Lynne White - dogs, dogs, dogs

21/12/2022

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2226053457575626&id=310267225820935&post_id=310267225820935_2226053457575626&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

25/08/2022

Still some places left!

There are only a few spots remaining this Saturday the 27th of August for Steve Austins Motivating Miracles and an introduction to professional scent work seminar!!

Join us for a day with World renowned Australian dog trainer Steve Austin. Steve has over 30 years in the field, and is known as one of Australia's top animal trainers, with a particular skill in dog behaviour and training. His career in dog training has seen him train dogs for quarantine, search and rescue, police work, and wildlife preservation, to name a few. He has also travelled extensively lecturing to international audiences and running training seminars.

Date: Saturday 27th August, 2022
Time: 9am-4pm.
Location: The Canine Clubhouse 3 Aylward Avenue, Thomastown VIC 3074
Cost: Auditor spot - $149, Dog spot - $199 (limited dog spots available)

For more information or to apply for a Dog Spot, please email: [email protected]

Book Now: www.canineclubhouse.com.au

09/08/2022

20/07/2022

The Responsible Pet Ownership program is currently recruiting potential Educators and their dogs for the program. Please have a read of the attached flyer and if you're interested, contact the program for more information. It's a great casual role and you get to work with your dog!

15/07/2022

Many people think that because their dog is friendly that there is no harm done by allowing their dog to approach other dogs, dogs on lead etc. Not always the case......

I once spoke to a lady who had both her legs broken by a stranger’s loose dog that ran into her. The dog was undoubtedly “friendly” but still managed to put the lady in hospital for weeks and leave her with long term health problems. It’s not really good enough to assume our dogs won’t do any damage, especially if they are over enthusiastic in greeting people or other dogs. If in any doubt – let's put our dogs on the lead and let other people and animals walk in peace and safety.

20/06/2022

Mr Smith is enjoying walking his dog Patch along the road, thinking how nicely Patch is walking next to him on a loose lead. Feeling the sun on his back, breathing in that crisp fresh air Mr Smith is feeling pretty good.
Then he sees a dog in the distance.
Oh s**t!
He reals Patches lead in ..... really tight,
and braces himself for the expected reaction.
And here it is, Patch is on his hind legs spinning around and making the most viscous horrendous noises.
Mr Smith is sooooo embarrassed. He tries to get Patch to shut up, he offers Patch tasty treats but Patch isnt interested, he jerks on the lead to snap Patch out if his naughty behaviour and even tries holding Patches mouth shut, but nothing works.
Mr Smith is so frustrated, he cant understand why Patch is like this, he purposely made a point of "socializing" Patch. He regularly encouraged Patch to play and interact with EVERY dog they met.
Patch loved other dogs, and it made Mr Smith very happy watching Patch play with EVERY dog they met. Mr Smith was so proud of how much "socializing" he had done with his dog.

Now look at Patches point of view.

Patch is enjoying his walk along the road with his best friend Mr Smith. There are so many lovely smells to track and enjoy, but then he sees another dog in the distance.
Yay 😀 play time!
Patch desperately tries to get to this other dog, but Mr Smith restricts him, his lead has been pulled really tight so is now choking him.
Patch gets a little worried as he cant understand why his friend is behaving like this
Poor old Patch, he is so confused, when he was younger, his friend encouraged him to run up to EVERY dog they met and it made his friend so happy watching him play like a lunatic.
Patch is now really frustrated so tries lunging and shouts at Mr Smith to let him go play, it dosent work so Patch shouts louder, but Mr Smith just shouts back.
Poor Patch, he just doesnt understand 😢
And now gets called things like "aggressive" or "reactive" or even "viscous"

BUT PATCH IS ONLY DOING WHAT HE HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO DO!

Mr Smith thought he was doing the right thing as all over social media he read he had to "socialise" his dog
But unfortunately by letting or encouraging Patch to play with every dog he met all he has done is taught Patch to be rude and frustrated.

Dog parks, busy day cares, puppy free for alls just cause issues!
Dogs have different play styles and your job as a responsible guardian is to PROTECT your dog from potentially worrying and damaging situations.

People dont realise "dog to dog" meetings/play are actually a very VERY small percentage of what socialising is

Puppies need purposeful positive experiences.
Not mass exposure

A well socialised dog knows boundaries and respects space.
A well socialised dog greets politely
A well socialised dog can emotional cope in different environments and situations
A well socialised dog has trust in his/her guardian and know that they wont be put in an uncomfortable situation
A well socialised dog can just walk past other dogs, animals people etc. calmly without reacting (negatively or overly positive)
A well socialised dog is comfortable being handled and examined
A well socialised dog has learnt to make better choices themselves
A well socialised dog can relax and settle in strange environments

Please really think about what habits you are creating

16/06/2022

Some toxic plant to be mindful of. (Animal Poisons.com.au)

In 2021, approximately 10% of calls made to the Animal Poisons Helpline were regarding plant exposures. Whilst there are a large number

26/03/2022

FYI
https://animalpoisons.com.au/

The Australian Animal Poisons Helpline provides FREE poisoning advice to pet owners. Call 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ)

19/02/2022

New puppy owners should read this article 🙂

Sometimes new owners tell me getting a puppy was supposed to be fun, but all I feel is stress. Here's what new owners need to remember.

