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Dog doc - reader's questions

Separation Anxiety: How long should your dog be left?

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What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is defined as when your dog shows signs of stress at being left, usually in the house on their own.  The dog will often bark, or howl, sometimes for long periods.  This may result in complaints from neighbours.

Can your dog stay calmly in another room?

Other symptoms can include repetitive behaviours, such as chewing their paws or over licking themselves.  Or they might become destructive; chewing furniture or even the fabric of the house itself.  Sometimes dogs become ‘naughty’ – soiling in the house, or pulling rubbish from the bin.

It may seem obvious that these behaviours are seeking attention, but that doesn’t make your life any easier!   Basically, your dog is not happy without you.

Starting young

In order to avoid separation anxiety, you first of all need to develop confidence in your dog.  They need to be certain of your love and your presence.  You need to spend time with them, playing and petting them.  If you have obtained a puppy from a KC Assured Breeder then it should be well socialised and used to normal family life.

When you get your puppy home, it might be tempting to spend all day, every day with it, or to take it with you everywhere.  However, it is vital that your puppy is used to being left, right from the start.  I always have a Crate for my puppies and they sleep in this, in the kitchen, from day one.  They know that this is their bed and their safe space.  The puppy should be rewarded every time they are put into their crate.  Never use it as a punishment – if something has gone wrong, it was probably your fault!

The front door is Sunny’s preferred place

Create calm

When you are in the house, try to encourage an atmosphere of calm.  Easier said than done, I know!  If you have children, there will inevitably be comings and goings, visitors and the normal hustle and bustle of family life.  But try nonetheless to ensure that for some of the day at least, the dog is able to relax, while you are relaxed.

Reward the behaviour you want

When you see your dog lying calmly, reward it.  The best way to do this is with a calm, gentle stroke and quiet verbal praise.  You can say something like “Good settle, well done”.

The next stage is to have your dog calm and relaxed away from you, while you are in the house.  Your dog might like lying at your feet, but they should equally be able to lounge around elsewhere.  Some dogs actively seek other space – Sunny prefers to lie by the front door.  Again, if this is a challenge for your dog, try leaving them for a few minutes, then return and praise.  Gradually build up the time, until they are not fussing to come back to you.

A favourite spot

Go out without them

It is hard for dogs to understand that you will be back.  You cannot explain to them that all is fine and you’ll be back soon.  However, if you make it seem like no big deal, there is more chance that they will remain calm when you are not around.  Try to avoid giving them a great big welcome when you come back – just walk in and get on with making a cup of tea.  Then when you are settled, give them some love.

As with all training and behaviour, you must practice if you want success.  So don’t spend all day every day with your dog and then expect them to manage without you.

Equally, going out to work for ten or twelve hours every day is a bit unfair on a dog.  I used to think that no-one should ever work full time and have dogs.  But I understand now that it is not that simple.  Dogs naturally sleep for most of the day.  So if they are given a walk or two, are able to go to the toilet every few hours (or have a run or yard to stay in), then they are probably fine.  Equally, if you have more than one dog, they will interact with each other.  NB: I am not suggesting you get two puppies together!

Provide stimulation

Dogs do need something to think about!  In the wild, they would be hunting for food, which they clearly do not need to do in our homes.  Having said that, you can now buy interactive feeding bowls that help the dog eat more slowly, or keep it entertained for longer.

You can also buy interactive toys for your dog.  Although to be honest, having a box of toys and a few bones to chew will provide plenty of stimulation.  Empty yoghurt pots or drinks bottles can provide hours of fun!

Dogs do like company, but there are lots of options.  I always leave the radio on when I’m out.  If we are out in the evening, I might stick the TV on – lots of dogs watch TV.   And dogs don’t have to have other dogs for company; many dogs enjoy being around other animals, such as cats.

Finally, you can of course hire a dog walking service, such as Paws2Pavement, who will come in and let your dog out, spend time with them or take them for a walk.

Ask for help?

You are very welcome to CONTACT ME to ask for my advice.  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Please let me know if you have found this post helpful?

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Breed Index

Husky – Interview with an owner

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Husky – do you fancy owning a clown?

I love a Husky, I think they are beautiful dogs.  They are from the Working Group of dogs and look like dogs should look in my opinion, (a bit like wolves).  They seem so wild and free.  But what are they really like to own?

Letty says that she knew she wanted an active, larger breed of dog, but wasn’t sure what that might mean until she saw a Siberian Husky and fell in love.  She made contact with a breeder and was invited to go and meet some.

“I found myself at this person’s door and was struck by the fact that it looked an awful lot like a prison, with double gates and an ‘airlock’ type system! What followed was a fantastically enthusiastic greeting by 6 gorgeous Huskies that completely stole my heart.”

