Active Dog Academy

08/02/2021

Don’t forget Wednesday at 7.15pm we have a few spaces left so get booked in!

We're back! 🎉 Introducing 'ME and my dog'

A webinar exploring ME (metabolisable energy) and what it means for your active dog, presented by Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Animal Scientist and Canine Consultant and hosted by Emily Thomas of K9 Trail Time

This hour-long webinar (plus 15 mins discussion) will examine dietary energy for the active dog and explore some of the terminology used from an applied perspective.

If you want to know more about fuelling your active dog well, then this webinar is for you!

Wednesday 10th Feb, 7.15 - 8.30 pm GMT

Places are £10 per person - To book your space, email

[email protected]

03/02/2021

Don't forget our next webinar a week today - it is going to be FULL of fantastic, science based, advice for fuelling your active dog, so if you ever had any questions about diet for your dog this is the webinar for you!

We're back! 🎉 Introducing 'ME and my dog'

A webinar exploring ME (metabolisable energy) and what it means for your active dog, presented by Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Animal Scientist and Canine Consultant and hosted by Emily Thomas of K9 Trail Time

This hour-long webinar (plus 15 mins discussion) will examine dietary energy for the active dog and explore some of the terminology used from an applied perspective.

If you want to know more about fuelling your active dog well, then this webinar is for you!

Wednesday 10th Feb, 7.15 - 8.30 pm GMT

Places are £10 per person - To book your space, email

[email protected]

25/01/2021

Our next webinar focuses on feeding your canine athlete, here's an interesting observation on the feeding of carbohydrate for working dogs...

🐾

I have been doing a lot of reading recently and exploring some of my classic dog books for advice, guidance and words of wisdom. I am regularly surprised at how 'current' some thinking is despite the age of some books and then I am also fascinated to see how some things have progressed!

The photo below is from the classic 'Training Spaniels' by Joe Irving (well worth a read!) As a suggested diet for working gundogs I was surprised to see the emphasis on carbohydrate here, especially as carbohydrates are often now represented as something to avoid in dog diets.....🍞🥖🥐🐾

So....some key points about carbs and canines!

🐾 Dogs have no specific nutritional requirement for carbohydrates
🐾 Dietary carbohydrates however can support pregnancy and lactation
🐾 Dogs can make their own carbohydrates from protein by a process called gluconeogenesis (this relies on dietary protein!)
🐾 Not all carbohydrates are equal - some are simple (sugars such as glucose) and others are complex (such as many plant fibres and starch)
🐾 Dogs have evolved the ability to digest starch (when it's processed/cooked appropriately) but not all breeds have the same capability!
🐾 Carbohydrates provided about 30 minutes post-hard exercise can help support recovery, through supporting the replenishment of muscle glycogen
🐾 Used well, dietary carbohydrates can have a 'protein-sparing' effect, meaning dietary protein can be used for growth, repair, recovery rather than carbohydrate synthesis - sustainability benefits!
🐾 Grain-free kibbles and dog foods are not always carbohydrate- free!! Always read the label - often carbs are still there in the form of potato or sweet potato!

Like many things in the dog world... carbohydrates can be complex 😉

🐾 please feel free to share 🐾

21/01/2021

We're back! 🎉 Introducing 'ME and my dog'

A webinar exploring ME (metabolisable energy) and what it means for your active dog, presented by Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Animal Scientist and Canine Consultant and hosted by Emily Thomas of K9 Trail Time

This hour-long webinar (plus 15 mins discussion) will examine dietary energy for the active dog and explore some of the terminology used from an applied perspective.

If you want to know more about fuelling your active dog well, then this webinar is for you!

Wednesday 10th Feb, 7.15 - 8.30 pm GMT

Places are £10 per person - To book your space, email

[email protected]

17/01/2021

Tests on the pet food have shown potentially unsafe levels of aflatoxins, a by-product of mould.

21/11/2020

Great information about water...

