Delta One Canines

27/01/2025

Free to Good Home.
How often do we see this phrase in various publications or on various sites on social media?
Whilst it is understandable that sometimes circumstances leave dog owners with no choice than to part with their dog, I do feel that owners in this position should show due diligence in establishing what sort of life they are committing their dog to.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that persons involved in the reprehensible acts of Dog Fighting will regularly scan the adverts for dogs that are being given away free. These dogs then become “Bait Dogs” for the fighting dogs to “Practice” on. Not a situation that any reasonable person would want to inflict on any dog.
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Should it become necessary to part with a dog then owners should consider the following:
• Try to re home the dog through a bona fide rescue organisation.
• If giving the dog to an individual, always go to that persons home and access the situation.
• Ask questions of the prospective new owner i.e. what vet do they use? What kennels or boarding arrangements do they use?
• Use your instincts. If something does not feel right then walk away.
Having to re home a dog can be a traumatic situation to be in, but please think of the future of the dog....Bob.

21/01/2025

Changing your Dogs Food?
Many dog owners will find themselves in the situation where they have to change their dog’s diet. Perhaps to a different brand or to a completely different type of food.
If this is the case then it is worth bearing in mind the following:
Sudden changes in a dogs diet can cause upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhoea. Therefore, any changes should be made slowly over a period of at least a week.
Substitute a small amount of the new food for some of the old food. Gradually increase the former and decrease the latter. Hopefully, by adopting this method, problems will be avoided....Bob.

16/01/2025

Training Tip. …Showing determination.
When training our dogs we must adopt a policy of being determined to succeed.
It is very easy for novice dog owners to become disheartened when things do not go as they anticipated. When a dog fails to complete a task it is very easy for the novice owner to throw their hands in the air and say “He won’t do it!” If the owner adopts this attitude and gives up at the first sign of difficulty then the dog training is doomed.
If a dog fails to complete a task it is because he does not understand what is required of him. It is our job as handler and instructor to ensure that he does understand.
Novice owners must have confidence in their instructor to adapt the exercise and possibly introduce differing methods that enable success to be achieved. This may well be initially lowering the standard. Success at a low level is better than failure at a high level.
Always finish the session on a winning note and praise the dog, even if the level of success is only slight.
Remember, if dog training was easy then anyone could do it!....Bob.

11/01/2025

Advanced Search Dog Training.
It is always interesting when a dog and owner have finished an initial search course to take the knowledge that they have gained and put it into a more challenging environment.
This is what we did recently with one of our regular clients, Dave Brennan and his dog “Max”,
A number of items bearing human scent were hidden on a piece of overgrown ground, open to the public, adjacent to the busy Bell Green Rd.. These items remained in situ for 45 minutes before Dave and “Max” were set their task to search.
During the course of the search, which took about 20 minutes, “Max” and Dave had to cope with both pedestrian and vehicular traffic passing close by. The pedestrian traffic included dog walkers and interested passersby who were keen to show an interest in the proceedings. Additionally the piece of ground was littered with many items that had been previously discarded .
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, the team excelled in their method of searching the area and all the hidden items were recovered.
Teaching a high drive dog like “Max” to search is both an excellent way of channeling the dogs energies and an interesting way of working with ones dog.
More photos of the search can be found in the News Section of Delta One Canines web site…Bob

09/01/2025

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 John Goodall, Janette Highway, Sue Bryan

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community, fans

07/01/2025

Responsible Dog Ownership Course
This half day classroom based course was developed in association with West Midlands Police as a way of guiding owners on the behaviour of their dogs, the legislation affecting their dogs and how they can avoid contravening the current dog related laws and become responsible dog owners. An ideal learning platform for pet owners and professionals alike.
This course can be delivered “In house” by arrangement for veterinary practices, dog training clubs, dog walking firms, and dog rescues as well as to the general dog owning public....Bob.

