KCAI 101215

My Dog is Only a Pet

In my opinion, being a Pet dog is one of the hardest jobs.  If I had a £1 for every time someone told me that their dog ‘is only a pet’ I would be a wealthy woman but if you begin to understand what a difficult job it is to be ‘only a pet’ you might show a little more compassion and understanding for your pooch.

Working dogs have a career path to follow and their owners know exactly what they want of their dogs.  For these dogs, it makes their life simple and clear, their training path is set and they will learn required skills to achieve these goals.  In any given situation a working dog is taught what is expected of them and these behaviours are reinforced.  For pet dogs however there is rarely a set path and training can become erratic and inconsistent.  This causes confusion, behaviour issues and makes life stressful all round. 

Now-a-days, many pet dogs are a breed, no longer the mongrels of old but Labradors, spaniels, collies and such, with high drive and energy levels.  These dogs are taken in to homes and yes, there may have been research done in to the breed before they chose them but the important points have been brushed over like the high energy of the spaniel or the herding drive of the collie.  

Taking your high energy dog to a park and letting them run around is not using that energy, they may tire physically but mentally they are screaming at how bored they are and as time goes on they may start running off or chewing the house or getting in to fights with other dogs or herding the kids in the park.

So I want you to sit and think exactly what it is you want of your dog in each situation.  At home, out on a walk, in the park, at the pub, wherever you and your dog end up.  Be clear about what you want from them.  A vague answer like behave themselves, not show me up won't cut it, what do you want them to do? 

The majority of behaviour cases I visit, the dogs have one thing in common no matter what the issue is that I am there to deal with.  That one thing is lack of training & mental stimulation.  Even basic commands such as sit and come are often lacking and a lack of house rules and not knowing what is right and what is wrong leads to a life of confusion and often boredom. 

Once you have decided what you want of your dog then think about how you are going to teach them to do this.  Just because they are a pet dog doesn't mean they don't need to learn certain tasks and behaviours.  Once they have learnt these skills then how are you going to expand on them and continue to exercise your dogs brain?

Learning for your pet dog should be a life time commitment, the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is rubbish, they deserve to be mentally challenged every single day and rewarded handsomely for their efforts.  Keeping your dogs mind active as well as their body will ensure they live happy, fulfilled lives.

You don’t need to rush out and join classes (although I would welcome you back with open arms and a shameless plug here, remember our follow on classes involve a bit of everything – agility, tricks, nosework) just sit and work out what your dog knows already, what else you could teach them to make life easier and clearer for you all and what other things they could learn to keep them occupied.

I am only a pet.

So next time I see you, don’t tell me that your dog ‘is only a pet’ tell me how content they are and show me how skilled and talented they are in their role. 

Jo Crosby-Deakin

MIACE ACFBA (MT)GoDT RCH

07776 334481

www.k9solutionsdt.co.uk

 

Don't be a Weekend Warrior

With the change in the weather and lovely bright, fresh days it is perfect dog walking weather.  We head off with our dogs, who through the winter have maybe lost a little muscle tone and body condition, who have become more used to a quick blast than a long ramble but we are convinced that because they keep heading forward and hurtling about that they are fit enough to do so without causing themselves an injury. 

Our dogs may be athletic and full of energy but that doesn’t make them athletes unless they are trained and conditioned for it. 

Personally after the soggy winter I begin to increase my dogs exercise gradually as the weather begins to change.  We all want to be out a bit more when the sun shines and you are not freezing cold.   I slowly increase the amount of time that they race after a tennis ball, the overall length of their walks and as I also run with my dogs (well, they run and I sort of trail behind) but we start off slowly and do a run-walk-run set up to help them and me.  I add more road walks during the summer than I do in the winter and walking, especially on concrete works different muscles in the dogs body and more concussion through the joints.  I swim the dogs year round at Completely K9 to try and stop their cardiovascular fitness and muscle condition from dropping off too much.

All walks should start with a warm up and end with a cool down, so before I let my hounds off their leads they do a bit of walking on the lead, then they go off the lead and then they get their ball.  At the end of our walk I stop throwing the ball and let them move at their own pace and then they go back on the lead to relax down some more.

When I run with my dogs I try and start with some on lead walking and then some basic moves through sit and down and through some twists to help them warm up their muscles as well as contain their excitement (they love canicross).

So don’t be a weekend warrior and suddenly decide that the weather is nice and we are going to trek off for a 5 mile walk instead of the usual say, 2 mile walk with our dogs free running and chasing the ball or playing with their buddies for hours.  They can easily over-do it and put themselves at risk of injuries such as sprains and strains and even more serious problems with joints and ligaments.

Jo Crosby-Deakin

MIACE ACFBA (MT)GoDT RCH

www.k9solutionsdt.co.uk

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/k9solutionsessex or follow us on Twitter @K9SolutionsDT

British War Dog School at Shoebury Garrison

Today marks the Centenary of World War 1 and I wonder how many of you are aware that our very own Shoebury Garrison was the home of the first British War Dog School established in 1917 by Lt Col E H Richardson, a dog enthusiast that prior to the war was involved in training Police dogs. 

The British War Dog School trained dogs for messenger, sentry or guard duties at the front line and though all the dogs played a huge part in the war effort it was the messenger dogs that helped to save so many lives.

During WW1 communications between the front line and field headquarters was difficult but crucial and it was the job of young men to run the gambit of enemy fire, explosions, shell holes and muddy terrain to get vital information back and forth, a very risky role with a high mortality rate.  In 1916 a letter from the Royal Artillery suggested that dogs might be better suited due to their speed and fleetness of foot so Richardson set to work experimenting with the training dogs for this role.

The first dogs to go to the front line were two Airedales, Wolf and Prince.  They successfully carried a message from the front line 4 miles back to Brigade Headquarters and proved their usefulness and so in 1917 The British War Dog School was established at Shoebury Garrison and ‘keepers’, as the dog handlers were known, were recruited.

