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Jodys Pet Care, 8 Roselaine, Basildon (2026)

01/09/2026

Doink update 😁 We're doing really well. We've been on a few short walks, two yesterday as it helps get his bowels moving, and one so far today. We've stuck to the same route and I'm mainly working on creating stations, rewarding wanted behaviours (checking in, following me, coming by choice), and letting him observe and sniff as much as he chooses
He coped well with dogs reacting through an upstairs window, redirecting easily yesterday and ignoring them today, after a glance.
He ignored a pup on the first walk, moved away with encouragement from two I know are reactive on the second, and whined a little at a pair he saw today.
He also reacted to a passing car today, going to chase it but stopping when I stuck chicken at his nose. I was ready for any more, two going by before we could get away from the road, Doink tense at the first and calmer for the second. This is a good example of the honeymoon period, when dogs typically keep their head down and stay quiet due to the unfamiliar environment and people. After a few walks on our route he felt comfortable enough to be able to say something about those cars. If I'd kept taking him to new places he'd keep quiet for longer due to the continued unknown environments, and when he finally did speak up it would be louder as he'd been keeping it in for so long
Between walks he's been chilling, enjoying a chew at lunch, he's discovered the toy box today, getting his own toys out to play with once I'd shown him he was allowed (we had toys on the floor for him from the start, which he'd already played with), and we've started recall practice, which I'm sure you'll all understand is top priority

30/08/2026

Day 2 of Doink 😁

What I learnt yesterday:
Doink fiddles when a little unsure, mainly around the harness at the moment, though he's putting his head through for a treat
He chews grass to calm himself
He doesn't like cheesy treats, or certainly not the ones I've bought, but he does like real cheese
He's interested in the fox and rat smells
He likes chicken and sausages
Loud engine noises, sudden bangs, and ice rattling in a plastic bottle are all slightly worrying
Windscreen wipers are a bit over stimulating
He can settle in a car
He likes to lick you
He's people orientated, following me easily
He doesn't chase butterflies
He's been noticing but not reacting to the local dogs barking
He's not overly interested in our dog neighbours noises
He's funny and sweet

What Doink learnt
We don't touch without consent
That we feed him
That looking at me gets praise
Not barking when he hears others bark get praise
That he doesn't always have to follow me

Today we're learning his name and marker work (this is the word you say to let them know good things are coming, I used the word good, you can use any word or a clicker)
Continued toilet training
That he's safe
I may add my go to first cue, which is touch (great for recall and cooperative care), and we may pop out to sniff in and around van and the tiny green right next to my house

At the moment we're sitting together in the garden, while he scents the air, getting plenty of local information without going out there

29/08/2026

Please welcome Doink to the family. He's more than perfect so far, and he tells me he can't wait to meet all his new friends 😁

28/08/2026

Fridays walk 1. Carlos got a local walk again, though I still asked him to get in the van for a moment before we set off. He got in easier today, as he always does with his brother there to reassure him. He was very happy when I opened the door and they could both get out, but I kept him on lead until we'd hit the main path, so he couldn't run off, all giddy with relief. It's always enough to settle him, those few extra minutes on lead and he settled straight into sniff mode with Clyde. They led me down the path as a team, Carlos asking if we could take a turning on the right. I could tell both were scenting something but agreed to their route. Their interest stayed piqued in between the sniffs, but they both stayed close and were regularly checking in, so we kept going. Clyde spotted something first, a squirrel I think, which I don't think was what they were scenting but was still fun to chase. I whistled and turned to see if they'd come back and Carlos turned on a sixpence, leaving his brother and the chase in favour of following me 🙌 what a good good boy. Clyde came bounding back after a moment for his reward, because I still reward the return even if the recall was lackluster, they've still come back after all, it was my mistake to call him when he couldn't come, not his. I was so chuffed with my giant he got several bits of sausage and a tonne of praise. That's about as good as recall can get, and though all my dogs have good recall, only a handful get that good. As well as Carlos calling off the chase, they both successfully called away from two dogs, both times stopping when they spotted them and moving with me into the trees to make space when asked. A really lovely walk, they're such good boys who try their best for me, and you can't help but feel a bit special when a mastin decides your worthy of following, they don't do that for just anyone. It was also nice to see Carlos had pretty solid poos throughout. I've been suspicious for a while it's the nerves that always make him a bit sloppy, but here was my first proof. This job may be wonderful, but it's also weird, it's amazing how interested in poo you get 😂

