The Dog Diaries

D Day For Lucy's Law

2019-06-01T16:25:00.000+01:00

Lucy’s Law will come in to force on
6 April 2020

By Megan Harding -13th May 2019

A law banning the third party sales of puppies and kittens in the England will come into force next year, as the Environment Secretary Michael Gove laid out the new legislation in Parliament today (13 May).

The new legislation, nicknamed ‘Lucy’s Law’, aims to protect puppies and kittens and put a stop to backyard breeders and puppy farmers, whose unscrupulous methods can cause harm to both pups and mother through the spreading of preventable disease and lack of vital socialisation.

From 6 April 2020, puppies and kittens can no longer be sold by a third party seller – such as a pet shop or commercial dealer – unless they have bred the animal themselves. Instead, anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre.

The law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who died in 2016 after being subjected to horrific conditions on a Welsh puppy farm. Puppy farm breeding dogs like Lucy are often used to produce multiple litters and their puppies are taken from them far too early, before being sold in pet shops or advertised online.

Lucy was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm. She passed away in 2016

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said, “This is about giving our animals the best possible start in life and making sure that no other animal suffers the same fate as Lucy. It will put an end to the early separation of puppies and kittens from their mothers, as well as the terrible conditions in which some of these animals are bred.

“I would like to thank the tireless campaigners and animal lovers who have helped to bring about this positive change.

“This is all part of our plan to make this country the best place in the world for the protection and care of animals.”

Marc Abraham, Lucy’s Law campaigner and founder of Pup Aid said, “I’m absolutely thrilled that Lucy’s Law is now being laid in Parliament and will come into effect from April 2020. For years irresponsible breeders in the UK and abroad, so-called puppy farmers, have depended on commercial third party sellers – e.g. dealers and pet shops – to keep their breeding dogs and puppies in horrific conditions hidden from the public.

“Lucy’s Law is named after one of the sweetest, bravest dogs I’ve ever known, and is a fitting tribute to all the victims of the cruel third party puppy trade, both past and present.

“On behalf of my fellow grassroots campaigners I’d like to thank Mr Gove, Defra officials, and every single supporter, parliamentarian, celebrities, and ethical animal welfare organisation that has proudly helped make Lucy’s Law a reality.”

Animal Welfare Minister David Rutley visited Mayhew last week

The decision to ban commercial third party sales was announced in December 2018following years of high-profile campaigning by animal welfare organisations and a public consultation, from which there was over 95 per cent support for a ban.

Animal welfare charities, many of which have helped to rehome and rescue the victims of puppy farms, have voiced their support for Lucy’s Law.

Last week the Animal Welfare Minister visited the Mayhew Animal Home in North London, a charity that rehomes puppies and kittens and which supports Lucy’s Law.

David Rutley said, “The legislation laid in Parliament today is the next crucial step in stamping out the appalling trade of farmed puppies and kittens.

“As well as protecting and improving the lives of animals, it’s also about protecting the public from being tricked by unscrupulous sellers. Our ban on third party sales means that people can see first-hand that their new pet is healthy and has come from a responsible breeder.”

Upon hearing the news, Caroline Yates, CEO at Mayhew said, “Mayhew is very pleased to hear that Lucy’s Law has now been laid in Parliament. We have long supported the call to ban third party puppy and kitten sales; and we are delighted that such legislation will come into force next year and make a difference to the lives of countless animals.

“This ban is a great step forward in improving animal welfare standards, and together with the tighter licensing laws introduced last October, will result in significantly fewer animals being bred in and passed around harmful or unsuitable environments by unscrupulous breeders and dealers.

“We hope this legislation will also encourage potential pet owners to first think about visiting their local rehoming shelters when searching for a puppy or dog, cat or kitten to adopt into their families.”

The ban is also expected to deter puppy smugglers who abuse the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) by bringing underage puppies into the UK which are then sold for financial gain.

Megan Harding

UK MPs Undervalue Our Dogs - Why?

2019-03-10T16:32:00.000+00:00

UK DOG NEWS

UK Government Votes to Deny Dog Sentience: More MPs & Charities Speak Out

Ryan O'Meara

Yesterday we brought news that MPs had voted to deny dog sentience as an enshrined law. The Dogs Trust has joined the RSPCA to criticise the move along with those politicians who have spoken out in favour of protecting animal sentience within British law as the UK votes on new laws once withdrawal from the European Union is complete.

The charity statement reads:

Dogs Trust express disappointment at lost opportunity as MPs vote against including animal sentience in the EU Withdrawal Bill negotiations

Dogs Trust warns there is a real risk of animal welfare laws slipping in the UK as MPs voted not to include animal sentience in the EU Withdrawal Bill on Wednesday evening. This is a huge blow for animal welfare as this would have ensured that these obligations, currently in EU law, would have been recognised in UK law after Brexit.

Although the UK is currently a country with some of the better animal welfare standards in Europe, when it comes to animal sentience – the capacity to feel, perceive, or experience – the UK has no legal instrument other than Article 13 of the EU Lisbon Treaty*, which states that animals are sentient beings.

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, comments:

“Animals are sentient beings whose welfare should be protected. We need to ensure that this principle is retained in future UK legislation after we leave the EU otherwise there is a risk to our animal welfare standards. The current EU requirement to fully consider animal sentience obliges policymakers to pass progressive animal welfare laws and is important for ethical reasons as well as to protect animal welfare. We are a nation of animal lovers and we implore Government to remember this as we exit the EU.”

