The Dogmother.

10/07/2024

What I'm about to discuss may cause some to feel defensive and expectedly, too. I understand.

But this, this right here is abuse.

Why, though? The dog is clearly loved and 'spoiled', what's the problem?

The problem is the impact obesity can have on a dog. Or should I say, problems.

- reduced quality of life
- reduced lifespan
- increase risks of heart disease, cancer, and respiratory issues
- increased risk for diabetes
- increased risk of joint and mobility issues, also meaning pain, especially if they're lucky enough to reach their senior years.

In some cases, a dog gains weight due to a health condition such as cushings or hypothyroidism.
But unfortunately, the most common causes are overfeeding and/or poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Some factors can increase a dogs' risk of becoming overweight, such as breed, genetics, medications, behavioural issues, and desexing.

Maintaining a healthy weight in your dog (or any pet) ensures a positive well-being.

In this instance, the saying; 'kill them with kindness' could become a reality.

12/06/2024

Winter is finally upon us! 🥶

Ensuring a positive well-being for our pets means keeping them free from discomfort. This means keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer.

I often hear "but they're dogs" or "but they're animals" or "they have a coat on." Whilst this is all true, there are many varying factors behind why some dogs won't cope with extreme weather conditions.

1: The breed/s-This will often dictate the type of coat they have. For example, a Husky has a double coat designed for winter and, therefore, is more tolerable of the cold than a single coated breed such as a Greyhound.

2: Their age-Puppies and senior dogs can't regulate their temperature and so are more sensitive to harsh temperatures.

3: Their health-If your dog is naturally lean or underweight due to a health condition, then it's going to be more difficult for your dog to stay warm. Certain diseases such as hypothyroidism (common in dogs) can also affect their ability to stay warm.
Issues that affect their skin and coat condition may cause hair loss or thinning, and so it affects their ability to keep warm.

My tips:

•Get your dog used to wearing a coat from an early age if possible. If not, start desensitising them to one now. This begins with just letting your dog see and sniff the coat whilst praising them.
•Ensure their bed is off the ground and away from any drafts. Ideally, add an extra blanket in winter.
•If your dog must or wants to sleep outside, ensure their kennel is ventilated/insulated, away from drafts, leaking gutters or patios, away from moisture and if they're a short haired breed/lean/senior, that they wear a good quality coat or even 2.
•If your dog is sleeping in a curled up position, almost like a ball, then this is a good indicator that they are seeking more warmth.
•A dog may shiver, fidget, or appear clingy if they are cold.
•Whilst it's not very enjoyable or inviting to walk in the cold and wet, it's vital to maintain your dogs exercise requirements and to get them accustomed/socialised to the wind and rain. (Given that it's not extreme wind or rain, that could have the opposite effect, and we don't want that) If it's too extreme for a walk, try some games indoors (see my page for ideas) and/or some mental enrichment tailored to your breed/s natural instincts/behaviours.
•Senior dogs during winter may need extra calories and supplements to ensure healthy joints and prevent stiffness and pain that comes with the cold.

Lastly, it's important to remember that:

•Each dog is an individual.
•Dogs are not just pets/animals. They are part of the family, especially being social animals.
•It is your duty and legal requirement as a dog/pet owner to ensure their welfare and well-being by keeping them safe, healthy, and cared for.

Stay warm, everyone! 🥰🔥🧥🫕

Sophie.

09/06/2024

Hello hello! 👋

Been so quiet here sorry, but quick update.

So close to finishing my Cert IV!!! I've got a few placement hours, practicals and 2 more assessments to do and I'm done!!!

Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to not having it all looming over me. 😅

Big revamp coming soon! Can't wait to get into it all and see where this takes me. 😊

Sophie.

09/04/2024

2️⃣Two of the most common issues I see and hear about.

This 'infographic' is relatively basic.

It touches on both anxiety and boredom, as they often go hand in hand, and sometimes, boredom can look like anxiety and vice versa. Anxiety, especially severe separation anxiety, can be very difficult to manage.

In extreme cases, medication and guidance from a veterinary behaviourist are required.

As for boredom, if there's no medical issues, adequate exercise, both physical and mental, usually is the number one 'treatment'.
Take note that each dog and each breed will require a different type and amount.
For example, a daily, 30-minute walk for a Kelpie who's left alone most days isn't going to be sufficient for a working breed.