🐾💧WATER💧🐾

The substance we often forget or take for granted!

Did you know that;

🤓 Water is the 'first limiting nutrient' - essentially, no matter how amazing your dog's diet is, a water deficit will affect health, wellbeing and performance far faster and more significantly than a dietary deficiency

🤓 Water is so critical because about 70% of the lean bodyweight of our dogs is water! Their entire biology is dependent upon water

🤓 The chemistry of water means it takes a huge amount of energy to warm it up - this makes water within the body vital as part of the normal temperature-regulating mechanisms

🤓 Water is important for cooling in the form of sweat. Dogs don't sweat to the same levels as say, horses or humans however (they do sweat though!) Instead, dogs typically pant to help cool and effective panting needs a supply of water

🤓 Many dogs show behavioural cooling strategies by immersing themselves (or bits or themselves!) in water

🤓 There are three sources of water - food, drink and metabolic water. If you feed dry food, it will only be about 8-10% moisture, so be aware that you might want to add water to the food OR ensure adequate drinking water. Raw or moist diets will provide much more water. Metabolic water is that produced in the body as a result of biochemical reactions!

🤓 High fat diets will typically increase water requirements - essential for the removal of waste products AND thermoregulation!

Here are Austin and Bertie pre-wallow in a puddle after a run earlier 🐾

💧Keep those water bowls clean and filled! 💧

05/11/2020

Some great tips here for tonight (and this week!)...

Tonight is bonfire night and I'm prepping in expectation of fireworks......🎉

I don't want to be a killjoy, but I have one dog who gets hugely distressed by them and it breaks my heart to see her so upset, especially at home in what should be our safe space. When she is upset, my others get upset too 😔

So, my top tips if you too are worried:

🎉 use distractions such as stuffed food toys. I stuff them with REALLY yummy stuff like meat and peanut butter and will freeze some too so they last even longer!

🎉create a den/safe space for your dog to hide in or even snuggle up with someone! Ours is on the sofa surrounded by cushions and blankets.

🎉play music/put the TV on to at least hide some external noise.

🎉draw the curtains/pull down blinds, anything to create a safe place.

🎉make sure they have been walked/toileted before dark and if you fear they might bolt if scared, only take out into the garden after dark on lead.

🎉be calm but caring. Reassuring your dog WILL NOT reward them for being scared. Be a friend to your dog and support them in the same way I know friends have supported me when in scary situations!

🎉my own dogs settle better when wearing their fleece 'jammies' (usually used to dry them off after working or baths!) so they will come out too

I am sure you will all have other kind, fair and ethical approaches! Please feel free to share below 👇

Stay safe and if you need to, hug your dog ❤

02/11/2020

🐶 Feeding your active dog......

Canine nutrition and feeding is easily one of the most contentious dog subjects!

How would you like a session (or maybe several?!) on nutrition?

What would you like it cover?

What would be the key things you would like to know for your dog?

Let us know - pop a comment below👇

31/10/2020

👩‍⚕️ FIRST AID👨‍⚕️

🐾 Paws up if you have ever had to do emergency first aid on your dog

🐾 Paws up if you would like a few more 'field skills' that you could use in the unfortunate event of a 'blip'

We are going to be hosting the fabulous Dr Victoria Strong for a first aid session, but first we want to know what you'd like to cover AND what type of info is most valuable for you and your active dogs!

Pop us a note below so we can tailor the session accordingly 👇

(In the meantime, check out her website here and you'll see her bespoke first aid kits! Mine has already been used THREE times in the last month 🤦‍♀️👩‍⚕️)

https://www.drvictoriastrong.com/shop

Purpose designed pet first aid kits. Dog walker first aid kits. Working dog first aid kits. Competing dog first aid kits.

08/09/2020

To date, we have run a webinar series on canicross, one on bikejor and had a fabulous couple of guest sessions from hugely experienced and interesting dog sport experts!