Caroline Lucas MP who raised the amendment last night comments:

"Yesterday’s decision by the Government to vote down my amendment on animal sentience really was disappointing. This change would have guaranteed that animals don’t become collateral damage in the Brexit negotiations – and it’s a real shame it was rejected. I know that animal lovers will be concerned by this setback, but there’s still a chance that the House of Lords can change the Bill – and enshrine animals sentience into British law."

Dogs Trust now strongly urges the House of Lords to take forward the issue of animal sentience when the EU Withdrawal Bill is debated there, most likely early next year.

Further reading:

What does Brexit mean for puppy farming & other animal welfare law?

2019-02-19T16:41:00.003+00:00

Dogs with Depression

Posted by Hannah Dyball in Pet Care

Change happens all the time and while it usually upsets us humans very little, for dogs new things can be very distressing. Maybe you’ve recently moved house or had a baby, or perhaps everyone is grieving the loss of a loved one. Out of the blue, your usually rambunctious dog is sad and withdrawn. No matter how hard you try, there is no way of bringing him round.

Could your dog be depressed? Experts say yes. Dogs can be easily upset by changes in their environment and this can last a matter of days, or in extreme cases, a number of weeks. If your dog becomes depressed they may be lethargic or disinterested, and may even stop eating and drinking altogether. Unless this is nipped in the bud quickly, your pooch may suffer a slow decline.

However, before you self-diagnose your dog’s depression, it is worth getting him examined by your vet to rule out other things. There may be a medical reason why your dog is acting off and it is important to rule out everything. If your vet finds no physical abnormalities then he might consider depression as a cause.

A diagnosis of depression might come as a complete surprise to you, or it may make perfect sense. If there has been an obvious change in your household i.e. a new baby, building work, or a death in the family, your dog’s depression is likely to be a consequence of this. Sometimes a change to the normal routine or a transference of attention from one thing (your dog) to another thing (your new home/baby/partner) can manifest as depression. The weather is another factor that can influence your pet's mood and behaviours, just as it can ours.

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a condition that affects many of us to some extent during the darker winter months. As we move from summer to autumn and winter, your dog's mood is also likely to change. Like with humans, some dogs are more susceptible to seasonal depression than others. It may be that reduced sunlight hours and more rain means their exercise routine has changed and they are being walked far less than before. Dogs that are depressed because of SAD are likely to exhibit withdrawal, lethargy, and a craving for food.

If your dog exhibits any symptoms or behaviours out of the norm, it is important to have him examined by a vet.

Observe your canine throughout the day, paying particular attention to his basic habits such as playing and eating. If your dog's disposition towards people and other house pets was once friendly and playful and has suddenly grown detached and disinterested, depression may be the cause. Likewise, if your dog suddenly eats less than he did before it is possible he is experiencing some sort of physical or mental distress.

Sometimes a visible cause can be found under close inspection i.e. a physical injury or a tooth problem may prompt lethargy and depression if it has not been treated. Similarly, diseases such as Lyme Disease can cause depressive tendencies, while an infectious condition could also be at play. The symptoms of hormonal imbalances like hyperthyroidism are also very similar to those of depression.

So, how do I combat my dog's depression? Perhaps the most obvious advice is to keep your dog active and engaged in 'happy' exercises at home. However sometimes, particularly if your dog is well in the throws of depression, improving your dog's mood yourself is a more difficult task. If your vet suspects severe depression, he may prescribe medication to help boost your dog's mood and get him back on track. A behavioural therapist may also be recommended to re-condition your dog and have him overcoming his anxieties.

While showering your dog with affection is tempting and very often our immediate response to a companion's show of melancholy, this can actually be detrimental to his recovery. Rewarding depressed behaviours with excessive displays of love and attention may encourage your dog to continue behaving this way. That is not to say you should ignore your dog, but you should try to act as normally as possible to reassure your dog that one area of change doesn't have to mean complete change.

If you have any experience of caring for a dog with depression, please share it with our other readers! Feel free to contact me directly with any further questions and/or suggestions for future blog posts: hannahd@viovet.co.uk

2019-02-07T17:37:00.000+00:00

Do You Understand Your Dog's Natural Behaviour?

We tend to naturally think that dogs yawn because they are bored. While this may be true of dogs when they are lying on their beds, yawning is also a calming signal. A stressed dog may yawn and lick his nose to mean "I’m feeling uptight, but let’s all calm down and everything will be better off".

Dogs can stare at you for disturbingly long periods of time. Asking your dog "What? What is it?" is proven to be worthless. So, what do they want? A sitting, quiet dog stares at his owners because he want treats or attention. The canine gaze has adapted over the centuries to make us humans feel sympathy for dogs, and they use this trick quite frequently.

However, direct eye contact is also a sign of aggressiveness. A dog in a threatening position shows his teeth or barks in a low tone.

This dogs’ habit is not always what it seems. Many people believe that dogs try to hump other dogs, teddy bears, and even humans because they want to express dominance or for sexual reasons. However, most dogs hump other dogs as a way to play with them. Since humping is seen as embarrassing behavior, most owners try to train their dogs not to do it.