27/01/2022

This was written for horses but equally applies to dog training. Shared from Path Equestrian
https://www.facebook.com/114675817042717/posts/486368779873417/

Quick fixes are often tempting as they usually offer us a “easy win” and instant gratification. But often these quick fixes only tackle symptoms and don’t tend to address the real problem.

Unfortunately the training world (for ALL species) is full of “quick fixes”. Quick fixes usually involve some kind of harsh training tool, punishment or dominance based methods.

Some examples:

“My horse doesn’t stop when asked”

Quick fix: “Add a heavier bit!”

Example of actual training / management:
Taking the time to teach the horse how to stop and reinforce the behaviour.

“My horse is lazy and doesn’t like moving forward”

Quick fix: “Add a whip or spurs!”

Example of actual training / management:
Investigating WHY the horse isn’t willing to move forward. Pain? Discomfort? Conflicting motivations?

“My horses won’t stand still when tied”

Quick fix: “Patience pole!”

Example of actual training / management:
Taking the time to teach a horse to stand, adding duration at a pace the horse is comfortable with.

Problems with quick fixes:

• Quick fixes often create holes within training.

• Quick fixes are often harsh and painful.

• Quick fixes are often unsustainable, “bandaid solutions”, that aren’t effective long term.

• Quick fixes utilizing punishment based methods can result in unplanned fallouts.

Good training often takes time and it is always ongoing.

15/01/2022

Understanding dog body language is so important. Shared from Kate’s Pawsitive Pups.

Just a thought of the day I felt compelled to share..

Working in veterinary medicine is where I single handedly see the most dog to dog mishaps with the general public due to simply lacking knowledge on dog behavior, and lack of respect for both their own dog and other dog’s space. Let me play it out for you, of what I see, all too often. Owner has their dog in the waiting room on a loose, long leash. The Dog is free to roam within a 6 ft radius. Another dog and its owner attempt to come in the doors, only to be blocked and greeted nose to nose by the uncontrolled dog, now tense on his leash, pulling and eager to meet. Its owner speaks out, “oh it’s okay! I’ve got him, and he’s friendly☺️” Here is where I step in to politely ask the owner to keep her dog close to her, only to get a response of “he’s fine, he’s wagging his tail!” 🤦🏼‍♀️ Little do they know, I see something else, way more complex, far beyond their assumptions.

Education and knowledge is power. Especially when you are dealing with an animal that you are supposed to mentor and guide for its lifetime, to ensure stability, confidence, and respect. In my professional and outright personal opinion, never is it okay to:
1) Allow your dog to greet another dog nose to nose on a tense leash
*A dog greeted head on is generally very rude, intrusive, and unnatural in the dog world, and can create conflict right from the get go. Any dog can take this posture as threatening, and begin defensive aggressive behavior. To make matters worse, a tense leash can build the energy in a dog to produce reactive behavior due to space constraints. If you must introduce dogs on leash, it is better to allow them to greet side by side on a LOOSE leash, and relax!

2) Assume that a wagging tail is a happy dog wanting to interact
* A dog will wag its tail for a multitude of emotions. It is VITAL to understand what your dog is saying by it’s tail wag. Based on tail position and speed will indicate how the dog is feeling. For example, A low, fast wag can generally indicate nervous energy, or insecurity, which has potential to cause a fear aggressive response. A high, stiff wag can mean over-arousal/over-stimulation or intent of ready to spring into action. The dog will make lousy choices in this state of mind and make it more difficult to control should they “rev-up” more. A medial, soft & loose wag is generally universal for a happy dog. Get to know your wags!

3) Assume the other dog is just as “friendly” as yours
* Not all dogs are dog friendly. This should be obvious knowledge. Just because your dog is friendly does not mean the other is, too. They could be undersocialized, have social insecurities, or just be dog aggressive. Give other dogs space, please.

4) Allow your dog to interact with other dogs in a veterinary office waiting room
* Dogs often come into the vet office already stressed. It is generally not a place of pleasure as the dog is usually being shuffled into a tight room, being held by strangers only to be poked and prodded at. The smell of other ill dogs or even death is in the air which makes a dog uneasy. Most owners are often nervous FOR their dog during a vet visit so their energy does not help the dog, either. There may be the the smell of cats in the room, stress pheremones, and urine markings from other dogs. Dogs come in not feeling well, or maybe have arthritis, or painful from an injury. They may be recovering from a surgery. Or coming in to be put down due to old age or chronic illness. Now tell me why this sounds like a good spot to “play”?!

