MissChivers Pets

11/08/2024

It’s soooooo hot out there and still there are people walking their dogs past our house! 🌞🕶️🦮🐾

03/08/2024

This is great information for every dog carer 🐶 🐕 🐕‍🦺 🐶

WHAT THE F?

Recognising stress responses in dogs.

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always be so obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget or Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous experience - what has worked for them before or what hasn’t. Some dogs have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important in understanding how our dogs are feeling.

When we recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs.

30/07/2024

👍👍👍

LETTING GO OF THE LABEL
People love to label things - from containers to personality types, physical or mental differences and everything in between.

Why do we like labels so much? Labels are comforting, they help us to feel more secure.

Labels allow us to close that particular “box”, because it now has a label and we no longer have to think about it or be concerned about it.

It’s been judged, identified, labelled and we can now move on, confident in the belief that there’s nothing more to be done.

We may also be very good at labelling dogs. My dog is stubborn, aggressive, lazy, shy, timid, greedy, jealous, untrainable…. It’s comforting for us to assign a label because it takes the pressure off trying to find out why they behave that way because we might believe that it’s just the way they are.

If we remove the label and take note of the behaviour in context and the circumstances or environment it’s happening in, we may realise that our dogs need our help to cope, not our labels.

Look into what can be done to improve or change that behaviour if it's something you’d like to change.

Sometimes a label does fits, it’s just the way it is and we need to accept that, but sometimes labels hide the need to look beneath the surface and discover what the real cause of that behaviour is.

26/07/2024

When will this craziness stop?!

Poor innocent dogs being used, tested on and kept in disgusting conditions..

And now good people are being procescuted for caring and trying to do something about it.

Why does the government allow it I wonder?

Animal Rising activists have appeared Cambridge Magistrates' Court accused of stealing 20 dogs from MBR Acres, in Wyton, in December 2022.

24/07/2024

https://chng.it/9Tnzzk588F

29,131 signatures are needed, let’s get there by the end of the day?

29/06/2024

The life in the morning of a dog walker/trainer 🐶

Caring for one of MissChivers Pet's favourite and first dogs is an absolute pleasure!

🐕 Hagrid is fearful and reactive towards cats and dogs and so we've been taking him out for training walks for the past 5 years, sticking to the same training plan whilst using desensitisation and counter conditioning as we go along.

🐕 He has been through his ups and downs, but with the dedication from his loyal owner, friends and family, and from the help of the team , his behaviour is managed, and he's a happier dog. ❤️ 💙

🐕 Our aim is to make each walk as comfortable, safe, and as stress free as possible for both dog and walker. Ending the walks on a positive note is very important, but if there is a confrontation, we know how to difuse the situation, sticking to the dogs individual plan.

🐕 As with any trade, having the right equipment and tools at hand is vital for the success of the training walk. We use:

🐶 Rucksack containing first aid kit, water, long line, slow feeding toys to promote relaxation, and of course poo bags!

🐶 x2 treat pouches. One containing chicken and the other homemade gluten - free kibble.

💛

🐕 Hagrid has been trained to wear a muzzle. Today, he wore it to and from the park, and as it was so quiet there, we were able to take it off for easier sniffing, play, and general freedom.🌿 🌿

🐾 Not all walks are always as successful as this one was. Many factors play a part in a dog's emotions from day to day. However, being predictable and consistent with any training is important, especially for sensitive souls such as Hagrid 🐾

For more information or advice on prevention rather than cure in puppy/dog training, regular specialised 121 training walks, and pet visits, please see out our website or contact us via:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

29/05/2024

😔

A new investigation by the White Coat Waste Project has exposed cruel and unnecessary drug testing on beagles, which is being funded with tax payer dollars by the Department of Defense (DOD). WCW has uncovered federal records showing that the U.S. Army has ordered $949,108 worth of experiments on be...

23/05/2024

Mae walks 🥰

30/04/2024

LANGUAGE OF THE LICK 🩷 (thanks to Disclosed

Dogs usually lick their lips when food is about to be served, when a tasty treat is imminent, when those soulful eyes are begging you to share whatever you’re putting in your mouth, or when that last morsel of food stuck on their nose needs to be captured.

Maybe it’s just an itchy nose or a pesky bug that’s irritating them, but sometimes lip licking can be an important sign that there’s something else going on.

The amazing vocabulary that is dog body language is often spoken through subtle signs that are so easy to miss, but when noticed can provide us with important information as to how our dogs are feeling.

Lip licking is part of a group of calming signals that dogs use in an attempt to avoid conflict, calm themselves and others down and generally indicate that they’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable about something.