One of the key requirements for a keeper was that they showed a ‘sympathetic understanding of animals’, something that is often missing in today’s society when it comes to dogs and indeed each other.  Keepers had to be honest and conscientious and any keeper seen to display ‘roughness or lack of sympathy towards the dogs’ was instantly dismissed.

Training took around 5 weeks and the dogs were taught using kindness and rewards, they were treated with compassion and affection not compulsion or violence.  Once trained the keeper and his dogs, usually 2 or 3, were sent out to the front lines to take on this vital messenger role.

Many of the dogs came from Battersea Dogs & Cats home but they were also donated by local people, often those who had lost a Father, Husband or Son to the War but still wanted to feel they were helping the cause.  The indomitable British Spirit in a time of heartache and horror.

The fascination for me when I began researching for an interview on BBC Essex was that Lt Col Richardson had been involved in the training of police dogs and then the war dogs, he wrote several books that promoted positive training methods yet after the war all that seemed to be forgotten and dog trainers moved towards a more aggressive form of compulsion training.

Richardson states “Coercion is of no avail, for of what use would this be when the dog is two or three miles away from its keeper? In fact, it may be said that the whole training is based on appeal. To this end the dog is gently taught to associate everything pleasant with its working hours. Under no circumstances whatever must it be roughly handled or roughly spoken to. If it makes a mistake, or is slack in its work when being trained, it is never chastised, but is merely shown how to do it over again. If any of the men under instruction are observed to display roughness or lack of sympathy with the dogs, they should be instantly dismissed, as a promising young dog could easily be thrown back in his training, or even spoiled altogether, by sharp handling.”

From my point of view we have battled for many years to get back to this sort of training and I am dumfounded as to why the methods and teaching of Colonel Konrad Most, which were based on punishment and compulsion, became the building blocks of dog training for so many years after the Great War.

In all my years of study in relation to training and behaviour, I had never heard of Lt Col Edwin Hautenville Richardson until I was approached about this interview.  Knowing what I know about dogs and training I couldn’t see how a dog that was trained using compulsion would achieve the sort of results that the messenger dogs did but once you read about Richardsons methods and ethos you can understand why these dogs achieved such amazing results, why they continued on in their ‘duties’ even after they had been shot, wounded, gassed and injured and why these amazing animals that we owe so much to, were so dedicated to their roles. 

Training with compassion, understanding, love and enjoyment is the only way to achieve that incredible bond that a dog will offer.

Time Flies

I can't believe that my last post was in February!!  This year has flown by so my apologies for not being more up to date.

 

 

Ehren AKA Pigwit Puppy AKA Brat turned a year old on 28th June and has grown in to a beautiful and clever girl.  I know I may be a tad biased but she truly is lovely. The Brat stage seems to have passed although I did fall foul of her new gnashers when she chewed through my doorframe & my door.  Yes my door!!












The rest of the gang are doing OK.  Miss Olive had surgery in April for the removal of a Mast Cell Tumour and Colin has recently undergone tests for stomach problems.

Olives diagnosis took me totally by surprise as previous tests had said it was non-cancerous but the surgery removed the tumour with a good margin & it was low grade.  She has another lump that will be removed next month when the muscles in her legs are fully balanced again but the amazing Bendy Dog doesn't let anything slow her down.

Colin has been back and forth to the vets for months with obvious discomfort that 2 vets tried to tell me was his hips even though I was positive it was his stomach/abdomen.  I had to insist on blood tests and an ultrasound which really disappointed me and has made me consider changing my vets after over 20 years.

The ultrasound revealed a thickening of his entire small intestines which could be either Inflammatory Bowel Disease or something more sinister like Lymphoma.  As there would be no treatment if it was confirmed as Lymphoma I opted not to have invasive biopsies done and have gone along the road of treating him as having IBD even though he doesn't have any of the listed symptoms.

Changing his food to a novel protein (venison) and adding turmeric and coconut oil to his diet seems to be helping.  Just yesterday he was chasing a ball and trying to jump in the tree to get apples.  He is moving much more freely and when getting on and off of the sofa or the bed he isn't groaning in pain so fingers crossed that he continues to improve.  I am going to make an appointment with a holistic vet once he has been on the new diet for a month and see what else they can suggest for him.

And the old Grott is still a grumpy, stinky old man & less than happy that I have increased his hydrotherapy to twice a week as he is so lazy on his walks.

The first year with a new puppy I think is always the hardest and most time consuming (& costly if you need to replace door frames and doors).  Working with them to build that bond takes extra effort in a multi dog household.  It is important that our relationship gets extra work so that she will respond to my commands no matter what the others are doing, that she knows when I am speaking to her and when I am speaking to the other dogs and also that the other dogs don't get left out. 

Finding one to one time in a busy life for 4 dogs can be tiring but I wouldn't change it for the world but that doesn't mean it is for everyone.  For some people, coping with just one dog can be too much and nothing like the ideal that they had hoped for. 

As some of you know, that is how Olive came in to my life.  Her owners had researched and planned and planned before taking her on but the reality of living with a puppy at that stage in their lives was just too much for them to cope with.  They made a very tough choice to re-home her and she came to me for a week whilst they made sure they had made the right decision and just never left. 

I feel it is part of my job to support clients when they come to this decision, it is not one I can make for them but I do feel it is a brave thing to do - to admit that you cannot offer a dog what it needs.  No judgement should be made for those that accept this and make that tough choice to find a more suitable home for their pups/dogs.

Olives owners still come and see her now and again, it takes her a moment or two to realise who they are but then her whole manner changes, as is typical of Weimaraners they aren't really interested in other people but once she realises who they are she gets all giggly and silly and bouncy with them.  It makes them happy to see that she is happy and enjoying the madness that is our life.  I have no problems with them visiting her as I know she is happy with us and the life she has.