Unfortunately Letty was not able to have a Husky straight away as she was living in a flat.  So she very sensibly helped out with the breed-specific welfare run by these breeders.  She learnt all about the fantastic challenges that comes with owning Huskies.

Gus’ journey home

Gus came from a breeder in Romania, bought to become a potential show and stud dog.   Letty fell in love with him from the moment she met him, which was delayed by his time in quarantine.  He turned out to not be suitable for showing, but he was a fantastic working dog and loved running in harness.

“Due to his time in quarantine during his formative years he can’t speak dog very well and struggled being in a big pack.”

Letty was not able to have him though, so he went off to someone else.  Then about a year later she got a call:

“Gus is coming back to us, he’s in a real state!” By this point I was living somewhere new and my response was “I’m coming to get him this weekend.” There was absolutely no question in my mind that he’d come back at exactly the right point in time and that he was MY dog. But he was skin and bone, was riddled with fleas and had obviously been beaten, because whenever you went to touch him he would cower on the floor.  That’s how I chose my dog, or rather, how he chose me.

An active lifestyle

Letty says that they are quite active people., who like walking, camping and being outside.  Gus fits in with this lifestyle very well.  She says that taking on any dog is going to be a bit of an adjustment, but having Gus has been better than expected.

Gus was 5 years old when Letty got him, so she didn’t have to cope with chewing or the manic puppy stage.  There were some issues with ‘marking’ in the house while he was settling, but they worked through this.

He is now 11 years old with spondylosis and suspected hip arthritis so his exercise has been cut down.  She does some training everyday and walk for half an hour a day with Gus, which used to be an hour a day.   Letty also used to run him in harness on the bike in the winter and did an agility class every week.

Husky characteristics

Huskies are most definitely clowns!  Letty says they seem to enjoy making us laugh. They are talkative and will often ague back when you tell them off, many always wanting to have the last word!

They are loving and enjoy cuddles, but not loyal; they’ll snog anyone within tongue reach! They’re a very empathetic breed of dog.

“Gus always knows if I’m down, upset or ill, and he’ll never be far away or he’ll do something daft to make me laugh.”

They are intelligent, but not in the same way as a Border Collie who wants to please people. Huskies have an independent intelligence, they are problem solvers and question askers. This is what they were bred to do.

Letty says that Gus is pretty chilled and easy-going, which she feels is because of his bad experiences.  Apparently he was as mad as other Huskies before he went to that first home.

Husky challenges

They ARE trainable, but they have to see the point in what you’re asking them to do. Mental exercise is just as important, if not more so, than physical exercise.  But they should also settle when not working, the idea being they conserve energy until they need to run.

Other issues with Huskies:

  • They are escape artists.  They can clear 6ft fence from a standstill and 8ft with a bit of a scrabble.  If they can’t jump over they’ll dig under.  They can jump out of open windows, even upstairs!  Once they’re out, they’re off – they LOVE to run!
  • No road sense, so no off lead walks unless it is a very secure area.
  • They are fabulous landscape artists!  If you like a nice garden and a clean house then a Husky is not the dog for you.
  • There is lots of fur!  Huskies have a double coat with a thick layer of undercoat to keep them warm in -50⁰C.  But it when it comes out, you’ll have fur EVERYWHERE. If you don’t like seeing fur ‘tumbleweeds’ float across your living room, a Husky probably isn’t for you.
  • If you have small furry animals like cats or rabbits and you want them to stay alive, then a Husky probably isn’t for you. Huskies have a very high prey drive; they  can catch birds out of the sky, or next door’s cat.  They will eat what they catch.
  • When bored, they make their own fun, which includes being destructive.  They can eat through doors and stud walls.  Huskies will chew things up astoundingly quickly!  Letty’s sister only got up to answer the door to a delivery man and the sofa was dead when she got back.
  • They will also push the limits unless you are very clear with the boundaries.  Huskies have got a bad reputation for being aggressive of late. Letty has only ever met one truly aggressive husky, the rest are just trying to dominate.  But they can sound intimidating when they’re grumping and grumbling at you.
  • They are very vocal, which may be a positive or a negative depending on your point of view (or how many neighbours you’ve got!)
Hair anyone?

Who should have a Husky?

You must be an active person with plenty of time to spend with your dog. They are not suitable for someone who works full time.  Not suited for someone who doesn’t have much experience with dogs as they will push and push  the limits until they’re telling you what you can and can’t do.

Letty’s advice:

“Research, research, research. Meet the breed. Ask questions. Volunteer. Don’t be set on a puppy, consider an older rescue or rehome. Second hand dogs give first class love.”

As always, I am incredibly grateful to Letty for giving us such a clear insight into owning one of these beautiful dogs.

Ask for help?

I hope you have enjoyed my insight into owning Huskies?  Please comment and share your views and experiences?  What breed would you like to know about?  Or do you have a breed of dog and would like to share your views on living with your dog?  Please CONTACT ME to let me know?