✅️My tip is to have a Google on your dogs' breed/s and find out what they were bred for.
From there, get imaginative with games and toys to try and 'tap' into their natural instincts and motivations.

😊🐕

07/04/2024

Share around!

Also, what's with this weather? It's April 🤨 🥵

31/01/2024

*Snapchat filter!*🤣
Perhaps a look into my future? 🤔

Speaking of, school's back! Phew!
(As always, entertaining 3 boys, all varying hugely in age and interests, is super stressful and hard)

I also start my practicals this coming Monday. 120 hours of work placement with Hanrob.
As exciting as this is, it sadly also means I will need to take a short time off from dog walking. 😔
I've also fallen massively behind in my study and so need to dedicate more time to try catch up.

I should be back into it in March at the latest, but watch this space!

Will keep everyone updated. 🖤

Sophie.J

08/01/2024

Haha, I love this.

My dog Iggy is also pickle muffin, pickle pie, sausage cake, special girl, sausage pickle/pickle sausage, and so on! 😆

Griffin is beefy boy, juicy, juicy boy, big beefy boy, handsome guy, beefcake, and so on!

Please share your pets' nicknames in the comments! 👇🐶🐱

06/01/2024

I'm a bit late, but Happy New Year! 💫

My first client walk for the year.

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣

I swear the years are going fast and faster!

2023 wasn't a great year, with the sudden loss of my precious 'pretty girl' (my cat) and working through some health issues.

But 2024 will see my finishing my course and starting a new career that'll hopefully help many dogs, cats, and their humans!

May 2024 bring you all good health and happiness! 🥰

Sophie.J 🖤

24/12/2023

🐶Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄

Getting in now, before the chaos tomorrow! 😅

I hope you all have a Christmas that's filled with whatever your heart desires!

My thoughts always go out to those who may be grieving, are away from home, or are away from their children, away from their parents and/or family....or those that are having a hard time mentally, physically or financially.

I truly hope 2024 is a good year for you all! ❤️

From Sophie.J, Iggy, and Griffin. X

17/12/2023

🎄Christmas Break🎄

Hello all! 👋

Only 8 days until Christmas! Can't quite believe it myself, doesn't feel right, and I know I'm not alone in this. Time is flying by!

Anyways, I will be taking from Christmas Eve to Tuesday the 2nd of January 2024 off.
All walks will commence on their normal days afterwards. 😁

Sophie.J 🖤

11/12/2023

●To add: The dog may also be in training and/or a therapy/service dog. (they usually do wear a harness or collar stating they are)

♡It's never a good idea to assume a dog is friendly and wants a pat!
The number of people that have just gone to stroke Griffin (and right on the head, too) without him or me knowing is crazy! Then people wonder why they bite become reactive.

♡Respect their personal space at all times.

♡Just like us humans, we aren't always very welcoming to uninvited/unwelcomed touch or interactions, nor should we have to be. The same applies to animals.

Have a lovely Monday all! 🖤
I'm lapping up the peace and quiet before the school holidays kick in at the end of this week! 😭😩

24/11/2023

Say hello to Archie with 💜

Archie is a 4 year old American Staffy, Bull Terrier blend.
Desexed and very well mannered. He loves kids! ❤️
Not a social dog, and that's OK.

He's got the typical, lovable, dorky, smart Staffy/Terrier traits, loves a zoomie, biiiiig stretches, and scratches on the floor and grass.

His cute little ears are permanently like that,sadly due to allegedly potential trauma to his ears as a puppy. He also has a few scars on his body and is afraid of loud noises. 😥
Can only imagine what this poor innocent boy has been through.

It's cases/dogs/animals like this that drive me in what I'm already doing, learning,educating myself, and speaking out about the poor treatment of animals.

Animals don't deserve this. They are the most innocent beings on the planet. They wouldn't do to us what we do to them?!

We are privileged to be able to share our lives and homes with them. Yet there are so many humans that do NOT deserve them.

Lastly, please choose adopting or fostering over buying from a breeder if you're able to.
At minimum please please don't buy from a backyard breeder.
There is no doubt that they are;
1: greedy
2: irresponsible
3: not doing genetic testing
4: don't TRULY care for their pets well-being and health

No dog on earth NEEDS to have a litter. None.