Humping, as well as many other bodily movements, may become a problem in dogs who display an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Owners should look for specialized help if their dog displays high levels of anxiety.

The dog’s ears are very expressive. Low, backwards ears indicate that the dog is shy or afraid. In any case, touching the dog’s head might not be a very good idea. If you are familiar with the dog, just gently touch his back. Touching a strange dog who displays signs of fear can be quite dangerous.

That is correct. Some dogs eat poop, either their own or poop from someone else. It is a seen as a disgusting habit, but the truth is that dogs find poop tasty. Of course, they can be trained not to eat it. Another possible reason for eating poop is that there are missing nutrients in his or her food, so the dog eats whatever is around to replace whatever is lacking.

Dogs usually chase their tails in a playful manner. However, tail chasing may also be a sign of gland problems or flea allergy dermatitis, so if the behavior is persistent, you should make a visit to your vet.

Many dogs behave perfectly… until the owner leaves the house. The dog’s destructive behavior when she is alone is called "separation anxiety". An anxious dog may urinate, chew, or bark. It is important to train our dogs to tolerate, if not enjoy, being on their own while we are not at home.

Dogs love to lick: they lick themselves, other dogs, humans, and objects alike. Of course, sometimes dogs lick because they like the taste. But licking can mean a variety of things. Dogs may constantly lick a part of their body, which may mean that they are injured or that they have been stung by some insect. Licking is also a calming signal: stressed dogs may yawn and lick their nose or us to calm down. Of course, dogs also lick other dogs and humans to show affection and to gain attention.

The position and movement of the dog’s tail is a very important key to understanding his attitude. A playful dog usually wags his tail, but not every wagging tail is a sign of playfulness. Aggressive dogs also wag their tail, for example. An attentive dog holds his tail stiff, while a relaxed dog’s tail hangs down.

Barking is the natural sound dogs make. It serves many purposes: to alert others that something unusual is going on, to attract his owner’s attention, and to express aggressiveness over other dogs or humans. A barking dog may therefore be excited, happy, fearful, or aggressive. It is important to pay attention to other cues, such as to what the dog is barking at and the position of his tail and ears, to know why a dog is barking and what attitude the bark expresses.

2019-01-10T15:38:00.000+00:00

Did Your Dog Have A Good Christmas?

Many vets have reported an increase in dogs being brought into their surgeries, suffering from aliments which can be directly traced to inappropriate feeding over Christmas.

Most vets attribute this rise in harmful consumption to human treats such as stuffing, chocolate, Christmas pudding, mince pies and grapes. This type of food can be dangerous for dogs and even prove fatal in a few cases. Well meaning owners, who want their dog to have a few extra treats at Christmas may end up causing their best friend great distress.

“If you suspect that your dog has eaten something harmful, like chocolate, raisins, or onions, see a vet immediately.
Onions or food containing onions is dangerous because dogs do not have the necessary enzymes in their digestive system to deal with onion and related foods such as garlic.

Chocolate can cause serious harm to a dog because it contains a substance called theobromine. Similar to caffeine, the stimulant is poisonous to dogs and can affect the heart, central nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms can occur from four hours after ingesting chocolate and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate and seizures.

Also, it should not be forgotten that controlling a dog's diet is a discipline for the whole year, not just over the Christmas season. Along with avoiding chocolate, owners should avoid feeding dogs grapes, raisins, onions or garlic.

2019-01-10T15:18:00.001+00:00

Warning

Please do not treat your dog with a chew toy
made from leather or fibre and from an unknown supplier

Many of the imported variety contain poisons which are slow acting but cause a shortening of your dogs life.

If in doubt don't buy one

Need Help Training Your German Shepherd?

2015-07-01T17:23:00.000+01:00

If you own a German Shepherd Dog and would like some help to train it properly, Follow this link:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/431722

2015-06-20T10:14:00.000+01:00

Avoid Tragedy: Check Your Garden for These Potentially Fatal Growths

Also watch what your dog may eat when out on your walks. Mushrooms are one hazard to look out for.
Mushroom poisoning in pets presents a special problem for guardians and veterinarians because it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between toxic and non-toxic varieties
Symptoms of mushroom toxicity are dependent on the species of mushroom, the specific toxin(s) involved, and the individual pet’s susceptibility to those toxins
Treatment of mushroom poisoning is focused on decontamination and managing clinical symptoms as they arise. It is often difficult to predict the outcome of treatment unless the mushroom can be accurately identified
If you know or suspect your pet has ingested a mushroom, seek help immediately, and if possible, collect any uneaten mushrooms and/or vomit and feces samples to take with you to the vet or emergency animal hospital
By Dr. Becker

Unethical Additves To Dog Food

2015-06-05T15:10:00.002+01:00

By Dr. Becker

Pet food producers are always looking for ways to increase the bottom line, and one of their strategies is to tap into constantly evolving consumer desires… whether or not they make sense for pets.

Kibble is probably one of the best examples of this strategy. Dry pet food was created for the convenience of humans, not for the health of their pets. The natural diet of dogs and cats – fresh, raw, whole prey -- is about as far removed from a bag of highly processed kibble as it gets.

These days, many pet guardians are knowledgeable about the ingredients in pet food and what constitutes a species-appropriate diet for their dog or cat. That’s one of the reasons major pet food companies spend so much money tweaking and advertising their kibble formulas. They’re trying to convince increasingly savvy pet owners of the “benefits” of their biologically inappropriate products.

