Hound Solo

15/12/2024

Is it just me or does this little lad look like he’s smiling at the end of his last 1-2-1 session on Friday?

He’s such a quick learner and made huge progress during the session - he’s been learning ‘go to mat’, targeting his mum’s outstretched hand with his nose (a great way of moving dogs without invading their personal space), and sit/wait 😇

08/12/2024

Sunday vibes at Hound Solo dog behaviour consultancy 🐶

It was great to get out and blow away some cobwebs this morning 🌪️🐾🐾 but after some admin time at my desk, Bocca and I finding it hard to motivate ourselves to leave our fleece ‘comfies’ this afternoon 😂

We may just entertain ourselves with some trick training and indoor scent games instead…….

If you and your dog don’t fancy going out this afternoon then I 💯% give you a ‘Behaviourist’s Prescription’ to do the same 😆

Time to get those snuffle mats out, set out a treat treasure hunt indoors, and/or spend some time brushing up on your dog’s life skill behaviours ahead of Christmas 🐾🐾😇

However, if your dog’s behaviour is causing you stress, frustration, or concern, my diary for January is open for new clients 🎉

Message the page or use the contact form on my website if you’d like to know more 🐾🐾❤️👣

21/10/2024

Yes, we're approaching that time again......... 🥺🎆

I know that lots of us humans love watching fireworks, not all though........ my 19 year old will be keeping their headphones on throughout, and they'll probably have ear defenders close by too! I love seeing the colours and sparkles but I do wish we didn't have the bangs going on all night, for several nights......

Anyway, even if you're a firework lover, your dog may not be such a fan There are many reasons why puppies and dogs might find fireworks frightening, and sadly it can be a complex and serious issue for some, including my boy Bocca 🖤😔

Although there's lots of information out there on how to manage firework season safely for your dog, we don't always remember to go and find it, or we save it to read later but then forget until 3pm on 5th November.......

So, I've created a free to download information sheet that you can access directly from Google Drive right now! No need to leave your details, just download it, share it, and hopefully find it helpful The link is in the comments as I think Facebook likes it best that way!

Be Prepared, your dog will thank you for it!! 🐾🐾❤️👣

11/10/2024

This is an amazing offer from Holly Dwyer Photography - Photographing pets & their people she’s taken some stunning images for me in the past so I highly recommend her!

01/10/2024

I can't believe we've reached October already! 🎃🍁

The 1st October is National Black Dog Day and in recognition of how awesome black dogs are (not just the black ones if we're honest!), I'm sharing my two black spaniel boys' faces with you 🖤🖤

On the left, gazing off into the distance (I seem to remember that biscuits were involved in the capturing of this image 😄) we have Murphy, our first spaniel who sadly left this world in July 2016 but left everlasting love behind him.

On the right, staring straight at the camera (I definitely remember roast chicken being present at this photo shoot 🤣) is our current mischief monster, Bocca!

Black Dog Day started to highlight the plight of all the black dogs (sadly cats share this issue too) who often have to wait longer to be adopted than their lighter coloured friends 🙁

But did you know that black dogs can often have a hard time around other dogs on walks? It seems that their facial expressions can be harder to interpret at a distance; add in floppy spaniel ears that don't show emotions as clearly, and things can get a little confusing and stressful all round...........

Allowing extra space for unknown dogs to pass by at a comfortable distance is always wise when encountering dogs of any colour or coat pattern. Similarly, if you're approaching an on lead dog when yours is off, call them back to you and keep your dog close by until the other has passed. Having some yummy treats in your pocket can help to keep your dog's attention focussed!

If you have regular difficulties when encountering other dogs on walks and would like some professional help, why not use the contact form on my website to get in touch. Tell me a bit about your dog and I'll be happy to let you know how I can help to make walks much less stressful 🐾🐾❤️👣

20/08/2024

I’m really proud to part of the Wooflinks - The Home of Dog Professionals community 💛

The fabulous Lucie Culley visited me recently and this is what she created to showcase Hound Solo 🐾🐾🐶

I just love it, especially because, as ever, Bocca’s the star of the show 😍

29/06/2024

Yes this post is longer than many of us would stop scrolling to read but if you’re thinking about getting a puppy or an older dog, or you have a puppy right now, please do read it 🙏🏼 Jane Ardern is hugely knowledgable so her words can be trusted 🐶

Puppies are not clean slates !
You often hear people say 'get a puppy they are a clean slate'

As a behaviourist and breeder I can confidently tell you this is not true. Both nature and nurture has a huge impact.
A puppy will inherit genes from its parents and these genes will impact the puppies genetic potential to behave in a particular way.
Such as :
Using aggression as a strategy to deal with difficult situations
Sociability towards people and dogs
Fearful responses
Sound sensitivity
Strong instinctive behaviour to hunt, chase, grab, hold and guard.
Trainability which includes the ability to learn self control as humans desire it.