We should never judge others until we have walked a mile in their shoes.

With the Centenary of World War 1 approaching I will be featured on BBC Radio talking about the dog training facility that was located at Shoebury Garrison.  I thoroughly enjoyed researching this piece so will post more about the wonderful work of the war dogs on 4th August 2014.

The Brat Files

The Brat Files Part 1

My gorgeous puppy has gone through several phases already and she is just 7 months old!

As Ehren was so ill when we she came to live with us, our first couple of weeks, although fraught with worry and fear that we might lose her,  were relatively easy in the realms of new puppy ownership.  She slept well and was happy to amuse herself with her toys, her energy levels were lower but as the medication took effect and her health improved so the other dogs began to play with her.  She was clean and we only had the odd accident, going through the night from day one.

Then came the crocodile puppy or velociraptor, take your pick of terms, we sure did!  At this stage we had a puppy that was constantly biting and biting and biting some more.  I had toys and treats everywhere, my house looked more like a pet shop than usual and I was not averse to giving her the socks off of my feet if she was not to be distracted from attacking them.

This lasted about 2 weeks and with every day the play biting got less and the sock removal was a thing of the past.  I could walk through the house without a puppy attached to my leg and where we had worked on her sit from the outset she had learned what it meant and when asked, even if the teeth were half way to the foot, calf or hand, she would sit and wait for her toy or her treat or whatever reward we had to hand.

Ehren was a bit later than normal puppies getting out in to the big wide world as her vaccinations couldn’t be given until her immune system had started to behave normally and even then we had to wait 2 weeks after the final vaccination to make sure she had actually built an immunity.  This meant more energy in the house as we couldn’t walk her or start to expand her world.  She had to be content with playing with the other dogs and us at home, going for rides in the van, visiting friends and going to the centre and she had a couple of play dates with other puppies which helped to socialise her.  The constant vet and specialist visits gave her lots of rides in the car too.

As often happens, once we were able to take her on walks and to play off lead with other pups and of course the rest of the gang, we enjoyed lots of peace and quiet as she processed the new sights, sounds and experiences of the world. She is a clever girl and sailed through her puppy and beginners obedience with Jim at the other end of the lead and her recall and control of lead is extremely good thanks to my efforts. 

We were enjoying the wonders of an easy puppy.  And then it changed. Hesitations when asking her to sit or lie down, recall is still good but ranging out at a distance that I am not happy with.  Barking at everything.  Destroying her toys, even her favourite little bear that she has slept with since the second day we had her.  Terrorising the other dogs and refusing to have her nails cut or be brushed.  And now my sweet little PigWit puppy has become a BRAT!!

My puppy is a BRAT!!

Now I know that this stage won’t last long.  That with patience, consistency and lots of praise and reward (and alcohol for me), we will get through this and she will settle down and stop being a BRAT.  Well, for a little while at least.  But it’s hard work!!  Again, I know this.  I help people deal with the different life stages of their dogs and the trials they bring every day, it’s my job and I guess I just wanted you all to know that we all go through it, even me.

So if I look a little tired, seem a little more worn down than normal, you now know the reason.  My puppy is a BRAT!!!

Ehren Update - the blood results and the playbiting saga

Well I have been a bit absent the past couple of weeks, I have the lurg!  Someone has contaminated me with germs which I have now passed on to all around me so my apologies to those that now have it.
Ehren is continuing to grow and thrive and learn.  She has had her second vaccinations and the blood results from then have shown an increase in the WBC & TP which were so low in the outset.  The vets are monitoring this and she will have another set of bloods in 3 weeks to check her ability to build immunity to the likes of parvo, lepto and distemper, etc.  Because she has had a compromised immune system from the get go, it is possible that she will be unable to build an immunity but I think given how well she has done so far, she will continue to prove that she is a tough little critter and thrive.
Now as you know from previous blogs, Ehren is a biter - hands, feet, arms, legs, anything she can get her teeth in to she will.  I feel that in the beginning some of the biting was because of pain she was suffering, not just puppy biting but we still could not let it go unchecked.
So, with loads of toys around we used these as a distraction to get her to put her teeth on these rather than us and if her teeth came in contact with our skin we have used a short corrective sound to interrupt her and given her either a sit command or a toy to chase so that she focuses on to something else.  I am pleased to report that biting is now minimal and I can walk through the lounge without a puppy attached to my foot or taking of my shoes, slippers or socks to get her to let go. 
Ehrens repertoire of basic commands is growing day by day and she loves to work out what we are asking of her.  The one thing I am still having issues with is getting her to stand still for handling, she becomes a mass of paws and legs and turns to jelly in an instant, I have to admit to not helping matters here as I just laugh, not very productive but she is just too cute and I know that in time she will master this the same as anything else.
After the last blog post someone commented that I was blanketing all KC breeders as a no-go for puppy buying and that is not my intention at all.  I have always owned pedigree dogs and have bred litters before which were KC registered. 
What I want to impress on anyone looking for a puppy is that you need to exercise more caution than I did.  If you don't feel under scrutiny from the breeder (be that of a pedigree dog or a cross) then maybe they aren't in it for the right reasons.  The person I got Ehren from was interested in nothing more than the financial side of things, she never asked me any questions about my lifestyle or my knowledge of living with a dog.  When I acquired puppies in the past I felt that I had to impress the breeder so they would allow me the care of one of their pups and that is how you should feel when getting a puppy. 

The Best Place to Source a Puppy

So you decide that you want a dog.  You have researched the breeds and made your decision on a breed that will suit your lifestyle, budget and experience but where do you find a good breeder and a good litter?

