No Bones About it - Dog Training

19/07/2022

Summer is here! And so is the heat. Take extra caution when taking your pup out, and be sure to never leave them in the car! Here's a quick summary of heatstroke in dogs.

01/07/2022

July 4th is the #1 day dogs will go missing!
Don't let this happen to you and your furbabies!

21/06/2022

A strong recall could save your dog's life!!

27/05/2022

LOUIE GRADUATED!!!
He was such a superstar in class!!
If you are intetested in Puppy Preschool - just send me a pm!

25/05/2022

What happens if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk?

While skunks are generally docile creatures, they do have a very potent method of fending off people or animals who bother them. Unfortunately, some dogs don’t get the hint soon enough and become the target of a skunk’s spray. That’s why the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC) wants to offer the following tips and advice for dealing with a dog who has been “skunked.”

Signs and Symptoms
If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, the first thing you notice will likely be the smell. However, there are several other symptoms or problems your pet may exhibit if sprayed by a skunk:

Drooling
Vomiting
Red and/or swollen eyes
Rolling
Face rubbing
Sneezing
Temporary blindness
These signs are typically seen immediately or within a couple of hours of your pet being sprayed. Symptoms like lethargy, weakness, change in urine color and pale or brown gums may take up to a few hours or even days to appear. These symptoms are rarer, but if they appear, you should take your pet to a veterinarian right away. The compounds in skunk spray are irritating and in some cases can result in damage to a dog’s red blood cells, potentially leading to anemia.

Steps to Take
What should you do if your pet has been sprayed by a skunk? The first order of business should be a bath—but regular shampoo is not going to cut it! Create a mixture out of the following ingredients:

1 quart (4 cups) of 3% fresh hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup baking soda
1-2 teaspoons of liquid soap (dishwashing detergent)
Lather your pet in this mixture and wait five minutes, then rinse with copious amounts of water. Repeat if necessary. It is possible this may bleach your pet’s hair, but it is not toxic to their skin. Note that this mixture doesn’t store well, so you will need to make a fresh batch if your pet gets sprayed again.

If your pet’s eyes seem to be affected, rinsing them with copious amounts of tepid water for 20 minutes may relieve some discomfort.

Prevention Is Key
No one wants their pet to be sprayed by a skunk. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to discourage skunks from coming near your home:

Make sure there is no easy access to pet food or bird seed. Use well-sealed containers and latched lids when necessary.

14/05/2022

Great way to walk and reduce stress!

Sometimes taking rewards is a high pressure ask, for the dog. We tend to view handing a cookie over to a dog as a positive, but for anxious dogs it can feel like coercion. One of the reasons I default to dropping treats on the ground with new dogs who are uncertain about taking from my hand is to reduce the pressure and feeling of coercion. Dropping treats on the ground can act as an automatic diffuser to tense situations, and removes all pressure on the dog to master his fear and get that close to me to take a treat.

13/04/2022

Dusty graduated tonight and I can't be more proud of him. When Dusty first came into class he growled at me and would not even come near me.

By the end of the 5 week class - he is a differant dog. and I am so proud as his trainer!!❤ His foster moma worked so hard.

A note from his foster mom : Dusty started training class 5 weeks ago! He worked really hard and tonight he graduated! He now walks into strange places with confidence, allows interactions from strangers, and knows all his basic commands.

06/04/2022

I’ve got a new puppy; how much exercise can they have? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

There are so many different opinions on this, and most people will go with the generic rule of 5 minutes, per month the dog has been alive, per day…. But it’s not really that straight forward.

It really depends on the breed of dog (larger breeds need to be careful, for example) and the intensity/level of exercise. All puppies can usually do the 5-minute level of exercise at home just in the morning!!!

Most dogs can have longer periods of exercise, but we do need to ensure that this play is not continuous. The exercise needs to be broken-up with lots of rest and mental stimulation too - we can tire a dog out more by using their brain than their body.

The type of exercise is important; bad exercise would be lots of high impact chasing/fetching games, so we need to concentrate on lower impact games: walking on different surfaces; sniffing lots on walks; meeting other dogs and people; simple basic training too. These are much better ways of tiring-out your little friend…!

If in doubt, speak to your vet, and make sure that you watch your puppy to look for signs of limping or pain after play sessions - this could be the next day too.

It’s so important for your puppy to have lots and lots of rest… 😴

27/03/2022

Our dogs are not with us for very long - so appreciate them while you can!
Give them extra hugs and kisses for no reason..❤

25/03/2022

Friday Funny!!!

24/03/2022

Let's talk about separation anxiety!

Do you come home to your carpet chewed-up, a wet patch on the floor, and complaints from the neighbours of barking? Is it beginning to feel like your dog is punishing you for leaving? 😧

Well, they aren't trying to punish you, but they could be suffering from something called separation anxiety. In fact, a lot of negative behaviors that happen when the owner is out are due to the dog being stressed (rather than any form of revenge upon the owner).

Separation anxiety is actually a really serious condition and can cause real problems for you and your dog. Ongoing stress has a really negative impact on the immune system; can stop the dog from getting enough sleep; it could even shorten their life! In really extreme cases the dog may go as far as self-mutilating!

So what can you do to prevent it?

🐶 Create a 'secure attachment' to your puppy/dog.
Studies have shown that dogs, like humans, that are securely attached to their caregiver (they know they are reliably there when they need them) will become more confident and deal with separation better, as they trust they haven't gone for good.

🐶 Practise building gradual and positive separation.
Get your dog used to not being with you 100% of the time gradually. Put some tasty treats or a Kong in one room and go into another to encourage exploring away from you. Have them doing an activity on the other side of a baby gate, so they can see you, but can't directly interact with you. Pop-out for short trips (even if it's just out to the garden, during the current climate) and build them up as your dog gets more comfortable.

