Maddie's Dog Academy

24/06/2024

Bonnie’s graduation!

26/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow dog moms!

28/04/2024

The secret to a rich life is that it has nothing to do with money 🥰

“Whoever said that diamonds are a girls best friend…never owned a dog”

19/04/2024

01/04/2024

21/03/2024

And another new collaboration! This time with the hotel "The Catsit" :)

18/03/2024

I'm proud to announce a new collaboration with the dog hotel "De vrolijke pootjes". Soon is easter break or even summer..and not always we can take our doggo with us. De vrolijke pootjes hotel is the heaven on earth for your furry friends!

14/03/2024

Our emotions do not define us...but sometimes they do feel like they control us.

In those moments of anxiety, intense panic, fear, or frustration, it can be hard for us to manage our emotions, let alone our dogs, who don't have the same level of reasoning that we do.

Private classes with “Maddie’s Dog Academy” are designed to help you and your dog to heal from reactivity/anxiety together.

To learn to better understand where your difficult emotions come from and how to implement simple strategies to help you both to start to feel better.

So if you're ready to start that healing journey with your dog and you'd like my support to do so, contact me: [email protected]

22/02/2024

Guys! I'm so excited to announce that the first version of the 130-page book "Hiking with Dogs" is finally done! Fingers crossed for finding a good publisher! Here are sneak peek photos of some of the Snow's high mountains adventures 😃
Doggo who wild camps & sleeps in a tent, does via ferratas & ladders and gets to the highest point of elevation 3883 m. Who is also excited to get this book in your hands and start hiking with ur furry friend?

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas!

11/12/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LB3GAW5Mz4&list=PLqEwVgWulWNTefmkKTRIVpi4pk199vt3m&ab_channel=PETA%28PeoplefortheEthicalTreatmentofAnimals%29

Crate training is ALWAYS wrong, no matter who's in the crate. People who often cage their dog may try to argue, "But my dog loves his crate!" - but that's a ...

31/10/2023

Happy halloween!

26/10/2023

I want dogs to be exceptionally happy.

Dogs are only with us for such a short time. Why wouldn't we want them to be showered with as much love, snacks and sharing your love and life with them as possible?

Let go of unreasonable expectations that society tells us we need to put on our dogs. Stop making them perform for every little morsel or every pet or sign of affection. Stop the militaristic heeling walks. Stop punishing them for being social and wanting to greet humans or other dogs. Let your dog be a dog.

And, go ahead. Spoil your dog.

23/10/2023

The consent ... this is IMPORTANT!!!

Also, contrary to popular belief, dogs generally do not enjoy head rubs. It's better to caress them on the side (cheeks) or under the chin, and of course, always with their prior consent ;-)

18/10/2023

Can you help me out by signing this petition?

https://www.change.org/p/make-breathing-tests-for-bulldogs-french-bulldogs-and-pugs-mandatory?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_content=washarecopy_37694299_en-GB%3Acv_470904&recruited_by_id=c00f50e0-6d29-11ee-b6ee-997cd6ec9f36&share_bandit_exp=initial-37694299-en-GB

12/09/2023

Your dog probably dreams about you.

Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a teacher and a Clinical and Evolutionary Psychologist at Harvard Medical School, told People that dogs likely dream about their owners.⁠

She says that while there’s no way to know for sure what dogs are seeing when they dream, it’s safe to assume that their dreams draw from everyday experiences, like humans.⁠
⁠
“Humans dream about the same things they’re interested in by day, though more visually and less logically,” Barrett told People in 2016.

“There’s no reason to think animals are any different. Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell, and of pleasing or annoying you.”

01/09/2023

Back to school today! I wish everyone the best of luck with their first day of school.
Our dogs can also go to school, so.. Did you already subscribe to my puppy classes with your four-legged friend? 🐶

11/08/2023

Puppy classes!
🏠 Private classes at your home
📅 At your chosen time and date
📍 In Gent and around
🗣️ In English
👍 Positive Reinforcement training methods
Contact me now for more information

05/08/2023

Out of office! See you in a few weeks!

06/07/2023

"The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be." Konrad Lorenz

05/07/2023

The bond shared between dog and human is the most true and powerful of friendships!

24/06/2023

MYTH "DOGS ONLY SWEAT ON THEIR FOOT PADS"

This one might have a few heads exploding 🙂

Time to bust another myth!

Dogs are like us. They have two different types of sweat glands. Eccrine and Apocrine. Eccrine sweat glands such as are found on the dogs food pads open directly onto the skin surface and have no hairs associated with them. Apocrine sweat glands are found at the base of hair follicles - so only in hairy areas.

Horses have Apocrine sweat glands all over the body in hairy areas which constitute over 95% of their sweat glands, but only have Eccrine glands in a few hairless areas such as the frog and under the tail.

Dogs have MORE Apocrine sweat glands (sweat glands in hairy areas) than Eccrine sweat glands, which are limited to the footpads and nose.

So, dogs DO sweat and this is not limited to the feet. In fact, they lose significantly more heat by sweating through hairy skin than their foot pads of nose......It's just harder to see the sweat under the hair!

References
Aoki, T and Wada, M (1951) Functional activity of the sweat glands in the hairy skin of the dog. Science 03 Aug, Vol. 114, Issue 2953, pp. 123-124.
Iwabuchi, T (1967) General sweating on the hairy skin of the dog and its mechanisms. J Invest Dermatol. Jul;49(1):61-70.
Scott DW, Miller WH, Griffin CE. 2001. Muller and Kirk's small animal dermatology, 6th ed Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders
Carrier CA, Seeman JL, Hoffmann G. Hyperhidrosis in naïve purpose-bred beagle dogs (Canis familiaris) (2011) J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 50(3):396–400.

19/06/2023

Did you know? golden retrievers have an uncanny ability to detect subtle changes in human emotions? While many people are aware of their reputation for being friendly and loyal companions, what most don't realize is that golden retrievers have an extraordinary talent for empathizing with their owners in unique ways.

Research has shown that golden retrievers possess a heightened sense of emotional intelligence, allowing them to pick up on human emotions even before they are explicitly expressed. This remarkable ability stems from their strong desire to please their owners and their innate sensitivity to non-verbal cues.

In fact, golden retrievers have been known to sense and respond to subtle emotional shifts, such as changes in heartbeat, body temperature, and even chemical fluctuations in their owner's body. This incredible sensitivity enables them to provide comfort, support, and companionship during challenging times

So, while golden retrievers are well-known for their sunny dispositions and love for fetching tennis balls, their exceptional emotional intelligence and empathetic nature make them extraordinary allies for individuals in need of emotional support.
Wow

15/06/2023

https://www.peta.org/features/dogs-in-hot-cars/?utm_source=PETA::Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=0622::acom::PETA::Facebook::celeb%20hot%20cars::::link

People still leave dogs in their cars, with deadly consequences. See which celebrities have teamed up to spread the word—and save dogs.

13/06/2023

That's not the proper way of colling your dog!
Water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia is a relatively rare but potentially fatal condition that is most commonly seen in dogs that love to play in the water. ... It can also happen when they “catch” pressurised water from sprinklers or hoses. There's also a risk of water inhalation into the lungs causing dry drowning.
Excessive amounts of water cause the body to lose sodium and can be serious resulting in potential death.