There are few places you definitely should NOT go and those are sites like preloved and similar, where people advertise puppies, dogs for re-homing and all manner of other things free of charge.  You should not go to a pet shop (yes there are still a few that sell puppies) nor should you go to a kennels advertising lots of different breeds.

There is the Kennel Club Puppy Finder site which tells you of litters available but you should also exercise caution here as there are Kennel Club Assured Breeders and those that can just pay to advertise a KC registered litter.  The Assured Breeder Scheme does give you a little more peace of mind but not masses.  The KC being the KC only enforce rules that benefit them and there are still puppy farmers and prolific breeders who have attained KCABS status.

In my opinion the safest place to go to choose a puppy is to the breed clubs themselves.  You can usually be assured that people that are members of the breed club and have registered their litters with them are really focused on producing the best of the breed.   They will only be able to register their litters on the breed clubs puppy list if they have followed the rules set out by the club and these are usually much stricter than those set out by the KC.

Once you have found a litter then go along and see them before you even think of bringing one home.  You need to feel like your breeder is assessing your worthiness to take one of their puppies and you should feel comfortable with the breeder.  Do you feel you could call them if you had a problem?  Do they seem knowledgeable about the breed?  Do the puppies look happy and playful? 

The breeder should have the KC registration documents there ready to go with your puppy and they should also have you sign an agreement that covers what to do if you can't look after your puppy amongst other things.  Many breeders now endorse the pups pedigrees so that you cannot breed from them without the breeder lifting the endorsement.  This is a safe guard to ensure that people aren't cashing in on the dogs that they buy by breeding them for nothing more than the money aspect but be sure to ask about this.  Also your breeder should provide you with a information on feeding, worming and general routine of the pup and food to take home to tide you over until you can get the puppy more.

If you are looking for a crossbreed puppy then my advice here is much the same, stay away from the free ads and the ads in the local paper for some odd mix or another but instead of the KC you should contact local rescues first.  They have puppies and young dogs looking for homes as well as older dogs and by getting a crossbreed from a rescue you are helping to halt the supply and demand culture of over breeding.

Choosing a puppy is a mine field, you know the trouble that I have had with our KC registered puppy and it's easy to say listen to your head not your heart but when you get there and see the puppies your head can shout all it likes, your heart will be the one that makes the final decision, just try and be sure that it is the right one.

Ehren Update - dealing with the playbiting

Morning all,
I know you have been waiting for the next instalment but I had a brain freeze and couldn't log in to my blog account.  Hopefully that has now been resolved and I won't have problems in the future.  I am dog trainer not a tech wizard and find many things technical beyond my understanding.

I have changed the spelling of our pups name for those who missed it - Ehren means Enlightened, mountain of strength and she really is.  She has been symptom free since last Sunday and has gained a kilo this week so we are hopeful that recovery is on the cards.  She finished her medication Friday and will go back to the vets next week for more blood tests to see if her counts have levelled out and she can be vaccinated.  We still have no diagnosis of what was wrong which is concerning but at least she is better.

One of my team expressed their disappointment in me buying a sick puppy but until Ehren had something to eat there was nothing to cause any concern.  Jim and I went on the Sunday to check out the litter and I went back on the Monday to see her again with a friend who has more knowledge of 'shape' than I do, none of us saw anything concerning until Ehren was fed.  I would say to you all that I did make a mistake as I purchased a puppy without insurance and from a breeder who had no idea about anything.  My knowledge has helped in a lot of ways because as soon as we saw something was wrong I was at the vets and because of my relationship with my vet they didn't mess around, we saw a specialist the same day.  Without that knowledge it is quite feasible that Ehren and her 2 affected litter sisters would have died but it never helped us avert the upset we have been through the past couple of weeks and the battle I now have to get recompense from the breeder. 

Anyone who is thinking of buying a puppy should be sure that they come with free insurance that the breeder should activate when you collect them, they should also come with clear information sheets about feeding and worming routine to date and from a breeder that has a care for the pups and not the cash.  I have perpetuated the cashing in on the sale of pups which I am ashamed of and though not puppy farming its not really much better when all they were concerned about was making money. 

If you are looking for a pedigree puppy then go through the breed clubs, not the KC Puppy Finder site as I did and if in any doubt walk away because once that puppy is in your arms and out the door then they are yours and though good sense says you should return them, your heart won't allow it.

In herself for the most part Ehren is a normal, naughty puppy who plays and runs around and falls over and generally loves life.  Not knowing what was happening has been traumatic all round and because of this Ehren has turned into a bit of a brat.  She has been spoilt already with time and attention not only because we were watching her constantly for signs of pain or collapse or even to see if she was still breathing but we were working on her housetraining and looking for signs that she needed to 'go'. 

Ehren is a very bitey puppy.  She has the eyes of an angel but the lock of a pitbull and when she is in one of her moods it has been difficult to manage.  Some of it I have put down to the fact that she has been in pain with whatever has been going on with her (I am a new puppy mummy after all and have to make excuses for her behaviour) but some of it I put down to the fact that she is a puppy with no idea about bite inhibition. 

Now, I tell all you new puppy owners to find a noise and a pitch that interrupts the behaviour and to praise the puppy when they let go.  Ehren has had other ideas about this even though I keep reminding her that this is how Mummy makes her living and it would be helpful if she would comply!  We have resorted to giving her a toy and leaving the room or putting her in her crate for a little down time when she gets really over the top.  Her biting is getting better very slowly and there are just a few times a day when it is really bad such as when we first get up in the morning (she hasn't seen us all night) and when she has been left for a while, which of course to any puppy feels like days even though she has the other dogs with her.  I am going with a bit of ignoring at these times and just walk with her into the garden so she can do her business and this seems to temper it a bit and lets the initial over-excitement die down a little.