We all go to the vet with our dogs. Please make your next visit pleasurable for everyone!

29/12/2021

https://www.facebook.com/100064737186820/posts/283707647130473/

🎇🎆 New Year’s Eve fireworks safety for pets 🐶🐱
⁠
While we are all so excited that the firework display is back this year, but our furry friends may not be as welcoming to the loud noises and bright lights.⁠
⁠
New Year’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year at , and is the aftermath of pets trying to escape and seek safety during the terrifying fireworks.

So, it’s time to think about how you're going to keep your pet safe and comfortable during this time.

📅 PREPARE
- Think about what you are going to be doing on NYE? Owners should stay home with their pets who may have a history of being spooked, or make alternative arrangements to ensure they are left supervised
- If your pet’s anxiety has been a concern in the past, an appointment with your Vet may be helpful to discuss treatment options, including ways to keep your pet calm.
- Decide on the area where your pet will be located on NYE. Are the fences and gates secure? In scary situations, animals can find great power and strength, they may surprise you with ways to escape.

🏷 IDENTIFICATION
- Is your pets microchip details up to date? Have you moved or changed your phone number? Ensure these details are up to date.
- A collar with a name and contact phone number is always helpful as a member of the public may be able to promptly notify you if they have found your pet.

🧸 PROVIDE COMFORT
- Keep your pet inside;
- Close all curtains and blinds;
- Try to keep your energy as “business as usual” as sometimes making a fuss about keeping them calm, can trigger anxiety;
- Keep your pet with you, direct supervision is key for keeping them safe,
- Distract with games, food and familiar items of comfort, and
- If your animal is noticeably upset, do not ignore them, punish or scold your pet for displaying anxiety.

[Image - scared dog looking out the window at fireworks]

14/12/2021

As we come into summer snakes are becoming more and more present in built up areas. Always be vigilant when letting your dog off lead near sand dunes, walking tracks, and bushy areas.
If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake, or your dog is showing any symptoms such as vomiting/diarrhoea, excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, trembling, weakness in hind legs, bloody urine, dilated pupils, or sudden weakness and collapse, please go straight to the nearest vet.

04/12/2021

For information.

20/10/2021

Wow!

22/09/2021

I think most people now know that the artificial sweetener Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Here is a list of products that contain Xylitol. The list does not claim to have product so be careful and read the label on any products you purchase for your dogs.
Shared: https://www.walkervillevet.com.au/blog/xylitol-toxicity-in-australian-dogs/

Emergency Care: Xylitol Ingestion If a dog eats anything containing xylitol: Get a vet to induce vomiting ASAPIf xylitol was absorbed, blood tests will be requiredA glucose drip may be needed to maintain blood sugars until the xylitol is gone Now dive deeper... There’s one common poison of dogs th...

02/09/2021

What type of dog water bowl do you use? 🐶💧

The dog water bowl has previously been identified as the third most contaminated🦠 item within the household and can be a breeding ground for dangerous germs & life-threatening bacteria🧫 that can put the entire house at risk, researchers at University Centre Hartpury have revealed.

So, which dish is best to use for a dog water bowl? The bowl that grows the least amount of life-threatening bacteria!

In the first study of its’ kind, Hartpury scientists found stainless steel grew the least amount of bacteria and over time, plastic bowls grew the highest amount, but the shocking part was the most harmful bacterial species (including salmonella, E. coli and MRSA) were most frequently identified in CERAMIC bowls!

Lead can also be a problem when using ceramic bowls, and the endocrine disrupting chemicals found in plastic bowls are a no-go! Also be aware plastic bowls🥣 can cause Plastic Dish Nasal Dermatitis🙀: Chemicals in plastic absorb through the skin and inhibit the synthesis of melanin, leaving the nose👃🏼 and adjacent areas with pink blotches.

So stainless steel🍴 bowls are the safest, right?

Well not so fast…. there’s even been recalls on stainless bowls😫. In our upcoming The Forever Dog book, in the chapter titled Environmental Impact and the section labelled “Toxic Toys, Chews, and Beds", we cover how to choose the best chemical-free bowls🚫 that won’t leach contaminants over time. The Forever Dog is available now for pre-order, worldwide, check out the www.ForeverDog.com/about

04/08/2021

Excellent articles and videos on the skeleton and musculature of dogs and cats. Lots of information!

Welcome to small animal anatomy! We will be going through some of the major body systems of dogs and cats, such as the cardiovascular system, the musculo-skeletal system, the central nervous system, the digestive system and the respiratory system.

17/06/2021

Make sure you choose what's best for you 🙌🏼