Canicross and bikejor are definitely gaining a lot of interest.....!

Who has recently taken either up? How is it going? Share your experiences (and photos!) with us below 🐾🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

(All our webinars are available for catch up too!! Just PM us here if interested 😊)

19/08/2020

Don't forget we have Vickie Pullin as our guest speaker next week, talking about how to train to get the best performance from your dogs for the wheeled sports 🐕🚴‍♀️

If you're thinking of racing next season and are looking for tips and tricks to get ahead of the game then this is the webinar for you! 🤓

Email [email protected] to book your slot...

We are pleased to share our next webinar will be with guest speaker Vickie Pullin, Wednesday the 26th August at 7.30pm will be your chance to pick up top tips on the wheeled dogs sports (bikejor, scootering and rig) from the British National Champion 🐕🚴‍♀️

Vickie will be joining us for an hour to give you insider information into her training and how she keeps her dogs happy and gets the best from them when racing 🐶🏆🥇

Places will be limited to make sure everyone gets a chance to ask questions at the end, so if you're interested in securing your spot, sign up now by emailing: [email protected] 📝 📧

12/08/2020

We are pleased to share our next webinar will be with guest speaker Vickie Pullin, Wednesday the 26th August at 7.30pm will be your chance to pick up top tips on the wheeled dogs sports (bikejor, scootering and rig) from the British National Champion 🐕🚴‍♀️

Vickie will be joining us for an hour to give you insider information into her training and how she keeps her dogs happy and gets the best from them when racing 🐶🏆🥇

Places will be limited to make sure everyone gets a chance to ask questions at the end, so if you're interested in securing your spot, sign up now by emailing: [email protected] 📝 📧

31/07/2020

With the temperatures soaring in the UK today, this short video produced by the scientists behind the recent Active Dog Academy webinar on heatstroke in dogs, is well worth a watch.

One of the key points of this research was that exercising dogs led to 74% of heatstroke cases recorded in the latest study of veterinary records! Open access paper and latest blog post link on the Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners page...

https://youtu.be/1CwerRhmCB8

Emily presents more preliminary findings from our Hot Dogs research project exploring heat-related illness in UK dogs using the VetCompass TM database. This ...

22/07/2020

Great first Introduction to Bikejor webinar tonight 🐕🚴‍♀️ - thank you to all those who attended, we have got a recording too...
So if you missed signing up you can still join us for the next 2 instalments and Webinar 1 will be available on 'catch up'!

21/07/2020

Last chance to join us for all you need to know to get started bikejoring, the webinar series begins tomorrow evening 🤗

20/07/2020

🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations to Kristina Beresford 🎉🎉🎉

You’ve won a spot on our Introduction to Bikejor webinars - if you message the page we’ll send you your registration details 🤗

We still have a few spaces left if anyone wants to book on the course please email [email protected] to secure your place!

17/07/2020

🎉COMPETITION TIME 🎉- Get that Friday feeling!!!

We're offering a FREE spot on our Introduction to Bikejor set of webinars for one lucky winner 🐕🚴‍♀️

ALL you have to do to be in with a chance of WINNING is comment on THIS post why you'd like to get biking with your dog by 6pm Sunday 19th July and we will choose someone to get their slot on the webinars for free 😱

Feel free to post photos of your dog/s 🐕 with your comment and to LIKE the page and share with anyone you think might be interested 🤗

T & C's: Closes 6pm Sunday 19th July, our winner will be chosen and notified on the Active Dog Academy Page. No cash alternative offered. If you can't make the Live Webinars you will be added to a group where the recorded videos and notes from the webinar will be available.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook

15/07/2020

For all those interested in following up on the Hot Dog Webinar, the page is Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners

14/07/2020

Last chance to join Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS tomorrow evening, the experts who have recently published the most comprehensive study to date, researching heatstroke in dogs, so don't miss your chance to grill them 🤓

This will be of benefit not just for active dog owners but for any professional dog walker, groomer, dog trainer and anyone who has dogs and wants to keep them safe in warmer weather 🌞

Please email: [email protected] to get booked on ☺️

08/07/2020

As promised here are the details for the introduction to bikejor webinars we are holding, starting July 22nd ... please email [email protected] to book your place as places will be limited!