06/01/2025

Searching for Property Course
I have on a number of occasions spoken about the importance of keeping dogs mentally stimulated. This applies to all dogs but especially some of the working breeds. One of the most common problems with pet dogs is that they are bored. They need something to occupy their minds.
It was with this in mind that I developed the Searching for Property course which I have delivered for many years.
Dogs are taught to search an area of overgrown ground in order to find any articles hidden there bearing any human scent. It has similarities to the Property Square exercise in working trials but is much more practically based.
Owners are taught the theory of scent so that they are able to understand more about the world of scent that their dog lives in.
This is the same basic scent training that is delivered to operational Police Dogs and Handlers. The underlying difference is of course that we do it for fun.
Over the years, this has proved to be one of the most popular of our courses….Bob

04/01/2025

Puppy Consultation.
There are a vast number of new dog owners who take on a puppy, but do so without the benefit of sound advice on the rearing of this new family member. These new owners can benefit greatly by the correct advice at this important stage in their dog’s life.
Of course it must be the correct advice. I do hear some horror stories about so called “Puppy parties” that appear to be simply organised chaos. The question should be asked, “What does a puppy learn by being allowed/encouraged to play at will with other puppies? The answer, I suggest, is that we are teaching him that other dogs are a source of pleasure. Is it any wonder that as he matures he is constantly trying to get to other dogs? There is more to socialisation than free play with other dogs.
In my previous working life I was in charge of the West Midlands Police dog breeding programme and puppy walking scheme. I was responsible for the rearing of many puppies. Most of the “Hands on” rearing was carried out by puppy walkers, all of whom were guided on the “Do’s and don’ts” by myself. Consequently I formulated a tried and tested method of how to guide novice puppy walkers in their role. This method evolved into the Puppy Consultation delivered by Delta One Canines which is still being delivered to new puppy owners to this day.
The principle that I have when delivering advice to new dog owners is that it is always better to do things correctly from the start. That way it is possible to avoid many problems. I consider it foolhardy to simply trust to luck and then allow problems to develop that need to be addressed later in the dogs life. The rescue centres are full of dogs whose owners “Trusted to luck!”
I maintain it is as easy to rear a puppy correctly as incorrectly! Owners just need the knowledge. The knowledge is out there, they just have to let it in!...Bob.

03/01/2025

Behavioural Consultations
Many owners of pet dogs have problems that they believe are unique to themselves. This is not the case. Dogs that are showing aggression, causing damage or exhibiting other many and varied undesirable behaviours, are only too common.
There is however an alternative to either tolerating the problem or disposing of the dog.
Delta One Canines are able to offer a behavioural consultation which will lead to a much more in depth understanding of the problem. Once the cause is established, a behaviour modification programme can be put into place to deal with this root cause.

As an Honorary Life Member and former Board member, of The Canine Behaviour & Training Society, (formerly U.K. Registry of Canine Behaviourists), I can offer advice on a broad range of canine behavioural problems throughout the Midlands area
Help is available!....Bob.

02/01/2025

Basic Pet Dog Obedience Course.
The basic course offered by Delta One Canines includes all the elements that a pet dog owner needs. Like all of our courses it is delivered on a “One to one” basis so that owners and dogs can progress at their own pace without distractions.
• Walking on the lead
• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Recall
After completion of this course, owners will have control of their dogs and will have been shown the pleasure that owning a well behaved dog can bring.
For many owners, this level of obedience training is quite sufficient. For those who want to go on to other aspects of dog training, we can offer Advanced Obedience training, and of course, participation in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme.
Not only does this course give owners control of their dogs but also provides valuable mental stimulation for the dog, thereby enriching their lives…..Bob.

01/01/2025

New Year Greetings.
With the arrival of the New Year, along with good wishes to all, perhaps the time is appropriate to offer a reminder of the services available from Delta One Canines. During the next few days I will post information about the various courses and services on offer. Full details can be found on the web site.
www.deltaonecanines.co.uk
When I originally founded Delta One Canines in 1999, my aim was to produce well balanced, manageable pet dogs, with owners who have the knowledge to manage them safely and competently thus making dog ownership a pleasure for all concerned.
These aims and objectives, and the principles upon which Delta One Canines was founded are the same today as they were nearly 26 years ago.

Delta One Canines is committed to providing training and behavioural advice to dog owners that is effective, acceptable and affordable.
Education of owners will result in better behaved manageable dogs that have a better quality of life than they may otherwise have had.
Dog ownership should be a pleasure for all concerned.
Details of courses will be posted during the coming days….Bob.

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26/12/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Joanne Bourne, Holly Wainwright

23/12/2024

Season’s Greetings.
All at Delta One Canines would like to wish one and all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. We all hope for better things in 2025
Training will resume Saturday January 4th 2025. We are of course available by phone should clients require urgent advice.
I do have an additional message for all those working in the Emergency Services, the Military and the Security Industry. The message is very short but no less sincere for its brevity…….”Stay Safe”……Bob.

