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Making You & Your Dog Happier

Mud and your dog walks today!

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Dog walking in autumn leaves

It’s sunny, and yes it’s muddy! The Autumn dry days are great for romping through the leaves (I mean for our dogs, but you’re allowed too). However, the mud is starting to build up. Yesterday wasn’t even overly damp but my shortest dog came back totally filthy, so it’s probably time to talk ‘mud management’ for our dogs.

Especially during these damp Covid-safe days, fresh Autumn weather can be great as we take our dogs for some cold air away from stuffy indoor working. Wrap up warm and out we go! On the other hand, it can be a constant battle against teazels in their tails and grimy feet and bellies. Not only mud on our shoes, but on the dog’s paws, on his fur, and of course anything he chooses to roll in along the way. Incidentally, why is fox poo so attractive to dogs? On a wet day in forthcoming wintertime, even just letting the dog out for a quick wee can be a major mud trauma.

Add a coat for any dog that is very young (their coats haven’t really developed yet), one with a thin or fine coat, and of course any hairless dogs need additional layers. Older dogs will also benefit from a warm outer layer, but try and find one that means they can still move freely.

Here are some thoughts on how to cope. Although mats at the door are great for human visitors, they are far too small for most dogs who of course have to wipe all four of their feet. Invest in a dirt trapper mat. Not all mats are the same… the trademarked ones really do work but cost a fortune, so look out for cheaper brands with the same texture. You need one big enough, more of a runner than a mat, but they are a long-term investment and can usually be washed, even tumble dried.

A cheaper and much easier solution is to use old bath towel sheets. Lay them inside the door just before you leave, and you have plenty of space for your dog to trample them as you re-enter.

If your dog is too fast, or absolutely filthy, set yourself up for success before you leave. Find a dog crate and place towels inside, over the top and sides, and a handful of really tasty treats placed towards the back. Place it across the door so that as you enter, your dog can see where best to go. If you take time to build up his confidence, your dog will race straight in, drying himself off before you get that ‘shake off and drown’!

Pack Leader is out of date for dogs

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Dog owners always like to know the best ways to help their dog, and often tell me they watch every program that is out there to learn more about this amazing animal. However, just as we don’t think Made in Chelsea is unscripted, or believe we would be able to mimic Bake Off recipes just by watching the show, we really need to accept that TV shows for dogs are there for entertainment – sadly, often at the cost of the dogs’ welfare.

It’s still on TV, and talked about as a mysterious wonder, the idea that we somehow have to be ‘pack leader’ of our unassuming pet dogs. People even call themselves dog experts and have probably paid a few hundred pounds to ‘qualify’ in the topic. It means that dogs are often treated badly, punished physically, shushed at in a weird hissing noise, or yanked around on their leads. All in the name of ‘pack leader’.

What if I told you that this ‘Pack leader’ dominance theory was never proven and is at least ten years out of date now?

Even the person who originally talked about ‘alpha’ (referring to wolves, which are of course, not dogs) has said he was wrong. Dr David Mech from the University of Minnesota has since recorded himself on Youtube saying how and why this wasn’t accurate. This is good science. Good science finds new evidence that renders the old theories inaccurate, and starts using the new evidence instead. It’s not anything to be ashamed of. It’s simply that we know more now.

Dogs are intelligent creatures that we have genetically modified over the years to suit our purposes. That used to be mainly for working – hunting, helping guard our homes, alerting, picking things up, but also sitting on our laps and being cuddly. Not all dogs were bred the same of course, that’s why even the ancient Greeks had little white fluffy dogs for companionship, and great big hounds for pursuit.

However, everyone has always been aware that we have to be responsible for training our dogs to do all the things we need and want, so that they and we are safe. This doesn’t mean being horrible to them in the name of an imaginary ‘pack leader’. It means understanding how they like to live, that they are driven largely by scent, movement, food, safety, and of course, mating, and how great they are at things we humans are often terrible at, which is why we want them around. They are above all nowadays, our friends, and they need us to help them and teach them in a sensible, kind and clear way – not demand and dominate.

