Woof – the blog
Short nosed dogs – time to stop…
A short piece by Jonathan Leake in last weeks’ Sunday Times regarding short nose (brachiocephalic dogs) gave me cause for optimism. Over the centuries, man has bred dogs to be more extreme in their appearance all for the benefit of fashion. This has been to the detriment of the wellbeing and quality of life for […]
Out of sight, out of mind – No!
I came across a chap with his terrier type dog this morning whilst out with Ziggy. He proceeded to behave, somewhat, oddly with his dog. As we approached, he turned away from us, shortened the dogs’ lead and made him sit, all the while blocking the dogs’ line of site to us. During our approach […]
Over excited dogs – putting the time in -the Royal Navy way
I met a couple with a very excited dog today. It reminded me of my time in the Royal Navy. Way back in 1982, after 9 years, I found myself drafted to my first ship. This was, of course, en route to the Falklands Islands and a conflict going on in those chilly waters.. I […]
Re-homing – loosen the lead a little
In April 2018 the Times newspaper reported there were 130,000 dogs in UK rescue centres. a staggering number of animal, I think most sane people would agree. Perhaps it is time that the rescue centres revised their re-homing policies. I’ve visited some of the bigger charities websites such as the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust […]
A bit of a stretch – the curse of extension leads
In every vet surgery, pet shop or any store selling pet supplies you will see them. Hanging in their rows and plastic cases, promising the owner the perfect answer for walking their dogs. Why, with these leads, you need never fear your dog running off again and, they get to have a good walk on […]
It’s all about control — a shocker…
Consider this. You have a young child, maybe 4 or 5 years old. You have a big, open garden that you like to let you’re child play in. He, however, is adventurous so, he likes to go further afield. To stop him straying you decide that you can use technology to help. You fit him […]
Getting along together
Cats hate dogs and dogs hate cats — right? Well, this is not always the case. These, traditional mortal enemies, can actually get along pretty well. I am often asked about bringing a dog into a home with an existing cat or vice versa. This is a source of concern for many people who would like to […]
Who do you call? Simple advice for choosing a dog behaviourist
So, you have a dog with problems. Who do you call? Certainly not ghostbusters! During my work over the past few years, I have met quite a few dog owners with worrying tales to tell of their experiences with dog trainers and behaviourists. Some of the advice they are given is staggeringly bad, from keeping […]
A footballers injury for dogs…
There’s nothing quite like seeing your pooch enjoying himself. Swimming, running, chasing things, jumping; the sheer joy they show when allowed to have fun is fantastic to behold. Footballers are regularly sidelined through injuries to their cruciate ligaments. One of the hazards of playing football, certainly in the rarified professional level. It comes as no […]
The new guy — fitting in with your other pups…
So, you have got a couple of lovely dogs who get on really well together. You’ve got plenty of room so why not get another dog? It seems a great idea. Off you go to the local rescue centre and find the perfect addition to your little band of fur balls. You go through the […]