 

Whilst I am battling with the biting and my arms currently look like I have taken to self-harming, she is clean as a whistle and asks to go in the garden and has done since day 2 of being with us.  I have no accidents in the house and I know in a way I am luckier than most as I have time to spend with her and a very small house but it is vigilance and persistence that has also ensured I am not mopping up puppy pee every 5 minutes.

We have adhered to my mantra of taking her in the garden as soon as she wakes up, when she has been fed and when she has been playing and any time in between that we think there is a chance she will pee or poop and we have waited with her to see if she will go.  I am covered in gnat bites from the night time garden visits but I have a puppy that is clean indoors.  As soon as she squats down to do her business we give a verbal command of 'wee wee's and lots of verbal praise when she has finished and she is well on her way to squeezing out the littlest pee on command.  At least she read the part of my booklet about housetraining and I don't need to re-write that!

Our new addition

So after sitting down and deciding that we wouldn't take on another pup in the near future I promptly went out and got a longhaired Weimaraner puppy. 
It seemed like fate when I saw the pictures of her on a friends time line and then our fun day was cancelled because of the flooding and I actually managed to convince Jim that it was the right decision as well!
Ehren joined out little family on Monday 26th August 2013 and I was totally smitten.  She is a lovely, balanced and brave little girl and seemed to wander in here like she owned the place.  The others have taken to her really well but we have had a bit of a journey so far.
On Tuesday morning I noticed that after Ehren had eaten, she went up on her tip toes and lost all co-ordination, I thought it was the shock of wading through one of Colin's monster morning pee's.  Gave her a cuddle and popped her in her bed for a little while and she seemed fine.
Jim took her to work as I had a job to go out to and he fed her mid morning and the same thing happened, only worse, she was totally unable to stand and then began to limp afterwards.  We thought that I had over fed her and she had wind or something.
This went on after every feed so she was due for a vet check and her first jab so on Wednesday so got the earliest appointment I could and took her food with me so the vet could see exactly what happens after she has eaten.  They were quite shocked and concerned and suggested that we see a specialist immediately.  Our vet called the specialist and as she was only in Corringham she said she would pop over and have a look.  She ruled out a shunt but felt there was definitely something serious wrong and referred us to another specialist the next day.
Me being me had to ask questions and the answers I got were really worrying and heart breaking.  She had only been with us a couple of days but she had already stolen our hearts and I know in these sort of scenarios the best course of action is to return a sickly pup to the breeder but I could no more return her than give one of the others away.
When I spoke to the breeder she had noticed similar behaviour in one of the other bitch pups in the litter and took her off to the vet, she didn't feed her pup at the vet and it was the little runt of the litter and her vet suggested a change of food would solve the problem.  When I explained what our vet had said she was very concerned. 
Ehren's fourth day with us was spent at another specialists being poked, prodded and pulled about.  Having more bloods done and still no answers.  A few things were categorically ruled out but no firm diagnosis so we still didn't know if Ehren would survive, if she would die in her sleep or what was going to happen.
The other bitch puppy that the breeder still had came down with the same symptoms so now all 3 of the bitches were affected but still none of the dogs.
We had medication for Ehren and started feeding her every 2-3 hours so try and alleviate the symptoms a bit.
Saturday night we ended up at the emergency vets as the poor little one hadn't poo'd in 24 hours and was in some real distress.  She had to suffer the indignity and discomfort of a finger up her bum to help her.
Sunday was our fun day and Ehren seemed brighter and the symptoms after feeding were definitely getting shorter.  By Sunday night we had a normal puppy, no signs of the co-ordination problems, no falling over and happy and playful but she still wasn't pooing.
Normal puppies eat, pee, poo, play and sleep.  It should be like clockwork, what goes in must come out in waste products and energy but that wasn't happening so Monday afternoon I had another chat with the vet and she is now on a laxative as well as her meds.

The blood results for her are very concerning as she has incredibly low white cell and globulin counts which means she has no immune system.  The vets and the specialists are baffled as to why and it is now a waiting game to see if anything else comes up from other blood tests and if after the medications the symptoms return and the blood counts level out.  They do not think it is an infection because none of the dog puppies have been affected so they still think it is something that they have developed in vetro (in the womb).  Time will tell but at the moment she is a normal, happy and very naughty puppy.
As someone who earns a living telling new puppy owners how to behave around their puppies my friend has suggested that I fill you in with the problems that I have with Ehren and how I get over them.  It has been 9 years since I had a pup as young as Ehren and I truly had forgotten how time consuming and how much hard work it was.
So now that I have filled you in on the Ehren's background I will share my puppy raising problems and tips.
More tomorrow on how we are dealing with her biting and her tantrums at bed time.

What a lovely day

Today was beautiful, a reminder that summer hasn't totally left us yet.  Warm and bright the only down side was that the grass at our field still hasn't been cut but that didn't deter many.
The groups were full of fun and play and lots happening as always.  The pups were learning their recalls and field commands plus lots more.  The owners were learning when to break it up and when to leave it alone, what their pups were saying to each other and how to cope best living with a puppy.  We all know how hard that can be at times.
Our later class saw Treacle the DDB actually joining a group.  She is a strong girl and a lot to handle but she coped well today and so did Terry & Lesley.  Well done.
Reuben & Tilly spent the class with me working on their reactionary behaviour.  It went really well and the owners went away with lots of new things to practice.
The classes, be they for puppy or problem dog are about us educating the owner on how to connect and correct their dogs behaviours.  It is a long road for some but we offer support every step of the way.
Well done to everyone.

What are we to do???