Reality vs. Dog Training on TV

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The magic of TV dog training can often be very misleading!

This week a couple of new enquiries have surprised me somewhat. They have severe issues with their dog’s or cat’s behaviour, and really need help, but approached with a strongly pre-conceived idea of how we would work. It’s unusual for someone to tell you how you will do your job, and not a little irritating if I am honest, but I thought it would be worthwhile having a discussion about our expectations.

Notwithstanding we are in the middle of a pandemic and have a risk assessment longer than the Bible, cannot handle the animals in our care, cannot go to people’s homes for as long as it needs, and generally have been forced to change how we work (currently we work remotely, and it’s been brilliant!).

On a TV show, you are shown the disastrous home, terrible owners, awful pet’s behaviour. Then up pops the charismatic person who saves the day. It’s very interesting, but what it doesn’t show you are the hours of discussion, assessment, and planning that go into changing and retraining a human family and their pet. The TV show loves to see the crazy behaviour but this in itself is really damaging, since the more practice any animal gets at a behaviour, the more permanent it becomes.

Contrary to this, a registered practitioner never deliberately tries to provoke a problem behaviour from any animal. It’s unethical and unkind. In addition, we don’t need to see the pet in their home, behaving badly, because the owners can tell us every single thing about that behaviour (and they do!). 

Yes, we need to understand what is happening, and that makes total sense, but we do that by interviewing the owners and family, as they can describe what has happened before. Imagine me asking someone to get their dog to bite them, so I can see what’s going on.

It could be likened to an electrician asking you to touch a bare wire just to see if it’s live, or a driving instructor sending you off down the road in the car on your own at your first lesson ‘so that you learn by your mistakes’.

That’s not how a professional works.

Instead we get a really clear picture of what has happened before, implement safety advice, then we re-establish some basic ‘better behaviour’ skills (because most pets and owners haven’t had this either, no fault of theirs). We then build up the exposure to the problem (noise, other dogs, visitors, cats, etc) very gradually whilst we make sure the pet stays calm and happy instead of getting upset. Satisfying and effective and above all, kind and sensible. But undramatic!

Dog leash tech gives more reasons to walk our dogs daily!

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Exercise. We probably all need a little more of this, and pets are no different. Is there an ultimate lead that makes this easy?

The idea of an all in one convenient leash means we have seen them equipped with treats holders, water bowls, and of course, poo bag holders.

Leash fashion is taken care of with designer branding and colours, but the humble short lead may not be the future as we try to exercise our dogs under control.

Dog training is desirable to stop pulling on lead and to allow lots of freedom, but many people prefer not to let their dog entirely off their leash, or aren’t allowed by law. Longer ‘retractable’ leashes and lines combine safety and responsibility too and it is here that the human trend for tech and fitness has really overtaken leashes with functionality at the fore. Some trainers aren’t keen on flexi or retractable leads, but as with all tools, you need to know how to use them to make them safer.

So, the humble leash has seen an upsurge in style and technology!

Smart leashes, such as the Go from PetKit are hi-tech retractable leashes. Their functions include measuring walking and activity, linking via bluetooth to a smartphone. Rechargeable on usb, with the ability to charge your own phone too, these leads are designed to be more comfortable to hold too. Led lights are a popular tech addition allowing nighttime dog walks to be safer as the dog wanders to the extent of the lead, as well as reflective or luminous bands and stitching.

Encouraging a comfortable walk is assisted by the TUG ‘360 degree’ lead that again is extendable but prevents tackles with a rotating section on the handle. The SmartLeash reflects the uncomfortable nature of a dog that may pull with a shock absorbent bungee/elastic attachment.

Here are a few of my top picks for now, if you’re heading towards a new choice to keep your dog exercised but remember, long lines of this type need you to be vigilant – never ever walk your dog on an extending leash next to a road!