Wild Rose Pet Care Services

26/08/2024

22/08/2024

CALL FOR B.A.R.K. RANGERS!!
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is looking for friendly canines and their human companions to learn about proper dog walking etiquette and safety on the refuge!
B.A.R.K. stands for Bag your waste, Always wear a leash, Respect wildlife, and Know where to go.
To become a B.A.R.K. Ranger come to the visitor center, say the B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge, and receive a certificate and something special for your furry friend!
Join us beginning August 26th, which just so happens to be National Dog Day.... see what we did there 😎
Anytime from 9am to 4pm at the Richard S Bolt Visitor Center

Image: A flyer with the text posted above.

16/08/2024

Such a common issue ❗
I know many people really struggle with this and the most important step to stop or limit this is sometimes not taken.
For aesthetic reasons or for financial reasons or both (which I absolutely understand) the crucial step of stopping this behaviour being repeated and rehearsed over and over is not taken.
For aesthetic reasons...
I get it, you have worked hard and have a beautiful home and fence but now your dog is launching themselves at that beautiful fence and at every dog, person or car that passes.
It may now be a "game" that they wait for hours and hours to play.

That "game" is causing huge stress in your dog.

Asking someone to block that view through that fence or to create a temporary fence further back is often met with resistance.
Some people may struggle financially with a cheap option to block that view.
Try w**d mat or thick opaque shade cloth to temporary staple to the fence, its a very reasonable price and comes in long lengths. Or look around the home for an old tarpaulin, there are very cheap or free options.

If you have a dog that sits on the deck and then launches into this "game" from there, change the area.
That "launch pad" WILL be used over and over if left.

This won't just stop.

Another reason people are hesitant to stop this is they see their dog enjoys this "game". They see the pacing while waiting, the anticipation and that is part of the issue. Reactivity can be highly stressful for dogs.
They are stuck in a loop and need help to stop.

Limiting opportunity is always a first step and from there you can put in other ways to help....but for some dogs, limiting the vision (and/or access to the fence line) will stop the behaviour immediately.

(Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright. Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for Graphics

16/08/2024

Yes you can poison your recall☠️ and it is very common
Recall (having your dog come to you when called) is one of those cues in training that depends heavily on your relationship together. 🤝🙂
However, there are other things we can inadvertently do which damage a good recall and we often don't even realise we do this.
One of the advantages of having an In Home Trainer is we see all those little things that make SUCH a big difference.
Calling your dog to you when you are about to do something unpleasant to them (or they view as could be a negative experience)....even for the best of intentions, can poison recalls.
Calling them to their dreaded bath.
You know they dislike having their nails cut, but they are called to you.....usually ignoring your calls and then finally skulking slowly forward... with their head down low.
Calling them to you when you have the ear drops in your hand.
They will start to make associations with recall and what you actually want them for.
The opposite (calling away from fun and positive experiences) is also true.
Constantly calling your dog away from fun and positive experiences is a recall destroyer.
One of the biggest destroyers of a recall is calling them to you and clipping their lead straight on and leaving the fun area.....have a play with them first, clip on the lead and continue to have fun for a few minutes. This is a little thing that turns that negative association into a really positive one..
So DON"T call them when they may view what you are wanting (or importantly needing to do)....go and get them.
If you need to groom, please take the time and look into cooperative care, it makes SUCH a difference.
Recently I worked with a Pitbull that was in a desperate situation with their claws.
No-one would do them, not their veterinary clinic, no groomer...no-one...even with a muzzle. He is classified by our council as a menacing dog.
It took 2 half hour sessions with some very easy steps that the motivated guardians did a few times a day for a minute or two.......The result.
Nails done....with no muzzle......and NO stress.
A pleasant experience for everyone.
One of the other issues we picked up on was he was called to them for everything , including being called away from positive/fun experiences and for what he may view as negative.....and it certainly affected their recall too. The recall was about 30 %.
So if your recall is more miss than hit....look at when you actually call them too you and why.
If you change little habits you can make some very big differences.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

15/08/2024

Good Morning All! Hey Local Friends - Now that school as started back I am here to remind you that we offer Doggie Daycare! Let us keep your pup busy while you are at work and the kids are at school! Keep up with potty training and socialization. A tired puppy is a happy puppy :-)

Send a message to learn more

07/08/2024

Send a message to learn more

01/08/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBJA1lFwbfY&feature=youtu.be

23/07/2024

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, including us, dogs just want to feel safe – it’s a basic survival need.

