Hound Solo

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

31/12/2023

My final Dog a Day for December 2023 is Teddy 🤎

Teddy is an amazing cockerpoo who I first met over zoom back in those dark days of the Covid lockdowns. Luckily we later met in person several times and I got to know the real Teddy 🥰

We haven’t worked together on training this year but Teddy and his lovely human mum kindly agreed to work in collaboration with myself and Holly Dwyer Photography - Photographing pets & their people when I had professional images created for Hound Solo back in February. What a gorgeous model he was for us 😍🌟

Teddy loves squirrels 🐿️ tennis balls 🎾 sniffing, running, and exploring 🐾🐾 He has an incredibly loving family and his mum has been so dedicated in learning to understand Teddy. As a result they’ve become a wonderful partnership through training and shared activities 🐾🐾❤️👣

I think this photo suggests that Teddy is looking ahead to 2024 with great anticipation! I wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year 🥂and I hope your dogs can sleep through the inevitable fireworks later 🤞🎆

30/12/2023

My penultimate client Dog a Day for 30th December is handsome Roley ❤️

Roley is a spaniel mix and he came all the way from Cyprus to join his lovely family here in the UK! 🐾🐾💙👣

Roley loves to channel his inner spaniel and get outside to sniff the ground and the air - so much to learn about his adopted country through sniffing!

29/12/2023

Back to client dogs for Dog a Day December now - today I bring you Spencer the very handsome Labrador 💙😍

Spencer loves tennis balls and doing anything where he can use his tremendous nose to search and sniff things out 🧀🎾🥓

Spencer is a very special member of his human family and brought a lot of love with him when they adopted him as an early retired ex sniffer dog 🐾🐾❤️👣

28/12/2023

28th December and today’s Dog a Day is the last of our own dogs so after today I have 3 lovely client dogs lined up to take us to the end of the month/year!

So, this is Sam, aka Spam 🤪

Sam was our first adopted dog and he arrived with us in 2022 via the wonderful charity, Spaniel Aid 🐶

His arrival was the result of many months of looking at the posts of dogs for adoption as I searched for a dog that could live happily alongside Bocca. Which, after a few minor disagreements during settling in, he did! 🥰

Sam loved running (fast), mud, water, snuggles with me, and his cuddly chick toy 🐥 He was a clever boy but he also struggled with the demons in his head at times so he needed our patience and understanding to help him blossom 🌼🐝

Very sadly, Sam also had health issues 😔 I could write an essay on those but I won’t do that here! The worst of it was IBD and the extent of the damage caused by this resulted in him peacefully dying at home just 5 months after he joined us 😢🌈💔

He is remembered every day with love and laughter 🧡🐾🐾

27/12/2023

Dog a Day for 27th December (the official first day of ‘Twixmas’ I believe 😄) is our own Bocca 🖤

Our dog number 4 and current Hound Solo mascot, Bocca loves wabbits, hunting scent on the moors and in the woods, snuggling all humans, but especially his human Dad, and doing scent work 🥰

When Bocca joined our family he was junior pup in our three spaniel herd, and although he was a happy boy during those years, he definitely prefers being the only dog in the family. This is very hard for me as I’m a multi dog person at heart but I adore him and now he’s coming up to 11 I think he’s earned the right to stay solo 🐾🐾❤️👣

26/12/2023

For Boxing Day I bring you our third spaniel as Dog a Day - Barney 🤎

Soooo much I could say about my Barnabus Fudge (he had a lot of nicknames 😄)

🐾 he was my ‘challenge’ dog
🐾 he was my shadow
🐾 he could hold 2 tennis balls in his mouth (he was so proud of himself when he learnt that trick!)
🐾 he had the softest cheeks and the floofiest head

Barney loved water, soft toys, tennis balls, me 😍, and food! He could ‘speak’ Wookie 😆 and learnt the names of all his toys within a few hours of meeting them!

Barney left us in November 2018, he had canine dementia and he broke my heart 💔 But we always remember him with a smile because he was our silly boy 🤎🌈

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating, or just having the day off, today 🎄🎄🎄

Dog a Day for today is our second dog, Herbert 💚

Beautiful boy 😍, he loved ducks, more ducks 🦆🦆🦆, water, and generally being a bit of a ginger ninja puppy 😆

Sadly Bert lived fast but died young from auto immune haemolytic anaemia in 2006, he taught us to treasure every moment with a dog, because they never stay with you as long as you hope and wish they could 🌈 🐾🐾

He still makes us smile 🥰

24/12/2023

The best gift is already under our Christmas tree 🎄
His 10th Christmas already ❤️🌟🖤🌟❤️

24/12/2023

I started Dog a Day for December to help me create a habit of sharing photos here on my page, and also to show everyone some of the lovely client dogs I’ve worked with this year 🥰 I still have a few candidates lined up for that weird bit between Christmas and New Year but I thought I’d sneak in my own boys as Dog a Days over the Christmas bit ❤️💚🤎🖤🧡

