Looking out for your dog this Christmas

Christmas is a time for fun, festivities and lots of food! As us humans start to get excited about the holiday season and time with our friends and family we should take a moment to consider any potential hazards that the festive season can present to your dogs. Here are a few that you should keep in mind, whether you are having Christmas at home or visiting friends! 

Food Hazards

We all have a tendency to over indulge over the Christmas season and it is nice to be able to share a few of these with your dog, by all means a small amount of meat and vegetables shouldn’t cause them any harm but be careful that you don’t feed them any chicken or turkey bones, which can get stuck or splinter in the throat. Also avoid over feeding which might lead to digestive issues!

A number of foods that are in high human demand at Christmas are in fact dangerous to dogs, be sure that your dog does not get hold of the following and be sure to advise any guests that they must not allow your dog to ingest these:

• Chocolate – contains a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs
• Onions and garlic – contains compounds that can damage dogs red blood cells
• Holly Berries and Mistletoe – can result in vomiting and diarrhoea
• Horse Chestnuts – can result in vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
• Raisins – Associated with the development of kidney failure
• Grapes – Associated with the development of kidney failure
• Alcohol – even ingesting a small amount can cause significant intoxication in dogs

People Hazards

Over the Christmas period you might be having a number of people over to visit and some of those might even be bringing their dogs with them, if your dog is not used to this then they might find it a little unsettling. Try to take the dog out for a nice walk an hour or so before visitors are due to arrive and on return leave your dog in a quiet room with their favourite toy to allow them to relax. As people begin to arrive then you can introduce the dog to them a little later.

Children can become over excited at the thought of Father Christmas coming to pay them a visit, emotions can be running high and become overwhelming for the dog. It is not a good idea to leave the dog and child unsupervised during these times as even the calmest of dogs might react through fear or self-defence. 

Hazardous Objects

Christmas trees can cause all sorts of problems for the unsuspecting dog; all the hanging baubles and tinsel along with the presents under the tree can be too much of a temptation to some dogs, especially puppies. One pull at a bauble might cause the whole tree to fall over so it is wise to place a barrier in front of the tree to prevent access to the dog.

Be sure to tidy up as you unwrap all the presents. In the excitement of opening them you might not notice the dog chewing on the paper or worse, the new PlayStation! Always supervise the dog whilst presents are being opened and tidy as you go!

Candles should be placed on shelves where the dog’s tail cannot reach as you wouldn’t want the fire service being called!

Most importantly Christmas should be a day enjoyed by the whole family, remember that the dog will need the usual routine of walks and meals. It is also important to check the opening hours of local vets over the holidays and have their contact details to hand.

If you are visiting friends with your dog then be sure to take precautions as above as well as establishing boundaries with the family that you are visiting. Just because your dog gets pride of place on your sofa for the Queen’s speech does not mean that this will be OK in your friends or families house. Respect their rules and you might get an invite next year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!

Hungarian Vizsla Breed Profile

Hungarian Vizsla Breed Profile

The Hungarian Vizsla (Vizsla) is the smallest of the all general purpose gundogs, with a distinctive short haired rusty-gold coat. They are natural hunters with an excellent nose, stable point, good retrieve and good in the water.

As the name suggests, the breed comes from the central plains of Hungary and was originally bred to hunt game birds and hares.

Temperament 

The Vizsla is a sensitive breed who enjoys being active and learning, They are fun, lively, loving and protective of their family, thriving on human companionship. Early socialisation is important as they can become shy and timid and become difficult to handle. The breed gets along well with other dogs and cats, especially if they are raised with them, it is not advisable to have them in the home with other small pets e.g. rabbits, gerbils or birds. The Vizsla is freindly and tolerant with children, however their liveliness can overwhelm younger children. 

Practical Considerations 

The Vizsla is a large dog who would suit living in larger houses in the country. They require at least two hours of exercise per day, which if not met could lead to destructive behaviour. They make good jogging partners and enjoy games of fetch and other dog sports. They do not suit being left for long periods due to their propensity to suffer from separation anxiety and should not be kept outside as their coat will not protect them from cold temperatures. The Vizsla has a short, smooth coat needing just one weekly brush and they don't have a strong doggy odour. 