You are very welcome to CONTACT ME to ask for my advice?  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Activities with your dog

What is an Agility Show?

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Agility Show – what is it and why would you go?

If you follow me and read my posts then you will know that I am pretty passionate about dog agility.  I have done other things with my dogs, most notably flyball, with Aura.  I have competed in obedience and had a go at heelwork to music.  So what is the attraction of an Agility Show?

For me, it is about having fun with your dog, pure and simple.  It is about spending focused time with your dog, working together and doing something they enjoy.  This is particularly important if you have more than one dog, as you need to spend some time with them on their own.  You need to pay attention to them as an individual and learn about their personality and what they like.

Training vs competition

Classes at an Agility Club are a great way to have fun with your dog.  They are very sociable too; you get to hang out with other lovely dog people, chatting about your dogs.  You get to run about, keeping yourself and your dog fit.  And you have to think, following instructions and trying to remember the course and how to handle it.

But if you want to go to the next level, you need to enter a show.  Agility shows are run throughout the year, around the country.  However they are mainly concentrated over the ‘summer’ months, ie April to September.  During this time there will be several shows held over every weekend.

Different heights

I have already explained about the equipment and the different grades and rules in my beginners guide to agility, but I forgot to mention the height differences.  This is important, as it puts the dogs into (currently) three main categories: small, medium and large.  It is complicated by the introduction two years ago of an optional (for show organisers) Lower Height, which can be added to all three of the current heights.  Usually, at the moment, shows offer a Lower Height Option (LHO) in the classes for large dogs, as there have historically been many more large dogs than small and mediums.

Dogs are measured to confirm their height at official measuring sessions.  A metal hoop is placed over their shoulders and they must be under the hoop to get into the category.  Border Collies have nearly always measured as large dogs, hence the majority of competing dogs are large.

Over the last few years however, there have been several changes to this situation, in addition to the LHO being added.  These include:

  • more medium and small dogs being run, making these classes bigger
  • smaller collies being bred, measuring into medium and even small classes
  • an increasing number of other dog breeds coming into agility

Very tall dogs might be able to ‘step over’ the jumps, but any jumping, climbing or running puts strain on their joints.  They will also have more difficulty getting through the tunnels and the weaves.  On the other hand, there are plenty of smaller dogs who struggle with even the ‘small’ jumps.

Small dogs are easy

You might think that a small dog would be easier to run in agility.  Dream on!  They are in no way easier, in my opinion.  For a start, as I have explained many times, Border Collies are simply motivated to do it.  Other breeds have different motivations; in the case of terriers, for example, they just want to run off after a scent.  Some dogs are just not that fussed about doing it.  When they are motivated, they are just as fast as a collie.

It might also seem that small dogs find it easier to negotiate the obstacles.  This is also not the case, as I saw yesterday.  I watched around 30 small dogs do a course and none of them went clear!  And then I saw an amazing character fail to touch the bottom of the dog walk!  Bless her, and well done to her handler.  I do not think I would have her patience :p

What happens at a show

Briefly, there are different classes for different grades and heights.  You enter the ones appropriate to you and your dog.  Usually a dog will run in a maximum of four classes per day.  You receive a ‘running order’ a few days before the show.  This tells you which order the classes are being held and in which ring they are happening.  You also find out when you are supposed to run your dog in each class.  This might be at the beginning, middle or end.

For example, you will find out that you are doing a grade 3 agility class in ring 4 and your running order is 64, out of 107 dogs.  The class is the second class in the ring, with the first class having 58 dogs.  This tells you that your class won’t start for at least an hour into the show, and that it will be at least an hour after it starts before you should run.

The complication is that in addition to knowing when you are supposed to run, you also have to know when the class is ‘ready for walking’.  You need to go round the course, without your dog, learning which way to go.  This is a crucial part of the competition.

In an ideal world, we would teach the dog to read numbers, so they could figure it out.  Sadly, they are not able to do that, so we have to tell them what to do.

Why I love an agility show

Agility is fun!  Did I mention that?  The dogs absolutely love it.  They get a real buzz from being around it, even when they are not competing.  It is really stimulating for them and they love to run with you.  They don’t know or care if they have won or lost, they just know that they are doing something really special with you.

Are you sure you want this jump?

The people are great.  Unlike some sports and activities, where people are all really competitive and can be bitchy, or ‘cliquey’, agility is a real community, where everyone supports everyone else.  If you want to see examples of good sportsmanship, go to an agility show.  We all know how hard it is to work with your dog, so we all celebrate the victories and commiserate with those who have struggled.