Odor-Control Diets for People Who Think Their Pet Stinks

Recently, I was scanning a pet food industry journal and came across this:

“Research is constantly being conducted to determine the best ways to balance pet health and wellness and consumer desire to keep their furry friends from smelling up their homes.”1

Obviously, cats and dogs have no qualms about “smelling up the house,” so this is another example of how pet food producers use human desires to create formulas that may not be of much benefit to the animals eating them.

Healthy, well-cared for dogs and cats don’t smell up a house that is reasonably well-maintained, so who is the target consumer for a pet food that controls pet odors? Is it a person who doesn’t provide adequate care for their pet or their home? Or is it a person who can’t tolerate the fact that dogs and cats don’t smell like humans?

It seems to me that no matter how you view the situation, the problem is with the human, not the animal. A pet food designed to control pet odors won’t fix the underlying issues I’ve hypothesized, and my reasonable assumption is that it also won’t contribute in any meaningful way to the health of the pet.

The Quest for Odorless Pet Poop

One of the “odor control” ingredients the journal article mentions is yucca schidigera extract. Yucca schidigera is a flowering desert shrub-tree in the lily family that is native to the deserts of southeastern California, Baja California, New Mexico, southern Nevada and Arizona.

Yucca schidigera is thought to be “capable of reducing waste odor in dogs and cats.” According to one report:

“Yucca ingestion generally improves the character and intensity of canine and feline aroma. The overall decrease in fecal offensiveness is 26%...

Owners are able to detect the effect of yucca on a group level, but it is unknown whether the degree of odor amelioration can be considered relevant in practice. In any event, a material portion of pet owners will not experience a beneficial impact of yucca.

The 12 studies indicate that a dose of 125 mg yucca preparation/kg dry food generally is effective, but higher doses might have more impact.”2

I’m not a fan of dietary additives that are marketed to do things like “decrease fecal offensiveness.” For starters, poop is a waste product -- it isn’t supposed to smell like roses, but it shouldn’t be a near-death experience, either. Secondly, anything that works from the inside out to change the smell of normal feces in a healthy animal is by necessity interfering in some way with the metabolic process.

A better approach is to figure out why your pet’s poop is that obnoxiously stinky. Usually, the culprit is a biologically inappropriate diet loaded with species-inappropriate ingredients.

In addition, yucca extract contains soap-like components called saponins, which are anti-nutrients that interfere with absorption of essential nutrients. Yucca fed short-term is fine, but yucca fed indefinitely isn’t a wise idea.

If your pet’s poop seems fouler smelling than it should, my first recommendation is to transition your dog or cat to a balanced, species-appropriate, organic, and GMO-free diet. When healthy pets are fed a balanced, natural, fresh diet, excess fecal odor shouldn’t occur, and there will also be a smaller volume of poop.

Foods will be healthfully broken down, digested, and absorbed as nature intended, resulting in the production of feces that aren’t that big a deal (literally). Not big and not stinky.

If your pet is eating an excellent quality species-appropriate diet and his poop still seems malodorous, a visit to your veterinarian is in order to check for a possibleunderlying health problem.

Yucca Schidigera for Joint Discomfort

With all that said, yucca schidigera does have application in certain situations.

According to master herbalist Greg Tilford in his book Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life, yucca may be of help to dogs suffering from joint problems, arthritis, or hip dysplasia. It can act as a sort of natural steroid to help stimulate the body to make and use its own corticosteroids and related hormones.3

However, yucca must be used in moderation and should be given to treat a specific condition rather than for everyday, forever use. Too much yucca over long periods of time can irritate the digestive tract, causing loose stools and reversing its benefits.

My recommendation is to avoid feeding commercial pet foods containing yucca on a regular basis, and instead address the real reason your pet has malodorous stools, which is usually the diet. If you’re interested in exploring yucca’s use for a specific health concern, do so under the guidance of a holistic veterinarian or herbalist who can offer dosing guidelines appropriate for your pet’s medical condition.

Useful Dog Training Tool

2015-04-01T11:58:00.001+01:00

Dog Training Tool

A recently published study confirms what dog lovers have always known. Most dogs love to be petted and most can’t get enough of it.

The study researchers observed both shelter and family dogs in an experiment that had the dogs choose whether to spend time with a person who gave them vocal praise or a person who petted them

Without exception, the dogs chose to hang out with the people doing the petting, even when the person praising them was their owner, and the petting person was a stranger

These study results suggest that dogs’ preference for petting as positive reinforcement is a natural response, whereas the use of praise to reinforce desirable behaviour is much more effective when supplemented with another incentive like food treats or petting.

You can use this fact to support your own dog training régime.
(From Dr Becker's website)

More Dog Training Information Here

Wolves And How They Affect You And Your Dog

2015-02-19T12:15:00.003+00:00

Your dog has a strong connection with wolves.

That means wild wolves and the connection stretches back many many thousands of years. These are creatures that survive by cunning and merciless pursuit of prey as well as fighting between themselves.

You will probably know of the background to a wolf pack where they have an alpha male and female as dominant heads of the pack. They have a ridged social hierarchy maintained the strongest and fittest wolves. The old and weakest wolves are at the bottom of the hierarchy, often starve to death when there is not enough food to go round.

