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Ask The Dog – Book review

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I often get asked to review books but sometimes there are ones that just get the message across clearly, easily and in a way we want to share. Joanne Hinds has written such a book.

‘Ask the dog’ is a simple, easy to read and enjoyable way of saying what dogs need when they interact. Joanne comments ‘It’s to help children (and adults) understand how to identify the signs that a dog may not want to be stroked, its to help prevent children being bitten. As I am sure you may have encountered, many children run up to dogs with out realising the danger and their parents often can not read the signs either’.

Illustrated by Scott Hinds, the human and dog characters are easy to interpret and send the much-needed message. Always ‘Ask the Dog’.

Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2J6Vg9C

Are dogs and cats alike?

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Dog and cat comparisons

As dog owners we need to remember that just because a cat is a companion, comparing them to dogs is like comparing apples to oranges. There are marked differences between the two, and cat experts advise caution when it comes to treating these two very different species in a similar way. No matter what we see on TV or YouTube, cats are not small dogs in disguise! Each species has their own unique qualities that really do lead people to state that they may be a ‘cat person’ or a ‘dog person’.

Dogs and cats are different species so what are the differences low res

Dog owners feel they can choose and train their puppy for a particular purpose and lifestyle. Cats are very unlikely to change to fit into a human’s social setting and change from a timid cat to a sociable ‘lap cat’. Even getting a kitten and hoping it will adjust has limited effect. Individual cats vary enormously depending on previous experience and genetics, as well as the experience of the cat’s mother whilst pregnant.

Walking cats on a lead is something that crops up from time to time, but cats are generally allowed out by themselves. Dogs in this country aren’t meant to be allowed out without an owner, and it is the norm for people to see a dog roaming freely and assume it is lost. Imagine if this were so with a cat? In contrast, the idea of an ‘indoor cat’ is on the increase but many behavioural experts believe this to be contrary to a cat’s instinctive needs. Cats need to roam, but what if they are near a busy road?

Dogs seem to really put up with a lot more than a cat might. When we ask ourselves why a dog that has been mistreated still returns to the same place, or takes a lot of harsh training without vanishing, this could be credited to dogs’ incredible tolerance levels.  Cats tend to vote with their feet and are not adaptable to changes. They can rehome themselves surprisingly easily if there is too much disruption in their home and they will look for somewhere more to their taste. This no doubt leads to the common problem of a cat being fed by a neighbour who thinks the cat calling at their door is a stray. It might just be they are fed up where they live.

Most dogs give off clear body signals, and of course tend to make a lot more noise for a lot more reasons. Both dogs and cats really do want to avoid conflict wherever possible, but as silent hunters who don’t really have a need for social contact, cats give a lot less away than our dogs do. Learn the differences!

Excessive licking – GUEST POST

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Excessive Licking: How Can I Deal with This Aspect

If you are a dog owner or have friends with dogs, you probably went through the part in which you got licked by the dog. Some think this is cute and it can be, as long as it is not exaggerated. But, some dog owners have to face a pooch that enjoys licking them way too much. Why do dogs lick us? And what can be done if we’re dealing with excessive licking?

When getting a dog, you should expect for it to manifest its states in a different way than humans. So, if humans manifest their affection through hugs and kisses, dogs will do otherwise. In other words, you should not be upset if your dog licks your hands after it eats the meal you served it or after a nice walk. But gratitude and appreciation are not the only reasons dog lick us. If you are a dog owner that has a dog with licking problems at home, you may want to find out the cause behind it and how to make it stop.

  • Our skin tastes good

Dogs are creatures that rely on their senses a lot. Their taste is one of them, something you can see in your pup from a very early age. Your dog will like and try to pick up with its mouth things that appear to be interesting. So, if your dog is licking you after you’ve been cooking or eating, for example, it does it because you smell and taste good. Dogs have very sensitive noses and tongues, easily sensing small food particles that escape our eyesight.

Also, dogs enjoy licking the salt that forms on our skin when we sweat. Again, we won’t see it, but our dogs will be able to taste it. You don’t have to sweat a lot in order to taste salty and it’s the main reason dogs lick us, especially during the warm season.

