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Karen joins Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians

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I am very pleased and proud to announce that I am now a Certificated Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC).

Standards in animal welfare, pet behaviour and training are extremely important where we are close to the hearts and lives of so many. One goal is to make sure we provide everyone with access to properly assessed and qualified practitioners.

If you are a pet owner, we know that we only want the best for them. The FABC clearly state “Sharing our lives with an animal can be a wonderful experience but when their behaviour causes concerns this can be very worrying. By choosing one of our certificated members you can be assured that your behaviourist has met the very highest industry standards both academically and practically.”.

“The Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians is a professional body to forward the interests of Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CCABs) and those training to become Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists.”.

Along with ensuring you know where to come with your pet problems, Veterinarians and Vet Nurses are also able to feel certain that their clients are being referred to professionals who have been independently assessed.

If you’d like to know more or access the list of FABC members near you, as well as accessing helpful articles and webinars, please visit https://fabclinicians.org/

Guest post – Symptoms of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

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We all love dogs, and only a proud dog owner understands how it feels to live with a dog. They not only make our lives better but also become the center of our world. 

Dogs have been human companions for a very long time, and they love their human friends more than their life. Their wagging tail and bright shiny eyes never fail to tell how much they adore their human boo. 

Well, you can always feel the love your pooch has for you through his playful jumps and never-ending excitement when he sees you enter the house. And, this happens every time you come back home. He follows you everywhere and always craves to spend time with you. And no dog parent can deny the fact that they love to see their dog excited every time they come back home, and his gesture of following them everywhere makes them love him even more. 

But, there are times when a dog parent comes back home and hear the neighbor complaining about how their dog was disturbing the entire neighborhood by barking or howling persistently. Did it ever happen to you?

If yes, then there are chances that your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety, and you need to take it seriously. 

Well, if you are pondering over the weird behavior your dog is showing off these days, then do not worry!! Through this article, you will get an insight into what separation anxiety is, along with the symptoms that will help you realize if he is suffering from the problem or not. 

So, without wasting any more time, let’s move onto the problem and its symptoms.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a serious concern among dogs and needs to be dealt with carefully. It is a situation that dogs face when they do not find their human friend/owner around. The main reason behind dogs developing separation anxiety is that they are social animals and prefer to live in packs. 

For a domestic dog, the pack is their owner or the person they are attached to. So, when they do not find their owner around, they start feeling anxious or gets distressed. Due to the feeling of anxiety or distress, they exhibit destructive behavior. 

When it comes to dogs exhibiting disturbing/destructive behavior, their owner starts feeling frustrated and many times punishes them for the same. Well, it should not be this way since punishing dogs suffering from separation anxiety may worsen the situation. 

Thus, one needs to understand that their dog is already suffering, and he needs to be dealt with care and support to recover from the situation. After all, they develop separation anxiety because they do not find you around and all they crave is you, your time, love, and support.

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

Now that you are aware of what separation anxiety is, let us talk about signs that will help you understand if your dog is suffering from the same or not. 

Before you take a look at the symptoms, understand that if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, he will exhibit these symptoms only in your absence, not while you are present.

Find out more on dogs by clicking on the following link: www.mypetchild.com

Constant Barking or Howling

If you often hear your neighbor telling you how your dog keeps on howling or barking while you were not home, take it as a sign that your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety. 

Dogs tend to get distressed when they do not see their human boo around and end up barking or howling persistently due to the stress they develop when left alone.

Prefer reading: Simple tips to get your dog to stop barking. 

Chewing or Destroying the Furniture

Nobody likes to enter their home after a tough day at work only to see destroyed furniture or their favorite pair of slippers. People usually frown upon their dog after seeing the destruction he had caused in their absence. 

If you, too, have ever faced such a situation, then instead of getting angry, try and understand that it is not in his control, and he might be prone to separation anxiety. 

Pacing

You might have seen your dog moving in the same direction, usually in a circular motion or back and forth along a straight line. Well, this too might be a sign that your dog is suffering from the problem of separation anxiety.

Digging or Attempting to Escape

There are chances that if your dog does not find you around, he might try to dig through the doorways or try to escape from the window. Well, during this attempt, he might cause self-harm, including broken teeth or nails, scraped paws, etc.

Acting Up While He Sees You Leaving

Have you ever noticed your dog acting up just when he realizes that you are about to leave for work or anywhere else? 

Well, it might be an indication that he is suffering from the problem of separation anxiety and cannot stay at home alone without you. 

Always remember that if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, then he will only show these symptoms when he does not find you around. And if he behaves the same way even in your presence, then he might need to be taught a few polite manners.

Defecating Indoors

If your dog is well-trained to do his business outside the house and he starts urinating or defecating inside while you are not around, it might be because he cannot stand to stay alone at home without you. 

Wrapping it Up

Now that you know about separation anxiety and its problems, make sure you do not get your dog wrong if he is acting up. So, if you see your dog acting differently than how he used to, consider how he behaves and try to understand if he is suffering from the problem of separation anxiety. 

If it turns out to be a yes, then take the necessary measures to help him get out of the situation.