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is just as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

The same applies to our dogs – they are sentient beings whose behaviour is triggered and driven by emotions.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “this is not safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is probably doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe. The same can be said for separation distress – the feelings of panic when left alone – “I am not safe!”.

Some dogs may never get over a specific fear, but doing all we can to help dogs feel safe in our world is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to focus first and foremost on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

In my words (as it pertains to dogs) – It is our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this will be part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.

16/07/2024

Here is a thermal image of a dog with a portion of its body at 75.2°F and the clipped portion at 87.44°F.

The hair is present for several reasons, one of them being for temperature regulation. Please do not shave dogs who have double coats. You're not helping them stay cool. Dogs who have double coats should not be shaved and instead need regular grooming to keep the coat in good condition to properly insulate your dog. You risk ruining their coat permanently and getting them sunburned. Proper maintenance is key!

22/04/2024

Advice to people with pets on medications who board them from time to time. Whether you use a Pet Sitter or a boarding kennel, always make sure you leave at least a few extra days worth of medication with your pet caregiver. I know you plan on being back to get them on schedule, but things happen. Accidents, illness, other emergencies can possibly lengthen your trip. Be prepared for the unexpected and know your pet has what they need no matter what

02/04/2024

https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/safe-fruits-for-dogs?fbclid=IwAR00v6cSWnpohDfWUiNX6eDQ7YMqBaAe5JHO7cpko3QbiYOHfdFal_MLUPk

Discover what fruits are safe for dogs to eat and which ones are toxic and could threaten your pup's health.

16/03/2024

Dog loving/owning friends - IF you need to get a Kennel Cough Vax for your dog, PLEASE do so at least one week (preferably longer) before you are scheduled to board or send your pup to Daycare. One of the most common side effects is "a mild case of kennel cough" which may not be an issue for you but puts other dogs At Risk. The vaccine does not prevent your dog from getting KC but "hopefully lessens the symptoms". If your dog plays with other dogs, please be aware of this. Decrease the chances of spread by waiting at least one week after Vax to be social. ❤️

28/02/2024

This is simple.✅
It is easy....and it works !✅
If you can be clear and precise when you reward behaviour you want to be repeated, you are making things SO much easier for your dog to understand.
Sometimes people see something they really like from their dog and they stand up, go to the cupboard to get their favourite reward, open the cupboard, get the packet out...... and the time to reward has long gone.
Have a few rewards on you at all times.✅
Pop them in a pocket (yes you will curse me on laundry day🙂)...but you can make a real difference in your dogs behaviour just by rewarding exactly what you like when they show you.
I am not talking about a sit or a down but all the other times you notice your dog has done well.
They didn't bark at the cat as it ran over the grass YES! Rewardable✅
They chose just to relax on their bed or mat YES! Rewardable✅
They kept all four paws on the ground when your guest arrived YES! Rewardable✅

If you haven't tried rewarding exactly what you want....take up the challenge and try it for 2 weeks.
I promise you.... you will see results...but you will probably still curse me on laundry day🙂

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

28/02/2024

Good Morning! Spring Break is around the corner! YES!!! Don't forget to make plans for your pups to have a safe, fun place to visit while you are out and about. We have spots available so give us a call

14/02/2024

Happy Valentines Day!

02/02/2024

Good Morning and Happy 2024! Spring is right around the corner - YAY!! Am stopping in to let you know we have a few spots open for Puppy Daycare. If you got a new pup and are struggling with potty training while you are at work, this is the place for your pup! :-) AND Spring Break is right around the corner! If you have travel plans don't stress your pup out or lose ground with his/her potty training. Give us a call and we will keep them on schedule in a loving environment 24/7. It's What We Do! Give us a call - we are happy to help