Quality Grooming

02/16/2024

02/14/2024

02/04/2024

The Big 3 Of Reactivity…

I received this comment in response to my post about reactivity, and how much of it is simply bratty nonsense which has never been properly addressed. The comment prompted me to share again what I’ve seen as the most common 3 causes of reactivity and/dog aggression.

I’m sorry to hear that. As I’ve said in many, many prior posts, 99% of reactive and/or dog aggressive dogs who come to us have the exact same description: spent a good amount of time in daycare, or dog parks, or had meetings with other dogs on leash—or did all of the above—and used to be “okay” with it (typically when younger/not fully matured, but not always) and then slowly became dog reactive and/or dog aggressive.

All of the three interactions listed prior have similar elements: chaotic, overwhelming high pressure interactions; insufficient or improper supervision enabling pushy, bullying, and even violent interactions; dogs being forced to deal with undesired/unhealthy/unpleasant interactions with other dogs—either regularly, or in occasional high-intensity/high stress/highly impactful interactions.

Dogs whose personalities are extremely confident, happy-go-lucky, not easily fazed by life, can sometimes weather these types of interactions without issue—but often even these dogs change when a serious enough event (injury/fight) occurs. But for the majority of dogs—dogs who are more sensitive, more shy, more easily overwhelmed/traumatized—these types of encounters start the process of eroding their trust in other dogs, and as this trust erodes and their fears are consistently affirmed that other dogs are in fact dangerous or at least extremely stressful/scary/overwhelming—dogs resort to looking out for themselves by way of becoming proactive via reactivity displays and/or attacking the other dog before he/she can get to them.

It’s easy to see why so many would become this way when we imagine being placed in their most unpleasant shoes repeatedly. Problem is, when dogs are younger they will often struggle/be traumatized by these interactions but not show any immediate outward (obvious) negative responses—but as they mature, they will slowly change, often profoundly so. Others may be mature but will weather the interactions until a serious event occurs, or until they’ve reached their cumulative breaking point.

Of course there are exceptions—dogs who’ve never been in these situations and who are still reactive—but these are typically the bratty, spoiled dogs who’ve never had any consequences for poor choices, or dogs who have genetic predispositions, or dogs who have had insufficient proper exposure earlier in life—or dogs (and owners) who simply have developed bad habits and require training to turn it around.

PS, I highly discourage any dog parks, and any on-leash meetings. As for daycares, there are some which are run extremely well with highly knowledgeable staff—but these are extremely rare and will require extreme diligence on your part to find… not to mention, knowing your dog and what’s best for their specific personality will require just as much diligence and work.

01/17/2024

Need knowledge? Want answers?
If your like me, you want to help your pet, but while I’m listening to my vet, all they information that I really want to retain, slips away like dust in the wind…
Check out this vet!!

01/16/2024

This is true…

01/16/2024

Winter weather can pose a few risks to your dog’s paws. Learn the right way to protect your pet’s paws from these winter worries.

01/16/2024

Remember, most dogs have about the logic of a two year of child. And they don’t speak English.
Paws are the first thing to freeze up on walks.
Keep outside time and walks super short right now. Just potty and back in the house!!

Dog frostbite can occur despite your pup being covered in fur. Make sure your dog isn't exposed to extreme cold to ensure she doesn't suffer from this painful condition.

01/14/2024

Each winter, the posts begin about bringing all cats and dogs indoors during the cold days ahead.

The farmer who leaves his working dog or even barn cat outside "working" is demonized.

Before I go further, this isn’t about true neglect and abuse of pets or livestock where they are chained, left without a true way to access what they need and so forth. Those cases happen often and should be reported.

But now and again, working dogs are called in that actually are quite happy and cared for, and that is what I’m speaking to here.

Just as goats, sheep, horses and cattle can humanely and safely be outside, working dogs and cats (barn mousers) can, and really sometimes have it easier given their ability to get into warmer spots with coats that are even more winter ready than any goat I've seen.

Are farmers doing the cows and horses harm by not bringing them inside, as well?

Of course not.

The statement: "If You are Cold, THEY ARE Cold” doesn’t apply to all.

If you have a pet that genetically isn't a type kept outside at all in the past decades - i.e. small breeds like Chihuahuas, breeds genetically not suited to harsh winter based on their historical genetic background or those disadvantages in some way (age, illness), I believe they thrive best inside with temperatures that are mild/moderate when weather is A-typical for what they are genetically prepared to live through.

You should never have a dog tied out in any weather and leave them to try to survive. Plastic dog houses, a little hay, chains, frozen water or little square chain-link kennels – that isn’t humane, be it very cold or sweltering hot.

But for many breeds of dogs - the genetics ARE there for outdoor living when they are well nourished and given solid options for shelter, just like it is there for goats, cattle, poultry, pigs and more. .

I have to assume many people are just truly unaware.
If one’s livestock can be in run in shed, barn or out on pasture (which is perfectly acceptable with wind breaks, shelter to stay dry and water/food), a double coated working Pyrenees that comes from generations (as many do) of working dogs who has been growing a coat for winter through the seasonal changes should have no need to be brought in when his flock is outside. The flock is one he protects.

Obviously, do not take an inside dog of any breed, even a Livestock Guard Dog, and put them out in the middle of winter. You would have problems if you brought goats up from Florida in December and threw them out in the winters of the north, too. You also be off track if you take a dog who grew a coat for winter through outdoor living in the fall and you bring him into a house that 75 degrees.

Common sense, folks.

DON'T DO those things. . .

If a healthy animal's genetic package works with the outdoors and the animal is acclimatized - you are not doing them a disservice by providing having them outside, BUT know your breeds and know if they are acclimatized.

My Pyrs, over the years, have had three options for shelter - a covered porch where it is dry with dog beds, a wooden and off ground dog house without wind access. . . and a barn full of hay. . .

And just where do I often find these dogs in the worst of weather? Laying in the driveway and rolling around playing with the other farm dogs. . .because that is WHAT dogs that have acclimatized coats, breeding and so forth think of cold weather. . .
My indoor/outdoor cat prefers to head outside on the farm at night, even in harsh winter. She lets me know when she wants in and out.

Where were the horses in snow, rain and wind? Well, not in the barn with hay - they are found poking around on the hillside in the wind. . .

Your acclimated farming dogs, just like your livestock, should have access to windbreaks, shelter, bedding, plenty of food and unfrozen water -

They will be fine. Let's not demonize people doing nothing wrong.

(Repeating: this isn’t about true neglect and abuse of pets or livestock where they are chained and/or left/kept without a true way to access what they need. Those cases happen often and should be reported, Always.)

12/31/2023

Happy New Year! 😀 We will be closed for New Year and reopen Thursday, January 4. Cheers!

12/23/2023

We are closed for Christmas, reopen Dec 28.

12/04/2023

😂😜♥️