As a way to spend a day, or a weekend, it’s pretty cool.  You get to hang out with lovely dog people, and your dogs.  It is time being outside, moving about.  Oh and you get a rosette, if you’re really lucky 🙂

What I’m not so keen on

It’s tiring!  You spend most of the day walking and running about.  Agility is demanding, both mentally and physically.  There is also a lot of hanging about.  Each run takes around 30 seconds.  Four runs = 2 minutes.  And it can be quite expensive.  We don’t camp (in a caravan) at shows, but most people do and this all adds up.

Still, it is a lot better than sitting in the house all weekend watching the telly.  See you there!

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

Ounce's Adventures

Happy 12th Birthday Sunny!

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Wishing my Sunny girl a happy birthday!

Sunny is my dog of a lifetime – she changed everything for me.  I have already talked about Life-changing dogs when it was Busy’s birthday in January.  Busy is a special girl who has enabled me to volunteer in schools, making a difference to lots of children’s (and adults’) lives.

Fierce? Or just intense

Sunny is a different kind of dog.   My aunt described her recently as ‘fierce’ when looking at the calendar picture of her for this month.  She certainly has an intensity in her eyes when the ball is in her sight!  But she is not fierce.  She does have tremendous focus though and a willingness to learn.

A true Border Collie

Sunny has all the attributes you want in a Border Collie.  She is active and energetic, able to keep going for as long as it takes.  In fact she doesn’t know when to stop and would keep fetching a ball until she drops.  Sunny wants to do it – whatever ‘it’ is.  Play fetch, do agility, go out with the bikes, play with the other dogs…

She has the intelligence to figure it out and certainly knows how to work it.  People who don’t know her are immediately trained by her in the art of ball throwing.  She is full of character and won’t put up with any rubbish.

Sunny is not a cuddly dog; she will tolerate a cuddle on her terms.  She will come up onto the sofa occasionally, when it suits her and usually when she wants something.  I did not put her forward to be a therapy dog because she doesn’t particularly love children, unlike all the others.  She can snatch treats too.

A great mum

I decided to breed from Sunny before I met her – it was something I always fancied doing.  She had three litters – 22 puppies, over four years.  As a mum she was conscientious and diligent, but not especially loving.  They were perfectly cared for but not molly coddled.  All have grown into wonderful dogs.

An agility dog

It was also my intention to start agility before I got her and what a journey that has been!  As with most Border Collies, she is incredibly keen and very fast.  She really ‘gets it’ – tearing around so happily, although not always being prepared to pay attention to me!  I spent the first few years of my agility training desperately trying to keep up with her.  Bless her, she still absolutely loves it, when given the chance.

Another birthday, another year older

Although twelve is a ‘good age’ for a dog and she is certainly regarded as a ‘veteran’ in many ways, Sunny is far from old.  Having her family around her definitely keeps her young in spirit.  She shows no sign of slowing down on walks and is perfectly happy chasing after a ball, or running around with the others.

Sunny’s party trick – singing Happy Birthday, of course!

Ask for help?

You are very welcome to contact me to ask for my advice.  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

If you enjoy hearing about Ounce and her family and want more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.  Please CONTACT ME if you would like me to write about a specific topic?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think?

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Breed Index

Bassett Hound – interview with an owner

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Bassett Hound: if it’s character you want, look no further!

Janet has given me a wonderful insight into what it is really like to own a Bassett Hound, having had four of them over 30 years.  She says that:

“We wanted a characterful dog and one possessed of a fairly gentle and laid-back nature. We also wanted a ‘largish’ dog but had limited space at the time. Bassets are medium to large sized dogs on short legs which seemed to us a good compromise.”

Aren’t I beautiful

Lola, who is Janet’s current Bassett Hound is described as pretty laid back, loves company and is very happy to travel in the car anywhere. If she needs to come to work, she’ll happily do so. She also likes plenty of exercise, which is particularly important to Janet. She even goes running with Janet from time to time!

There’s no rush

Bassets do things at their own speed and in their own time. There’s absolutely no point trying to hurry them along. If you try, they will slow up even more! In Janet’s experience, this is typical of the breed.  Lola, has a huge character with a bigger heart. She is fiercely independent, funny, gentle and loving.

Butter wouldn’t melt

Part of the pack

Janet feels that Bassett Hounds definitely prefer a home with other dogs, as they love being part of a pack.  That pack mentality not only means they don’t like being left alone.  However, they can get the upper hand if they aren’t shown their place. You need to count yourself as a pack member too and make sure they don’t try to boss you around! We would say not a dog for novice owners.

“You need oodles of patience and tolerance. Plan for the worst whilst hoping for the best. (Damage limitation!)”

So laid back

Character or challenge?

The features of Bassett Hounds which make them so lovable as characters can also make them a bit of a challenge, if we are being honest.  They are described as unbiddable (therefore can be unreliable off lead) stubborn, totally untrustworthy around food, (not to mention sofas and beds).  They are prone to laziness if given half a chance, notoriously hard to house train.  Bassetts can carry a bit of a ‘houndy’ smell around with them.