I have just read about yet another dog biting a child in Southend. A terrible event where a young lad was playing in the sea when a rotweiller attacked him leaving him with over 20 puncture wounds and the report says that the boy is still in hospital. The irresponsible owner, a man with 2 rotweillers off lead on the beach, where he shouldn't even have been, ran away!!
Last month a child was bitten whilst just standing there on Southchurch Road and again the owners just carried on walking even though the Mother of the child shouted that their dog had just bitten her child.
The amount of responsible dog owners that I speak to who have had their dogs attacked and again the owners just walk or run away leaving them with large vet bills to pay seems to be more and more common place.
Such cowardice from the owners never mind their irresponsible attitude to dog ownership leaves me incensed.
I am a dog lover, as a trainer I promote responsible dog ownership yet how can I stand up and be counted when this sort of thing continues in our town?  I was one of the people who campaigned against the introduction of dog control orders which made so many areas no-go for dogs, I have been approached by a local councillor to join a committee to help make Southend more dog friendly, I see so many responsible dog owners who want their dogs to be a part of their day to day lives and fit into their lives as members of the family yet it is the irresponsible few that are spoiling it for everyone.
I was at an event with the dog warden last week and we were discussing the difficulties of over coming 'the thug dog' mentality that the whole country is facing. The Dangerous Dogs Act is being repealed but how effective that will be remains to be seen, the last one and its amendments have been a waste of time. No one seems to know what to do and no one enforces it.

As the owner of a rotweiller I am concerned that yet again this loving and gentle breed has been brought into the headlines for the wrong reasons.  As a behaviourist & trainer I am appaled at the total lack of responsibility that the owner of the rotti showed and of the owners of dogs that have attacked other dogs.

What is to be done to resolve this? 

In Singapore there are strict rules to obtain a dog, firstly you have to be deemed fit to obtain a license, you must prove that you have suitable accomodation, income and commitment and it is the same in other countries yet in the UK we allow the over-breeding of our dogs, we have online sites where any fool can buy a cheap dog, our rescue centres are over run with staffie types that they are so desparate to rehome that they send them to anyone who wants one and has a garden.  There is no license, nothing to prove an ongoing commitment to the dog, they are a status symbol, a designer accessory, a thing to be passed off when they have become to difficult or you just can't be bothered.

A sad state of affairs for a 'nation of animal lovers'.

A few new ones in the puupy groups today:-

Cookie, a lovely little chi x JRT, a playful lad and at a year old just little bit over-confident in how far he ranges.

Judy, the 25 week old Border Terrior puppy has been causing her owners a bit of embarressment creating a scen on lead when she sees other dogs.   A normal behaviour for the growing, excitable and overly social pup.

Buster the rescue beagle made his voice heard, nothing like the lovely bay of a beagle.

There was some great progress in the groups as well:-

Amy the Bichon done so well today, playing and getting involved. It was testament to how far she has progressed as her Mum, Ann was actually on the field today & confident in her handling. Ann has been very nervous for Amy since she got spooked by a dog at Christmas and went missing for 4 hours, crossing lots of busy roads in all the snow.  

Rasmus, the Podenco x done well today as well, a Spanish rescue dog, he is very playful but could be a little overwhelmed when they all wanted to play back. He is with us to work on his recall & he is doing well.  

The second class was great as well, Tetley the boxer coped really well when confronted with a young entire male & a crazy EBT (no offence Boycie, you know we love you)

Marley, the JRT was ranging out today as well and playfully interacting with the other dogs & it was a mixed sized group out there with him today.

A couple of the owners have asked if anyone wants to meet up in the week for a walk at another location.  Let me have your details if you want me to pass them on.
 

Tips of the day.  
If your dog or puppy is 'shouting' at other dogs when they are on lead, just turn and head in the opposite direction until they calm down and then try again. It doesn't matter if they are barking through excitement or nerves, remove them and try again. 
 
If your dog doesn't always come back when they are called then use a running line. Our instructors are always happy to show you how to use one and just think, every time your dog ignores you when you call them you make your recall command less effective. This is one of the most important things you will ever teach your dog, it's a life saver so don't mess it up.

The sun has got its hat on....

We are all enjoying the warmer weather and although I nag you all at the classes about keeping your dogs cool and being aware when travelling, I can't help but nag you again.  Check out the website and FB page for our information on 'Keeping your dog cool this summer'.
We have had some great new dogs join the groups over the past couple of weeks:- A Podenco,  a chihuahua, a chihuahua x JRT, a JRT, an Irish setter, a border collie,  and the list goes on and on.  I will post some photos and keep you updated on their progress.
Chilli has been trying the waters in the puppy class now and is doing so well, she has really turned a corner, meeting and greeting really well, just the lead issue to settle down now.  Basil is growing well and providing a lovely foil for Chilli's exuberance.
Rubens, the Jack-a-bea is improving, he had some quiet fun today which is always a blessing as he does like to be heard.
Miss Olive has had us worried with a womb infection (pyometra), these are serious things, luckily hers was an open pyo and as I got her to the vets before she became poorly the antibiotics seem to have done the trick.  She will be spayed in 6 weeks unless the infection kicks in again.
I would urge all of you who have entire bitches to monitor them closely during and after their seasons, pyometras can be fatal if the infection takes hold. Have a read of the Wikipedia info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyometra.  I am all for spaying bitches but as a behaviourist I prefer them to have one season first, Miss Olive was on her second as I simply forgot to get her booked in.  Luckily I noticed the signs before she was too ill.

Responsible Dog Ownership????

I visited Crufts on Sunday, it is a wonderful experience for any dog lover and something I have done for the past 10 years.  Seeing the best examples of a breed, presented to the best of their owners abilities, interacting with other dogs and so many people reminds me why I love dogs so much.