Mind your manners! Train your dog around food.

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Dogs are not born with self control when it comes to food. They see something tasty in front of them, and take it! Here are ways to teach them the essential politeness rules when food is available.

It may be that your dog is very keen to get his dinner, but if you start by teaching him to sit beforehand, you can use this as a way of keeping him anchored to the floor instead.

Never follow the ancient and dangerous advice to take the food away while your dog is eating. Stop doing that! I see a lot of aggressive dogs where the owner managed to teach them to food guard using such a silly method. Instead, be sensible and teach this food bowl exercise:

1. As you prepare your dog’s food, ask him to sit calmly. Once he does so, offer him a piece of food from the bowl.

2. Whilst he remains sitting, start to lower the food bowl to the floor.

3. If he remains sitting, praise him and offer him a piece of food from the bowl.

4. Remind him to sit and continue lowering the food bowl to the floor.

5. If he moves out of the sit, simply stop lowering the bowl, and stand back up again.

6. Continue repeating from stage 3 above until he sits calmly whilst the food bowl is lowered all the way to the floor. Be patient and remember to reward him during this process for sitting so that your dog understands what will earn him the food.

7. Once the bowl is on the floor, give your dog permission to eat his dinner. Success!

Next, teach your dog some patience:

1. Hold the food in your hand as with the previous exercise.

2. As your dog backs away from the food, say ‘Leave’, praise (or click) and give him some food, saying ‘Take it’.

3. Progress to holding some of the food in your fingertips or open hand, and each time, ask him to ‘Leave’,  praise/click and give him the food ‘Take it’.

4. Progress further to placing the food onto the floor, repeating as above. Do not rush this stage! The goal is to teach the dog that the food will always be given to him when he hears ‘take it’, never that he snatch it himself.

5. Build up to dropping the food, or more delicious food, until your dog really understands that hearing ‘Leave’ is always something that will gain him a tasty result.

Take your time, and teach what you’d like. If your dog guards food, growls, or otherwise becomes defensive, why not give me a call? I can help.

New toys for cats and dogs?

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Small dog with home made chew

I was asked to research the latest ideas in the pet industry and found some brilliant ideas to help us all occupy our pets and generally look after them far more than just picking out a squeaky toy. So, in the interests of dragging us all into modern pet ownership, here’s what I found.

Activity toys are the new essential. How about the iDig by Fetch? This is a multi-layered dog toy with removable, washable fabric layers into which toys and treats can be placed. This practical innovation also has a folding version for smaller modern homes. If you’re feeling creative, you can probably make one.

How about a phone-controlled cat toy that you can pilot around your home using the linked app? This is ideal when you’re a cat owner out at work or for indoor cats who risk lack of exercise. 

Pet cams for the home include remote control treat dispensers with microphones so that you can talk to your pet, so you can share all the office gossip… dogs and cats are great at keeping secrets.

Capturing pictures of your pet isn’t new but the perfect photos are infinitely desirable on social media platforms such as Instagram. Pet selfie tools such as phone accessories help you take a photo with your furry friend. They use clever ways to get the pet to look at the camera, using phone attachments into which you can clip a ball or treat at a variety of angles with lights or a sticker that attaches it to the wall so you can have hands-free!

Treat food ideas include fancy, customisable cookies for dogs (organic, gluten free, dairy free of course), and gourmet treats made in shapes with beautiful icing designed for humans to show their love (to a pet who probably doesn’t care what it looks like!). Probiotic treats can contain goat milk and even yak milk. If you want to do a bit of a Paul Hollywood in your home, why not get a home baking pet biscuit or birthday cake mix? Be careful not to give your pet more than 5% of their diet with treats, however. It’s very easy to overfeed – so… don’t.

Controversially, since they really are unnecessary, new pet ‘dress up’ outfits resemble popular licensed characters, Marvel heroes or Pokémon, or just teddy bears. I am not a fan (of the outfits, but I love Marvel). We humans seem enjoy these and so, our poor domesticated animals are forced to adapt.

Enjoy the new ideas, but remember that all our pets are still animals that have a right to behave and be treated like the species that they are.

Is my pet naughty? Or poorly?

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This week has been rather difficult for us as we found out one of our older, beloved dogs is very unwell. Our little terrier has always had her fair share of health problems, coming as she did from a puppy farm and not very understanding home. She was then rescued and we took her in. 

Many rescue dogs are rehomed through no fault of their own. In this case it was hard to tell, but this little scruffy bundle arrived from her foster home with lots of suspicions about humans and their ways. She would bite, not hard, but enough, so we had to work with her for a long time and even now she finds some things difficult to cope with.

Why have I mentioned this in an article about health?

Often, we get so used to our pets behaving as they do that we don’t always notice when they aren’t just being tricky to manage. I don’t like the word ‘naughty’, but people I work with often use it when their pets aren’t doing what they expect. 

What this means is that maybe your dog or cat has learned something you don’t really want them to repeat, but it could be that they actually aren’t feeling very well.

