limited so contact me to book.

UK Sniffer Dogs accredited instructor.

Workshops last 2.5 hrs and cost £85

https://www.the-canine-coach.co.uk/services/scentwork

121 training also available.
Contact [email protected]

13/07/2024

Did you know, something as simple as sniffing a pile of leaves can have a calming effect on your dog? 🍂

Engaging a primary scent or carrying out repetitive actions such as licking or chewing (providing there’s no threat in the environment) are considered meditative processes. Why? Because they support appropriate gating of sensory integration.

This damping down of activity between neurons means there’s less traffic between the different brain areas, making communication much more ordered and rhythmical.

13/07/2024

🐾New Puppy Parents🐾

🐶Is your new pup arriving soon?
❓Do you need help to get prepared?
❓Do you need advice on all things puppy to get on the right path from the outset?

➡️ From toilet training to crate training, sleep routine, what to ask your breeder before the big day and just what to do with your puppy when you bring them home for the first day, week, month.....

✅ My Prep For Your Puppy consultation will answer all those questions and more.

💻 This 90 minute session takes place over video call at a time that is convenient to you and you don't have to be local to me to get my expertise help.

12/07/2024

Meet gorgeous cocker spaniel Bonnie who has just started a bespoke training package with me.

She had a great time with the goodies from my enrichment bag and made a great start on some recall work.

Really looking forward to our next session!

12/07/2024

Meet delightful Dotty the toy poodle!

Here she is acing her settle to mat exercise on our first session together this week.

She enjoyed the goodies in my enrichment bag, everything offered in teeny tiny crumbles as befits her size!

We also started some work on eye contact and focus exercises and she did a fab job with recall too!

Go Team Dotty, really looking forward to our next session!

11/07/2024

What me? Join the cockapoo club? I don’t think so said Charlie girl!😝😝😝