Ease of Training 

Easy - The Vizsla is eager to learn, they are intelligent with a good memory and responsive to consistent and kind training. 

Known Possible Health Problems

• Epilepsy
• Hip Displasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Polymyositis

Average Lifespan

• 10-14 years

Summary 

Breed: Hungarian Vizsla 

Size: Medium/Large

Coat: Short 

Official Group: http://www.vizsla.org.uk/ 

KC Assured Breeders: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/acbr/Default.aspx?breed=Hungarian+Vizsla

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!

Your dog, your responsibility

More than 200,000 people a year are estimated to be bitten by dogs in England, many of these take place within the private residence of the dog owner. The laws on this matter have recently changed and it is now against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, including the owner’s own home. Dogs are a part of many families but it is important to understand that even if you have the most docile of dogs, there is always the chance that it could attack both strangers in your home and members of the family, no matter what breed it is. An appreciation is required that dogs are not human – although an important part of the family, they are animals and need to be treated as such.

Often we will hear in the news that the dog that attacks is usually not aggressive or worse still that reports have been made that the dog is aggressive but nothing effective is done by the authorities. Either way it is important that you have full control over your dog both in and outside your home to prevent accident s from happening.

Take the time to train your dog from a young age that people coming to the door and/or entering the house is a positive experience. In the first few months after bringing the pup home try a number of different friends and relatives visit you. Have the visitors come to the door and knock on the door, then when they enter allow the pup go to the visitor and ask the visitor to give lots of affection and positive praise. This will ensure that the puppy gets comfortable with human touch and affection.

Also focus on training your command for “go to bed”, choose whichever phrase you wish but remain consistent when training. It might also help to have regular visitors practice this command with the dog so that they will get used to having to go to bed not only for the family. This is a valuable command and can teach the dog that when people come over it is their cue to have some time out.

Teaching the “Go to bed” command

Make the dogs bed a safe haven and have some interesting toys for the dog to sit with. Use positive reinforcement techniques to teach the dog that going to bed is a positive experience and not only used when they have exhibited some undesirable behaviour. A dog’s bed should be where they go to relax and sleep.

Choose your designated spot and your chosen command and stick with it!

1. Stand around 1 metre from the spot and say the command whilst pointing at the spot, whilst saying the command throw a tasty treat onto the spot.
2. The dog should rush over and collect the treat – as soon as they do give lots of positive praise.
3. Repeat these steps a number of times to reinforce the behaviour.
4. Gradually increase the distance between where you and your dog are standing to the spot and continue with the steps above.
5. Once the dog has successfully completed the above steps, change the treat from being a lure to being a reward for the desired behaviour i.e. use the command and point to the spot, if the dog goes to the spot then give the dog the treat and lots of positive praise.
6. If the dog does not go to the bed then repeat steps 1-4 again (think about changing the treats you use if their interest waivers).
7. Continue with step 5 over and over again but remember that training should be staggered and you will probably only keep the dogs attention for around 15 minutes, also incorporate changing the place where you tell your dog to complete the command e.g. a bed in a different room.
8. Once the dog has completed each of the above steps then add in other distractions e.g. another person in the room playing with a ball or eating food.
9. After a while fade and vary the reward – give the treat every third time the dog completes the command.

Understand that not everybody likes dogs and this must be respected when you have visitors (the postman for example!). If the person visiting is unsure of dogs then you could either put the dog on their bed with a tasty bone in another room or spend some time letting the nervous visitor meet the dog when they arrive. Even if you are confident that your dog will remain relaxed around the visitor it is neither fair nor enjoyable to have your visitor feeling uncomfortable.

It goes without saying; NEVER leave the dog alone with a baby or minor. No matter how well trained the dog is, they can sometimes be unpredictable around children (especially if the child likes pulling dog tails like my niece!) This is an absolute rule that all dog owners should adhere to and it is so upsetting that many serious dog attacks on minors have taken place when the victim is alone with the dog.