With regards to training, Janet says:

“I should probably do more training than I do but I at least try to reinforce basic commands on a daily basis. Classes are tricky as Bassets are often disruptive and get asked to leave!”

Lola has plenty of exercise; she has around 90 minutes in the morning off lead and two shorter walks later in the day.  Having walked with Janet and Lola this morning, I can report that she is more than capable of keeping up with the collies and me going at a brisk pace.  She was completely unimpressed when we got back to the car after an hour!

Those eyes!

In future, Janet feels she would like to have a puppy, having always had rescues.  She says that if you haven’t raised a dog from a puppy it can be hard to deal with the ‘issues’ they invariably arrive with.  However, it is also very true that watching a dog flourish when they’ve had a rotten start is very satisfying (and a real testament to Janet’s patience!)  I have talked about the benefits or otherwise of having a rescue dog – Rescue or Breeder?

Ask for help?

I hope you have enjoyed my insight into owning a Bassett Hound?  Please comment and share your views and experiences?  What breed would you like to know about?  Or do you have a breed of dog and would like to share your views on living with your dog?  Please CONTACT ME to let me know?

You are very welcome to CONTACT ME to ask for my advice?  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Shop

Medication for your dog

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Medication – where do you buy yours?

Until recently, I was able to buy any medication from my vet, as you should do.  However, since Luna’s diabetes diagnosis in December 2017, I have had a bit of a re-think.  She has to have an insulin injection every 12 hours.  See my post about caring for your  diabetic dog for more details.  It’s pretty straightforward, but I must admit the cost of it all does start to add up.

Luna needs:

  • One VetPen kit
  • Needles – 2 per day
  • Caninsulin cartridges – 1 per week
  • Sharps disposal bin

She also has a special diet – Royal Canin Dry Dog Food Diabetic, which you can’t buy from Royal Canin 🙁

After a few months of getting her stabilised, things are generally settled, but we continue to need supplies.  Luna also has to have her ‘glucose curve’ done, which means a whole day at the vet with a blood glucose check done every hour.  The vet usually sends off her blood to the lab for analysis, so that they can see how things have been going for her.

Buying medication online

Some of this is pretty straightforward.  I buy the Royal Canin Diabetic food from Amazon.  Or I can buy the food and the needles from Pet Drugs Online.  They are a  great company, really easy to use.  Delivery is normally free and it’s pretty prompt.

There is a challenge though; buying prescription drugs online.  For these, you must get a written prescription  from your vet.  You will have to pay a fee for this (about £14).  It’s a bit of a faff, but you do then pay a fraction of the price for the drugs themselves.

Once you have the written prescription, you then scan it and upload it onto the site in order to place the order.

A word of warning

I was not able to buy the VetPen cartridges from Pet Drugs Online as they don’t appear to sell these.  They sell vials for syringes, but I use the pen.  It cost over £60 to buy (from the vet’s), but it is so easy to use.
Anyway, I then went to Animed to buy the cartridges.  Using their site was nothing like as straightforward and I wasn’t very happy with their service.  To be fair, this was partly because I tried to order more cartridges than it said on the prescription, thinking I could just order a bigger stock.  But they didn’t make it clear that I couldn’t do this and then didn’t tell me why they hadn’t sent my order.   This meant I had a total panic as I ran out of insulin for Luna!  Fortunately the vet was able to give me some and I did receive the order, so I do now have a bit of stock.

Other medication

I give Sunny Metacam to help ease her arthritis.  I have saved around £50 ordering this online.  Overall, it has already saved me a significant amount of money buying the meds online, but it is more hassle.

NB:  I do not insure my dogs.  This is partly because I have so many and partly because I resent paying insurance when my dogs are generally pretty healthy.  Obviously I would have been able to claim for some of Luna’s treatments and meds, but I suspect there would have been an annual limit on this.

I appreciate that many people feel it is irresponsible not to insure your pets, because you might then be unable to pay for the treatment they need.  Personally, I would rather save the money elsewhere and use that fund when needed.  What do you think?  Do you buy stuff online?   What would you recommend?

Ask for help?

You are very welcome to contact me to ask for my advice.  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

If you enjoy hearing about Ounce and her family and want more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.  Please CONTACT ME if you would like me to write about a specific topic?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think?

Dog doc - reader's questions

10 Common Mistakes of New Dog Owners

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What are the mistakes dog owners make?

I’ve been reflecting on why dogs end up being re-homed – what is it that makes someone feel that they cannot cope?  It was one of the questions I asked on my breed questionnaire and I was pleased that those who responded generally said they did cope with their dog.

