Pup n Go Dog Walking & Training

31/07/2024

⬇️⬇️ This ⬇️⬇️

"I don't understand, my dog was wagging its tail right before."

This is something we hear at least once a week when working with new clients. For years, there has been a misconception that a wagging tail means a dog is happy. While this can be true, it is not always the case.

Typically, a tail held above horizontal and wagging indicates a dog experiencing a high arousal emotion. These emotions can include positive excitement but can also signify negative states such as curiosity (with uncertainty), unease, and anxiety.

To determine how your dog feels in any given situation, observe their ears, head position, mouth, and posture. The answer lies in the sum of all these parts.

25/06/2024

Information on how to cool down an overheating dog.
According to this cold water absolutely is alright to use.

Emergency Cooling of Canine Heat Casualties: critical thinking

There has been lots of information going around on cooling hot dogs, some really good, some really bad!
With some of the new updated information (which isn't actually new) from professionals on the advised best methods of rapid cooling including cold-water immersion for young/healthy dogs, or evaporative cooling for older/unwell dogs there has been the usual comments on this being dangerous even though the available evidence and experience says otherwise.

Comments I've seen in the last 2 weeks include...

"I put cold-water on my dog once because he was overheating and he died, my vet said this was the wrong thing to do as it caused him to go into shock", "never put cold water on a hot dog it causes the blood vessels to constrict and has the opposite effect", "the race vets (leading ones at that) all say this is dangerous and is forbidden at international races".

In dogs, there are various reasons you hear (even from some vets) why you shouldn't use cold water, such as "Shock" or "Cold Water Shock" being the most common from pet owners, trainers, and sport dog owners etc. Cold-water causes peripheral vasoconstriction and slows down cooling being the most common from some vets. And sometimes DIC (a blood clotting disorder) which is caused by the heat damage, NOT cooling.

Let's take the following scenario...

A heatstroking dog arrives at an emergency vet clinic where the team are waiting, upon arrival they immediately begin rapid cooling measures with cold water to bring the dog's temperature down fast, but the dog dies.

Did the dog die because the water used for cooling was too cold and the dog's temperature was dropped too fast?

Some would say yes, but some people tend to lack the ability to critically evaluate a situation and see beyond what is right in front of them, it is extremely unlikely and association does not mean causation, before you come anywhere near that conclusion you have to look a little deeper and ask a few important questions such as...

1. How long was the dog above a critical temperature?
2. How long before the owner realised the dog was in trouble and sought help or began cooling measures?
3. Did the owner apply any active cooling measures before transport? What did they do? How long for?
4. If they did cool did they monitor temperature and stop cooling measures at a safe temp?
5. Is the owner telling the truth? Most vets will agree pet owners don't always tell the truth in these cases for various reasons, guilt, or being judged maybe?
6. Is that particular owner able to critically evaluate the situation?

All these things matter because it is generally well accepted in human and veterinary medicine that it is the length of time above a dangerous temperature that determines the chance of survival, and that temperature is different for different dogs.

Veterinary professionals also talk a lot about evidence based medicine, yet there has only been one study ever that compared the temperature of the water or the use of ice for external cooling in dogs, and it showed that ice water and cold water cooling were the fastest and most effective method of cooling. The concept that ice or cold water causes vasoconstriction and slows the cooling process has never been scientifically validated.

People worry about cooling when their first concern should be that the HEAT is the immediate life threat and you need to get it down to a safe temperature fast, and the earlier you recognise the signs and start cooling measures the better the chance of survival.

Vets generally work in a clinic or hospital, they see patients after the event, when what often determines outcome is what you do in the field at point of injury, it used to be the accepted practice to get to a vet fast, now it's becoming more widely accepted to cool before transport because again it is length of time they are above a critical temperature.

Added to this a lot of what has been taught, and is still being taught in veterinary medicine including first aid is all based on clinical medicine, not field medicine which is a completely different environment and although not always a huge deal clinical medicine doesn't always translate well to the field setting. There is not and has never been any formal training in prehospital care in the veterinary industry, it doesn't exist (unlike human medicine).
However over the last decade or so and mostly in the US there has been a lot of work to establish guidelines and training, with the Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) publishing their best practice recommendations in 2016, Hot Dogs UK refer to these guidelines in their article.

A lot of the k9 field medicine (including heat injury prevention and management) comes down from the military who for obvious reasons have a lot of experience in this area.

To quote one working dog Vet...

“We know with Heat Related Illness fatality rates are high, and what you do in the field makes a difference, not how fast you transport to a vet, you eventually have to get them there, but what you do in the field, how fast you cool those dogs down will make or break the life of your Canine, and we're still seeing too many preventable deaths.”

The bottom line is healthy dogs don't die because they were cooled down, they die because they were too hot for too long, and dogs that have been too hot for too long tend to die no matter how you treat them, so then the cooling process often gets the blame (especially when cold water and rapid cooling are involved) when they were going to die anyway because the damage has already been done.