If your dog starts to develop undesirable behaviour when people come to the house, such as barking, jumping up, humping etc, then seek advice from a behaviourist. It is important to nip these issues in the bud at the earliest opportunity and will also ensure that your friends still come to visit you!!

These steps should help to ensure that your dog remains safe with visitors to your home and families can live in harmony with their pet.

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!

To lead or not to lead - that is the question!

There has been recent debate on whether or not dogs should be allowed to run free, off lead in parks in the UK. The current law states that it is against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, one of these places being a public place including parks. The fine for breaking this law is up to a £5,000 fine or a 6 month prison sentence. Further, local councils can issue Dog Control Orders DCOs which mean that you may have to keep your dog on the lead in that public area.

My view on this subject is simple and echoed by many dog owners across the UK – dogs require sufficient exercise which includes being allowed to run freely off lead – therefore it would be ludicrous to enforce a law stipulating that dogs should be kept on leads in all public places. Enforcing dogs to be on leads in public parks will only deter dog owners from visiting these areas, and also further the gap between dog lovers and dog haters!

I understand that this debate has been somewhat forced by the unfortunate instances which can occur when a poorly trained dogs are allowed off lead and resulting in either the dog itself, another dog or a human bring injured. There also still exists those dog owners who refuse to pick up their dogs waste – for this there is no excuse and I for one wish it was more easy to police and fine people who fail to do it.

I can sympathise and agree that some dogs can be a nuisance in public places, every morning there is an unruly labradoodle running up to us and then following us home, the owner does not even attempt to recall the dog or seem bothered when we have to take him back to him by the collar!!

My personal view is that the law is sufficient as it is – I believe that owners should be held to account if they do not have sufficient control over their dog in either a public or private place leading to accident or injury.
Know your dog and its limitations, if your recall is no good – practice, practice, and practice some more. Practice at home and in the park and in a variety of other environments with a long line so that you can perfect your recall and be sure that wherever you are, you have full control of your dog no matter what distractions may arise.

Until you are 100% sure your dog will listen to your instruction when off the lead, keep them on a long line to allow them to run a little. Perhaps you could take your dog for a run on the lead to help exercise the dog and improve your own fitness!

DCOs have their place and in areas where there is livestock I agree that dogs should be kept on a lead, even if you have a good recall, certain breeds might allow their natural instincts to kick in and see a field of livestock as an open invitation to chase.

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!

Top Tips When Leaving Your Dog Home Alone

This week’s theme is an attempt to remind owners of the importance of looking after your pooch when leaving the house. I often get judged for owning a dog but working full time and having to leave Cookie alone in the house for long periods of time. Here are some top tips to make sure your dog is left happy and safe whilst you are out.

Note that it is not advisable to leave puppies alone for more than two hours at a time and even then separation should be trained in gradually before leaving for large chunks of time!

Tire them out

 

Taking into account the age, size and health of your dog along with the weather conditions it is important that your walk prior to leaving the house is strenuous enough to result in your dog panting and lying down on return to the house. If you are not sure of how tolerant your dog is to exercise then seek the vet’s opinion.

If there is still time when you get back home then take 20 minutes to play some games as well to tire them out even more!

Leave them in a safe place

 

Ensure that your dog is left in a room in the house where it can be least destructive, do not allow them to have access to all rooms in the house as they please – the kitchen is always a good option! Be sure that you clear the room so that there is nothing to tempt the dog into displaying destructive behaviour e.g. cushions or easy to reach food containers! Their bed should be in the room and perhaps their favourite toy (if it is safe to leave them with this). We also put Radio 2 on so that the sounds of the voices provides some comfort. Leave a window ajar (if safe to do so), especially on a warm day, to ensure the dog is kept cool.

Adult dogs need more sleep than you think and although you may assume your dog will be bored at home, they might actually enjoy the time out!

Engage their brains

 

There are numerous products out there which can be left out with your dog for some mental stimulation. Remember that 10 minutes of mental stimulation is equivalent to an hour long lead walk so will help in keeping your dog entertained.