28/08/2026

Fridays walk 2, minus Nala. Oddly it was Murphy that needed reminding not to pull today as we went up the dirt road, while his sister was no bother. I think he just needed a poo so was in a rush 😁 once I could see ahead I could let the boys off and Orla go, leading them through to heather field to start. They were a bit rudderless without Nala, no one's really a leader, Orla likes to be at the front but she's generally not guiding the walk, she just likes to be with who is as they tend to be the most centred dogs. Both boys are total followers, sure they'll roam off to check a sniff but they never lead the crew. It meant it fell to me, so I led them down the path, passed treat tree as we'd only just started the walk. I led them up to wildlife pond, where they mooched about checking sniffs. Orla the Murphy both decided to lay down, odd but excellent behaviour from both of them. Murphy quickly went from laying to a play bow, shouting at me. Kai tried to engage him but he didn't take the offer, then Orla turned to him and the pair had a lovely little game while Kai got scritches. They are so adorable when they're playing politely together, and they certainly did that today, twice in fact, as they had another game in the grass after a tiny snuffle on the benches. We circled back into heather field to head home, Orla deciding to head to the bushes at the back, so we followed, but both curlies eventually got stuck after carefully navigating quite a lot of gorse and bramble. I turned us back to the path where the curlies could walk safely, without getting their curls pulled, and they mooched down as a team, sharing the sniffs. Through to the dirt road, me holding Orlas lead, her walking nicely yet again, despite the boys moving ahead. Down the dirt road, me popping the boys on lead as we went, everyone walking very nicely together now, all the way to the van

28/08/2026

Fridays walk 3. Wonderful Jo O Smiff saved the day again, my van had decided to break, again, moving but in limp mode so unable manage the hills. I thankfully got to Jos house and we all jumped in her car instead. Amber did well getting in the boot, a bit unsure but grinning at me through the worry so I knew she'd be okay. We hit the stream again, too hot for anywhere else, but no one minded. Georgous had a wriggle on at the start, then slowed down on the return, doing the opposite to his usual ways. Amber was rather giddy and begging, maybe from the car journey, but more likely because we're pretty sure she's coming into season, and hormones affect them as much as they affect us. We had our usual wade at the bridge, splashing and having a nice drink. We actually made it past treat tree today, they'd moved so fast at the start, making it to what looked like the dirt road to the fishing lake me and Amber had found a few weeks ago. Voices and the chance of a car appearing turned us round, the crew coming very nicely. Sure Georgous took his time at a sniff first but then he trotted all the way to his mum without stopping again. Good lad. We stopped at treat tree this time, the girls enjoying the game, while Dylan snuffled and Georgous enjoyed the sniffs and a scritch from mum. Back to the bridge for another splash, Pig braving crossing the bridge. Getting most the way without encouragement but getting confused when she had to pass her mum to get to the end. A bit of help and encouragement from Jo and she got there. Brave wee thing. Georgous slowed now, while Amber still bounced like a two year old, regularly returning to beg for food. Her poos had gone totally liquid, Jo making a very good point it could also be to do with her incoming season. Of course neither me or her mum could remember the last time she'd had liquid poo, but I think Jo may have solved the mystery, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the connection now anyway. We had one young lad to get out the way of, the crew listening nicely, Amber breaking ranks but managing to reset again before the kid got to us, giving a polite thanks as he went by. A lovely walk thanks to my wonderful new partner, I'm so glad she's decided to join my company, she's been an asset before she even started 😁❤️

27/08/2026

Thursdays walk 1. Well, that was a change, it absolutely poured it down all walk 😁 despite the heavy rain Hobo wasn't much trouble on pick up, pausing for a moment or two then deciding I was worth the wet. You do feel very special when this lad does things for you, as he can quite easily not, and make a huge song and dance about it too 😁 I parked in the usual spot, by the woods, telling Hobo he had full choice of where we went, so he surprised me by aiming at the playing fields across the road. Fair enough, I think he'd figured if he was getting wet from above he didn't want to get wet from the plants and trees, and short grass was best. They did well waiting and crossing the road, Hobo surging forward a bit but not going full charge as he can do after a wait at a crossing. Both he and Kai were rather forward moving, and I had to remind them a couple of times I have a bad back and they can't pull me. Hobo slowed but Kai didn't care and I was glad to be able to let them off once in the field. Clyde never pulls, he walks very nicely by my heel until he's let off, he really is a furry angel. Hobo led the way, across the field, not stopping at the usual mud munching spot but aiming for the rabbit warrens under the trees. We paused there, the boys mooching about and enjoying the view from the mound, then we headed down to the snuffle and treat tree spot. There were a few novel things in the field, a kids scooter and pipes, the crew roaming over to them to check them out. Once in the trees they had a nice little snuffle and treat tree, Hobo noticing voices coming from the trees and letting me know it was time to go before I could hear them. I only caught the noise as we turned to go, our giant scruff looking at me, waiting for my slow human ears to catch up. I suggest we head to the container next, the crew pausing by choice when a little dog entered the field and made their way to the container first, they headed into the woods, well ahead of us, so we could set off again. I thought Hobo would lead us into the trees as normal when we got there, but he turned towards the exit, Clyde trying to sneak through to the pub twice, but coming immediately when I called him back both times. Cheeky chap, hoping for a pint and some pork scratching I bet 😁 we were a little early but Hobo had coped incredibly well with the heavy rain, and everyone was certainly soaked enough, so I let him lead us to the exit, grabbing his lead and popping the other two on. They all walked nicely this time, no pulling, and crossed very nicely at the road, which was made easier as it was clear and we could cross with only the slightest pause. A good rub down for everyone once in the van, even me, Hobo letting me rub him a bit but refusing to have his face dried, trying to get out the van when I tried. I blocked him but apologised, moving my hands away from him, and he stayed in there. Good lad. Not that it matters too.kuch, I don't think he'd have refused to get back in, but it did save him getting wet again while he thought about it 😁