This year I didn't stay to watch Best in Show at the NEC, opting to get home for an early night instead so I watched the Toy & Utility group judging and the Best in Show presentation from the comfort of my own sofa.  The dogs were gorgeous (with one exception, the GSD which is another story) and I felt the dogs that won, the Flat Coated Retriever and the Petit Basset Griffon Vandeen, were exceptional and deserved to win.
I then watched the programme 'How to Buy a Puppy' and was incensed to say the least.  It seemed that yet again the documentary producers were labelling all dog breeders irresponsible as well as people that buy puppies.  I don't know about the rest of you, but when I saw the images of the poor animals at the puppy farms, I just wanted to bring them all home and I am sure any other dog lover felt the same.  To hear Professor Crispin refer to these poor animals as 'products' that should be refused as faulty was a shock.  They are living, sentient beings that through no fault of their own have been born into a life of suffering.  Now I appreciate the implications of the health and mental well being of puppy farmed dogs, I am a behaviourist and help deal with these issues everyday but to tell people to speak with their cash is just not possible.

After the shocking programme 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' the KC invested in the Bateson report, implemented the Accredited Breeders Scheme and promoted the Fit for Function tag, the RSPCA got up on their moral high ground and berated breeders and the show community but what has happened? Nothing.
As a nation we have been trying to stop Puppy farming for 20 years or more, yet it still goes on with heart breaking consequences.  The Dangerous Dogs Act was brought into force to remove dangerous dogs from our streets yet Bateson himself confirmed what we all know and that is that there are more Pit Bulls on our streets now than there were when the DDA was introduced.  Why is that?  It is because nothing is enforced.
Not the unethical breeding of puppies, the sale and ownership of banned breeds, not even the failure to clean up after a dog.  Nothing is enforced.

The experts were talking of compulsory microchipping & puppy contracts in an attempt to increase traceability and accountability of the dogs, their breeders and their owners but as with all things the only people that will do this are responsible breeders and owners.  In the most part this is already being done but the problem is that even if they bring this in no-one will enforce it.

So how do we combat this terrible culture of breeding bad dogs for good money?  How do we ensure that dogs are only going to permanent, loving and caring homes?  I can't say that I have the answers but it would seem to me that bringing in laws, legislation and Acts will not improve anything if there is no-one to enforce them.

So who is responsible for a loose dog???

I was walking some clients dogs this afternoon and when I looked up there were 2 huskies trotting up the road, follwed by a police car.  As I had small dogs with me, I dipped into a garden and the dogs went on past.  The police car stopped, I whistled to the dogs and shouted for them to stop as they were heading straight to the main road.  They unfortunately didn't take any notice. The police trailed them on foot to the corner of the road where the dogs had turned right, narrowly avoiding being hit by cars, the officers then sauntered back to their car, drove to the top of the road and turned left!!!

I had some other dogs with me that I needed to take back and low and behold as I turned into the road there were the huskies at the end, trotting in and out of gardens.  I had to wait until the dogs went up another side road and then took my little charges home and called the police.  The police were aware of the dogs and said that the police had left the dogs in sight of the owner?  Not sure how that worked because I was the only person about when the officers got back in their car and headed back towards the station.

I left my little charges and went in search of the dogs, the police still on the phone asking if I could catch sight of the dogs, which I did, I then had them penned in a garden for 30 minutes and the police could not get anyone to assist me or get in contact with the owner. 

I walked back to the van to get some leads and treats and there was a gentleman there who seemed to be looking for something, I asked if he might be looking for the dogs and he was but not because they were his, because they had attacked his poor cat on his driveway.  

The dogs got out of the garden where they had been scavenging and I set off after them again, the man who's cat had been attacked helped me and then his son came along.  I called the police again, still no help.  The dogs got split up as they came out of one of the side roads.  I called the dog warden, thinking that was who would come and help.  I was told that because they are based in Basildon they wouldn't come to Canvey!! 

I now had a bowl full of nature diet and a nervous husky just off the main road in a Doctors car park, some impatient what-sit trying to get in tooted his horn and spooked her and the cat owner and I cage chase as she ran off along the main road.  Thankfully she turned down the next side road and we had her cornered, I got her attnetion with some more food, told her to sit and thankfully she did and I was able to get her on a lead.

We had someone watching the road where we had last seen the other dog so we headed back there in the hopes we could catch that one.  What we didn't know was that there was a derlict house with access into farmland.  There was no sight of him. 

The owners came to collect the bitch just as I was putting her in my van.  I had logged the first call with the police at 2.14pm, it was now 3.39pm!!  I had to go and see to another dog so off I went after exchanging numbers with the owner.

I walked the dog and was on my way home when I saw him in a field so I called the owner and followed the dog but I lost sight of him moments before the owner arrived.  He set off across the fields looking for him and I went back to the garden where we had lost sight of him.  After riding around for another 40 minutes I had to give up and head home.  Thankfully the owner called me about 10 minutes later to say he had found the dog and was on his way home.

A frustrating and harrowing afternoon but I couldnt leave these poor dogs to do more damage or get hurt themselves.  But who should be responsible for stray dogs?  I thought it was the dog warden, but obviously I was wrong unless they are right on their door step.  I thought the police were also supposed to prevent as well as solve problems, these dogs could easily have caused a serious accident, or it may have been more than a cat that they attacked. 

I will be following this up with the council, the police and the newspapers.

February News

Oh how the weather has been cruel to us this month!!  We have got absolutley soaked to the skin and frozen to the bone but we still had fun and some break throughs with the dogs.
Keila, the GSD rescue is relaxing well and totally adores he new owners.  Once he comes to understand her and lets go of the loss of his old dog I think they will be fine.  It;s always tough taking on a rescue, especially if you are a bit too hasty after the loss of a previous dog and this is made even worse if the new dog at all resembles the old one. 
Young Chopper, the Stafford, joined us at the beginning of the month, at 7 months old he is your typical teenager but he adores the girls so we are moving forward with an all female front to start with, then introduce some of the lads when he is less hormonal.  I am sure he will relax once his thinking shifts back to his head  ;-)

Our first Kids class started in January and it has been great fun for all of us.  The kids excelled and at the end of their 6 weeks they showcased all they had learnt in a short routine.  I was so impressed and I think they enjoyed it because they all signed up for another 6 weeks!!