Examples include food dispensing toys like the Kong which can be stuffed with your dogs favourite treat, or treat puzzle toys such as Nina Ottosson’s range which come in variable difficulty levels. Be sure that it is safe to leave your dog alone with these toys and that there are no small objects that could cause choking.

Take Precautions

 

Anti-chew products exist and can be a life saviour for chair legs and skirting board corners! Be sure to follow instructions carefully.

Employ a dog walker

 

We have the dog walker 3 days a week; prices should vary from around £10.00 to £15.00 per dog for an hour long walk. Employing a walker will not only allow your dog to relieve themselves sooner but they will also get the chance to spend time with other humans and possibly dogs, so will only act to improve their socialisation skills! If your dog does not enjoy the company of other dogs a walker will usually offer a reduced price service to come to your house and let the dog in the garden for 30 minutes or so.

If you have a higher budget then you could also consider daycare, either at a pet sitters house or at an establishment. Though expensive this will allow your dog to remain in the contact of humans and other pets all day everyday!

Still concerned?

Keep an eye out for any signs of separation anxiety, which might include:

Urinating and defecating in the house

Chewing, Digging and destruction

Barking and Howling

Pacing

Being overly excited on your return

If you are concerned that these signs are present in your pooch, then consult the vet or your local animal behaviourist who can give you some training tips on how to reduce these symptoms.

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!
     

     

Dangerous Dog Owners and Proud – Reality TV at a new low?

As I settled down to watch TV on Monday I was not sure what to expect from the Channel 5 programme ‘Dangerous Dog Owners and Proud’. Being an owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier myself and having to deal with the prejudices that others have over her breed, I was interested to see how these dogs and owners would be portrayed.

Cookie - My soft staffie!

It was silly of me to think that a "Reality TV Show" in this day and age would choose to use this opportunity to show how dogs deemed as dangerous due to their breed or appearance, can actually be well trained and socialised animals. Instead we were presented with an extremely small population of this country who were proud to own a dangerous dog and in most cases were deliberately training their dogs to be dangerous!!

A number of dogs on the programme were Pit Bull Terriers, which are one of four banned breeds under UK legislation; however there were also Staffordshire Bull Terriers whose owners were attempting to train them to attack on command. It gave me great pleasure to see the owner failing to make her new puppy aggressive, if you know the breed well you will know that they are particularly social with people and if socialised correctly at a young age will also be friendly with other animals!

It was a scary sight given that these individuals saw themselves and were being described as "gifted dog trainers". In reality a dog is a dog and however well trained, has the capacity to act out of character or attack. We have all heard numerous stories of children and adults losing their lives from dog attacks, according to the Office of National Statistics, 23 deaths following dog attacks were registered in England and Wales from 2006 to 2012 – only 2 of these reported deaths involved illegal dogs. I think it was wholly inappropriate give these people a stage to show the wrong that they are doing to these animals.

I would question why Channel 5 felt the need to spend budget on filming and broadcasting this show. Yes, there are a number of abhorrent dog owners in this country who will use their animals as status symbols and train them to act dangerously should they so direct them to. However, this only adds fuel to the fire in portraying certain breeds as having dangerous reputations. It will only slow down the work done by certain charities to educate the wider public of those breeds tarnished with a bad reputation. For example, the "Staffies. They’re softer than you think" campaign by Battersea Dogs & Cats home. It is these initiatives that should be given more air time and celebrated, rather than a bunch of scared people thinking they have the right to train their dog to protect them in a way that is socially unacceptable.

How I long for the day where I will be able to walk down the street with my staffie and not have people cross the road or shoot me an evil look. Some of us dog owners out here are trying our hardest to raise dogs who are socially acceptable and not aggressive, however this programme had only the potential to dampen my spirits that there will always be small minded people out there training and breeding dangerous dogs.

I am currently in the process of starting up my new company, HoundsLand, where you will be able to get news and views on all things dog! Follow me @Hounds_Land on Twitter. More coming soon!