We also often use this type of body language without even being aware of it. Fiddling with our hair, nails or ears, biting the end of a pencil, tapping feet - may all happen when we’re feeling uncomfortable in a situation.

Sometimes lip licking can provide a warning that there’s an underlying medical condition like gastrointestinal issues, dental or mouth problems or pain somewhere in the body.

Take note of lip licking in different situations. It may be as simple as seeing a lip lick when you just can’t resist kissing that adorable face, but your dog is telling you that they really don’t feel comfortable with your way of expressing affection.

Take note, listen to their language and do what you can to improve their emotional state.

LANGUAGE OF THE LICK

Dogs usually lick their lips when food is about to be served, when a tasty treat is imminent, when those soulful eyes are begging you to share whatever you’re putting in your mouth, or when that last morsel of food stuck on their nose needs to be captured.

Maybe it’s just an itchy nose or a pesky bug that’s irritating them, but sometimes lip licking can be an important sign that there’s something else going on.

The amazing vocabulary that is dog body language is often spoken through subtle signs that are so easy to miss, but when noticed can provide us with important information as to how our dogs are feeling.

Lip licking is part of a group of calming signals that dogs use in an attempt to avoid conflict, calm themselves and others down and generally indicate that they’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable about something.

We also often use this type of body language without even being aware of it. Fiddling with our hair, nails or ears, biting the end of a pencil, tapping feet - may all happen when we’re feeling uncomfortable in a situation.

Sometimes lip licking can provide a warning that there’s an underlying medical condition like gastrointestinal issues, dental or mouth problems or pain somewhere in the body.

Take note of lip licking in different situations. It may be as simple as seeing a lip lick when you just can’t resist kissing that adorable face, but your dog is telling you that they really don’t feel comfortable with your way of expressing affection.

Take note, listen to their language and do what you can to improve their emotional state.

30/04/2024

Finally we have warm weather!! 🤩

However, for dogs and other animals it can take time to adjust to different temperatures.

So be mindful of this when walking your dog and enjoy!

Keep your dog happy and healthy in warm weather with our tips for safe fun in the sun.

23/04/2024

🐶👀🐶

WHAT COLOURS DO DOGS SEE?
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not colour blind.

A dog’s visual world is certainly not as vibrantly colourful as ours, but they do see a range of yellow, grey and blue shades and have better night and peripheral vision than we do.

Colour is interpreted and discerned by nerve cells in the eyes. The retina has two main types of cells called rods, which detect light levels and motion and cones which differentiate colour.

A human’s eyes have three types of cones which can identify combinations of red, blue, and green.

Dogs have only two types of cones that are only able to discern shades of blue, yellow and grey – this perception of colour is called dichromatic vision.

An ophthalmology professor at the University of Washington discovered that dogs could see blues and yellows but not reds and greens. This information would have been confirmed by anatomical investigation of a dog’s eye.

It would make more sense if manufacturers of dog toys would take a dog’s colour spectrum into account when producing dog toys.

Toys are usually made to visually appeal to people, not dogs.

Shades of yellow, grey or blue are far more appealing to your dog than a bright shade of red or another colour.

16/04/2024

Out for a walk on a different route today with the wonderful Lily, and I was chuffed to see a sign for the frogs and toads of Cambridge 🐸🐸🐸

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Meanwhile, we continue to practise  desensitisation and counter conditioning with other dogs we see about 😊😊

For more information on our services visit:
www.misschiverspetservices.com

# animalwelfare

12/04/2024

This is the lovely Pip, an adorable 18 month old mini Dachshund 🐾

🐶 He's the newest member of our 121 regular training walks, where we go out to different parks or quieter areas to build on confidence around new environments, people, and other dogs at a distance.

🐶 As you can see, he is sporting his new jacket, informing everyone in his path (or from a distance) that he 'needs space' please.

🐶 I look forward to seeing his progression over time.

🐶 For more information on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, regular specialised 121 dog training walks, or dog training and pet visits, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

03/04/2024

CHEEKS is an old rescue cat with a heart of gold! 💛 His owners (with the same idea as myself) wanted to home a cat that no one wanted. The cat that had been in the shelter for the longest time. It was nothing about how the cat looked, how old he/she was, or even if it had nice temperament (as a cat's behaviour can change within the right environment)

Well...weren't they glad they chose Cheeks! He's cool and calm, with so much love to give!

If you want a cat or dog, why not adopt?? There are so many pets out there needing loving homes.

If you need any advice before or after adopting a pet, MissChivers Pets can help. Just give me a call or email on the link below 😻

😺😺😺 For more information on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, dog training, regular solo training walks, or pet/cat visits in and around Cambridge, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

25/03/2024

With the forever increase of dog owners, illegal puppy mills and rescue dogs in shelters....