27/08/2026

Thursdays walk 2, minus Clyde. With Reggie in the mix I needed Carlos to get in the van as his local just isn't suitable for our staffie, so I added Dylan to this crew so Carlos still had someone he likes to travel with. He needed plenty of encouragement to get in, me explaining why and that we won't go far, and he got there. Good lad. It's actually a pretty perfect place for Reg, views as far as the eye can see means I can let him go as there's plenty of time to get him back if I spot someone. They mooched through the first field, Carlos leading the way, Reggie checking in, but not quite as often as I wanted, but he's never been here before so it was understandable. He needed two poos today before he could fully concentrate, the change is instant, once he's finished that poo he locks eyes with me, charging back to play catch. Good lad. The second field is more open, and Reggie and Carlos had a nice bounce once in there. The appearing sun, making it super muggy, and bouncing action had Carlos panting, but he still refused a drink, silly lad. After the bounce he slowed, watching the world more, which helped cool him down, and I stopped any more games to stop him heating up again. The regular pauses are perfect for Reggie, who roamed with Dylan, checking in often and returning for a reward. Sure he missed catching most, and didn't bother to find the sausage at first, too over stimulated with the newness to bother, but that's okay, he was still doing what was needed. We walked round the big mound today, where so many crews have had fun, but no one wanted to climb up with me, Reggie not even noticing I disappeared, which gave me a good opportunity to play find the human, calling him once, which was all that was needed for him to locate me with his superb nose. We paused for ages under the tree, Dylan chewing a stick while Reggie did a treat tree, Carlos happy watching the world. We were just leaving the area when I spotted a lady and two dogs on the path, Carlos spotting her and stopped too. Of course Dylan and Reggie copied us, and we stood there waiting, the lady going nowhere, so neither could we. Reggie got a bit fidgety, so we played find the sausage on the slope of the mound until the lady finally got going, heading away from us so at least we didn't have to wait for her to go by. We mooched towards the path, Carlos becoming more and more reluctant, guessing it was time to head back. I let him take his time, I'd turned back nice and early, just in case he struggled. Half way back he stopped and didn't get going again, so I popped his lead on, which tends to help him get moving, not with pressure, I think it more that I become more active in helping him move forward when I put it on. I praised him each time he chose to walk, offering the odd bit of sausage, which I was pleased to see he took, showing me he was coping enough to take the food. The praise and rewards helped and he moved more freely as we made our way back into the first field, stopping far less often in there. Brave lad. Reggie was roaming a little too far, and with a direct line of sight to anyone that entered the field I thought it best to grab his line about a third of the way down the field. He steadily slowed, hitting the end of the line less as we went, managing to stop without help once when Carlos did, a very good effort as he was in front, so needed to be listening to us and not just concentrating on the sniffs. Our giant got in the van fine when we got there, with less encouragement needed, he's smart enough to know if we travel there we need to travel back, and tomorrow he gets another local walk with his brother, if he wants it, as I'll still ask him if he'd like to get in the van, just in case he does

27/08/2026

My pop in with Jess. I'd planned on going to South Green as it's usually busy, with plenty of sniffs, but the sun had come out a bit and there's not much shade there, so we went to noak bridge instead. It was rather lively, two spaniels, both with too much energy for Jess, so she ignored them, standing with me so I could protect her, but no need, both dogs went on lead when their humans saw us standing. We did say hello to a curly, the dogs dad very impressed with Jessies ears, and the cutest wee chi' said hello too. I had to leave the wee one or I'd have stolen her she was so bloody cute 🥰 we also found the pond full of water, I was sure it was dry last time but not that much rain could have fallen, so maybe I was wrong and this had been the only place to splash. It doesn't matter either way, the area is far too awkward for my crews, so we couldn't have come here anyway. A lovely little mooch despite the muggy air, some new friends and Jess could dip her toes to cool down between checking the sniffs

27/08/2026

My pop in with Skye. She was so comfy, laying on the cool floor, a fan blowing in her face, she barely moved all visit, so happy with life she was smiling. Plenty of fuss while I chatted to dad, the door open for visual and sniff interest. I could tell she was done with me, not asking for fuss anymore, but she didn't want to move from her cool spot, her usual cue for telling me to go, she didn't even shout for food she was so happy with just feeling cool after so long feeling hot, so I took the subtle hint and said my goodbyes, leaving her exactly where I'd found her, as happy as a pig in muck 😁

Jodys Pet Care

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