Right, enough, I could go on and on! 😅

Have a lovely week end everyone, I do hope everyone is safe from the fires.

Sophie.J

21/11/2023

There's more to this photo than just my car and my handsome boy staying put for photos.

First off, I had zero treats on me. Secondly, there were distractions about....sure we were outside our home, but for me, this was big.

Griffin is still very much a puppy and being mainly staffy (oh yeh, those that know staffies know they don't mature until MUCH later on 😆) he at times has moments of high arousal/dysregulation.

So, what I'm getting is that I at times feel like I don't do enough training wise with my dogs, I know, I'm training to be a dog trainer, helloooo isn't that what I should be doing day in day out? Unfortunately, not.

Sure, I absolutely would love to be training mine longer than I do each day, but I can't at the moment....and that's ok!

I'm not striving for perfection, I'm after results, and today, although a small thing, was big for what I've been putting in lately.

Hope that makes sense! 😅

Anyways, please keep your pets cool and be vigilant of the signs of heat stroke. ☀️🌡

16/11/2023

Griffins' bandanna arrived from . Made in collaboration with .the.rednose.

End BSL-breed specific legislation. Laws or regulations to ban dog breeds that are deemed 'dangerous' or 'aggressive' to humans and/or other animals.

There is so much wrong with this....firstly;
Breed is a poor indicator or prediction of an individual dogs behaviour.

It ignores the fact that behaviour is far more complex, and it ignores the huge role of training, socialisation,the dogs environment, and the owners' behaviour.

England's ban on the XL Bully is an example. So very sad and discriminatory. They can seize dogs that just 'look' like an XL Bully....and to which may not even be aggressive or have an aggressive history.

I could go on and on.......🥺

But,how handsome is my chunky boy? 😍

31/10/2023

🖤Happy Howloween! ☠️

This photoshoot was alot harder than it looks! 😅

30/10/2023

Griffin had a great time at the 'Pawesome Day Out' 🐾 yesterday!

Met some beautiful dogs, got a free showbag, and bought him a new 'tough/durable' chew toy from .barkery 🩵

So far, the tough toy is still somewhat in tact, minus some stuffing.🤣

11/10/2023

I'm so proud of this dude! 🩵

I've only recently witnessed his reactivity to the postman.
Typically, the postman has usually come out of nowhere....but today I saw him before the pups did! 😁

So, as I normally do, I had my hand and treat pouch loaded ready to go, timing is everything is here, so before he even had the chance to perk up and 'yell' at the postman 😅, I called his name, he looked at me, and so I threw a treat....why throw a treat? It diverts his attention to the ground, and sometimes, they'll have to sniff out where it went.

We slowly walk past the postie. He has definitely seen him! I'm still calling his name and throwing treats galore! All the whilst being calm myself, no tension in the lead, and a calm but high-pitched tone with my voice....and not a peep or lunge to be seen or heard!! 🤗

This works best when they obviously have a good response to their name, I always 'talk' to my dogs and the dogs I walk through out the walk. No,not a full-on convo 😂 just a 'good boy/girl' or 'what's that?' here and there. Or I call their name, and when they look a quick pat and/or treat.

Hope you all have a lovely day! 😍

Sophie.J

30/08/2023

. . . .And a reminder to ensure your pets always have access to clean, fresh water.

With the weather warming up too, please also be sure to start checking the pavement with the back of your hand prior to walkies.
If you can't hold it there for longer than 2 seconds, it's too hot!

Have a lovely day! 😍

Sophie.J

24/08/2023

Remember Max from SABBR?

This is his foster Mum and step siblings

12/08/2023

09/08/2023

Reading-learning-studying.

Sure, definitely needed. Nothing beats experience/time though, I believe. Especially when working with animals. You could be as educated as possible, read every book, blog, completed courses, but when there's a dog in front of you, it's a totally different learning experience to that of text in a book or on a screen.

Anyways..speaking of books! . . . .
Recently, I got stuck into one of Steve Mann's books. Loving what I'm reading so far! 🖤

So much so that "oh sh*t is that the time?" Better get to bed! 😅 Goodnight!

05/08/2023

Met the BEAUTIFUL Kye today!! Such a cuddler, typical big boof

27/07/2023

Yep, it stings a bit if a dog doesn't like me! 🥲
(Which, thankfully, is rare! And often, not my own fault or doing, phew, haha)

On another note, I did my animal management and safety workshop today!
I absolutely love getting hands-on!

