DogDay Agility and Activities for fun

21/04/2023

01/04/2022

https://www.facebook.com/161636650538601/posts/4818488848186668/

13/03/2022

See you all later 😶‍🌫️🐾🐾🐾

09/03/2022

https://www.facebook.com/132190041690106/posts/474998590742581/

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED to repeat this expert feature on exercise requirements for BC puppies, and how to best manage their mental and physical development:

WARNING – DON’T OVER-EXERCISE THAT PUPPY!

As anyone knows who has owned one, Border collies pups can be extremely energetic and boisterous, to the point where some owners may think they can never fully “tire them out”. And such thinking is actually where everything can start to go wrong.

Mostly because your mission, as an owner, should never be to ‘tire a Border collie puppy out’. Your mission, instead, should always be to better protect, and guide, your young dog’s developing brain and body safely into adulthood. And a place where both will then be, hopefully, not only in perfect working order but also a lot more resilient. Because Border collie puppies, if left more to their own devices, living in the moment and ricocheting from one immediate impulse to the next, will not be able to do this by themselves.

THE DEVELOPING MIND
First, the developing brain: With better focus and impulse control training, as well as a far better awareness of both ‘up’ and ‘down’ times in their daily schedule (see end of this feature), you can teach a young collie to progressively evolve a far calmer and more disciplined mind.

THE DEVELOPING BODY
Second, the developing body: A Border collie skeleton can take up to two years to achieve maximum growth, and even a year or two beyond that – especially in males – to establish full muscle development and density of bone. Before this happens the dog will be far more vulnerable to injuries which damage the developing spine, joints and growth plates; of a kind that can so often turn into bigger or more chronic problems later in life. And the younger the dog, the more vulnerable he or she may be to the dangers of over-exercise.

A common view is that young Border collie puppies should have five minutes exercise for every month of their age, twice a day. Thus a three month old pup will need 15 minutes exercise twice a day and a six month old pup nearer half an hour twice daily. But to me it is less about the LENGTH of exercise puppies have, but the TYPE. In other words, five minutes of chasing a ball non-stop, and twisting, jumping or sharply braking after it risks doing far more damage to a puppy’s developing body than 20 minutes of walking or running along a softer surface like sand or grass.

RISKIER PURSUITS
Climbing up and down stairs, jumping in and out of a car, or jumping on and off furniture, are all things that can place a strain, or more impact, on a puppy’s developing joints. So keep stair climbing to a minimum and lift puppies in and out of a car or off furniture until they are a lot older –i.e. at least ten months old, if not older.

Another danger area can be puppies playing more roughly, or boisterously, with other dogs, especially those of a greater size. And while play remains highly important for their social development, it is also necessary to ensure these sessions are not so lengthy, or over-boisterous, that a serious injury could then occur.

Even when dogs are older, pursuits like jumping, twisting, landing more awkwardly or braking at speed are those more likely to cause them injury, which is why I always prefer distance and gradient climbing work for my own dogs to keep them fit, plus swimming in the summer. Whereas balls/chase toys are only used for training.

Also remember a dog has to already be pretty fit (in terms of overall muscle/joint strength and flexibility) to undertake more active pursuits like jumping, twisting, landing and braking with a lower risk of injury. It does not get fit simply DOING THEM.

I have a friend – a top sheepdog trainer - who goes spare whenever he sees YouTube videos of very young Border collie puppies allowed to hare around sheep, slipping, skidding, twisting and turning, long before their joints have fully developed. I feel the same when I see very young puppies taken on far too long walks, especially on harder surfaces, or endlessly chasing after balls.

Ultimately our dogs do not realise their bodies have got to last them a lifetime, but we do. Which is why it is so important to look after them during their most formative stages of development. For so often injuries incurred when young, which seemed pretty insignificant at the time, can come back to haunt them in later life.

Meanwhile everything you need to know about raising Border collie puppies, including exercise requirements and focus and impulse control training, appears in the SECOND book in my BREED APART trilogy: https://performancedog.co.uk/.../border-collies-a-breed.../

All text © Carol Price 2022

27/02/2022

We welcomed the lovely Bodhi today 😊 very smart boy. Thank-you all it was a lovely afternoon.