Pain and illness can change any animal’s behaviour. Are you the same person when you’ve got a stomach bug or a headache? What about when you are tired or perhaps a bit run down by life? It’s the same with our pets.

With my terrier, she suddenly started whining and crying for more food. Odd, since she has always been slim and never overate. The whining continued even after she had been fed. All she wanted to do was sit on someone’s knee, again, unusual. Now, we could have just assumed she was being a bit needy and greedy! Instead, we monitored her for a short while and then took her to the Vet, described the changes in her behaviour, and the Vet (Priory, in Stamford), gave her a blood test and called me back that day. Yes, our little dog has kidney problems and is now being treated.

My point is this. If you see your dog or cat change, or if they persistently do something, don’t simply assume that it’s just their personality. Don’t assume it’s ‘just old age’ or that your pet is slowing down somehow. Don’t assume they are ‘naughty’ and then take them to a trainer who doesn’t ask you to have a Vet check first – this is essential for their care. Our pets don’t really show illness like we humans do, so be their best carer ever and get that change checked out!

Simple Tips to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

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Dogs bark. It’s what they do. However, dogs can bark at the worst possible times – like in the middle of the night when we’re trying to sleep.

Here are some easy tips to get your canine to stop barking.

Why Do Dogs Bark

Barking is one of the primary ways dogs communicate. Identifying the type of barking your dog is doing can help you correct their behavior.

Typically, dogs bark the most when they’re surprised. This can happen when someone knocks on the door or when there is a sudden, loud noise outside.

Dogs can also bark at other animals. They can be attempting to play, trying to scare the other animal away, or experiencing sudden excitement caused by their prey drive. When a cat bolts off into another room, your dog barking is effectively him yelling “cat!”. Many dogs will aim territorial barking at other dogs or people.

People are another common target for a dog’s barking. A barking dog might be exhibiting attention-seeking behavior, or might be barking for one of the previous reasons we mentioned. A dog can be frightened of a particular person, and therefore try to scare them away by barking. Alternatively, a dog might just be alerting their dog owner to the other person’s presence.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

Remove the Barking Target

If your dog is barking at a person or animal, the easiest thing to do is remove them from the area. You can put the cat in another room or ask the person to step outside for a moment until your dog calms down.

Alternatively, you can remove your dog from the area. This works best when you’re in public and your dog is barking at someone else’s pet.

This can also be done if your dog is barking at an inanimate object, like that plastic bag they’re scared of.

Train Your Dog to be “Quiet”

It is possible to train even the noisiest dogs to be quiet. This method is a little more involved, but applies to nearly every situation.

The easiest way to do this is enlist the help of a dog trainer or an expert in dog training, who can teach your pup the commend. You can also do it yourself the same way you would train your dog to do anything – treats, practice, and lots of positive reinforcement.

There are two main ways to do this: catching your dog being quiet or teach your dog to “speak” and then follow it up with “quiet” command. If your dog has little training currently, catching them being quiet will likely be the easiest. Just wait until something exciting happens or a new person walks into view. When your dog doesn’t bark, reward them and say “quiet”. Eventually, your dog will catch on.

If your doggy already has training or knows the command “speak”, you can teach them through this command. First, just tell your dog to “speak”. When he does, wait for him to get quiet again and then say “quiet”, rewarding him with a tasty treat.

Meet Your Dog’s Needs

Some dogs will bark more when their needs aren’t met. If they haven’t been walked and have lots of pint-up energy, they’re more likely to bark when someone walks by the window. A tired dog that is resting on the couch is far less likely to jump up and bark at the window.  

Similarly, if your dog doesn’t have enough food or water, they might get restless and be more prone to barking. It is very important to always give your dog access to fresh water and provide them an appropriate amount of high-quality dog food. That cat outside is going to more likely to catch a hungry dog’s attention than a full one’s. If your canine is wandering around the house trying to find fresh water, they’re way more likely to bark at the car driving by.

Dogs are also more likely to bark if they need to go potty or have another need that isn’t met.

Keep Them Entertained

Dogs are more likely to notice people and animals walking around if they’re bored. Giving your dog plenty of interesting toys to play with can prevent them from noticing people and noises outside, which can prevent their levels of excessive barking substantially.

If your dog belongs to a smart breed, like Border Collies for instance, puzzle toys are a great option. You can even leave these toys full of treats while you’re away, giving your dog something to do during the day and preventing barking due to separation anxiety.

Frozen treats like Kongs can also be helpful, especially if your dog is highly food motivated. Just having a ball full of frozen peanut butter can keep some dogs entertained for hours.

Contact a Behavioral Consultant

If your dog’s barking continues despite these tips, we recommend seeing a behavioral consultant. These professionals are experts in dog behavior. A behaviorist can help with your particular situation and identify the root of your dog’s behavior. Some consultants will also provide individual training for your dog and can help you identify your dog’s behavioral triggers.

Some consultants are even covered by pet insurance, so you might not have to pay much out-of-pocket at all. In the long run, these professionals can save you tons of money and time by getting to the bottom of your dog’s problem and providing specialized training methods.

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.