Top Tips for Mouthy Puppies
Got a nippy puppy? Were you hoping for Lassie but feel like you’re living with Jaws? Important Points: · Dogs use their mouths to explore & manipulate their environment. · Physical play is essential for puppies’ development. · Dogs use their mouths in play, it is natural. It takes time for them to learn we […]
Why is my dog barking?
Key Points – Barking is a normal form of communication – Dogs do not bark ‘for no reason’ – There are as many reasons why a dog might bark as reasons a person might shout – Your reaction can make the problem worse, or create new ones Why might a dog bark: – Threat detection. […]
Did you know there’s a link between fear of fireworks & pain?
Was your dog more upset by fireworks than normal this year? Fear of fireworks and other loud noises is a common problem in pets. It is perfectly natural to be cautious of loud bangs, and to startle with sudden noises. But some of our pets struggle to relax once they’ve heard them and develop progressively […]
How to prepare your dog for life after lockdown
Although many people won’t be rushing back to working 9-5 in an office every day there will come a point where we are allowed to venture outside again (hopefully!). Life after lockdown won’t be quite how it was before, but it will still be a big surprise for our pets. Everyone has been spending more […]
Every Pet Deserves Access to Veterinary Care
I hear stories of people feeling too embarrassed to take their pet to the vets. They may have had traumatic experiences previously, or been made to feel unwelcome by veterinary staff or other clients. This makes me so sad. An animal’s behaviour should never be a barrier to them receiving adequate care. Being a vet, […]
How to stop your dog pulling on lead.
To stop your dog pulling on lead, you DO NOT need: -To punish them – A head collar – A choke chain – An anti-pull harness – To teach them who is the boss What you DO need: – Patience – Tasty treats – A fixed lenth lead (ideally a training lead such as the […]
Home alone, Dog Day Care, Group Walks… what’s best for your dog?
Many dog owners feel guilty about leaving their pet home alone. As social species dogs need plenty of company and interaction. Being home alone for long periods of time on a regular basis isn’t ideal. But how long is too long depends on your individual dog. If your dog can’t cope alone what is the […]
When Puppies Become Teenagers!
Being a teenager is hard! Parenting teenagers is also hard! That’s the same regardless of whether we are talking about human or non-human animals. Most dogs hit adolescence at around 5-6 months of age and it can last until they are 12-18 months old. It is not the same as reaching puberty, although the events […]
An Evidenced-Based Approach to Safe Dog-Child Interactions
Last night (29/03/2022) I had the pleasure of being part of an Instagram Live chat with Charlotte of The Birth Club. Charlotte and I went to vet school together and are both fierce advocates of evidence based and informed decision making in our fields (animal behaviour for me, and perinatal education & birth physiology for […]
Animals get frustrated too!
What is frustration? – The feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something. – Occurring due to the prevention of progress, success, or fulfilment of something. How might a dog tell you they are frustrated? – Bark (demand bark) – Huff – Hump – Forcefully paw […]