When people breed dogs they sometimes select for specific traits and sometimes not. If someone is breeding for a particular look, colour or just money then these traits can become altered becoming stronger or weaker or unbalanced. This can make a dog dangerous for example breeding a dog with gameness and reducing human sociability.

Then the puppy is born and the first 8 weeks learning with the breeder will have an huge impact on the development of all these genetic traits.

My five puppies have all come from the same parents and been reared in the same environment. They have very individual personalities. The training and socialisation they receive in their new homes will only influence the genes and first learning, it won't change their personalities.

So if you are looking for a puppy
Firstly learn about breed traits and instincts and make sure you pick a puppy that will suit your lifestyle. For example there no point getting a breed that is 'aloof with strangers' if you have 3 young children and lots of friends visiting.

Secondly meet the parents or (genes), see what they are like. Make sure you are meeting the actual parents, some people buy in puppy farmed litters and then 'hire' an adult of the same breed to pretend the puppies were bred there!!

Thirdly make sure the puppy has had plenty of early neurological stimulation and learning before it leaves the litter. Ask these questions.
1) What have the puppies seen?
2) Who and what have they met?
2) What have they learnt?
3) How have they learned to play?
4) What do they do if they get frustrated?
5) What do they do if they get bored?

A professional trainer can help support and guide you on the process of looking for a puppy. Don't wait till afterwards for help.

Prevention IS better than Cure. This goes for training and socialisation too, get a professional to help and guide you.

Puppies are building neural pathways with every experience, every day, make sure they're building ones you like.

First Learning is the strongest, make sure you get it right first time.

Written by Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) KCAI (WG)
WaggaWuffins Canine College
Bury Lancashire

*Permission to share this post from this source. No cutting and pasting please and pretending you wrote it yourself 🙄

26/06/2024

Yes I know there’s a lot of heat warning information out there already for those of us with dogs but it’s good to have clear information to hand, direct from a reliable source.

Stay safe and cool puppers, I’m sure it’ll not be long before it’s muddy and ‘fresh’ again 🤣

Today is going to be a scorcher across the UK.

Did you know that senior dogs can’t regulate their temperature as well as younger adult dogs? (neither can puppies by the way) We need to take special care of seniors when we have these unusually warm days in the UK. Prevention is better than cure!

I am sure you have seen the posts about how to keep your dog cool and what to do if your dog suffers from heatstroke. Sadly some of this information is INCORRECT and this can be dangerous even FATAL for your lovely canine in the event of an emergency.

A more recent study has different findings, which include
~ 26.56% of the dogs with heatstroke died
~ 48.7% of these dogs belonged to the brachycephalic group, those with flatter faces.
~These breeds were four times more likely to develop heatstroke than the more normal shaped faces.

So here is what you SHOULD do if you are unfortunate to have a dog struggling with heat stroke. The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) advises that you – “Cool first, transport second” as the immediate first aid response for a dog that develops heatstroke.

💦 Take them to somewhere cool, ideally a well ventilated area (or use a fan)
💦 Offer them small sips of water (do not force them to drink)
💦 Pour water of any temperature that is cooler than the dog over them, but avoid the head) and combine this with air movement from a breeze, fan or air conditioning

💦 Once these steps have been started, call the vet who will be able to advise further. Even if the pet seems to be okay, it’s important to have them checked (unless told otherwise), as the more serious signs of heatstroke may not be immediately apparent.

Please share this information far and wide! We need to help save lives!

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrdavidmarlin.com%2Fmanaging-dogs-in-hot-weather%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0YSGAC2_AVPOmEa79F6JWWXg3W_aHvTYnW8_IlPhkFK8q27NgjHkesSL4_aem_Y20miFRUArUebl7Rs16g5Q&h=AT1iZGaXhLmdAGUMzbGzV5YaUpY6SieiGSrWsmyeuROm--IGmh4AgI-l65pQXIgnhYfCY6kXv1aK-VHezIXqUm5z4k9lb_gVQobwuAZphwhU_3dgNnxZcphhiJjdhOW7Jy6jCySNbr8sb_Q7ug&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT12cvD6FC_25CX4PKjvEHkHkdnHakyPaIFdJVaR8-RhKG86GKH8R1oAJqhI8AXAjaac2BsKr_r_4Qprv3ea_Q20spH3WCW6lFxSJYdfPjBl2Qbphh5lVwbF0r8wC4N1wPbh4FXh_iXhlFuh606m94iE0saF7DwYv8JZ8EO3pG4rPF862RfrItgoQgPiYGmO3XfMXu-5QR1Gg9zunsql3s8Az1pX5LGyzKFk