24/02/2022

https://www.facebook.com/1555367364690204/posts/3446271048933150/?substory_index=0

22/02/2022

POEM OF A DOG
I am the one who always waits for you.
Your car has a special sound that I
have imprinted on my senses, I can
recognize it among a thousand.
Your steps have a magic timbre.
Your voice is music to my ears.
If I see your joy, it makes me happy!
Your scent is the best,
Your presence is what moves my
senses.
Your awakening wakes me up.
I watch you sleep and for me you are
my God, I am happy watching over
your sleep.
Your gaze is a ray of light. Your hands
on me have the lightness of peace and
the sublime display of infinite love.
When you go out, I feel a huge
emptiness in my heart.
I wait for you again and again.
I am the one who will wait for you all
my life today, tomorrow and always:
I am your dog ❤️

20/02/2022

https://www.facebook.com/303037403488940/posts/1385986128527390/

17/02/2022

https://www.facebook.com/279209305450783/posts/5044939235544409/

❗️❗️ STORM EUNICE ❗️❗️

JUST A LITTLE REMINDER!
With storm Eunice expected PLEASE PLEASE make sure your gardens are secure before letting your pets out. Also, please ensure small animal hutches etc are secure.
Hopefully the storm won’t be as bad as predicted but you can never be too prepared and the safety of our animals is paramount.

Useful information-

If your dog is scared of high winds;
-Play calming music/ turn up the radio/television.
-Make a den/safe place.
-Give them something to occupy them I.e filled Kong/lickimat, interactive dog toys or puzzles.
-Dog jackets such as thunder shirts can be very calming.

If your dog is missing;
-Contact your local council
-Contact your local vets/rescue centre/s.
-Contact your dogs microchip database & register as missing ASAP
-Share to any lost/found pages on Facebook and Doglost.

If you have found a dog;

-It is a legal requirement to contact your local council if you have found a dog and have it in your possession to report this.
-If you are able to, pop the found dog to a local vet who will be able to scan for a microchip.
-Contact your local animal rescue who will be able to advise you.

Stay safe everyone!

17/02/2022

https://www.facebook.com/186622728032/posts/10160050715673033/

09/02/2022

Great indoors activity!

09/02/2022

There are so many benefits of teaching your dog agility!

Great exercise: Running, jumping, climbing, and weaving, and all at a fast pace, is bound to tire your dog out. Agility is particularly great for high-energy dogs who need a lot of exercise.

Reduces boredom: In addition to providing a physical workout, agility provides mental stimulation for your dog, which reduces boredom and the destructive behaviors that can come with it.

Reinforces good behavior: Dogs rely on their owner to provide the commands they need to complete the agility course correctly. Teaching agility increases the level of attention your dog pays to you, and reinforces compliance to obedience commands.

Strengthens the bond between owner and dog: Many agility handlers comment on the increased bond they feel with their dog as a result of training as a team.

17/12/2021

https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peta.org%2Ffeatures%2Fhow-to-choose-a-dog-trainer%2F&h=AT1xWQW1KJy4RlnaJWDQogBZGfY4b1jDYOF78FvjsN_2wJiu0IheoH1--JCbU_2-jQ85dVkqZZ_BU7SGw0H3ZWcyL__lhU73CkTWZpUWcgbpfpPw5eo6ZaWUwV_a92zC-W-lye8Z_5ABNwWqLDkr

“What questions should I ask a dog trainer?” “What are the best dog training methods?” PETA’s new guide has all the answers.

27/10/2021

https://www.facebook.com/402199026466090/posts/4847861778566437/?substory_index=0

Recently, two unrelated large dogs were rushed into the ER while choking on a ball (one tennis ball, one solid rubber ball) coincidentally within one hour of each other. Although not a common emergency, this is something veterinarians can see from time to time.

Most often, panicked vets will try prying the ball out of the back of the dog’s throat with their hands or forceps instruments, which has a high rate of failure, and the dog will then require emergency tracheostomy to prevent suffocation. Sometimes, many times, it’s too late.

There is a technique (see link) that is miraculously not widely enough known called the external extraction technique, which almost always results in the quickest ability to remove a ball lodged in the back of the throat and blocking the airway. With permission from both of these dogs’ owners, we are sharing these two videos to spread awareness in the hopes that many other lives will be saved in the future.

Both dogs, especially the second dog, were in life threatening conditions when they arrived but after the swift action of our awesome cohesive team of doctors, nurses, and assistants, they are expected to make a continued complete recovery.

http://ow.ly/kJsA50GyCuY