Apparently, only 10% of dogs stay with one owner for the whole of their lives.  Last November saw a rise in the number of dogs being abandoned.  So why does this happen?

Matching expectations

  • Buying a cute puppy that grows much bigger than expected.  NB: All puppies are more or less the same size at birth!  I think there is a common misconception that a small puppy will only grow into a small dog.  It very much depends on the age at which you see it and bring it home and of course what its parents are like.  Even if you buy a puppy from a responsible breeder, you may not see both parents.  Sometimes puppies grow bigger than their mothers, (as Ounce has done).
  • You can tell what a puppy is going to be like from the first time you see it.  Hmm, I can recount many examples of a puppy being ‘the quiet one’ or ‘the lively one’ and then seeing it as an adult and realising that it changed quite  a bit!  The main reason that this is not true however is that when visiting puppies, you are only there for a short time.  So they might all be asleep, or all rushing about, except for the one that you are looking at.  Just because one puppy seems to snuggle into you does not necessarily mean that it will always be a snuggle monster!

Starting out

  • Being unrealistic about puppy’s behaviour in the first few days.  The first few nights and weeks are critical in a puppy’s life.  How you manage this period can make a big difference to how well your puppy develops.  Common mistakes at this time include: not watching and managing toileting; not getting up in the night to check on puppy; not managing the puppy in your home, so that it is left to chew and damage your things.  Puppies need to be safe, which is why I always recommend Cages and Crates.
  • Inconsistent response to behaviours.  This happens most often in the first few days and weeks of owning a dog, but can then become worse or better depending on how well family members communicate.  When you have a puppy living in a family home, with a number of adults and children, it is very difficult to make sure that everyone’s response to biting, or jumping up is the same.

Training mistakes

  • Lack of training.  It sounds so obvious, but when you get a puppy you need to train it!  Puppies don’t learn effortlessly – they need patience and consistency (just like children).  Sadly, many people expect that their dog will just learn to behave as it gets older.   This is simply not the case.  If your puppy jumps up and you don’t teach it not to, it will ALWAYS jump up.
  • Harsh treatment.  Unfortunately, people think that if a dog does something wrong, you should tell it off.  Sometimes people get really angry with their dog for its behaviour.  But the dog may not have even realised that it has done anything wrong.  If you leave food on a low table when the dog is alone, do not be astonished if you come back and find it has been eaten!  My dogs are not especially food driven and won’t ‘surf the worktops’ for food, on the whole.  However, I would never leave anything within their reach and I would NEVER tell them off if they did eat something.  My bad, not theirs. Of course it is good to have boundaries and expectations with regards your dog’s behaviour, but you must be realistic as well.
  • No rewards.   I try to focus on the behaviour that I DO want from my dog, not the stuff I don’t want.  And I always reward the good.  There are four main ways of rewarding a dog:

Ongoing problems

  • Too much food.   When we love our dogs, is it so hard to resist giving them treats and titbits.  They are superb at begging and are easily able to act as though they haven’t eaten for a year!  However, this can soon lead to them being overweight and to digestive issues, or even disease such as diabetes.  Bad news all round.
  • Too much exercise.  It’s a lifestyle choice, to run with your dog, or take part in dog sports, or to play with your dog every day.  Your dog will thank you for a great quality of life and be happy and healthy, on the whole.  Unfortunately your dog may also develop injuries or joint pain as a result.  You also need to think about routine and what is best for you and your dog.
  • Too little exercise.  We all know that dogs need exercise and should be walked every day, but sometimes we just don’t feel like it.  Many people work long hours and just cannot find the time to walk their dog during the week.  This is a real shame, because the walking is so good for you as well as your dog.  Again, the routine is good and benefits you both mentally and physically.

I hope you have found this list thought-provoking.  What mistakes would you add?  Please CONTACT ME and let me know?

Ask for help?

You are very welcome to CONTACT ME to ask for my advice.  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Please let me know if you have found this post helpful?

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Dog Breeding, Finding a Dog

Guide to Contacting a Dog Breeder

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How to contact a dog breeder

We generally think we know how to apply for a job, don’t we?  We reflect on our skills and aspirations and craft these into a CV.  We then put together a carefully worded application form, which is relevant to the job for which we are applying.  It is a challenging and time-consuming process. Should contacting a dog breeder be the same?

Proud breeder

I have worked in HR for many years and have seen many variations in the quality of applications.  You can tell straight away whether someone is committed to the job, or if they have just sent out a generic ‘give us a job, any job’ application.

First contact

You may have already read some of my posts about the challenges of being a Responsible Breeder.  What I haven’t really talked about so much is the challenge of finding suitable homes for the puppies.

Of course a Puppy Farmer doesn’t really care who has his puppies – he’s just breeding dogs to make money.  They are a commodity, nothing more. But if you care about the dog you are bringing into your home, wouldn’t you want to find the right one for you?  Wouldn’t you want to ‘apply’ for a dog from someone who equally cares about who you are?