January News

Well the New Year has already brought us new puppies and dogs to the social and recall groups, the start of new classes for kids and lots of new dogs in our beginners’ classes at Southend and Basildon.

The new kids and dogs classes are going well and I hope the kids are enjoying them as much as me.  So far we have worked on spins, play bows and paw and we are only on week 3.  There is a lot more to learn and with places already filling on the next course I think it was a good choice.

Treats are back in stock but I am still having problems with Nature Diet so for now you are advised to speak to me about the best places to buy it from.  They seem to be having a problem with sealing the packs and I am getting 3 or 4 out of a box that have blown.  If you want more information on the best foods to choose for your dog then check out our Face Book page and under Notes you will find our feeding information.

I would like to welcome Cheryl & Kim on board as they are helping out at the Kids and Dogs classes and new beginners group at Highlands Methodist Church, they want to become instructors with K9 Solutions, crazy fools that they are, so they are getting a baptism of fire at the new venue with a totally new course.  My thanks to you both, and of course to Alison for your continued help and support.

We have new courses starting again in February so check out the website www.k9solutionsdt.co.uk for the start dates.

Don’t forget that if you have any questions or problems then give me a call on 07776 334481 as it is not always possible to find the time during the classes. 

Happy 2011 to you all and I hope it brings you all that you wish for.

X

Pooch Party

Well the Pooch Party was a great success, we had a good turn out and it would seem that everyone enjoyed themselves.  The games all had prizes and people were keen to take part.

It was so hard to be heard over all the noise that I still haven’t got my voice back!

We played pass the Paw-cel with Ralph the bulldog winning a very impressive knotted dog toy and Millie the Labradoodle taking home a lovely purse.  I would say that the owners were too polite here, gently removing one layer of paper at a time, personally, I would have passed it to my dog who would no doubt have torn off the lot in one go.

Then on to the sausage race, a game of skill and tactics, well, not really.  The dog has to eat a line of sausage pieces quicker than the other dogs, very simple really, or so you would think.  We run heats of 4 dogs although we did allow the tiny Chihuahua’s, Beau-dog & Lady to team up. There was a bit of cheating going on here with people veering into the other dogs lane in an attempt to distract them, pushing of owners, it was a mess!!.  The overall winner was the lovely Oscar, a rescued Border Collie. Olive my little Weimaraner, demonstrated the ease in which only a weimaraner can devour food and should really have won. 

The owners went to a lot of trouble with fancy dress outfits, Olive was a fairy Princess complete with wings and wand, Roxy & Py were Christmas trees, Mille was a Christmas Sack, and Breeze the Rottweiler came in a cunning disguise as her brother, Jeeves, the Russian Black Terrier!!  (Very well done Breeze, or so we thought until the sausage race when it became apparent that we had been misled and it was in fact Jeeves!! )

Les judged the costumes and first prize went to Elsa who came as a K9 Solutions Puppy School boy complete with baseball cap, shorts and braces.  Well done Ruth & Elsa for keeping the costume on.

Runner up prizes went to Lyca & Zeke, the Papillon & the Tibetan Spaniel, Jura the weimaraner and Millie the Labradoodle.

We had a raffle with various prizes, the top prize being a free one to one training session with me which is usually £30.  Oscar the rescue Border Collie won this and I am looking forward to our training session, he is such a sweet lad.

Cheryl with Teddy received a consolation prize for her sad face when she thought she had won something on the raffle and special mention has to be made of her catching abilities.  Well done Cheryl. 

Then the final event of the evening …….. the cup race. 

The owner has to carry a cup full of water whilst holding their dogs lead spilling as little as possible.  By the time we got to the final, I was soaked and we had had to empty the mop bucket twice!! We had to up the game for the finalists, Beryl & Jet, Kim & Ruby and Ian & Jeeves and Cheryl & Teddy & Millie, we also had to employ a few distraction tactics, which involved me standing and jumping in their way, calling their dogs and throwing treats on the floor, needless to say I got very wet again. 

Beryl & Jet were not to be distracted though and took the prize.  Well done to them.  There are videos and pictures on our Facebook page so take a look.

My thanks to the team for their help and support, not only at the party but all year through and to all of those who came along and made the Pooch Party such fun.

Have a great Christmas everyone and looking forward to seeing you all in 2011.

December is upon us already

Well today is the 1st of December.  Where has this year gone?  To me it only seems like a blink of an eye since we were playing in the snow last winter but play we did.  Unfortunately, I have had to cancel today's classes (Morning & evening) as I fear the travel conditions are too bad.  It took me an hour to cross the Island yesterday and I know from friends that travel to Leigh or Southend was terrible.  A friend of mine left home at 9am to visit Southend hospital and got home at 4.30pm!!

The dogs are enjoying the snow though, Colin loves it and throws snow in the air at me, the other dogs and anyone else in throwing distance.  Trouble is that he eats as much as he throws and then spends the rest of the day and night peeing gallons!

Saturday workshops went well again with Tye the 3 legged staff really taking on the role of policing the ruffians in his group.  His 'Mum' was so proud of him again as were the rest of us.  It is lovely to see a dog that has come from such a poor start, with some rather strong issues, finding his place in the doggy community.

Biggles, the SBT, is a lovely lad with a peculiar fetish.  He tries to steal other dogs collars.  Most strange!!

Well finaly on Saturday he achieved his aim on Saturday and was seen haring off across the field with poor Millie the labradoodle in hot pursuit.  He had stolen her collar and was as pleased as punch with himself.  It took a little more convincing from Trev, his owner, to get him back than it usually does.

Send me your pics of your dogs enjoying the snow.