GEEKY PAWS

29/04/2024

Just saw one more collar business has closed down.

So even though times are tough and sales are incredibly slow, I want you all to know Geeky Paws is still here and we are looking forward to celebrating our 10th birthday with you in 2025.

Geekypaws.net

23/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Mq4bbR5gtvPWEupJ/?mibextid=xCPwDs

08/03/2024

Just a few new designs you might have missed

Pop over to Geekypaws.net for the full range - current count 341 different fabrics :)

24/12/2023

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a safe new year

May your day be furry and bright

And finally , a big thank you for all of your support in 2023.

15/12/2023

Don't forget today from 11 to 3 you can find Geeky Paws at Holdfast Dog Centre

Hope to see you there

03/12/2023

Super excited

16th of December
11 to 3pm

Holdfast Dog Centre

10/10/2023

Our first event since covid

Pop this in your calandar
Hope to see you there xx

17/09/2023

New fabrics added to Geekypaws.net

Including Thor Mandalorian and new Christmas fabrics

28/08/2023

03/05/2023

New fabrics

See anything you like pop over to geekypaws.net

21/04/2023

05/03/2023

Through Michael Nowacki

20/01/2023

I so agree with this

Let’s set the scene. This may become a bit sensitive for some, and I apologise in advance.

You’re out somewhere. You might be at a restaurant, a bar, a public park on a sunny day enjoying the sunshine with your family. It may be that you’re on your way home from work or trying to catch the bus. You’re just minding your own business.

Suddenly, a person comes straight up to you. They give you anxiety. What is this person going to do? I don’t know! The person is walking with a friend and the friend sees you’re a bit anxious and calls out to you saying “Don’t stress, she/he’s all good!’’ But they keep approaching you. And when they finally reach you they randomly hug you. Touch you. Walk circles around you. Start talking to you. Don’t let you leave.

What would you call that? Harassment? Assault in severe cases?
How would this make you feel?

Now, after the initial shock you find your courage and you ask the person to go away. Leave you alone. But the person doesn’t stop and instead touches your arm or your hair. “Oh come on, we’re alright. I’m not doing anything bad I’m friendly! Just let me be around you.’’You get upset and might push the person. Shout at them. If you’re a bit more of an assertive person you might punch them. Who knows.
Then the person and the friend get upset. Well? WHY are you here then? What are you doing in this public space if you don’t like being around other people? You have no business to be here, minding your own business in this park with your family without allowing me to sit with you, play with you, touch you, talk to you. Actually, you know what you should do? You should be more social! You should go more often to random groups of people.

_______
Do you see what I did there?
If you thought any of the above situation is not okay (and I sure as heck hope you do), then why do we think it’s okay to let dogs run up to strange dogs and say ‘It’s okay he’s friendly’?

What we do in the dog world is the exact opposite what we should be doing. We label the harassed dog as aggressive and the harassing dog as the victim.

Dogs have emotions. They have feelings. They have their own characters and personalities. There are many, many dogs that are not interested in making new friends or being with dogs they don’t know they can trust.

And sure, some dogs love playing with other dogs. Those are the extraverted dogs. Just like we have people that LOVE hugging or love making new friends even as adults, but to be honest.. how many of those people do you know? I think if you put it into a % its lower than the people that rather just are with their select group of people and be left alone by random strangers in public spaces.

So don’t assume the dog your dog is running towards on the beach, is willing to play with your dog. Being in a public space means you need to have your dog under effective control. And if you can’t call your dog back, it should be on a long line until you can.

——-

In case you’re interested.. after quite a few requests I made a video version of this blog as well.

Your dog is NOT friendly, he's harassing others
https://youtu.be/YlWf02MHKCo

14/01/2023

Guys if you have any issues with credit card payments at check out please let me know
It's been a bit glitchy

11/01/2023

Hi all
I often get asked about coats
So if you are looking try Karla's Koats another awesome SA business

Karla's Koats

08/01/2023

New fabrics added to Geekypaws.net yesterday

30/10/2022

Sorry Brett it's been a fantastic 16 years

08/08/2022

SO. ON. POINT. 👏🏻
📷 In this photo you see two species, a human and a dog. The human has approximately 1 billion neurons in their brain while the canine has appoximately 500 million. This is a comparison of the two species and the silly expectations people place on dogs:

1) Human - Given two plus years to accomplish potty training.
1) Canine - Human wants canine potty trainined in two weeks or they will have to rehome the dog....Please take the diaper off your eight month old human and let them crawl around your floor, lets just see the results....

2) Human - Gives human babies pain relievers and various numbing agents to help appease the pain of teething.
2) Canine - Demands Dog Trainer tells them how to reprimand their dog for chewing.

3) Human - Encourages young humans to run and play with endless forms of mental and physical stimulation.
3) Canine - “I have got to teach this dog to calm down!!!”

4) Human - Given 20 plus years to complete an education and become a productive member of society.
4) Canine - Expected to behave flawlessly after 6 weeks of training.

5) Human - Given sick and personal days from work and endless excuses for poor performance.
5) Canine - Expects to perfom perfectly 365 days a year with no questions asked. Canines are also not allowed to feel bad or forget.

6) Human - Expects a pay raise anually for the job they perform.
6) Canine - Humans demand their dog perform more every year and don’t believe they should reward the dog for the work they perform.

Dear human....If you don’t train, don’t complain!"

Credit - Yvonne Campbell

30/07/2022

REACTIVITY MISUNDERSTOOD
Reactive dogs are often misunderstood. A dog that is reacting to a situation is not trying to be difficult, they are having a difficult time coping with that particular situation and are trying their best to make the scary thing go away.
Reactivity is generally triggered by the emotion of fear. The fear of whatever is scaring them, a fear of a valuable possession being taken away or a fear of a strange person or animal coming into their territory. Anxiety, stress, over excitement, over stimulation, feeling overwhelmed, trigger stacking, or a dog that is tired, in pain or even has chronic itching will often feel irritable and may be reactive in certain situations. If their reactivity is successful in making the scary thing go away, it becomes a rewarding behaviour because it’s something that works for them and it makes them feel better.
It’s not easy to be the owner of a reactive dog. One of my dogs is reactive and I know first-hand how dogs like this can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, angry or frustrated. Why do they have to be so difficult, why can’t they just behave normally? Everyone is looking at me, judging me, thinking that I’m a bad owner, have no training skills, can’t control my dog or have a vicious dog that shouldn’t be taken out in public.
As hard as it may be, we need to take the focus off how we as owners feel about their reactivity and focus on how our dogs are feeling and what is causing their reaction. Whatever it is, it’s not something our dogs can overcome on their own and we need to take steps to help them cope. Reactive dogs need compassion, understanding, management, force free, positive reinforcement interventions and decompression – (a return to a normal, more relaxed state after a period of intense stress, psychological pressure, or urgent activity). These techniques take time and patience but are so important in helping our dogs to feel safe and learn more acceptable ways of coping.
I have learnt through many mistakes, to recognise what triggers my reactive dog and take steps to either avoid those situations, provide enough distance, or provide her with an alternative choice where she feels safe and in control of her environment. There will always be unexpected triggers around the next corner that are not within our control, but doing all we can to manage these triggers has immeasurable benefits.

15/07/2022

Omg just received my booster seats from .rider for Lottie and Rick
Made here in SA absolutely gorgeous

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063487213594

Head on over and give them some love

13/07/2022

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families