How would you feel if you received a message like this?

“Hi, I saw that you breed border collies, I wondered if you had a litter? Thanks”

What would you say?  I honestly try to reply to every enquiry I receive, but really, what can I say to this person, whoever they are?  No.  Why should I say anything else?  Even if I did have a litter, why would I bother to reply to this message? Contacting a dog breeder requires more effort than this!

Sell yourself when you contact a dog breeder

When you contact a dog breeder, you need to let them know who you are.  At the very least, you might tell them your name!  But actually, if you really want a puppy, you need to sell yourself to the breeders.  By contrast with the message I received, I also had a phone call from someone.  He was keen to tell me all about himself, his family and his previous dog.  I told him that I wasn’t going to have a litter for a while, but he was keen to wait for the right dog, from the right breeder.  He had already done some research and asked some great questions.  (He’s got through to the next round :))

What should you say?

Here my list of a few points that you might say to a breeder, just by way of introduction:

  • Your name, where you live, your circumstances – do you work full time?  Who lives with you?  Do you have children?
  • Your current and previous dog ownership
  • What you are looking for in a dog?
  • When you want to have a dog – this year or next, not too specific
  • What you would like to do with your dog

What should you NOT say?

Equally, there are a few ‘no-nos’ when you make contact with a breeder:

  • I want a puppy now, or on a specific date (it’s not an exact science!)
  • Specifying colour or markings – I want a black one
  • Asking for unusual characteristics – I want one with blue eyes
  • Saying you have a 2 year-old child (too young, really)
  • Wanting a puppy before your old dog dies.  Old dogs don’t take well to puppies.
Born in a bedroom

Breeders talk to each other

Breeding dogs responsibly is quite a specialist ‘job’.  There are not that many Assured Breeders around and we know each other!  This is partly because we need to find non-related dogs to breed with and partly because we give each other support and advice.

This means that we help each other out when we have litters, sending along good homes once we have found homes for our pups.  We also tell each other if someone seems unsuitable!  So be warned, even if you think you are making a casual enquiry, you might be jeopardising your chances with a number of breeders.

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

My beautiful girl

A final thought

“Dogs owned by people who spent more than an hour researching where to buy them from are likely to live twice as long as those who spent under 20 minutes choosing a puppy, with mean mortality ages of 8.8 and 4.3 respectively. As a result of buying from puppy farms, people claim to have suffered emotional and financial hardship, the KC report.”

Taken from the KC report ‘Collaboration is the Key – the Way Forward for Breeding Regulations’. 

Buy the Workbook

The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. It was written and designed to be a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely!

BUY NOW!

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think. 

If you are a breeder, you can talk to me about how I vet my puppy owners, together with advice on the information I provide to my puppy homes. CONTACT ME for more information?

Please let me know if you have found this post helpful?

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

Breed Index

Terriers – Interview with an owner

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Terriers – are they really so terrible?

I know lots of people with a wide variety of terriers and they always strike me as being such characters!  I have also stood watching terriers doing agility on many occasions.  They are super fast and agile, but also quite likely to run off into the next ring.  Or into the scorer’s tent, looking for biscuits!  Cheeky and determined are two adjectives that spring to mind.  But what’s it really like to own them?  Clare has kindly given me lots information about them.

“The first dog that became a full time responsibility for me was Timber, a working Lakeland terrier, who was 12 years old when I met him.  He had been a hunt dog, worked all his life, but had become a bit old for most work other than ratting. His owner became ill and Timber was passed round a few temporary owners and eventually came to us (narrowly avoiding being shot!)  When I met him Timber had the appeal of a well worn teddy bear.  He was a companion and van dog, accompanying Roger all over the place.”

Timber and the cat

Clare says that Timber initially lived outside and they were told he was not house trained. They were also told that he would kill cats and they had 5 at the time!  However, after some patience on Clare’s part, he was able to live happily in the house alongside the cats.

More terriers

After a while Clare and Roger planned to get a second dog and were able to choose from a litter sired by Timber to a Patterdale terrier.  They had planned to keep a boy, but ended up with two girls!  Plenty of people told them that two terrier bitches, who were littermates, would be untrainable.  (I tend to agree, on the whole, see my post on Littermates).  Clare was undaunted:

“I booked puppy classes, and Roger came with me and the 2 puppies to classes.  We loved it so much we continued with classes for years, introducing them to scent work, gun dog work, flyball, obedience and agility.  I have also done some heel work to music with Styx. Eventually I spent most time at agility with them both, starting at grade 1. Now Styx is grade 4 and Twiggy is grade 6. “

Litter sisters (Styx photobombing Twiggy)

Clare had her two girls DNA profiled as they looked so different.  She found the mix was about a quarter each of wire Fox Terrier probably the origin of the curls), Border Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier and Sealyham Terrier.  Go to the KC website to see descriptions of all the different Terriers.