Those that understand this, that work with working dogs in hot environments, that have treated hundreds of these cases in the field, rapidly cool these dogs as fast as possible with whatever they have available, with cold water if they have it, and they save these dogs when they catch it early.

It's probably a luxury if you have multiple cooling methods to choose from so just use what you have to cool the dog as fast as possible while ideally monitoring temperature which is another important point, you can cool too far if you continue to cool past the point the dog's temperature has reached a safe temperature, and because temperature continues to drop for a short time after you stop active cooling measures (plus re**al temp lags behind core temp during rapid temperature changes) it is advised to stop cooling just above normal resting temp, the exact number varies depending on the source but in the range of 103–104°F (39.5–40°C) re**al temp, monitoring is important and doesn't get much attention, the dog should be continually monitored during transport but most pet owners etc. are probably unlikely to have a thermometer (you should have 1 or 2 in your first aid kit) and in that case you have to rely on the person's ability and experience understanding the signs and reading the dog which is not ideal, but in such a case even 10mins of any rapid cooling method before transport will give the dog a better chance. So cooling too far is another reason cooling methods get the blame.

Added to this it is very difficult to change some people's heat philosophy when these outdated ideas have been around a long time, takes a lot of strength of character for some to admit there might be a better way, but it is going in the right direction, albeit slowly, and because of the hard work of some professionals.

It doesn't matter what you learned from your very experienced breeder, other mushers, what you learned from an expert Vet years ago, or what a Vet learned in Vet school 20 or 30 years ago, things move on, if you are not constantly evaluating what you learn, looking to improve, gain new ideas, move forward, keep learning and improving instead of looking in the past then whatever field you are in you will never improve and be any better than you are at this moment.

Those at the top of their game in any field don't get there by doing the same old thing because "that's the way we've always done it" or "that's what I learned years ago", they're constantly learning, looking for new ideas and ways to improve to be the best they can be and improve outcomes, learning from others, if some people didn't have that mindset we would still be in the dark ages, and there are some good people out there to learn from.

There is a lot of debate and argument in this area making it more complicated than it needs to be when the simple message is...

The key to field treatment is simply to cool the dog down as fast as possible using whatever methods are available!

Further information:

MYTH BUSTING – COOLING HOT DOGS with the UK Veterinary research team
https://heatstroke.dog/2023/07/20/myth-busting-cooling-hot-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR07ChOSq-PTfc-DN_B_aePTMzKGq06I7GGuzw3-QBmskg3MipglcSys2Js

ARE YOU READY TO BEAT THE HEAT? COOLING HOT DOGS – MORE MYTH BUSTING
https://heatstroke.dog/2024/04/12/are-you-ready-to-beat-the-heat-cooling-hot-dogs-more-myth-busting/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1sud0ZKqfM3PF0_xcaQRgdXzmHKfFT5nkuHsZTOq6UYGpjbryDpPmfzbA_aem_RZ7l8lh3RN0PoPvFQMltTA

Royal Veterinary College
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/the-rvc-urges-owners-of-hot-dogs-to-cool-first-transport-second?fbclid=IwAR023ZAXQm_1n9FQwo8aVCP2SZdxdmBhXMgwH-e_m3iaX2OHyK0nujbO_Ws

Cooling methods used in dogs with heat-related illness under UK primary veterinary care 2016-2018
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=108153058936611&id=100092257509484

Rethinking Heat Injury in the SOF Multipurpose Canine:
A Critical Review.
Janice L. Baker, DVM; Paul J. Hollier, DVM; Laura Miller; Ward A. Lacy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227176693_Rethinking_Heat_Injury_in_the_SOF_Multipurpose_Canine_A_Critical_Review

Heat Injury in Working Dogs Webinar with Dr. Janice Baker
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=108093635609220&id=100092257509484

12/06/2024

This is a great post!

Knowledge about dog behaviour is important. It's a no brainer. But why? 🤔

Well, understanding dog behaviour is crucial in effective dog training for several reasons. A deep knowledge of canine behaviour allows trainers & behaviourists to create effective, humane, and tailored training programmes. Here are the primary reasons why this knowledge is essential:

⚠️ Understanding Canine Communication.

Dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalisations. A deep understanding of these communication methods helps to interpret what a dog is feeling or intending, which is crucial for effective training.

Body Language. Knowing the nuances of a dog’s body language, such as tail position, ear orientation, and posture, can indicate whether the dog is relaxed, anxious, or aggressive. For instance, a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy; the context and type of wag are important indicators of the dog's emotional state.

Vocalisations. Different barks, growls, and whines have distinct meanings. Recognising these sounds allows trainers to respond appropriately to a dog’s needs and emotions, facilitating better communication and training outcomes.

