Jersey & Co

10/11/2025

Today would have been your 14 year adoptaversary 💔

You have no idea how many times I've turned to look for you, how many times I thought I heard you roll over in your sleep and do your grunt and sigh or walk down the hallway, how many times my heart broke all over again because I needed you and you weren't there. We miss you.

You were more than my heart dog, more than my soul dog. You were my whole identity, my everything. I still don't know how to function properly without you.

11/06/2025

We see you 🐾💜

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AViiYJ5w8/

26/05/2025

This may be silly and cute to some, but it is certainly not very funny for the dog. Trapped and unable to move or defend himself, this type of grooming will make this dog more scared of nail trims and perhaps even strangers or body handling in general.

Not all dogs put into these situations will respond this way. Some will stay still, appearing to tolerate it. We might assume they're "fine". But the reality is, they have no choice. They can't run. They can't really fight. So they shut down until it's over. This is not the same as being calm.

Want to try a different way? We help both professionals and pet parents learn how to groom their pets and clients, the fear free way. Get in touch to chat about how we can make nail trims, or grooming an easier and lower stress process for everyone.

20/05/2025

Reasons to avoid restraint during grooming as much as possible:

😧 Decreases stress during grooming: pets who are held against their will feel more trapped, which is likely to exacerbate the inherent stress in grooming procedures themselves. Stressed pets in close proximity to groomers/handlers are a bite risk.

💥 Forceful or regular restraint can change how your pet feels about being touched or handled in general: This can create problems later when you go to put their harness on, give them a cuddle or have a stranger or friend interact with them, leading to a potential bite.

⚡ Risk of injury: stressed pets who are held in neck restraints can twist and turn, hurting themselves in the process.

While restraint may be necessary in certain situations for safety, our goal should always be to minimize stress by grooming in the least invasive way possible. Getting the job done well is important, but it's not more important than your pet's welfare, and there's no need to choose between the two.

06/05/2025

We 💜LOVE💜 Project Underdog Vet Care!

06/05/2025

While many reactive dogs live full, happy lives with some modifications, reactivity can get to the point where their welfare becomes a serious concern.

This is usually the case when your dog has no escape from the stressful situation or environment, when you don't have access to quieter places to walk them and when you are unable to meet their basic needs for fear of their behaviour.

If this is the case, don't let it fester. The earlier we get in and make changes to help your dog, the better chance we have of making progress and improving welfare for you both.

03/05/2025

I want you to reframe the way you see training. 🖼️

Instead of thinking about how you can have more control over your dog, think about why you need the training in the first place. Does your dog need to learn a specific skill, and why? How will the skills you're teaching them allow you to enjoy life together? Will this new skill improve their welfare, or yours? Do you need this skill for safety reasons, or maybe just so you can feel confident taking your dog more places?

Training isn't something we should be doing for fear of judgement or because an "expert" told us we should. Training is functional - it helps you and your dog live in the world together, and have experiences that other, less trained dogs might not have access to.

Why are you training your dog?

03/05/2025

THIISSSS!!!

Any of my clients will know how much I go on and on about pain because it has a HUGE impact on behaviour!

📣 Did you know that approximately 70-85% of our referral-level behaviour patients are in some sort of undiagnosed pain or discomfort, and respond positively to a pain-intervention plan?
🌻🌻🌻

💜 When pets are in chronic pain, their limp is subtle or non-existent, they don't cry etc. Pain can be really hard to pick up!
/But they can act out!/
When we're in pain, our tolerance is lower and we struggle more with things that bother us such as noise, touch or smell 😖

Additionally, pain can be really hard to diagnose by physical examination in a clinic, as when pets stress, they tense & mask pain. So even if your GP vet has given them the 'all-clear', or imaging doesn't show any *structural* abnormalities, pain often remains a consideration for cases of problematic behaviour 💔

💜 Barking, biting and aggressive behaviour CAN be a sign of anxiety and/or pain, so if your pet is having behaviour problems, reach out through our Contact Us page on our website, we can help! 📲

26/04/2025

💜🐾 April 26th is World Veterinary Day 🐾💜

A big shout out to all our amazing vets, behaviour vets, veterinary behaviourist, vet techs and vet nurses who dedicate their lives to helping our fur babies!

Thank you for the amazing work you do and a special thank you to a couple of the incredible vets I constantly refer to for looking after all my behaviour cases!

Dr Channy McGowan at Calm Pet Vet

Dr Marika, Dr Sandie, Dr Brit (a very special thank you to Dr Brit who helped my Jersey baby cross the rainbow bridge and deal with me being a total mess) and the whole team at Bacchus Marsh Veterinary Centre & High St Vet Clinic

💜🐾💜🐾💜

25/04/2025

Have you ever seen those "cat petting chart" images with recommendations for where (and where not) to pet cats? While I realize these charts are intended to be funny, it's important to not take them too seriously.

Animals vary widely in how much they enjoy human touch, petting or cuddles. If we care about their welfare (and safety for those touching them) we need to remember that touching or petting an animal is not our right, but a privilege earned through mutual trust, respect and consent.

Animals with a history of unwanted touch will form negative associations with the people touching them, which can generalize to all people, all strangers, all children, or all similar contexts. Often, these animals tolerate the touch until they hit their breaking point, which is when a bite, growl or scratch occurs. ⚡

Animals are not ours to touch whenever we want. Seek consent, take breaks and enjoy interactions that your pet is truly enjoying.

23/04/2025

When you bring your first dog home, you might not be aware of the "unwritten rules" around responsible dog guardianship. 🔏

If your dog is social and easygoing, you probably don't realize why these rules are important, but if you've ever had a dog who struggles with fear, reactivity, anxiety or aggression, you'll soon learn just how imperative it is that others give your dog the respect and space they deserve.

What did we miss? What other unwritten rules should good pet parents follow? 🤔