This is a great little overview presenting dog behaviour from a dog's own perspective 🐶🧡🐶🧡🐶

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RK1zDttFxu9JNYLb/

Everyone who is thinking of getting dogs should read this because you need to understand this reality:

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.
You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.
So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.
Like David Attenborough Fans for more:

23/02/2024

24/01/2024

Your Neighbour Kills Puppies - To Harris. Book Launch at Camp Beagle. Sunday 14th March 2024 - 12pm - Camp Beagle

24/01/2024

Another on point post from Dogs Disclosed 👇.......

I’M NOT GUILTY!
Dogs might look guilty, but that doesn’t mean that they feel guilty.

“My dog knows that he’s done something wrong, just look how guilty he looks!" This is something that we hear so often.

People are highly amused and entertained on social media and even dedicated websites where pictures of “guilty” dogs are seen.

The “guiltier” the dog looks, the more popular these posts are and the funnier people find them.

I find this really sad because it’s a complete misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of a dog’s body language.

That “guilty” look is actually a dog showing the signs of fear, stress, anxiety or appeasement.

The fear of being punished, the stress and anxiety of hearing the person’s tone of voice, demeanor and noticing the person’s body language, appeasement behaviour in an attempt to calm the angry person down.

As people, it’s natural for us to want to believe that our dogs feel guilt and remorse about whatever they’ve done wrong. Maybe thinking that they really do feel guilty somehow makes their behaviour more acceptable and is a form of an apology.

Dogs are capable of a wide range of emotions that could be compared to that of a 2 to 2½ child, but it’s highly unlikely that they feel more complex emotions, like guilt, regret, remorse or shame.

Guilt is a complex emotion and defined as an unhappy feeling that you have because you have done something wrong or think that you may have done something wrong. It’s a feeling of shame, regret or remorse. The feeling of guilt requires an understanding of cause and effect and is relative to time.

Do dogs spend the day feeling guilty, waiting for us to come home to find a mess or a chewed-up couch or shoe, or are they waiting excitedly for us to come home because they really missed us and are looking forward to some attention?

For the emotional wellbeing of our dogs, let’s seek to understand them more and focus less on how we believe they should feel just because it makes us feel better.

18/01/2024

Some of the training tribe this week 🧡💛💙......
😺😺😺 🐶🐶🐶 For more information on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, dog training, regular solo training walks, or pet/cat visits in and around Cambridge, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

11/01/2024

This is Gloria 🩵💚🩵💚 a beautifully bold character, full of curiosity and effection.

She loves my attention but then has her moments of madness, changing her mind drastically and deciding to love bite me ☺️

But we both now know each other well enough to not take affence 😁💚🩵💚🩵......
😺😺😺 🐶🐶🐶 For more information on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, dog training, regular solo training walks, or pet/cat visits in and around Cambridge, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

10/01/2024

Happy New Year from the MissChivers Pets Team!

Here's to new beginnings, cat cuddles and spreading the love 🧡💛🩷......
😺😺😺 🐶🐶🐶 For more Information on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, dog training, regular solo training walks, or pet/cat visits in and around Cambridge, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

30/11/2023

👆 to point 🤩

WHEN CAN YOU STOP REWARDING YOUR DOG?

Is it after your dog has learnt a new behaviour, is it when your dog knows what you expect from them, is it because you don’t want to have to carry treats around forever, is it because you don’t want to spoil your dog?

Many people are initially quite happy to use rewards when training a puppy or teaching a dog a new behaviour, but often seem concerned about when they can stop doing this.

The focus is often on - The sooner I can stop doing this the better or surely my dog should just be obedient and listen to me, or I don’t want to spoil them.

A common analogy used to explain why you should never stop rewarding is that of a person starting a new job.

You’re offered a good salary and you’re enthusiastic, motivated and quickly learn the skills required.

Your boss is really happy with your work and you are rewarded at the end of the month with a good salary.

At the end of your second month, you are told that you will no longer be earning a salary.

You are told that because you now know the job and really perform well, it's no longer necessary to pay you.

How would that effect your motivation, your mood, your willingness to continue performing at a high standard or even showing up for work?

The same applies to our dogs. To maintain a behaviour, to maintain motivation and to keep communicating in a way they understand, we need to reward the behaviour we are looking for.

Yes, there are different ways to manage rewards and reinforce behaviour if we want to get technical – successive approximation, fading, fluency, intermittent schedules, random, jackpots etc, but this post is not about technicalities, it’s about the principle of rewards and why we should never stop rewarding.