Puppy time

Clare wanted another terrier, but waited until Timber died – he lived until he was 22 years old!  Having originally hoped to breed from one of her girls, she then found it was too late for them, so started contacting breeders.

Eventually a breeder got in touch to say that one of their pups needed rehoming.  She was four and a half months old.  She had been homed with two working adults, plus two young children and an older terrier of 11 who had been used to being the only dog. The puppy was very lively and the older dog didn’t want to play.   Clare went to see her:

“The puppy launched herself at me as soon as she saw me and had masses of energy, constantly jumping at me or her owner. I can see that might not be suitable in some homes.  However I wanted her to join in the agility that the others did, so bags of energy and enthusiasm for jumping suited me down to the ground.”  

Clare and Tilly

Bringing in a new family member

Clare wasn’t sure if she would get on with a puppy she hadn’t had ‘from the start’, but of course Timber had come to them in middle age, so it was fine.  Clare says:

“I have been very careful introducing Tilly to Twiggy and Styx bearing in mind she didn’t get on with the older terrier in her previous home. Indeed, they have both put her in her place, because they don’t want to play and have got aggravated by Tilly biting their legs to entice them to play.”

Fortunately, Tilly has also had other young dogs to play with and Clare worked hard on socialising her (lots of visits to the pub!)  She has taken Tilly to classes and agility shows, preparing her for competition in the future.  Clare says “She isn’t old enough to compete yet, but is a joy to teach and quick to learn.”

Old dogs can learn new tricks

Clare has no regrets about taking on Timber when he was 12, and thinks we shouldn’t worry about trying to retrain an older dog.  Young dogs may learn quicker, but that doesn’t mean an older dog won’t learn new things.  In fact Clare has taught one of Timber’s daughters agility, starting when she was 8 years old (now 11).  She has competed at KC shows, her best result being a clear agility round.

Trouble with terriers

 Clare says that terriers can be noisy and can fight if there is more than one (although this is especially the case with littermates).  She likes the fact that they will bark to warn that someone is nearby, but says if you live close to your neighbours it might become a problem.

Terriers are also escape artists!  They are small dogs, who are intelligent and persistent, so it can be harder to make a garden terrier proof.   However, they are loyal and can generally be trained to have a good recall.

A bonus feature is that they are small, portable dogs, who can easily travel around with you.  On balance I would say they Clare adores her terriers – and they adore her!  Thanks Clare, for sharing your experiences.

Clare and her terriers

Ask for help?

I hope you have enjoyed my insight into owning Terriers?  Please comment and share your views and experiences?  What breed would you like to know about?  Or do you have a breed of dog and would like to share your views on living with your dog?  Please CONTACT ME to let me know?

You are very welcome to CONTACT ME to ask for my advice?  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?

Shop

Fabric Dog Collars

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Fabric flat collars for your dog

Well it is her birthday!  Some people give their dogs cake for their birthday (see the pic of Lenny in yesterday’s post, or the lovely Woofs Treats I talked about last week).  I just keep buying collars ;-p

I don’t generally dress my dogs up in costumes, but I do like a nice collar.  And I found one, made by Rocky and Bud Isn’t it lovely?

I had previously bought her a rainbow collar, as she was from The Rainbow Litter but I always wanted a lilac collar.  This one does not disappoint!

Collar types

There are two main types of collar – flat and rolled.  As you know, I am quite partial to a rolled leather collar, such as those sold by Dogs & Horses

However, these are no good for agility.  You need a flat collar with no ‘dangly bits’ when competing.  If you have something hanging from the collar you will be eliminated.  Basically, it’s a risk to the dog as it could become caught on the equipment.

So we need flat collars.  I must admit I do love a flat collar, when they have a design as lovely as this one.  They are comfortable for the dog to wear and lovely and personal.  The D ring to which the lead attaches is bigger than on rolled collars, so it is easier to clip on.

ID Tags

If you need an ID tag to go on the collar, I recommend going to Indigo Collar Tags.  They are a bit pricey for a dog tag, but such great quality.  They last forever and are very secure, fitting easily but safely onto the collar.  In fact I struggled to take a picture where you couldn’t read the address on this one!

Lucky puppy!

Ask for help?

You are very welcome to contact me to ask for my advice.  I can help you with a variety of issues and problems around getting a dog and suggestions for tackling training issues.  Go to the What Dog? page for more information on my new service.

Remember..

If you enjoy hearing about Ounce and her family and want more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.  Please CONTACT ME if you would like me to write about a specific topic?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think?

NB: If you read my posts in an email, you may be missing out on the lovely pictures!  Please click through to my website to see the post in all its glory?