Be Good Dog Training - West Malling

02/01/2025

Sapper update…

Unfortunately things haven’t gone quite to plan and instead of entering 2025 with Sapper’s awful accident left in 2024- we are still ongoing.

He had the surgery to put a plate in his leg back in October and although the bone is healing really well- the skin is struggling to heal across the new plate. Since November we have been washing and rebandaging the wound every 2-3 days keeping everything cross for a skin miracle…

On the 31st December we were back at Fitzpatricks for more X-rays… and the bones continues to heal well- but the skin… basically it’s not going to happen…
So he’s on antibiotics to prevent an infection in the still open wound, he still has to be rebandaged every 2 days and we wait… another six weeks and they’re hoping the bone will be strong enough to remove the metal plate- too early and he risks rebreaking the joint.

It’s been a long journey (since May last year) and over £20,000 of insurance money… and we’re still not done! We feel so sorry for this poor lad who hasn’t been anywhere other than a vet surgery for 7 months… he hasn’t once grumbled or snapped despite having wounds treated and washed. I’m so grateful everyday not only for the insurance but also for Sapper’s amazing temperament.

Let’s hope that he’s back to running through the woods like he used to soon. 🐾

30/11/2024

⛔️❌📣 SCAM ALERT - Please share!! 📣❌⛔️

We have been made aware of this recent scam regarding microchipping

If you receive an email from Petchip.network advising that your pet’s microchip registration has expired and you need to pay for it to be updated......
⛔️⛔️ PLEASE IGNORE. THIS IS A SCAM⛔️⛔️

The email comes with a link taking you to a page showing your pet’s name, microchip number, your contact phone number and looks very convincing. PLEASE IGNORE!!

There is a list of approved databases on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-cat-microchipped

Typically you would only pay a fee or first registering your pet or if you contact the company to update your details .

It is important to keep your pet’s microchip contact details up-to-date including if you move address or change phone number/ email address. Please contact your microchip provider direct to update your details.

15/10/2024

Sapper update:

It’s been a super long journey but finally- the light is at the end of the tunnel…

After the insurance paid out from our dog walker and we topped it up with everything left on our own policy we made it to early September before running out of funds - following a check up on his toe amputation site and the metal frame on his broken leg, it was decided that we should continue to keep him home and quiet until his policy renewed before doing further X-rays and seeing how the joint on his left broken leg was healing… thanks to the amazing staff at Fitzpatricks his skin had all but healed by the end of August.

Our insurance renewed last Friday and Saps went back to Firzpatrick yesterday for X-rays- as expected the bone still hasn’t fully healed and so the decision was made to book him into surgery to have a bone graft and plate put into that leg. Unfortunately this hadn’t been able to be done as part of his previous treatment as he had lost so much skin on that limb that the surgery was impossible…

This morning he had the leg op- it went well- the frame and screws are now gone and the lovely Mario has hopefully fixed the joint for good with good old fashioned bone and metal! Saps will have the plate in his leg for the rest of his life but… most importantly in 6-8 weeks- he’ll be free of crate rest and his life of house arrest will be over…. It’s been a long and hard time- and he hadn’t left home aside from vet visits since May!

Ultimately- we are so overjoyed that our boy will soon be back to his usual self- and I’ll stop yelling swear words when he attempts to run down the garden!

🐾 Our takeaway from this is… make sure your dog is insured- make sure that your dog walker is fully insured (look at the paperwork and read the coverage amount!) - by the time all this is done Sapper’s vet bill is expected to be around £23,000… of which we will have paid… £220.

But most importantly- Sapper is still with us and for that we are so grateful as it really could have been such a different outcome.

He’s back home tomorrow or Thursday and hopefully that will be the end of residential trips to Guildford!

08/10/2024

Hot off the press!!! Dogs are welcome in Costa Coffee… well done Costa!

22/09/2024

Managed avoid the rain this morning! The dogs all worked brilliantly but a special mention goes to the adolescent class who were just brilliant.

Well done everyone!

21/09/2024

I am monitoring the weather for classes tomorrow.

Agility people I will text you by 7:30am.

Classes- notifications will go into your WhatsApp groups by 8:30am.

21/09/2024

🐾To all my wonderful clients and friends,

After much thought, I’ve decided to take a break from running dog training classes until 2025 in order to spend more time with my children.

As some of you are aware I have three kids all of whom are now in school- It has really hit home recently how important it is for me to be present with my family during the weekends.

Family time is precious, and I want to make the most of these moments while they’re still young- and those years seem to be flying past.

I’m incredibly grateful for your support and trust over the years, and I’ll miss working with you and your wonderful dogs during this time.

I look forward to reconnecting in the new year with fresh energy and exciting new classes. In the meantime I am still offering 121 training sessions and behavioural reports - but only during midweek. The current courses and sessions listed on the booking page will run but nothing from the middle of October until January.

Thank you for your understanding, and I hope to see you and your furry companions in 2025! 🐾

08/09/2024

Who else has a tear in their eye?
So pleased she’s home safe. My heart was in my mouth watching that video!

03/09/2024

Courses with spaces- September:

This Weekend- 4 week courses.

Agility - Early Morning group - 8:15am - 4 Spaces - NEW DATE!!!

Puppy - under six months - Sundays 9:30am - 1 SPACE

Adolescents - 6 months - 2yrs - Sundays 11am - 1 SPACE

28/08/2024

Missing dog- Phoebe - older spaniel- medium sized.

Phoebe bolted from a family friend’s house yesterday 27/08 near Bean (Bluewater). There were a number of sightings in the evening both on the side of the A2 and in the field nearby.

Phoebe is running scared and should not be approached if sighted.
If spotted then please call the owner’s brother on 07805 329434 with an accurate location.

K9 tracker, SAR drone have both been notified. Her bed with water and food has been left where she was last sighted.

Please do not approach - she will run.

Please share this in all local groups- our best hope is that she is sighted and her family can go to where she was seen.

27/08/2024

It has now been almost 13 weeks since Sapper was injured - last week he had X-rays and sadly needs to keep the frame on his leg for at least the next 4-6 weeks but he is healing - today he had the all clear for his first wash since the accident. A massive thanks to Victoria for giving him a really thorough wash and blow dry! He absolutely loved it- and I have no doubt he is a lot more comfortable!

17/08/2024

A mouldy post…

We have had a few cases of mycotoxin poisoning recently. Its not a poisoning that folks are generally familiar with, so we thought we'd share the information to raise awareness.-

Ingestion of mouldy food from the bin or a compost pile puts dogs, cats, horses, livestock, and even wildlife at risk for toxicity due to tremorgenic mycotoxins. These toxins may be found in MOULDY bread, pasta, cheese, nuts, or other decaying matter like compost. Clinical signs include vomiting, agitation, incoordination, tremors, seizures, and elevated body temperature. A specific mycotoxin called aflatoxin can even cause liver failure. Be sure to keep mouldy food and compost out of your pets reach!

15/08/2024

Little child and dog friendly trip/socialisation opportunity…

In case anyone else is struggling to simultaneously amuse dogs and kids!

14/08/2024

Kent Dog Walker offers homeboarding and also a doggy hotel for any last minute getaways!