18/11/2023

This is Meadow, a 5 month old Airdale Terrier..........
Meadow is especially energetic, and so our aim is to gently relax and calm her so she is able to think and therefore learn.

Our 30 - minute training walks this week have consisted of:

🐕 Socialisation and 'Positive Pairing' with unusual sounds and sights...

🐕 Rewarding all calm behaviour...

🐕 Loose Lead Walking and eye contact...

🐕 Sit, Stays and Hide n Seek...

🐕 Recall practise (with a training line)

🐕 and finishing off with chill chew time..

🐶 Because our little Meadow is sound and touch sensitive, we don't venture far on our 30-minute walks.

🐶 Instead, we gradually introduce new settings and sounds and try to make every walk as positive and as calm as possible.

If you're curious about regular training or guided walks with you and your young or adolescent pup within Cambridgeshire, then please get in contact.

🐶🐶🐶 For more Info on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, dog training, regular solo training walks, or pet visits, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

21/07/2023

Here's Kitsu, the beautifully bold 2 year old Shiba Inu 😍
Our newest addition within our 121 solo training walks 🐕 🐶 🐕

🐶🐶🐶 For more Info on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, regular solo or group walks, dog training or pet visits, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

19/07/2023

👊

ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?
Distracted dog walkers
The distracted dog walker is obliviously chatting away on their cell phone, listening to music or a podcast while wearing headphones, catching up on the daily news or socializing with other people while they’re not aware of what their dog is doing or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem to some people, but it is something that I have a problem with.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking your dog should not be one of these times.

Some people might say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that. But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, are not sociable, are recovering from an illness, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher….

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs. Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of relationship, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing or teaching wanted behaviors, of keeping them safe and protected from the unknown.

Leave the multi-tasking for another time – your dog needs you to pay attention.

16/07/2023

The 'settle' training went well! 😅😍💛🐶

🐶🐶🐶 For more Info on prevention rather than cure in puppy training, regular solo or group walks, dog training or pet/puppy visits, please check out our website:

www.misschiverspetservices.com

14/07/2023

GROUP DOG WALKING 🐶🐶

We have spaces on Tuesdays and Thursdays for sociable dogs wanting to join a fun and friendly pack for adventure group dog walks for up to 1.5 hrs within Cambridge ‼️

🌻🌼🌿🌱🌻
With a maximum of four dogs within the group so that they all get individual attention and care, pick up is from mid/late morning and your dog is returned home around 2.5 hrs later depending on your location. We either walk in and around Coldham's Common, Logan's Meadow, Byron's Pool or Grantchester Meadows.

🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕
Walks include group recall & general manners training around dogs and people (although we ask that your dog has a basic recall and can walk nicely on a lead before joining a group)

🌻🌼🌿🌱🌻
If you wish for extra training with this, we offer either regular solo training walks or 121 owner and dog training sessions.

🐕‍🦺 🐕‍🦺 🐕‍🦺 🐕‍🦺
If you're thinking about giving your dog the opportunity to explore, sniff, run, and play within a small group for 1 or 2 days a week, then get in touch!

For more information on solo training & group walks, prevention rather than cure in puppy training and dog training advice:

Please visit our website: www.misschiverspetservices.com

14/07/2023

DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF!
RESOURCE GUARDING OR POSSESSIVE AGGRESSION
We all guard our resources, it’s a natural reaction to a threat of something we value being taken away. It’s essential for survival and dogs and other animals would not survive in the wild if they didn’t guard their resources.

We also don’t get to decide what’s valuable and what’s not – different things have different values to different dogs.

Food is usually the most common, but toys, furniture, different items, places, or even a certain person are all things that may be seen as a valuable resource.

A dog turning their head away, freezing, a hard stare, whale eye, moving away, growling or snapping may quickly escalate into a serious bite in an attempt to protect that valuable possession.

Punishing or forcing a dog to give something up is probably one of the worst things to do. Resource guarding is rooted in the emotion of fear – the fear of that resource being taken away. Punishment and force further increase that fear, which only increases and reinforces the need to protect that resource.

When a dog is guarding food or an object, we can change the negative emotion of that fear into a positive one by swopping or trading something that has a similar or higher value than what the dog has. This is one of the most effective ways to address resource guarding of objects as it works at the root cause of the behaviour by changing the emotional response.

A dog resource guarding a person is more complicated to address. The individual family dynamics, attachment styles, situation, environment, history and breed tendencies all have to be looked at and assessed before working on modification.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented, addressed and managed by starting early, understanding why dogs feel the need to resort to this behaviour and doing what we can to prevent it from happening in the first place.