The dominant ambitious alpha male, having fought his way to the top, maintains his position by sheer force. This dominance by the alpha male is the basis for many dog training programme because these programmes use the fact that dogs have inherited many of the instincts of the wolf including being subject to domination.

So there it is then - Dominate and Control and you will have an obedient dog.

EXCEPT THAT THE ABOVE IS MOSTLY A LOAD OF C**P

The Facts

Dogs have inherited many instincts and behaviour patterns from wolves, including social behaviour. These instincts and behaviour pattens are now in the genes of your dog. However, the behaviour of a wolf, as a pack member, is very different from the popular belief expressed above. Also for thousands of years dogs have evolved as a separate domesticated version of the wolf. This is because once a few wolves became associated with human groups for mutual benefit, the wolves gradually modified some of their behaviour ( but not all) and over time the breeding of these domesticated wolves produced the basis of the dogs we have today

Wolves are highly sociable animals within their own pack. They have to be because it is only by working together as a pack that they are enabled to successfully hunt for food. This is often very dangerous if the prey is large and lethal.

A wolf pack can usually obtain enough food to sustain every member of the pack although nature sees to it that the strongest hunters get enough to keep them going thus continuing the food supply for the whole pack.

The leadership of the pack is not the hotly contested position that people assume. It comes about mainly by a sort of mutual consent and the needs of the pack. Wolves are not usually ambitious in the way that humans might be. Wolves and dogs are usually content if there is a pack leader, however, if there is a temporary situation without a pack leader they might try to take control for the sake of the pack. Obviously they don't think this way, it's just an instinct.

People who have made a study of wolves in the wild have found that very little actual fighting takes place between members of the same pack. The pack is usually cohesive and each wolf works in harmony with the rest of the pack.

You and Your Dog

So how does this affect your dog and what is the influence on dog training?

You will still use the wolf factor and the alpha dog approach but it is not about dominating your dog. It is about using the basic instincts of your dog to suggest what you want your dog to do. You achieve this by learning to read your dog and using rewards, patience and kindness.
No shouting, no striking the dog, in fact, hardly any punishments at all but lots of rewards and devoting time to your dog.

This method of dog training is sometimes known as "Dog Whispering" or "Dog Listening" but it is not a mysterious method but something any one can learn.

Elsewhere on this Website there are details of several downloadable books, e-books (for e-book readers like Kindle) and CDs. All of these promote the natural way of dog training. You can see more details of what is contained in a typical book by following the link below.

Natural Dog Training

Our New Year Wish

2015-01-06T12:26:00.000+00:00

We wish more people would learn this fact. It would make for better behaved dogs and a lot less stress for owners !

From "Care Dog Training"

Did Your Dog Have A Good Christmas?

2015-01-02T16:18:00.000+00:00

Many vets have reported an increase in dogs being brought into their surgeries, suffering from aliments which can be directly traced to inappropriate feeding over Christmas.

Most vets attribute this rise in harmful consumption to human treats such as stuffing, chocolate, Christmas pudding, mince pies and grapes. This type of food can be dangerous for dogs and even prove fatal in a few cases. Well meaning owners, who want their dog to have a few extra treats at Christmas may end up causing their best friend great distress.

“If you suspect that your dog has eaten something harmful, like chocolate, raisins, or onions, see a vet immediately.

Onions or food containing onions is dangerous because dogs do not have the necessary enzymes in their digestive system to deal with onion and related foods such as garlic. Chocolate can cause serious harm to a dog because it contains a substance called theobromine. Similar to caffeine, the stimulant is poisonous to dogs and can affect the heart, central nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms can occur from four hours after ingesting chocolate and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate and seizures.

Also, it should not be forgotten that controlling a dog's diet is a discipline for the whole year, not just over the Christmas season. Along with avoiding chocolate, owners should avoid feeding dogs grapes, raisins, onions or garlic

Will You Spoil Your Dog This Christmas ?

2014-11-24T17:06:00.001+00:00

From UK Dog News by Ryan O'Meara

Will You Spoil Your Dog This Christmas ?

Dogs could be in for an indulgent Christmas this year, as according to a recent survey by pet product manufacturer, PetSafe.

According to the research more than forty percent of dog owners admit they like to make their best friend feel special by giving them treats – and what better time to make your dog feel extra special than at Christmas.

As well as loving to treat our dogs, the survey also concluded that we are a nation of dog lovers with 83% claiming their dog is one of, if not their highest rated possession. With 63% spending up to £50 per month on their pets, it is certain that there will be a few stockings waiting for our pets on Christmas morning.

The only thing is you should keep a sense of proportion and remember a dog is not a human.

If you want to treat your pet at Christmas, it will probably not appreciate the humour of a funny costume but will love extra treats in the form of food. Here again, be careful because a lot of human food is totally unsuitable for dogs. One important NO! is Chicken or Turkey bones, these are sharp and brittle and very dangerous for dogs.

Enjoy your Christmas but keep your best friend safe

Leaving Something In You Will For Your Dog

2014-09-18T15:10:00.001+01:00

Leaving Something In You Will For Your Dog

(From Viovet website - http://www.viovet.co.uk/)

Considering the majority of people reading this will be pet owners, the idea of bequeathing money and property to animals after death might not be met with such surprise. Apparently, the number of people factoring pets into their wills is on the rise, especially amongst the rich and famous. According to the Animal Legal Defence Fund, making provisions for pets has become increasingly popular in the last decade, with owners leaving money, trust funds, property and entire estates to their furry family members.