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-facilities/veterinary-epidemiology-economics-and-public-health/news/new-research-from-the-rvc-suggests-human-heat-health-alerts-could-help-prevent-heatstroke-in-dogs?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1WDHGXXO_jFdu7L_lHcFO8lIfccrnBqmf6R7Xzd8m3cSr6V00--Yv6KvI_aem_hlOz3hGNJu7xvdSrWzGi0Q&sfnsn=scwspwa #:~:text=Additionally%2C%20the%20RVC%20advises%20%E2%80%9Ccool,not%20force%20them%20to%20drink

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vetr.4153?sfnsn=scwspwa

17/04/2024

Look who I met today 😍

A lovely new 1-2-1 client and she’s an absolute treasure 🐾🐾❤️

I think she looks a little bit like my Bocca when he was a young ‘un…….

Looking forward to seeing her again in May anyway!

Btw, in case you didn’t already know, I’m a total sucker for a cocker spaniel 😍🤪

08/04/2024

Like us, dogs who are experiencing pain or discomfort can be less tolerant and more protective of their bodies and personal space.

Following vet referral I've worked with a couple of young dogs recently who have unfortunately sustained injuries whilst playing and have also developed behaviour problems. Juvenile injuries have the potential to increase the risk of the dog developing osteoarthritis as they mature so, as well as working on safe management and behaviour modification with these clients, it's vital that we introduce measures to optimise their mobility and keep them comfortable for the foreseeable future.

These measures can include changes to how owners play with their dogs, using floor runners and mats on hard floors at home to reduce slipping, and muzzle training; which brings me to the post I'm sharing here ⬇️⬇️

The CAM website is a wonderful source of information, support, and ideas to help those who live with dogs of all ages, I highly recommend their resources to all 🐾🐾

During National Dog Bite Prevention Week, let's focus on understanding our furry friends better.

Recognizing signs of pain is crucial to prevent behavioral changes that may lead to unfortunate incidents. It's essential to remember that it's not about the breed; all dogs have the potential to bite if they're in pain or feel threatened.

Understanding canine arthritis plays a significant role in this conversation, as pain can contribute to aggression. In the UK, recent discussions around XL bully breeds highlight the importance of responsible ownership and education.

With our book - Why Don't You Listen? - https://www.camonlineshop.com/why-dont-you-listen-book/ we try to educate and help you and the whole family to understand what our dog’s are trying to tell us.

Let's work together to create a safer and happier environment for both humans and dogs alike.

20/02/2024

Double Trouble 😍🐶🐶

Litter mate puppies can be a challenge, for many reasons! But these two are doing well with their dedicated owners working hard to train them separately as well as together 💙💙

Today’s session was all about taking turns and feeling happy putting new harnesses on and off, plus lead walking tips and a refresher on using a marker word to help the puppies with low frustration learning 🐾🐾

Really happy with their progress in just two sessions, as are my clients 😊 came home feeling good about my job this afternoon!

14/02/2024

Whoever you love this Valentine’s Day, whether they’re right next to you or somewhere far away 🌈 hold them close in your heart always ❤️

09/02/2024

This pretty little pup had her consultation session at home today 🐾🐾🩷

She did brilliantly with her introduction to the training exercises I’m recommending and her mum has a homework plan to help her practise her new skills before we meet again 🗒️💞

Having already attended local puppy classes she’s doing very well with the basic life skills but today was about a more personalised approach to help with a few challenges including harness anxiety. This is why I love working 1-2-1 with my clients, we can focus on their specific needs and go at a pace that suits both dog and human 🐾🐾❤️👣

03/02/2024

We’ve (well, Pete has actually 😄) been decorating the spare room and this little fella was hiding under the bed! 🐭

If you’re thinking I’ve gone nuts, he’s a now pretty rare Ikea mouse much loved by the scent-work community 😍🐭 I have a few very carefully stored in my scent-work cupboard but I’m delighted that this little one has come out of hiding to join them 🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭

Teaching your dog to sniff out a hidden toy scented with a safe odour such as dried sage is a brilliant way of tapping into their natural talents, providing mental stimulation, and fulfilling their canine needs.

I often include a bit of simple scent-work in my training plans, dogs love it and it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone watching 🥰

31/12/2023

A bit last minute I know but in case anyone needs some ideas to help their dog cope with the bangs later, this is a good quick read 🐶

With New Years Eve approaching, we have some TOP TIPS for keeping your pet safe this firework season.

Dogs:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fireworks-Series-Behaviour.pdf

Cats:https://www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/APBC-How-to-prepare-your-cat-for-fireworks.pdf