Like most, I learn better visually. Plus, there's no better teacher than experience.

I'll soon be doing my placement hours, so my availability will be much more limited.

Alrighty, have a great night all!

Sophie.J 🐶

21/07/2023

So good to see these 2 today!

I got the most excited and happy welcome! 🥰

This photo was taken after their walk. . . . . . . .
If it was taken before, it'd be a blurry photo of their tails or bum! 😅

20/06/2023

💜Meet Zara with 💜

I photographed this sweet pup last week. Zara is a 12 month old Staffy/Ridgeback/Rottweiler mix.

Very smart, energetic, playful, and eager to learn!

She'd suit an active family who are willing to keep up her training and socialisation.

All enquiries to SABBR.🥰

Also, been a bit quiet on my end due to being a bit 'our of sorts' after suddenly losing my cat. I'm still walking and training dogs, still studying....😊

04/06/2023

Quick update here and something I didn't know I'd be having to write so soon.

Our pretty girl went missing yesterday, something she rarely does as she's an inside only cat, lately she'd been trying to sneak past us out the front but we've caught her or she's ran back in. Somehow maybe during the night, she'd got out...

However yesterday early morning, she for some reason was literally a house down under someone's car and they ran her over 😭 We're so very confused, heartbroken....she's very scared of cars.
The woman rung me crying this morning and told me she's buried our kitty in her front yard. We will be getting passing paws or someone to collect her and cremate her so she can come home with us.

My pretty rescue girl. Forever 8 years old. 💔❤️

*For all my clients this week (commencing tomorrow) I will unfortunately be taking the week off whilst I try process this*

Sophie.J

29/05/2023

Aaaaahh yes, I'm sure we've all been on both ends of this common situation!

And whilst your off leash dog may be friendly, the one he approaches may not be.

Especially a dog that's on a lead-this could mean:
1-They're on the lead for a reason.
2-It's common for some (otherwise friendly/chill) dogs to become anxious/vulnerable/reactive whilst on a lead, especially when others around him aren't.

It's also worth noting that unless specified, not all parks/reserves allow dogs to be off lead.
Even if they do, it's best not to let your dog off if their recall isn't 100% flawless.

It's just not worth the many risks.

🖤Be responsible.
🖤Advocate for your dog and his personal space.

23/05/2023

Truth.

🖤My life isn't whole without at least one dog🖤

Snapped a quick few pics of my 2 looking pretty in the diffused light yesterday afternoon.

21/05/2023

Meet Atlas! 🐾

One of my first and longest running 'clients'
(I don't want to call pets and their owners 'clients' as they're more my friends I feel, haha)

Atlas is a Blue Heeler cross American Bulldog. As you can see, definitely more Heeler.

He's still a young lad at about 16 months old, super SUPER smart and highly energetic.
I'm working with him, his Mum and family, to try and improve and correct some unwanted behaviours such as jumping up when excited, jumping and biting at his lead/harness when it's walk time, pulling alot in the first 5 or so minutes into his walk and a few other little things.
All pretty minor and common behaviours to correct. But that's not to say it won't take time. He's basically taken 14 or so months to learn these behaviours, and now we need to help him and his Mum 'unlearn' them.

The first place we started was at home. There's no point trying to fix pulling when he's still way too excited at home. Calm walks start at home!

So I got Kelli to start desensitising him to his lead and harness. I asked her to pick it up, walk with it, put it down somewhere else, and pay no attention to how Atlas reacted.
At first, we had to leave it up high as he'd try to get it. But after time, Kelli was able to leave them in Atlas' view.
I also recommended no more baby talk or announcing 'walkies'
You also have to desensitise them to anything else they associate with walkies, for example, your walking shoes or keys! Apply the above and start picking them up at all times of the day, every day!

Can happily say we're seeing some positive changes, and with consistency and patience, these behaviours will be a thing of the past!

The hardest bit is actually getting everyone else in the family or neighbourhood to follow the 'rules' 😅
It only takes one person to undo it all.

18/05/2023

Oooh the greetings I get from this beautiful, happy boy each morning I walk him.

I've been told by his owner that he now hears my car and proceeds to do zoomies in conjunction with whining as I approach the front door.😅

It's such a big compliment when dogs like you 🤭