But people are not only bequeathing their assets to their own pets; the number of us donating to animal charities, shelters and to adopted strays has increased so much in the last century that today, making provisions for the less fortunate has become standard custom. For those of us who are the sole pet parent with no one to entrust our pets to, leaving a portion of our assets to ensure their continued care makes perfect sense. In fact, we are so devoted to our animals that roughly 1.5 million of the UK plans to leave our money to our pets.

That aside, it is the ones that go above and beyond to provide for their pets after death that I am most interested in; the ones bequeathing family fortunes, jewels, estates, luxury holiday homes and who knows what else to the house pet, slighting their expectant family members in favour of the dog, cat or chicken.

Sep 15th, 2014 - Posted by Hannah Dyball in Pet Discussion

Danger Snakes!

2014-07-20T17:03:00.001+01:00

Dog Owners Urged To Look Out for Snakes on Walks

www.dognews.co.uk

Veterinary charity PDSA is urging dog owners to beware of snakes in woods and grassland, after saving the life of greyhound Cookie, who was bitten on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. The eight-year-old dog is now recovering after her near-fatal encounter with an adder at the popular beauty spot on Tuesda

Sheep dog patrols may curb seaside bacterial infections

2014-05-20T17:25:00.003+01:00

Sheep dog patrols may curb seaside bacterial infections

On the shores of Lake Michigan, border collies were found to be an effective means of controlling bacteria

From BBC News

Border Collies may be an effective weapon against E. coli infections at the seaside according to a new study.

Researchers found that the hard working sheep dogs were successful at keeping seagulls away from beaches.

Gull dropping are known to be a source of E. coli bacteria, which can lead to abdominal cramping and diarrhoea in humans.

High levels of the bug are a leading cause of beach closures in many parts of the world, including the UK.

The bacteria are commonly found in human and animal faeces and can end up in the seas through rain water run off or from sewage.

Seagulls have been implicated in the spread of resistant versions of the bug. A recent report showed that around a third of E. coli samples taken from the birds were resistant to more than one antibiotic.

Shore patrol

In this new study, researchers assigned the dogs to 200-metre stretches of beach along the shores of Lake Michigan in the US, which were patrolled for parts of the summer season. Half way through the dogs were switched to untreated sections.

Populations of Ring-Billed gulls have soared in the region since the 1970s with numbers increasing by 10% per year.

The collies, known for their intelligence and their herding abilities, disturbed the seagulls and kept them from landing on the beaches.

"Most of the time, the dogs were kept on their leads," said Dr Elizabeth Alm from Central Michigan University, who led the study.

"They were released with the leads dropped, only when their handler directed them to chase gulls. Then the dogs were called, they would circle back, and the handler would pick the lead back up."

Over the course of the summers of 2012 and 2013, the scientists recorded the number of birds at each section of beach while water and sand samples were collected and tested for E. coli.

They found that the bacterial counts were significantly lower on those sandy stretches where the dogs had kept the gulls at bay.

Border Collies are known for their intelligence and are prized by sheep farmers for their ability to work hard

However the benefit didn't last through the whole season and the researchers found that later in the summer, bacterial numbers had risen once again. Dr Alm believes that the timing of the dog patrols is crucial to their effectiveness.

"If the E. coli establish in the sand early in the season, they appear to be able to persist, and probably even grow in the sand so that even though the dogs can remove the gulls from the beach later in the season, this late reduction in gulls does not translate in to a late season reduction in E. coli."

One key question though was the worry that the dogs themselves might increase the levels of E. coli if they had to answer nature's call while working on the beach.

"These were professional working dogs," said Dr Alm.

"They were given ample opportunity to take care of their "business" before going to work. They didn't often poop on the beach, but if they did it was immediately picked up by their handler and disposed of off the beach."

The research has been published at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

Soldier Saves Bomb Dog

2014-04-11T17:23:00.001+01:00

From BBC News

During their time at Camp Bastion, Vidar and Ms McDonnell became close companions

A soldier has saved the life of a bomb-hunting dog which she served alongside in Afghanistan.

Vidar, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, sniffed out a haul of enemy weapons while army medic Angie McDonnell was posted there.

But Vidar faced being put down after being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

So Ms McDonnell, a reservist, made it her mission to adopt Vidar and bring him back to her home in south Wales.

Vidar located a haul of Taliban weapons near Camp Bastion

Vidar was facing an uncertain future after becoming nervous and developing bad eyesight

And the dog is now living a happy retirement at her home in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.

'He saved my life'

During their time in Afghanistan, Vidar was on routine patrol near Camp Bastion when he located a haul of guns and grenades.

He alerted his handler and explosives experts were able to disable the weapons which were thought to have been hidden by the enemy to be used against British troops.

But on her return to the UK, Ms McDonnell heard that Vidar, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was facing retirement.

He had become too nervous to carry out the job he had been trained to do and his vision was failing. He was under threat of being put down.

'Heroes'

Ms McDonnell, who works as a paramedic, began a search to find Vidar to help save his life.

"He saved my life so it's only fair that I did what I could to save his," she explained.

