DOG DAY AFTERNOON

We look at celebrities in the media and we think “What Diva’s”. Spoilt rotten. But I bet they didnt start out like that when they were kids. As children they most likely were quite normal. Going to school, playing out in the yard, nice manners, ‘normal’. But they get a bit of fame and before you know it they become demanding, self centred, obnoxious and down right rude. Over the decades I think we have done the exact same thing to dogs. They have become pampered, demanding and yes down right rude in their behaviour. Some to the extreme extent where they bite. But how has this come about? If you ask a lot of owners of dogs today they will tell you their dog understands what they are saying to them. We treat them as our best friends, and sometimes take it personally when they ignore us or quite literally “bite the hands that feeds them”. Most people now live in nice warm houses with central heating. Furniture is less expensive than what it was several decades ago. In the past homes were ...

MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU. The following extract has been taken from The Dog Business Academy web site. I received this information in an email to me. I think it is of interest to everyone involved in some way with dogs and so I am sharing it with you. In Scotland we have slightly different laws including dog Control Notices. But if you are visiting England, as a lot of us do as we travel to various meetings and events with our dogs, then this will apply to you.  The UK government has announced plans for tougher dog laws after recent high profile dog attacks. These laws will affect you whether you own a dog, working with dogs or have dogs in your care.  It will certainly guide your focus for dog training, either your own or others. Ministers are looking to extend the scope of the law to enable a prosecution to be brought against anyone whose dog injures someone or acts aggressively in a private place, as well as a public place.  Such as...

By Jasper Copping For owners of unruly dogs, a short yank on their lead and a stern telling-off can sometimes seem the only way of keeping their wayward pets in line. But a new study claims that such methods of making sure your dog behaves can cause the animal mental trauma and have an impact on its welfare. It found that pets who are trained using such, “aversive” techniques were 15 times more likely to exhibit symptoms of stress than those trained using more “positive” techniques, such as the use of treats for rewards and softer voices. Dogs taught using the latter methods were also found to display greater contentment and enjoy a better relationship with their owners. The research serves as a repudiation of the authoritative style – still used to train many British dogs – popularised in the 1970s by Barbara Woodhouse and now advocated by many modern trainers, such as Cesar Millan, a prominent international expert known as the Dog Whisperer. However, the study has ...

Choke chains damage dogs, cause pain and can cause behavioural problems. Choke chains have been directly linked to to the following;         Injured ocular blood vessels         Tracheal and oesophageal damage         Severely sprained necks         Cases of fainting         Transient foreleg paralysis         Laryngeal nerve paralysis         Hind leg ataxia If you don’t use a choke chain to stop the pulling then what should you use? You could use a flat collar, harness or head collar. There are many different types in the market and it is important that you choose the right one for your type of dog. You could also train your dog not to pull. By finding a qualified trainer in your area you could attend classes ...

        Yet another child’s life lost as a result of a dog attack. The latest is a baby only days old, attacked in its home by a huge dog, an Alaskan Malamute. This breed was originally bred to pull sleds in the arctic region. The males can grow to just under 40 kilos. The breed are reputed to be fond of people and children making them ideal house dogs. They bond quickly with their owners are intelligent but can sometimes be difficult to train. They are great with children old enough to play with them. So what went wrong? Reading more into the story it turns out this particular dog was ‘acquired’ by it’s owner from someone in a pub. The previous owner was going to have it put down, and the new owner was a dog lover and no doubt thought he was doing the right thing by saving it from being put to sleep. There is no information on why the previous owner was considering having it put down. Was it being ill-treated ? Had it already bitten? Did the new...

So its only 3 weeks till Crufts 2014. The training team at Tahamasa Canine Academy will be heading off on the Thursday for three days of doggie Disney land. If you have never been to the biggest dog show on earth, and you have anything to do with dogs, you really need to make the trip. You will not be disappointed. Over the years we have met some very interesting people at Crufts and no doubt we will reacquaint ourselves with them and meet new friends this year. Its that type of place. Dont be put off by thinking it is just for show dogs. Nothing could be further from the truth. We do not show dogs and we have a fun packed three days there every year. Last year we joined the Kennel Club’s Accredited Instructors Scheme and attended some very interesting lectures which were given by some of the most prominent canine professionals around at the moment. This year we have lined a few more, Developing Agility Instruction & Coaching in a changing sport. Aggression, why we are w...

The PDSA produced a well being report in 2012. These are some of the highlights: Dogs have five basic welfare needs;         Environmental         Diet         Behaviour         Companionship         Health Now some interesting stats; 53% of UK households have pets 23% of UK households have dogs (thats 8.5 million dogs) 27% of UK households have cats Obesity is a major concern in canines and the problem is pardon the pun growing. When surveyed, owners revealed that the reasons why they feed their pets treats are as follows; 1% as a result of a TV advertisement 8% said their pet ‘looked’ hungry 9% were guilty of leaving them on their own 14% were because the pet was begging 13% gave their dog a treat because they were having a treat themselves 29% said it made the owner hap...