Pawsitively Purrfect - Animal Behaviour & Training

23/11/2024

If you are an owner of an XL bully type dog, please don't miss this important deadline. 📢

Dogs aged between 7 and 12 months on the 31 January 2024 must be neutered by 31 December 2024.

Read more from Defra here 👉 https://bit.ly/49Q1Xa8

06/07/2024

Dog Bite Awareness

Report videos like this, educate yourself and your children on respecting dogs, giving them space and reading body language.

➡️ Animal videos on social media can be cute, but veterinary and behaviour professionals regularly see some that are described as adorable when in fact they fill us with anxiety to see!

➡️Reading a dogs body language can be difficult, but it's important to teach all the family how to pick up signs of a stressed, upset or agitated dog, especially children. Dogs usually tell us MANY times before they bite but often in a very subtle way.

➡️Everyone has their bad days, and we must not push our canine companions to the brink of their patience by failing to recognise telltale signs that the situation they are in makes them uncomfortable.

➡️Every dog is individual, some climb the ladder of communication/reaction (see picture in comments) quickly, others will be telling us for a LONG time that they are unhappy and are uncomfortable with the situation before they are pushed to react.

➡️ Veterinary professionals come across many people who tells us the dog has bitten without any warning, but the likelihood is (although not in every case) that the dog was telling us and we just didnt know how to listen and we know it can be very hard, which is why we want to educate.

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC stated:

➡️Dog behaviour expert Dr Carri Westgarth, from the University of Liverpool, said: "It is important to remember that any dog can bite regardless of how well you know the dog, and most bites will occur in the owner's home.

"...We should ensure that we give dogs their own safe space to be alone, give them plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, and when your dog wants to be left alone - leave them be.

"Dog bites to children can be very severe so ensure that you observe children and dogs closely and intervene when necessary.

"Dogs do not want to bite you, it is a last resort response for them, so watch out for any warning signs of them being uncomfortable in a situation and remove yourselves, or them, from it."

Every dog is individual but some signs are:

➡️Licking lips?
➡️Yawning?
➡️Whale eye?
➡️Frozen?
➡️Crouching?
➡️Tense?
➡️Rolling on back?
➡️Ears back?
➡️Panting?
➡️Turning away?

It may save a life, a child or the dogs!

Listen to our Podcast on how to recognise the signs a dog is uncomfortable and may be about to bite
Dog Bites - Is It All A Big Misunderstanding?⬇️
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/Dog-Bites---Is-It-All-A-Big-Misunderstanding-e2g0766/a-aavthnv

24/02/2024

💥When dogs attack: Dog Bite Awareness💥

➡️ Dog on human aggression has sadly been in the forefront of our minds recently, following a series of deaths by dog attack in the media, ultimately what resulted in the government feeling that XL Bully dogs needed to be added to the list of prohibited breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/xl-bully-type-dogs-to-be-banned

➡️Reading a dogs body language can be difficult, but it's important to teach all the family how to pick up signs of a stressed, upset or agitated dog, especially children. Dogs usually tell us MANY times before they bite but often in a very subtle way.

➡️Everyone has their bad days, and we must not push our canine companions to the brink of their patience by failing to recognise telltale signs that the situation they are in makes them uncomfortable.

➡️Every dog is individual, some climb the ladder of communication/reaction quickly, others will be telling us for a LONG time that they are unhappy and are uncomfortable with the situation before they are pushed to react.

➡️ Veterinary professionals come across many people who tells us the dog has bitten without any warning, but the likelihood is (although not in every case) that the dog was telling us and we just didnt know how to listen and we know it can be very hard, which is why we want to educate.

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC stated:

➡️Dog behaviour expert Dr Carri Westgarth, from the University of Liverpool, said: "It is important to remember that any dog can bite regardless of how well you know the dog, and most bites will occur in the owner's home.

"Dog bites to children can be very severe so ensure that you observe children and dogs closely and intervene when necessary.

"Dogs do not want to bite you, it is a last resort response for them, so watch out for any warning signs of them being uncomfortable in a situation and remove yourselves, or them, from it."