"When I heard he had been retired after starting to get scared, I knew I had to track him down to help him.

"I would have done anything to make sure he had a loving home."

Ms McDonnell added: "The dogs out there are heroes and I knew from the first moment I saw him that he was a one-in-a-million. He looked like he needed a cuddle so I went into his kennel and rubbed his belly.

"We became best friends out there and I was sad to leave him when I returned home.

"I had to find him after he had been such a hero in Afghanistan."

Does Your Dog Have Emotions?

2014-02-23T11:11:00.000+00:00

From BBC news

Do Dogs Love?

Ask agility trainers if their dogs feel the emotion of love, and you will get a puzzled look. "Of course dogs love," they would quickly reply. Science, however, is slower to respond and looks for tangible evidence of emotion before admitting its existence.

A new study is beginning to prove with scientific evidence that dogs do indeed love. Over the past two years, Emory University Neuroscientist Gregory Burns has been looking at MRI images of dogs' brains in a study to find out what dogs think of humans. He released a few of his findings in an op-ed piece for the "New York Times" on Oct. 5, 2013.

What the MRI Reveals

Burns and his colleagues have scanned the brains of a dozen dogs trained to go into a MRI machine. He used different stimuli to see how the dogs' brains would react. His findings show that the area of the brain called the caudate nucleus lights up when the dogs' humans returned to view after a brief separation. This is the same area of the brain that is activated when humans feel love.

In his article, Burns says, "The ability to experience positive emotions, like love and attachment, would mean that dogs have a level of sentience comparable to that of a human child. And this ability suggests a rethinking of how we treat dogs."

This type of MRI experiment has never been done before because it was believed dogs had to be anesthetized before going into an enclosed and noisy MRI machine. This made the study of how a dog's brain lights up when presented with different stimuli impossible. Burns looked for a solution and trained 12 dogs to willingly put their heads in an MRI machine for brief periods, so their brains could be studied while the dogs were awake.

Through MRI studies, we will learn more about how similar we are to our canine counterparts. Much of this is no shock to the agility community. We have known how much our dogs love us for decades upon decades. What may be a shock is how this type of information changes dog training.

Choosing A Dog

2014-01-17T12:06:00.001+00:00

Choosing A Dog? - Check This Out First

There is more to choosing a dog than you might think. Here you will learn about some of the things you should take into account even before you start the search for your new “best friend”.

One of the great joys of life is acquiring a new dog. Whether it is a lively fun seeking puppy or a mature dog from a rescue centre there is the excitement of collecting the dog and the eager anticipation of the pleasures of dog ownership to come. But how can you ensure a long and happy relationship? You need to learn about dog care and training as well as considering your own situation before you even start looking for a dog.

Some Essential Considerations

At Home

Are there children in your household.

Do you have other pets.

Do you have a reasonable sized yard or garden.

Have you considered the dog's toilet arrangements.

Are members of your family prepared to spend time training and exercising your dog.

Can you fund good quality feed, some vet's bills, insurance and kennel stays if necessary

Dog Breeds, Size and Weight

You will sometimes need to handle your dog e.g. grooming, trimming nails, bathing or lifting onto scales for a weight check. Obviously, the size and weight of your dog will make this easy (Chihuahua at 2.70 kg to 3.63 kg) or near impossible (St Bernard at 75 kg to 91 kg)

Exercise

Exercise is a key factor in maintaining your dog's health. Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers will not need as much daily exercise as a working breed such as a German Shepherd.

You need to decide how much time can be given to the task. The less time available the more important it is to acquire a smaller dog.

Home Environment

If you like your house to be warm some dogs may find it distressing – a Shih Tzu dog for instance or a dog with a thick coat. If you have an immaculate home filled with expensive furniture, you will need to think carefully about the sort of dog you intend to buy especially if you want a puppy.

Grooming Your Dog

You need to groom your dog on a regularly. Size comes into it but so does the type of coat. A short coated dog is obviously going to pick up less dirt, and mud. and be easier to clean and groom. A muddy dog may require washing. This needs a facility such as an old fashioned tin bath. You could use your shower or even your own bath but it means a lot of cleaning up afterwards.

Temperament

You'll find that working breeds, a broad group, including everything from guard dogs to sheep dogs are often more stubborn and tough-minded. Terriers are often bossy and a little aggressive. Hounds are usually relaxed and friendly, but sometimes difficult to train.

Carry out some research into different breed characteristics. Do this on line and ask your vet's opinion. Dog breeders will normally promote their own breed so they are not necessarily the first people to ask for an opinion.

You will be looking to compare the following points.

Energy level
Activity and playfulness levels
Affection and Loyalty levels
Intelligence
Aggression (towards people/other dogs/other pets)
Ease of training
Heat and cold tolerance
Compatibility with people and other animals

Some Breed Comparisons:

Labrador

This breed is good with children and quite intelligent. They can be hyperactive if they do not get enough exercise because they are basically a working dog.

Golden Retriever

These dogs are similar in temperament to the Labrador but have less tendency to hyper- activity

Poodle

An intelligent dog. It has an excellent temperament. It was used as a hunting dog in times gone by so it is quite tough by nature.

Beagle

Friendly, clever and not too big, making them suitable as a family dog.

They can be over energetic if not exercised. They respond well to firm training.

