Canine Strides

10/24/2023

Let's start considering our dogs may be asking for help rather than assuming they're being 'naughty'.

09/26/2023

Most dogs enjoy scent and searching games - treats scattered on the grass, balls hidden under bushes, behind rocks or trees.

As your dog retrieves the first...second...third...maybe fifth or sixth ball, his muscles start to tire and soon they reach overload, where they no longer can fully control and support your dog's movements. Now, when your dog does those amazing athletic maneuvers to snag the ball, soft tissues like the cranial cruciate ligament, iliopsoas muscle and tendon, and the muscles and ligaments that support the vertebrae are overstretching. Minor tears are occurring. Now the ball is thrown 10, 12 times or more and ultimately your dog lies down, exhausted.

That period between when your dog's muscles are in overload, and when your dog lies down exhausted, is the injury zone (Figure 1). But remember, with all that adrenaline, your dog doesn't feel the injuries happening, so you have no idea that the tissues are being used beyond their capacity.

When this game is repeated day after day, month after month, the small tissue tears become large ones, and suddenly it becomes evident that your dog is in pain and has an injury. Of course, it hasn't been sudden at all-what seemed sudden is just the final result of repeated stress and strain until the tissues gave way.

Chris Zink DVM
Discovering Your Dog

07/14/2023

I know I've said this before, but there are other ways to have fun with your dog.

The effects of using a ball launcher with Goodie the Labrador and how Clinical Canine Massage improved his life.

06/24/2023

"Why does my dog jump up at me when another dog approaches?"

When a dog seeks height during a walk it is often a sign that they are asking us to keep them safe.

Dogs have a natural instinct to assess their surroundings and look out for potential threats. If they feel unsafe they will tell us, and some do it by height seeking.

When a dog engages in this behaviour, they are essentially communicating their need for safety.

They may be indicating that they are unsure or anxious about the surroundings, and they rely on their person to provide reassurance and protection. It is important for us dog guardians to understand and acknowledge our dog's signals, as it strengthens the bond of trust between us.

If a dog seeks height and appears worried during a walk, the best course of action is to assist in creating a safe environment. This can be done by:

-Empathising with them and seeing the approaching 'friendly' dog through their eyes, not your own.

-Protecting them from intrusive dogs and people.

-Adjusting the environment by maintaining their safe space.

Choose quieter walking routes or avoid crowded areas until your dog feels more at ease. Creating a more controlled and familiar environment can help reduce your dog's stress, only when a dog is not stressed can they learn to be resilient to stressors.

It's important to remember that every dog is unique, and their reactions may vary. Pay close attention to your dog's body language and individual needs. By recognising their request for safety and responding appropriately, you can help your dog manage their worries and enjoy walks with a greater sense of security.

Learn more about what your dog is trying to tell you, with our Canine Communication workshop and free eBook: https://www.canineprinciples.com/course/canine-communication-webinar

06/21/2023

It's easy to use labels but it's far more helpful to think things through.

IS YOUR DOG “STUBBORN”, OR STRUGGLING?

It is all too easy to describe our dogs as stubborn when we are feeling frustrated that they don't seem to be listening to us, or aren't being very cooperative. “Nose down, tail up, ears off!” is often repeated when it comes to scent hounds. However, if we aren’t achieving the response that we are looking for from our dogs, we need to consider why and how we can help them out. Are we being clear in what we are asking of them, and do they understand? Are we asking too much of them too soon and not building solid foundations first? What is happening in the environment which may be impacting them? Are they trigger stacked and not in the right frame of mind to be able to focus and learn new things? Are they suffering from undiagnosed pain?

When our dogs aren't able to do as we ask, we need to consider why, and understand that they are not purposely being difficult, but need some help from us. We may not always be aware of potential problems: a worrying scent, a noise in the distance that we are unable to hear; to dismiss this behaviour as stubbornness is a disservice to our dogs. Being unable or unwilling to do something is vital information that we need to acknowledge, take on board, and respond to appropriately.

With any behavioural concerns, it is really important to get a thorough vet check to rule out any pain and discomfort; we know that up to 80% of behavioural cases have an underlying pain component. If in doubt, always get checked out!

© Trailie Paws For Thought
https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/

05/22/2023

Variety is the spice of life

Ball chasing seems to be a popular pastime with people who have fit dogs. Not only will that make them fitter but it also adds strain to their joints which could cause arthritis later on. Mix in some different activities and even the fittest dog will be more inclined to relax more often.

04/27/2023

You wouldn't leave your baby to crawl around the house and garden unsupervised. With careful management in place, most of these costs could be avoided.

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/naughty-dog-costs-here-are-the-12-things-dog-owners-spend-most-money-on-due-to-bad-behaviour-including-replacing-destroyed-tech-4107249

New research reveals that UK pet owners need to pay out almost £800 on average as a result of their four-legged friends' naughty petscapades.

04/17/2023

Knowledge is power and increasing our knowledge will definitely empower our dogs. 🐶

04/14/2023

"Platoon! Quick march!" Corporal Jones always gets everyone's attention before issuing a command to the Dad's Army crew. This works when training your puppy too. use their name to get their attention, then give them the cue for what you want them to do - "Lola, sit; Oscar, come." Simply repeating their name and expecting them to know what you want will just be frustrating for both of you.

04/09/2023

Is your puppy constantly on the go? You might think they have boundless energy but actually puppies need 16 to 18 hours of sleep in every 24. That non-stop activity is probably due to overtiredness. Too much physical activity will simply leave your pup aroused and will make it harder for them to relax. Keep games short and then let them sleep.