  • It’s a form of communication

It may be hard to believe, but dogs use licking as a way to communicate with other dogs and with humans as well. Dogs also lick other dogs if they want to transmit particular messages, like the desire to become friends, as a submission sign to a dominant dog, or when they are hungry. So, if the dog is licking you in an energetic and insistent manner, stop and take a look around. Your dog may be telling you that it’s food bowl is empty and it’s dinner time.

Of course, it’s not just food that may be missing. The water bowl may be empty, the door that allows it to go outside or provides access to its bed may be closed, or the dog simply needs anything. In this case, licking is a way your dog signals you that something is missing, so check out to see what it is by allowing your dog to guide you.

  • It is a way to show affection

Our dogs can’t hug us or tell us how much we mean to them. They use their own form of communication and body language when they want to tell us something. We just need to learn how to read the kind of messages they transmit. Usually, when dogs lick their owners or family members, they do it out of affection. Yes, your dog loves you a lot and it shows you this by licking you, whether it’s about licking your hands, legs, face, or any other part of the body that may be available.

Still, such signs of affection maybe a little too much for some of us. A bit of licking can be accepted, but some dogs tend to do it too much and too often. How can we change this and save us from being licked all the time? When your dog starts licking you, just get up and go to another room of the house. Do this repeatedly until the behavior stops. The dog will learn that licking will make you leave, which is something it does not want.

  • Licking can be compulsive as well

There are dogs that tend to lick a particular item or area over and over again. It’s like they can’t stop or appear to feel the need to do it repeatedly. Also, this kind of licking is insistent at the same time. Check out the state of th

Excessive Licking: How Can I Deal with This Aspect

If you are a dog owner or have friends with dogs, you probably went through the part in which you got licked by the dog. Some think this is cute and it can be, as long as it is not exaggerated. But, some dog owners have to face a pooch that enjoys licking them way too much. Why do dogs lick us? And what can be done if we’re dealing with excessive licking?

When getting a dog, you should expect for it to manifest its states in a different way than humans. So, if humans manifest their affection through hugs and kisses, dogs will do otherwise. In other words, you should not be upset if your dog licks your hands after it eats the meal you served it or after a nice walk. But gratitude and appreciation are not the only reasons dog lick us. If you are a dog owner that has a dog with licking problems at home, you may want to find out the cause behind it and how to make it stop.

  • Our skin tastes good

Dogs are creatures that rely on their senses a lot. Their taste is one of them, something you can see in your pup from a very early age. Your dog will like and try to pick up with its mouth things that appear to be interesting. So, if your dog is licking you after you’ve been cooking or eating, for example, it does it because you smell and taste good. Dogs have very sensitive noses and tongues, easily sensing small food particles that escape our eyesight.

Also, dogs enjoy licking the salt that forms on our skin when we sweat. Again, we won’t see it, but our dogs will be able to taste it. You don’t have to sweat a lot in order to taste salty and it’s the main reason dogs lick us, especially during the warm season.

  • It’s a form of communication

It may be hard to believe, but dogs use licking as a way to communicate with other dogs and with humans as well. Dogs also lick other dogs if they want to transmit particular messages, like the desire to become friends, as a submission sign to a dominant dog, or when they are hungry. So, if the dog is licking you in an energetic and insistent manner, stop and take a look around. Your dog may be telling you that it’s food bowl is empty and it’s dinner time.

Of course, it’s not just food that may be missing. The water bowl may be empty, the door that allows it to go outside or provides access to its bed may be closed, or the dog simply needs anything. In this case, licking is a way your dog signals you that something is missing, so check out to see what it is by allowing your dog to guide you.

  • It is a way to show affection

Our dogs can’t hug us or tell us how much we mean to them. They use their own form of communication and body language when they want to tell us something. We just need to learn how to read the kind of messages they transmit. Usually, when dogs lick their owners or family members, they do it out of affection. Yes, your dog loves you a lot and it shows you this by licking you, whether it’s about licking your hands, legs, face, or any other part of the body that may be available.

Still, such signs of affection maybe a little too much for some of us. A bit of licking can be accepted, but some dogs tend to do it too much and too often. How can we change this and save us from being licked all the time? When your dog starts licking you, just get up and go to another room of the house. Do this repeatedly until the behavior stops. The dog will learn that licking will make you leave, which is something it does not want.