Cairn Terrier

Busy little dogs that adapt well to children. They are usually of good quiet temperament

Collie

The Collie and the smaller Shetland are both calm, gentle and tolerant breeds that usually do well with children. They do need some constructive play i.e. fetching a ball etc.

German Shepherd

Very intelligent but it is a big dog and needs exercise and constructive play. It is loyal and a good guard dog. However, a German Shepherd must be properly trained.

Cross-Bred Dogs

Come in all shapes and sizes and typically should not suffer from in-bred temperament faults.

Owning a dog is great fun but you need to think carefully about management before you take on your new “best friend”.

Need More Help?

If you would like more information about acquiring a dog or about caring for a dog please visit:

The Dog Care and Training Website : www.dogtraining-tips.co.uk

Here you will find books and lots of free stuff which may be of use to you.

Five things you vet says that aren't true.

2013-10-08T12:21:00.002+01:00

As someone who's had a lot of experience with vets, (good and bad and not just with dogs), this is a very interesting read.
Five things your vet says that aren't true.

Dog Training and Dog Care Manual

2013-10-04T15:45:00.000+01:00

If you have not yet purchased a copy of Dog Training and Dog Care you might be interested to learn that an ebook version for Amazon's “Kindle” has recently been released and is available at :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NAULB0

On the Amazon page there is a link ”Try It Free” (Sample the beginning of this book for free ) Click on the button “Send Sample Now” This will enable you to get a flavour of the book and also see detailed contents.
It's worth a look.

Funny Friday.

2013-10-04T11:28:00.001+01:00

Friday Funny.

2013-09-20T15:48:00.000+01:00

Fall/Autum toxins poisounous to Dogs and Cats.

2013-09-17T15:40:00.000+01:00

The start of fall/autumn brings new seasonal household items that pose a threat to the safety of our pets. These common household items can cause serious problems if ingested by animals. Here is a list of seasonal products that we recommend keeping away from pets.

MUSHROOMS
While most mushrooms are generally non-toxic, certain types can be very dangerous. One of the most dangerous is the Amanita phalloides or death cap mushroom which is found throughout the United States. The proper identification of mushrooms is extremely difficult and often only done by experts. Therefore, it is wise to consider all ingestions of unidentified mushrooms as toxic until proven otherwise. Depending on what type of mushroom is ingested, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, tremors, and seizures, with liver and kidney damage occurring later. Pet owners should scour their yard frequently to get rid of any mushrooms.

MOTHBALLS

While you may think these white balls are benign, they are not. Mothballs typically contain either paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. While the old fashioned mothballs (naphthalene) are often considered more toxic, both can be deadly. Symptoms include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, tremors, weakness, possible kidney or liver failure, and severe abnormality of your pet’s red blood cells.

MOUSE AND RAT POISONS (RODENTICIDES)

As you prepare to winterize your garage, cabin, or house, make sure to place poisonous baits in areas where your pet cannot reach them (e.g., high up on shelves, hidden behind work spaces, etc.). Rodenticides also pose the potential for relay toxicity, if your dog eats a large number of dead mice poisoned by rodenticides, they can experience secondary effects.” Because there are several different types of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with different active ingredients and types of action, it is imperative to keep your pets away from all of these potentially dangerous poisons.

COMPOST BINS OR PILES
Piles of decomposing and decaying organic matter and molding food products in your backyard compost pile have the potential to contain ‘tremorgenic mycotoxins’, meaning molds which cause tremors. Even small amounts ingested can result in tremors or seizures within 30 minutes to several hours.

ANTIFREEZE

As people prepare their boats, cars or cabins for winter, pets may inadvertently be exposed to antifreeze. As little as one teaspoon in a cat or a tablespoon or two for dogs, depending on the size of animal, can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys, which result in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

RED MAPLE LEAVES
Horse lovers, beware. As little as one pound of dried maple leaves blowing into your horse’s pasture can be toxic. When ingested, these leaves result in a severe hemolytic anemia – it causes red blood cells to rupture, causing weakness, pale gums, an elevated heart rate and shock.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all these products in labeled, tightly-sealed containers out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian.

The Dog Diaries

D Day For Lucy's Law

Lucy’s Law will come in to force on 6 April 2020

UK MPs Undervalue Our Dogs - Why?

Dogs with Depression

Need Help Training Your German Shepherd?

Avoid Tragedy: Check Your Garden for These Potentially Fatal Growths

Unethical Additves To Dog Food

Odor-Control Diets for People Who Think Their Pet Stinks

The Quest for Odorless Pet Poop

Yucca Schidigera for Joint Discomfort

Useful Dog Training Tool

Wolves And How They Affect You And Your Dog

Our New Year Wish

Did Your Dog Have A Good Christmas?

Will You Spoil Your Dog This Christmas ?

Leaving Something In You Will For Your Dog

Danger Snakes!

Sheep dog patrols may curb seaside bacterial infections

Sheep dog patrols may curb seaside bacterial infections

Soldier Saves Bomb Dog

From BBC News

Related Stories

Does Your Dog Have Emotions?

Do Dogs Love?

What the MRI Reveals

Choosing A Dog

Five things you vet says that aren't true.

Dog Training and Dog Care Manual

Funny Friday.

Friday Funny.

Fall/Autum toxins poisounous to Dogs and Cats.

Lucy’s Law will come in to force on
6 April 2020