⚠️ Addressing Behavioural Issues.

Behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety, and excessive barking can stem from various causes, including fear, territoriality, or past trauma. Understanding the root causes of these behaviours is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Anxiety. Recognising signs of anxiety and understanding its triggers (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia) helps in designing desensitisation and counterconditioning programmes to alleviate the dog’s stress.

⚠️ Understanding the importance and relevance of health and wellbeing vs behaviour.

Physical & mental health do impact dog behaviour more than people realise. Considering possible pain, discomfort, nutrition, appetite amount of physical activity and mental health is absolutely critical before any training can start.

⚠️ Implementing Positive Reinforcement Techniques.

A comprehensive knowledge of dog behaviour supports the use of positive reinforcement techniques, which are based on rewarding desired behaviours to encourage their repetition.

Timing and Consistency. Understanding the importance of immediate and consistent reinforcement helps trainers effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviours. This is critical as dogs learn best when there is a clear and immediate connection between their behaviour and the reward.

Motivation. Knowing what motivates a particular dog, whether it’s food, toys, or affection, allows trainers to tailor their approach to each dog’s preferences, making training more effective and engaging.

⚠️ Building Trust and Relationship.

Effective, kind and modern dog training is built on a foundation of trust between the dog and the trainer. Deep knowledge of dog behaviour helps in establishing this trust by ensuring that training methods are humane and respectful.

Avoiding Negative Methods. Understanding the detrimental effects of punishment and negative reinforcement encourages trainers to avoid these methods, which can damage the dog-trainer relationship and lead to fear or aggression.

Empathy and Respect. Recognising and respecting a dog’s individual temperament and limits fosters a positive training environment, enhancing the bond between the dog and the trainer.

⚠️ Customising Training Programs.

Dogs, like humans, have individual personalities and learning styles. Knowledge of dog behaviour enables trainers to customise training programmes to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each dog.

Breed-Specific Traits. Different breeds have distinct behavioural traits and predispositions. For example, herding breeds may require more mental stimulation, while scent hounds may need activities that engage their sense of smell.

Individual Differences. Beyond breed traits, individual dogs have unique personalities. Some may be more timid or excitable than others. Tailoring training to these individual differences ensures more effective and humane outcomes.

⚠️ Preventing and Managing Problem Behaviours

Understanding the natural behaviours of dogs helps in preventing and managing problem behaviours before they become ingrained.

Early Intervention. Recognising early signs of behavioural issues allows for timely intervention, preventing the escalation of undesirable behaviours.

Environmental Management: Knowledge of dog behaviour informs environmental management strategies, such as providing adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and safe spaces, which are critical for preventing behavioural problems.

14/04/2024

These dogs have insane speed & skills! Massive well done to Roadrunners 👏🏻

06/04/2024

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

06/02/2024

Looking for a weekday class during the day?

Due to popular demand we are releasing another Good Dog Award class (Bronze). This time on a weekday (10 am) for all those that struggle with evenings and weekends.

This class will start on Friday 16th Feb at 10 am.

For more information and or to book drop us a message or email: [email protected]

06/02/2024

***UPDATE - BIGGIE IS STILL MISSING***

One of my clients cats has gone missing. Please keep an eye out for him. He’s a lovely boy but may be scared to approach strangers.

Biggie has been missing since Saturday morning, From Little Meldrum next to Haddo House. He comes home after a few hours so this is totally out of character for him! He’s got a black collar on with no name tag but he is chipped.

Any sightings please contact

07825296790

02/02/2024

Love her stuff. Take a 👀

14/01/2024

🐾 Thinking about joining our weekly classes but want to find out more beforehand?

🐕 Looking to build a lasting and meaningful partnership with your dog?

⚡️Perhaps you’re after an exciting new challenge for 2024…?

Then our January agility taster is for you!!

No experience necessary!!!

During this 90 minute session with Sarah Paterson you’ll have the chance to find out more about our sport, try out some basic skills with your dog and see the equipment you could be using in the future!!!

🗓️ Join us next Sunday the 21st of January and see what you could achieve!

⬇️⬇️ These sessions are always SUPER popular so click below to snap up your spot today!

https://bookwhen.com/soagility =ev-sd39-20240121143000

£10 per dog
Dogs must be a minimum of 6 months old

We also ask that your dog has a reliable recall and is happy to work around others.

08/01/2024

⭐️ Our brand new course ⭐️

People are very different but we have found that when it comes to our dogs, we have more in common than not. We all want a happy companion, one who can come to restaurants and family gatherings. A calm dog who will walk to heal without becoming over excited at people, dogs and its shadow.

K9 Insight have looked at the common issues we have helped clients with over the years …and built a course to help you learn the necessary skills , and avoid the pitfalls on your pathway to the perfect companion. The course is designed with real world application and scenarios across a variety of settings, e.g. parks, shops etc.