07/07/2020

We still have a few spaces left for this webinar but don't leave it too late! 🐕

Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS are the experts who have recently published the most comprehensive study to date, researching heatstroke in dogs, so don't miss your chance to grill them 🤓

This will be of benefit not just for active dog owners but for anyone who has dogs and wants to keep them safe in warmer weather 🌞

Please email: [email protected] to get booked on ☺️

🎉We are very excited to announce our next webinar, this time with guest speakers Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS 🤓 who will be talking about the scientific findings of their very latest study into heatstroke in dogs, the results of which have just been published. 🐕
If you'd like to hear what they have to say about what to look out for, how to deal with and any questions you might have about, heatstroke in dogs then please do book to join us Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm 📖 (Recording will be available if you can't make the date and time).
There are limited places for this webinar to ensure everyone will get a chance to ask questions and each place will cost £10 per person - you can book your place by emailing: [email protected]

30/06/2020

Breed differences continue to be revealed!

How different are to other ? About 10,000 years different with impacts on and https://t.co/PPnbPGBii7

Sled dogs have also evolved adaptations to their harsh lifestyle, such as the ability to thrive on high-fat diets, a new study says.

30/06/2020

Spaces are filling up fast for this webinar, we’re really looking forward to this one and finding out more about the very latest research into heatstroke in dogs!

🎉We are very excited to announce our next webinar, this time with guest speakers Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS 🤓 who will be talking about the scientific findings of their very latest study into heatstroke in dogs, the results of which have just been published. 🐕
If you'd like to hear what they have to say about what to look out for, how to deal with and any questions you might have about, heatstroke in dogs then please do book to join us Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm 📖 (Recording will be available if you can't make the date and time).
There are limited places for this webinar to ensure everyone will get a chance to ask questions and each place will cost £10 per person - you can book your place by emailing: [email protected]

23/06/2020

🎉We are very excited to announce our next webinar, this time with guest speakers Dr Anne Carter and Emily Hall MRCVS 🤓 who will be talking about the scientific findings of their very latest study into heatstroke in dogs, the results of which have just been published. 🐕
If you'd like to hear what they have to say about what to look out for, how to deal with and any questions you might have about, heatstroke in dogs then please do book to join us Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm 📖 (Recording will be available if you can't make the date and time).
There are limited places for this webinar to ensure everyone will get a chance to ask questions and each place will cost £10 per person - you can book your place by emailing: [email protected]

20/06/2020

Thanks again to everyone who signed up for our Introduction to Canicross webinars - we will be announcing details soon of more webinars including an Introduction to Bikejor - who would like to know more about this exciting sport?!

18/06/2020

This paper has just been published TODAY, and is essential reading for active dog people!

A fascinating study of the risk factors associated with in dogs and it's incidence. The full paper can be accessed here - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66015-8

Alternatively, a very readable supporting article has just been published here, revealing breeds specifically affected......
https://theconversation.com/nine-dog-breeds-at-higher-risk-of-heatstroke-and-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-it-139501

As climate change causes global temperatures to rise, heat-related illness, a potentially fatal condition in dogs, will become an ever-greater threat. This study aimed to report the incidence, fatality and canine risk factors of heat-related illness in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016.....

18/06/2020

Concerns and debates are continuing in the world about possible links between diet and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Here is a link to a "just published" review article that reviews the current situation in addition to other risk factors, highlighting that we still need to know more.....