Every dog is individual but some signs are:

➡️Licking lips?
➡️Yawning?
➡️Whale eye?
➡️Frozen?
➡️Crouching?
➡️Tense?
➡️Rolling on back?
➡️Ears back?
➡️Panting?
➡️Turning away?

It's important to teach yourself and children to read the subtle body language of dogs.

🩵It may save a life🩵

In this Veterinary Voices UK 'On Air' podcast episode, veterinary behaviourist Sophie White explores dog on human aggression.

According to Sophie White, a veterinary surgeon from ⁠Veterinary Behaviour Support⁠, many dog bites occur because we fail to understand the warning signs.

Sophie explains that by improving our understanding of dog body language our ability to read how dogs are feeling in various situations, the majority of dog bites can be prevented altogether.

Sophie also discuss how some common training techniques which have been popularised by social media and TV shows can actually increase dog aggression.

➡️ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices

➡️ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/Dog-bites--is-it-all-a-big-misunderstanding-e2g0766

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC
Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians
The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

25/12/2023

Happy xmas to all our lovely clients. Hope you all have a lovely day.
Thank you for all the cards and presents and we will see you for walks in the new year! 😊

23/11/2023

12/09/2023

Ball launchers have become a popular accessory for dog owners who want to keep their dogs active and entertained. However, these devices can have negative effects on your dog's health and wellbeing.

Ball Launchers Can Cause Obsession:

Some dogs become obsessed with fetching a ball, which can lead to behavioural problems. They may become aggressive or anxious when they are not playing with the ball launcher, making it difficult to enjoy time with your pet. It's important to recognise the signs of obsession and limit your dog's use of the ball launcher.

Ball Launchers Interrupt Natural Behaviour:

Dogs are naturally curious and enjoy exploring their surroundings through sniffing and relaxing. However, when they become obsessed with fetching, they may lose interest in these natural behaviours. This can lead to boredom and frustration, causing them to become less active and healthy.

Ball Launchers Can Cause Joint Problems:

Repeatedly launching a ball puts a lot of stress on your dog's joints, especially if they are a high energy breed. This can lead to joint problems such as arthritis, which can be very painful and expensive to treat.

If you want to keep your dog healthy and happy, it's best to limit their use of ball launchers and encourage them to engage in natural behaviours such as sniffing, scent work, exploring and simply relaxing.

03/07/2023

Bookings being taken for summer holidays.

03/07/2023

Dog walking spaces available in group or solo walks in the Bedlington and surrounding areas.

03/05/2023

Weather was unexpectedly very warm today so a walk through a new woodland was in order to keep everyone cool.

24/03/2023

Still have availability for cat visits over the easter holiday.

05/03/2023

Easter Holiday bookings now being taken.

25/02/2023

Very busy this week attending the IMDT 4 day Practical Instructor Course. As an APBC member it is a requirement to attend regular CPD to ensure skills and knowledge are kept up-to-date and training methods used and advice given are based upon sound, scientific knowledge.

11/01/2023

EQUISEAT AID NEEDS YOU!🔥

We are looking for participants to partake in a study to investigate the effects and impact of the Equiseat Aid on the horse’s straightness and movement under saddle.

The study will take place on the 4th and 5th February. You will only ne required to attend one day (to suit you).
For more information, to book on or to see if you are eligible to take part, please follow the link below!

http://h-ev.uk/?E=42068

We are really looking forward to this and are extremely grateful to those volunteers willing to take part. A chance to try the Equiseat Aid for free.

For more info contact 07966191923

09/01/2023

As part of my clinical animal behavior course I am looking for participants to complete the following survey for my dissertation. It is looking at horse training methods and how well equestrians recognise fear in their horses. Anyone aged 18 involved with horses can take part.
The link to the survey is below, I would really appreciate it if you could participate and share.
Thank you!

You are being invited to take part in a research study titled "Do training methods implemented by owners affect their ability to recognise behavioural indicators of fear in their horses?" This study is being carried out by Kelly Donaldson and should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Before a...

20/12/2022

Sadly, this is not the straightforward task it ought to be. Finding someone who is well qualified and follows kind and ethical, up-to-date, science-based training methods is an absolute minefield because the dog training industry is currently unregulated. Scarily, anyone can set themselves up in bus...

13/12/2022