The ‘Good Dog Awards’ systematically works through the stages needed to give you a reliable and happy dog. The awards consist of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold, each one building on your dog's abilities and helping them to make the right choices.

The awards cover:
heelwork, control, distractions, equipment, physical examination, food, and over excitement.

Training is undertaken in a variety of settings, by 2 instructors, with each level culminating in a practical assessment of you and your dog's abilities.
The bronze level starts on Monday 5th Feb ( 7 pm) and consists of 8 weekly training sessions followed by a practical assessment by an independent dog trainer.

For further information and or to book email: [email protected]

**Early release to K9 Insights Facebook followers. General release is on 9th Jan.**

31/12/2023

As always a massive thank you to each and every one of my lovely clients for all their support over this past year!

Happy Hogmanay to you all 🥂

18/09/2023

13/09/2023

Puppy class Starting tomorrow
**Last Minute Place Available**

For information or to book email: [email protected]

18/07/2023

So here’s what I do with my time off….

We’ve been having lots of flyball fun over the last two weekends. Garioch Rugby hosted Paws In The Park in aid of Mrs Murray’s & we did some demos for them.

Then Star Paws flyball competition this weekend past where the boys gave it 100% as always.
Rowan’s team came away with first place in division 4 on Sat, the old boys still got it! And I believe Jed’s team in division 2 got second place on Sun, I was cheeky & headed off before presentations. Video of Jed, dog two just incase anyone confuses him & Moss.

Unfortunately Business Suite won’t allow me to post videos & photos together for some reason 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Now for Banchory Show this weekend!

17/07/2023

24/06/2023

This guy is such a character, love my visits with him 🩵🐾🐈‍⬛

He’s hiding in the sink because I started to brush him so he slinked down into there, well played Mr!😂

Wish it would let me post videos at the same time as got a lovely one of us playing the whip it game too.

01/06/2023

A puppy course with added value.

Our puppy class now includes access to an exclusive library of videos, covering all the key exercises covered in class.

The videos act as a fantastic reference when practising at home and if life gets in the way, and you miss a class, you can refer to the videos. Need to ask questions mud-week? Then use our dedicated puppy Whatsapp group.

If you are looking for a puppy class and want to know what makes ours special then get in touch.

23/05/2023

New Puppy Course starting Sunday 18th June.

This course will equip you with the knowledge and competence to structure your puppy's environment, training, socialisation and routine - to help maximise your dogs' natural abilities.

By the end of this course, the aim is to not only teach your puppy the basics but to have prepared your puppy to be better able to learn.

To book or for more details contact [email protected]

02/05/2023

Displacement behaviours are normal behaviours displayed out of context. They may indicate conflict and anxiety, and forms part of “fidget” from the 5F behaviours (fight, flight, faint, fidget and freeze). They are often quite subtle and therefore missed. Displacement behaviours should be taken as a sign that your dog needs help to resolve an emotional challenge.

17/01/2023

Trainer or behaviourist - which is it that you need?

Quick help guide below 👇🏻

Understanding if you need a dog trainer or behaviourist can be very confusing. Even when researching the issue the water can get muddy and there are a lot of opposing views.

This infogram illustrates, in a simple breakdown, our belief on the various roles each professional plays in helping you with your dog.

At K9 Insight we are equipped to help you in both areas. We have trainers with years of experience as well as a qualified and chartered animal behaviourist.

If you are confused about what help you may need, just get in touch.

09/01/2023

I love these sarcastic posts by The Dead Good Dog Trainer. Thought I’d share the latest, whenever checking out one of his posts always read the small print.

02/01/2023

Brand New Course - ooft!!

This course is perfect for dogs that may have missed the 'puppy training window', or those that attended a puppy course elsewhere and feel they need a little extra.

Get in touch for details or to book.

23/12/2022

That’s a wrap for another year, the leads have been hung up until the new year. Thank you all for your continued support.

I wish you all a lovely Christmas 🎅🏻🎄 & a merry New Year 🍻 🥂!

14/12/2022

Just saying 😬🐾❄️

09/12/2022

🎅🏻 🐕 Need an extra wee stocking filler for your furry friend, then look no further 🎅🏻 🐕

From polar fleece I’ve made some Christmas coloured tuggies. These are great interactive toys for you & your dog. Two of the same one can be great for teaching a toy swap &/or drop.

The short length are super to pop in your pocket & take on the go with you.

If you’d like one (or more) drop me a message. I have more available than what’s in the pictures. Thanks

08/12/2022

You regularly hear people say their dog knew what they were doing when they destroyed that favourite shoe for example or raided the bin. That the dog looked guilty - they know what they’ve done. No, no they don’t.

01/12/2022

And finally just a few of the new & regular pet visits lately 🐈 🦜