Holistic horse and hound

16/08/2024

My own boys enjoying playing time together! ..... .... ..... ...

14/08/2024

I am so very blessed that my clients are spread across the Eden Valley.....we have fell... woodlands....becks.....so many options...
And because I ONLY WALK YOUR DOGS.....I can take them where they are cool and happy 🧡💛🧡💛🧡

No pavement pounding walks.... Just beautiful cool walks

Feeling very blessed with my work and the amazing dogs I meet 🧡💛

12/08/2024

If a pup wants to sniff walk for longer than the 5 minutes per month of age then they can. We no longer need to restrict the length of the walk just not subject them to certain movements like stairs and chasing a ball. But gentle walking as long as they aren’t tired is perfect!

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk
All courses taught by a vet ❤️

06/08/2024

So very beautiful ❤️

04/08/2024

Socialisation and Confidence Sessions...... here's a snapshot of our sessions so far. Lots of curious dogs exploring and experiencing new things......learning how to be calm and settled around other dogs.....amazing owners who want their four legged friends to live their best lives......AND we seem to keep getting sunshine too!!! Well done to everyone ..... ...... ...... ...... ....... ......

04/08/2024

01/08/2024

Over the next 4 days I will endeavour to allow lots of extra time to navigate around Kendal Calling traffic but my timings may be rather sketchy!

Shame the sunshine has gone on their first day!

28/07/2024

It's a beautiful sunny morning for our first Socialisation and Confidence Building Session!

Looking forward to it!

Have a great Sunday

25/07/2024

Absolutely my ethos to my work 🙏

20/07/2024

Do you look at the position of your dogs whiskers..

Just asking

19/07/2024

YES YES YES

17/07/2024

Good point, well presented!

17/07/2024

🐾🐾 Dog Socialisation & Confidence Sessions 🐾🐾

Where: Penrith

When: Sunday 28th July 1100hrs and Thursday 1st August 1830hrs

Suitable for dogs of ALL ages

Cost: £15 per dog per session

But what is DOG SOCIALISATION?

Dog socialisation is a term that most dog owners are familiar with. We tend to think of puppies and young dogs learning to play with other dogs!

BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE!!

Socialising a dog is more than teaching puppies to interact with other puppies. It's appropriate for dogs of all ages and is about helping your dog to learn about the environment in which it lives and to feel confident and safe.

By introducing your dog to new experiences in a calm and safe way will help to build your bond and increase trust in your journey together.

Socialisation includes your dog being introduced to new smells, news places, different surfaces, different activities, moving objects, different tastes, new people....think of all of the things your dog might encounter in just one walk!

These sessions are designed to help your dog experience new and fun activities in a safe place. To build confidence in going into new situations. To help you to understand more about your dogs communication with you - can you notice when he's anxious, overstimulated or happy and having fun. To meet new dogs in a calm, on lead manner and to learn about being neutral in new situations.

The sessions will be outside on grass. Lots of sniffing and calming activities as well as new obstacles to try.

Sessions are suitable for all ages and experience levels. They are not suitable for dogs that are reactive to other dogs, however one to one sessions can be arranged for the same experience but with just your dog.

🐾DM or telephone to make your booking today🐾

Places are limited

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16/07/2024

Love this post too from Heal the Dog

I understand it can be really hard particularly if you have a reactive dog. We can lose confidence and this can be communicated to your dog

I love working with dogs and their guardians to help reduce reactivity, enhance their bond, increase confidence
And.... ENJOY their time with their fabulous dogs

Reactivity is a word that's banded about a lot.....what is reactivity?

It's your dog communicating
It's your dog being a dog

It's not always a negative behaviour....it could be overstimulation or excitement at the sight of another dog.
It's a behaviour that we as the handler may prefer wasn't there.
We would prefer our dog to be emotionally neutral in those situations; calmer and allowing you to feel in control of your dog and have an understanding of how they will respond to certain situations.

I'd be delighted to help you on your journey with your dog. Helping you to understand and notice more about what triggers your dogs behaviour and how you can work towards a neutral and calmer dog.

Please contact me if you feel you and your dog might benefit from some work together

16/07/2024

110%

14/07/2024

Wake up Toby! No time to snooze!!

Pleased to now offer TWO HOUR walks for your fabulous dogs!

On weekday mornings (subject to availability) and just £35 for your first dog & £5 for each additional dog from the same household*

Give your dog the chance to enjoy a long walk in nature whilst you're working

Please DM or call me to book

*includes pick up and drop off to your home

08/07/2024

Double coats play a role but DO NOT magically cool a dog down. Let’s break it down and let’s remember a one size (quite literally) doesn’t fit all.

The undercoat traps air against the skin. If that air is cool or there is a breeze this will be very effective in helping our dogs. When they leave the home where the air is cool and enter 22c heat that undercoat will help to keep them cool for sometime and those guard hairs (the top coat) will act like leaves on a tree - shade. BUT as the air becomes hot the undercoat will move and trap warm air against the skin and the guard hairs will make it difficult for that warm air to leave unless it’s windy. So this double coat will only be effective if it can move (very regular grooming needed) AND the weather is windy. Otherwise it’ll keep the dog cooler for longer but then heat them up making it hard for heat to escape.