  • Licking can be compulsive as well

There are dogs that tend to lick a particular item or area over and over again. It’s like they can’t stop or appear to feel the need to do it repeatedly. Also, this kind of licking is insistent at the same time. Check out the state of the dog during these episodes, as the dog can be scared or stressed, licking is a way to reduce a negative state and find some sort of comfort. If this is the case, you may want to seek help for your dog. When licking is triggered by something that is stressing your dog or scares it too much, it can turn into an obsessive behavior or fuel anxiety. Thus, it is not a method that brings comfort, but a habit that will become problematic in time.

Now that you know why dogs lick, you’re ready to become a responsible dog owner. Even if you don’t have a dog just yet and you’re in search of the ideal puppy, this kind of information is more than useful. Speaking of looking for puppies, you could use the help and guidance available on premierpups.com. Premier Pups revolves around an unforgettable puppy finding experience and focuses on offering future dog owners all the support they need when welcoming a puppy into their families. So, if you’ll be a first-time dog owner, Premier Pups will teach you how to do things right.

e dog during these episodes, as the dog can be scared or stressed, licking is a way to reduce a negative state and find some sort of comfort. If this is the case, you may want to seek help for your dog. When licking is triggered by something that is stressing your dog or scares it too much, it can turn into an obsessive behavior or fuel anxiety. Thus, it is not a method that brings comfort, but a habit that will become problematic in time.

Now that you know why dogs lick, you’re ready to become a responsible dog owner. Even if you don’t have a dog just yet and you’re in search of the ideal puppy, this kind of information is more than useful. Speaking of looking for puppies, you could use the help and guidance available on premierpups.com. Premier Pups revolves around an unforgettable puppy finding experience and focuses on offering future dog owners all the support they need when welcoming a puppy into their families. So, if you’ll be a first-time dog owner, Premier Pups will teach you how to do things right.

Autumn Joy with our Dogs

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Pawprint puppy class with Karen WildI don’t know many people that say they hate Autumn.
We all complain about the gloom and the damp, the cold weather and the grey skies, but there’s the brightest colours to make it all feel good.

Yesterday whilst with a client, the leaves from her Lime tree suddenly rained down like confetti, fluttering around us as her puppy played and chased them around.
Autumn, for our dogs, brings all the smells and damp earth that they love. The smells of wild animals sneaking around at night, the hunting amongst piles of fallen foliage, are a dream landscape for a dog.
Of course, there is something really heartwarming for us about kicking through crunchy leaves and seeking out conkers.

Now is the time of year to take your dog for longer, rambling walks. Let your dog sniff to his heart’s content as he potters around following the squirrels’ paths as they tease him from high above.
Let the dogs learn how to play with one another, especially those of you with puppies. Set up a nice Autumn walk, wrap up warm, even think of getting a little coat to keep puppy warm whilst their coat develops. Find nice adult dogs that are generous with a youngster. Let them get to know one another and have a little game. There are fewer things more enjoyable than watching your dog caper about with another one!

Along with leaves and damp comes plenty of mud! Leave some towels laid out flat by the door, so that you and your dog can come in without fear of transferring the wet any further. It keeps the doormats a little cleaner, and towels soak up most of the moisture from their paws. There’s nothing to stop you bundling them around your dog too, for a drying off cuddle, as long as you both enjoy this of course!

If your dog really is soaking, and you know this is likely, set up a drying crate. Our Collie used to jump into every dyke possible, some very silty! I would then try to send him to swim in a clearer one, before we came home. At home I had set up his crate by the door with a tasty chew placed inside and a few treats thrown in as we arrived. Inside the crate were dry towels with a few more over the top to catch the inevitable shaken off water.

Result? One dry, clean-ish dog by the time he had finished his chew. It also gave me lots of time to change my shoes and clothes into something a bit more indoor-friendly.

Next, another favourite Autumn pastime. Cuddling on the sofa with my dogs snoozing on a blanket, watching repeats of ‘Bake Off’ and seeing the squally weather remaining firmly outside the window.