🐶 Create a 'safe space' for your dog.
If you create a safe space for your dog while you are home, such as a crate (so long as they are happy and comfortable to be in a crate, of an appropriate size) they will have somewhere to go to, to feel safe when you are not around.

23/03/2022

It is
This is Jeb - a Biewer Terrier

23/03/2022

So many times, I hear people saying "Sit, Sit, Sit" or "Stay, Staaaaay, Staaaaay," and the dog might listen on the third or 18th time.

📍When teaching our dogs, it's important to remember they do not automatically know the word/cue/command we are using and need to take the time to clearly and consistently teach them what these strange human sounds actually mean and what is expected them.

📍Often, I find dogs are just responding to our body language and or guessing based on what has worked in the past.

📍So, let's help our dogs out and give them a chance to respond to what you are asking of them. If they do not comply with what you are requesting, provide them with a moment instead of just repeating.

📍Wait for a 2-3 count before repeating a cue. Then mark and reward all good choices.

📍 if you notice your dog is not responding, take a step back and work on teaching them the behavior in various situations on different surfaces and build their reward and reinforcement history, so they have better clarity in our communication.

12/03/2022

Daylight Saving tonight!
Dont forget to Spring Ahead!

09/03/2022

Rumors can be found everywhere! Take a look at this cool infographic and find out what rumors are actually myths!

01/03/2022

Since then weather is starting to turn nice - why don't you take your fur baby on a sniffari!

You may ask what a sniffari is - a sniffari is; when the dog guides the direction of the walk in safe environments, stopping to smell anything and everything for as long as they enjoy, as long as it is safe.
Sniffaris are about duration, not distance.

23/02/2022

Not sure what pet insurance fits your budget?Shopping for pet insurance for the first time?
Checkout Pawlicy Advisor for finding the best pet insurance for your pet.

https://www.pawlicy.com

Pawlicy Advisor provides free quotes, comparison charts, and help from licensed agents to get you the best pet insurance for your breed at the lowest rate.

22/02/2022

Today is National

13/02/2022

A fun read to keep your pet safe during the SuperBowl Tonight!!

Super Bowl LV kicks off on Sunday night, and with many planning (safe and socially distanced, of course) get-togethers for the big game, veterinarians are warning pet owners about potential dangers to pets.
Unsecured foods, crowded rooms and
Experts are urging pet owners to make the following plays to prevent their pet from harm:

Avoid food fumbles- Items like chicken wings, fatty meats, chocolate, alcohol, sodas, guacamole, trail mix, dairy products, chips and dip are all common at Super Bowl parties and if consumed can have major consequences for pets. Many of these foods are toxic to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, pancreatitis, bloating and even death. Pet owners should keep all food and beverages out of reach from prying pets and inform guests to watch their snacks.

Don’t let your pet blitz doors- Opening and closing external doors for guests increases the likelihood of a family pet getting outside, and increases the risk of an emergency, like being hit by a vehicle. If possible, take extra precaution to keep pets away from entry areas and ensure your pets are always wearing proper identification and have your pet microchipped. This dramatically increases the chances they will be returned if lost.

Check the field conditions- Hosting guests can greatly increase the chance of an accidental injury to pets. It is not uncommon for excited or confused pets to get stepped on or be injured by common household items. Reclining furniture, rocking chairs and temporary folding seating can all pose a major danger to unfortunate pets. Pet owners can reduce their pet’s injury risk dramatically by removing dangerous objects from party areas or simply keeping their pets in a separate, safe area.

super bowl
Don’t get sacked- Most pet owners are unaware just how dangerous chip bags and similar food wrappers can be to their pets. These airtight bags can easily slip over a snacking pet’s head and constrict when the pet inhales, in some cases leaving a pet dead in under five minutes. An easy solution to reduce this household risk is serving snacks, like chips, in a bowl or cutting bags at the top and one side.

Talk Trash- Opportunistic pets can track down leftover food sitting on a counter or deposited into a trash can. Items like discarded bones, food wrappers, bags and paper products can seem like food to a hungry cat or dog. Chicken wings, BBQ ribs and other bones are especially dangerous because they can splinter, block airways, perforate the intestine, and lodge in digestive tracts. Pet owners must always make sure all trash is secured in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container. Additionally, make sure to warn guests to not leave trash out and to never give pets leftover bones.

07/02/2022

Canine Enrichment, What is it?
Many dog owners aren’t completely sure of what it means, or the impact it can have on your dog’s overall well being.

Put simply: Canine enrichment means engaging your dog in activities designed to stimulate their mind and to keep them physically fit at the same time.

Here are some ideas with differant kinds of canine enrichment.

04/02/2022

❤ Valentines Day is coming up ❤ and here are some friendly tips to keep your pet safe.

If your pet happens to eat any of these listed below - call your Regular Vet ASAP.

01/02/2022

01/02/2022

YUMMY Training Treats

I like to make these (because the are so easy) and they freeze well. All 5 of my pups love them and they consider these high value!

Just make sure to check the Peanut Butter label it does not contain ZYLITOL, which can be fatal to your pups!

31/01/2022

⭐️ PUPPY CLASSES AVAILABLE ⭐️

Do you have a new puppy, or plan on getting one soon? Would you like THE BEST start for your new family member? Well, there is still time! ...

I have an upcoming class in March with a couple spots still available .

🐶 7pm Tuesday March 8th and it is a 5 week program.

These classes include general puppy-training, recall, socialization and more; and my 5 week courses include additional weekly homework-sheets and information for you to go over at home! My classes are very interactive.

So PM me on how to sign up for classes, that have been described as "absolutely amazing"; "exceeding expectations"; "worth every penny" and best of all, giving the owners and puppies a "HUGE transformation" in their training! 🤩