But the double coat does protect that fragile skin, so if you keep it well maintained, your dog is not overweight, you don’t subject them to hot temperatures, and they aren’t a giant breed who is a bigger risk of overheating. Then clipping is not necessary, especially if they are young (older dogs find it harder to thermoregulate).

Remember that double coat keeps them warm in the winter, how many hot days do we get here in the U.K.?! Can you make more effort to groom/get them groomed, provide a fan, plenty of cold water drinking options, get their weight down, and avoid waking when over 20c? If so then clipping is potentially not necessary!

If there is existing skin disease clipping will help you to apply topical products, if there isn’t clipping can expose fragile skin. Some undercoat must be left to protect it. And you have to be prepared to apply sunscreen and potentially be ready for an increase risk of skin disease.

For some the guard hairs can take 4 years to grow back! Yes that may look aesthetically unpleasant. That’ll also mean less protection against the wet and dirt. They’ll need a winter coat on. The double coat helps them maintain optimum body temperature.

Like everyone I.e. neutering there is not a one size fits all. You need to assess every dog, here is an example. I was asked would you clip a double coated breed who appears to be struggling with the heat and has cancer and not predicted to survive past the summer, well yes I would clip if all other cooling options have been explored. But generally it’s not a yes for all you need to ask questions, discuss pro’s and con’s. But ultimately a clipped coat will cool but could mean other problems may arise…

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk
One vet, always balanced, always trying to be better to help you learn and help those wonderful animals ❤️

08/07/2024

Cat Care in your own home

Many cats find being away from home a very stressful experience

I offer cat care for your feline friends in the comfort of their happiest surroundings. Feeding, litter tray changes, as well as brushing/cuddles/strokes/play of course!

Prices as low as £5.50 per visit

Please contact me for more information

My mobile number is 07706 771 356

🩷🐾🩷

01/07/2024

Made me chuckle!!!!

Have a great week!

I am on leave for three days, back to work on Thursday 🙏

26/06/2024

26/06/2024

More cool walks!

Does anyone know the name of the little blue flower. It looks like a cornflower but much paler 💚💜🩵

26/06/2024

Today's walks will be super soggy, super shaded or a fell wander with a swim!

Now I may be wrong to have an opinion..... especially on social media (!) but I won't compromise your dogs even in this medium Cumbrian heat.

Whilst we might be loving it, we're not racing around in a coat and barefoot!

So it's cool walks or no walks with garden visits today!

Please be cautious travelling your dogs in the car too and of course the brachycephalic breeds who cope less well in the heat

That said enjoy the fair weather! 🐾🐾🐾

14/06/2024

🤣

14/06/2024

Sound advice from Janet

This is so true

I am forever advising reduce or stop walking your dog
Go out and do more fun, hunting, play in different locations, training there if needed, short bursts.

Too much walking creates :-
An athlete expecting more.
A depressed dog if it doesn’t get the stimulation (as in some humans)
An over aroused dog that settles for short periods.
A stressed dog/highly aroused (which I see a lot of)
A dog that struggles to settle at all.
A fearful dog.
Joint issues later in life (not all the time of course)

If you would like help to change your habits with your dog, to slow things down then contact me

Thank you National institute for canine ethics for the graphics.

14/06/2024

Hear hear!

Wanting a behaviour from our dogs to stop is common. Sadly, there are so many 'trainers' who appear on television or have massive social media followings who will advocate using devices and methods that 'will stop it fast'. Let's be honest, as humans we are often results driven, so I can see why these would appeal to people who don't know why these things should not be recommended and used. The reality is that they can make the situation so much worse.

Suppressing a behaviour doesn't mean that the reasons that behaviour happened aren't still there, just that the dog can't do what they feel they need to in that situation. That can lead to increased frustration, stress, fear - depending on what the driver for that behaviour is. Think of it like a pressure cooker, adding more and more pressure, with no way to reduce that pressure. Eventually there comes a point where the pressure is just too much and boom.

If a behaviour is something we can't live with, there are things we can do without suppressing that behaviour. Manage the situation so that the dog is not in a position to practice that behaviour - for example baby gates to stop them jumping up at arriving guests or finding quiet areas to walk if your dog is uncomfortable with other dogs close up. If there is something you would prefer them to do in that situation keep using the management and then, using kind and ethical methods, teach them what you would like them to do instead. If the behaviour is not something that we can simply train an alternative for - a dog who reacts to other dogs around for example - find a behaviour consultant who uses modern and kind methods to help the dog no longer feel the need to use that behaviour.

Behaviour suppression is never the answer.

There are links to a couple of blog posts exploring the topic further in the comments.

13/06/2024

Whoop whoop passed module one 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

12/06/2024

My eyes 👀👀👀🤣