21/12/2024

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 John Goodall, Robert Brown, Sue Bryan

19/12/2024

P.C. Gavin Richard Carlton….In Memoriam.
On this date in 1988, P.C. Gavin Richard Carlton was shot dead in Torrington Ave. Coventry whilst attempting to arrest two men fleeing from an armed robbery on a bank in the city.
The men continued their flight until they were stopped as a result of their car being rammed by a police car at the junction of Fletchamstead Highway and Kenilworth Rd.. At this point the two C.I.D. officers in the car were injured by the men, one of them suffering gunshot wounds. The offenders made off on foot along Kenilworth Rd.
The on duty dog handler that day was my old friend Sgt. Len Yeomans R.I.P.. He attended the scene with his dog and traced the men to a house in nearby Stoneleigh Ave. where they had forced their way in. A stand-off situation developed which was only brought to a conclusion when Gavin’s killer turned his gun on himself and the second man surrendered. This second man was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
This tragic incident is marked each year by a short service of remembrance which is held at the spot where it happened.
All respect to the memory of P.C. Gavin Richard Carlton and to the other officers involved in this incident….Bob.

18/12/2024

Buying a Puppy for Christmas?
The last of this week’s posts offering some seasonal advice in relation to our dogs relates to the much laboured point of buying a puppy for Christmas.
It has been estimated that over 50% of U.K. residents have bought or would consider buying a dog/puppy for Christmas.
Please consider these points:
Responsible dog charities will not allow dogs to be adopted during the Christmas period.
Responsible dog breeders will not allow puppies to go to new owners during the Christmas period.
There are good reasons why responsible dog “Professionals” adhere to these rules.
The average household at Christmas is NOT the place for a young puppy or new dog. Wait until all the festivities are over before introducing a new puppy into the household.
By doing so it makes things easier both for the new dog/puppy and the new owners….Bob.

17/12/2024

Dogs at Christmas (3)
Previous posts on this subject have mainly been about things to avoid or not do. There are however a number of things that we can do for our dogs which will make the Christmas period safer and possibly more enjoyable.
If we have visitors to the house who the dog is not familiar with, take some time to make sure that the dog has accepted them. Make sure the visitors know not to force their attention on the dog if he doesn’t want to know. Meeting unknown people who have apparently “invaded” his house can be traumatic for a nervous dog.
Be aware that unusual noises such as Christmas crackers or popping of corks or even just the general hubbub of lots of people talking can be stressful for especially a nervous dog.
If you or others have to buy the dog a gift then make sure that it is appropriate. While the dog may be happy to chew on his new squeaky toy he may not be enthusiastic about the Father Christmas outfit that you insist he wears.
Ensure that the dog has somewhere in the house that he can retreat to if he feels overwhelmed. This should be a quiet place that can be his sanctuary.
Try to keep to his normal routine of walks and feeding.
Many dogs will enjoy the excitement of Christmas but many will not. If your dog is one of the latter then ensure that you make suitable arrangements for him…..Bob.

16/12/2024

Dogs at Christmas (2)
Yesterday I posted about some of the potential dangers to our dogs from foodstuffs at Christmas.
Today let’s look at some of the other potential dangers at this time of the year.
Christmas trees, both real and artificial can be a source of problems for dogs. Whilst natural trees are low in toxicity, if a dog were to chew them it could lead to vomiting, diarrhoea or mouth injuries.
The ornaments on the tree can be very attractive to the dog but chewing ornaments, tinsel other decorations, or artificial trees, would have the same result as chewing any other item made of plastic. They could cause intestinal obstructions or ruptures.
The potential danger of the dog chewing the electric cables for the festive lights is clear to all.
Holly, mistletoe and ivy are all of low toxicity but nevertheless could cause stomach upsets if eaten by the dog.
Potpourri is made up of various dried plants, flowers and artificial colours, some of which could be toxic to the dog. Keep the bowl of potpourri out of the dogs reach.
Children’s toys left lying around can be a temptation for many dogs. Batteries in toys can cause specific problems. If swallowed they could cause a blockage or if chewed could cause chemical burns.
Once again, prevention is better than cure. A little forethought and planning, coupled with proper supervision, can ensure that we and our dogs have an incident free Christmas.
Further Christmas advice tomorrow….Bob.