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=915281692290369&id=477843532700856

Abstract. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been in the literature and news because of the recent opinion-based journal articles and public releases by regulato

11/06/2020

We are already on week 4 of our webinar series "Five things I wish I knew when I started Canicross". There is still time to join us and even catch up on missed sessions thanks to the wonders of technology, just email [email protected] for payment and joining information.

We also have a few exciting ideas in the pipeline but are also interested to know what you might be interested in learning more about for your active dog(s)! Tell us below and we can see how best to tailor what we do to what you want 👇

25/05/2020

Evening all,

It's been a pretty fabulous Bank Holiday weekend, with some smashing weather. On that basis, it seems like a good time to share this great resource about temperature and our dogs.

Heatstrokedog.org is hosted by friends and colleagues of the Active Dog Academy and is a great resource if you want to learn more about some of the science about how our dogs do and do not cope with extreme (and sometimes not so extreme!) temperatures.

Find out more here;

https://heatstroke.dog/

Sharing our research into canine heatstroke and heat related disorders.

20/05/2020

There's still time to sign up for tomorrow's Active Dog Academy webinar covering 'what is canicross' the content will be available as a recording afterwards and there will be resources available relating to the webinar in the private group once you've signed up!

15/05/2020

FIVE THINGS I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED CANICROSS.....

The Active Dog Academy is proud to present a series of five 30-minute webinars covering the essentials of canicross. Whether you are an experienced canicrosser, or are new to running with your dog, we are sure there will be something for you. Join Emily Thomas (founder of K9 Trail Time and TriDog) and Dr Jacqueline Boyd (Canine Scientist) in discussion on;

Thurs 21st May – “What is Canicross?”
Thurs 28th May – “What equipment do I need?”
Thurs 4th June – “What about training and preparation?”
Thurs 11th June – “What to expect and what is expected?”
Thurs 18th June – “How to keep my active dog, a happy dog”
(all with an 8.30 pm start and with time for questions)

Spaces are limited and can be booked either on a block basis of £20 for all five sessions, or as “pay-as-you-go” at £5 per session. To book and for payment information, please email [email protected]. Booking and meeting details will be confirmed on receipt of payment!
(A closed FB group will be available to all attendees, where supporting resources and webinar recordings will be available too)

15/05/2020

This is a recording of the free introduction webinar for a forthcoming series to be delivered by the Active Dog Academy, titled "Five things I Wish I Knew When I Started Canicross" for anyone who missed it. For those who attended, this is a slightly edited version, thanks to the wonders of technology throwing us curve balls just as we started!
Thanks to all who attended and commented :)

14/05/2020

If you are joining us this evening please make sure you've already downloaded Zoom on your phone, tablet or PC before you try to log in and we will be going live from 8.30pm so it's worth being 5 minutes early to make sure you get accepted into the meeting - see you all in about half an hour...

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

12/05/2020

In preparation for our upcoming webinar 🤓

What are the 5 things you wish you knew before you started canicross?🐕 🏃‍♀️

Perhaps you haven't started yet and there are 5 things you are desperate to know!

We'll be sharing an introduction to ours on Thursday evening at 8.30 pm and if you'd like to join us for free go to the event on the page for the link to the webinar 🤗

09/05/2020

For those of you who are interested in the first webinar - we will be running the webinar via Zoom, going live at 8.30 pm on Thursday 14th May, if you'd like to join us to find out more about canicrossing and the things we wish we knew then you will need to have the Zoom app installed on your phone or laptop.
The meeting details are as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87907300131?pwd=aE15aVRpR0NYSnAzUFB4NnVQWHhwQT09

Meeting ID: 879 0730 0131
Password: 709589

Simply log in from 8.20pm and we will admit everyone in time for the 8.30pm kick off! Looking forward to seeing you then!

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

08/05/2020

Welcome to the Active Dog Academy Page, for all things active dog.
We will be sharing information, training and webinars on the page, so welcome along and looking forward to seeing you and your dogs soon!

08/05/2020

08/05/2020