First up is Murphy ❤️ our first dog and our first spaniel love. I could write an essay about him but this isn’t the place 😂 so I’ll just say that he loved digging, playing with tennis balls and tuggy footballs, and being with his human family (he gave the best snuggles ever 🥰)

Murphy taught us soooo much about living with a cocker and we miss him every day since he left us in July 2016 🌈🐾🐾

23/12/2023

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!! 🎄🎄🎄

Client Dog a Day for 23rd December is Copper 🧡
His soulful eyes, his fluffy feet, his clever brain, what’s not to love about this beautiful boy 😍

As you’ve probably guessed already, Copper is a cocker spaniel who adores his human mum (the feeling is mutual, they’re perfectly matched 🐾🐾❤️👣)

He also loves exploring, bouncing around fields and woodlands, learning new tricks, and snuggling into a soft blanket on the sofa 🥰

22/12/2023

Leaping into Christmas, I give you Buddy as today’s Dog a Day 💙❤️

Buddy is a cockapoo who just loves life! He has great friends (doggy and human), an adoring human mum, and the most beautiful canine smile 😍

I’ve known Buddy since he was a tiny puppy and have enjoyed seeing him grow into the lovely lad he is today. Happy Christmas Buddy, I’m pretty sure you’ll be at the top of Santa’s nice list 🎅🏽🎄🐾🐾

21/12/2023

21st December, the shortest day, so I bring you one of my long serving client dogs as today’s Dog a Day!!

This is beautiful Violet 💜
She’s gorgeous inside as well as out and is the most loving, happy, and bouncy girl ever 😍

Violet adores making new friends, loves playing tug, and enjoys exploring new places 🐾🐾🌳🐿️

I’ve known Violet since she was a young puppy and it’s been a privilege to watch her grow up and to help her human mum with their training together 🐾🐾🩷👣

20/12/2023

Meet Duggee 💙 today’s client Dog a Day for 20th December!

Duggee loves his ball, his human mum, his garden, and being official organiser for their home 🐾🐾🥰

Duggee is a wire haired fox terrier so he’s a little unusual around these parts but I think he kind of likes being the local ambassador for his breed - you’re doing a great job Duggee 🩵

19/12/2023

Today’s client Dog a Day is Tilly ❤️

Tilly is a cocker spaniel blessed with beautiful ‘baked bean’ eyebrows and a lively, happy, personality 🐾🐾

Tilly is full sister to Luna who was my Dog a Day on 2nd December 🐶🐶 and it’s been such a pleasure to work with them both (individually, although I’d love to see them together 🌪️🌪️😁)

Tilly loves sniffing, running, exploring, playing and generally being a fabulously busy little spaniel 🥰

18/12/2023

I’m not quite sure how we’ve got to 18th December already - just one week to Christmas!! 🎄🎄🎄

Today’s client dog is Archie 🩵 he’s a Cavapoo and is a total sweetheart 🥰

Archie loves his ball 🎾 and he’s another one of my fab clients who has bit of a passion for those cheeky squirrels and birds 🐿️🐦‍⬛

17/12/2023

This is Loki the Red Setter and I’ve chosen him as client Dog a Day for 17th December because, well, just look at that face!! 😍❤️

Loki’s enthusiasm for life is bigger than his happy tongue! He loves to lean on people to tell them they’re his BFF 🥰🤗 and searching for squirrels is high on his list of favourite games 🐿️

16/12/2023

Dog a Day for Saturday 16th December is Fabulous Frank 🌟💙🖤

These photos don’t really do him justice because he’s just the cheekiest, most handsome boy 😍

He gets 4 photos instead of 1 because Frank and his human mum have been consistently training 1-2-1 with me for the whole year, since Frank was a young puppy, and I couldn’t pick just one image!

All that hard work has really paid off and when Frank turns 1 on 28th Dec he, and his mum, certainly deserve to celebrate 🥳🥂

Frank loves pretty much everything, but water is his favourite 🐾🐾💦 (and mud too 😆)

15/12/2023

Almost half way through Dog a Day December!!

Client Dog for 15th December is the super soft Eddie 💙

Eddie loves bird watching, working from home with his humans and getting outside for a run, before settling in for snuggles 🥰

Sounds like a lovely life Eddie 🐾🐾❤️👣

14/12/2023

Bocca’s enjoying my heated blanket today, anyone else feel slightly envious of their dog right now? 😄🐾🐾🖤

14/12/2023

My client Dog Day for 14th December is Buddy 🖤❤️

Not Buddy the Elf 🎄😄 but Buddy the beautiful and clever cocker spaniel!

He was just a youngster pup when we met earlier this year, an adolescent learning about life! Buddy is a typical spaniel in that he loves birds, sniffing, exploring, and playing 🐾🐾 He also knows lots of ways to earn a yummy treat, he’s a bright boy 🐾🐾🌟