Spencers Natural Pet Products - East London & Surrounds

26/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤ 🐕

THE MARVELS OF MANAGEMENT
Management in dog behaviour terms is making changes to an environment so that a behaviour can’t be practised. It’s a simple, often over looked way to prevent unwanted behaviour. Management can replace the need for long, complicated training methods or can be used to stop the behaviour from being practiced and reinforced as you work on teaching your dog an alternative behaviour.

The longer an unwanted behaviour continues the more reinforced it becomes and the harder it is to change, like changing a bad habit that has been going on for a long time.

Think about how parents manage the environment of a toddler. How do they stop their child from opening a cupboard where chemicals are kept, prevent access to a swimming pool, or prevent little fingers being stuck into plug points? Would they spend time and effort in teaching the child not to do these things, while always feeling stressed that they might still do it, or do they manage it by using a cupboard where the child can’t reach, put up a pool fence or use plug covers.
These are just some simple examples of how we already use management without giving it much thought. Why then can’t we do the same for our dogs?

So many dog owners insist that their dog needs to be trained not to steal food, not to run out the door, not to drink from the toilet, not to overturn dustbins, not to steal clothes etc.

There are many behaviours where the simplest and most logical solution is just to manage it, prevent it from happening and then decide if it’s really worth the effort and time it may take to train our dogs not to do these things, without any guarantee that it will work.

I’m a big believer in management because it works so well, makes such a difference in setting our dogs up for success and reduces stress in both ourselves and our dogs.

26/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐕

WHY DO SOME DOGS BARK SO MUCH?
Whether we find it irritating, annoying, frustrating, are indifferent or it doesn’t really bother us, barking is what dogs do, some dogs more than others, just like some people talk far more than others! Barking is a species typical, natural and normal behaviour.

Barking is simply a form of communication. Excessive barking is often a symptom of an underlying issue. How to get a dog to bark less all depends on why they are barking in the first place. When we know the “why?” it’s far easier to work on the “how?” to prevent or decrease the behaviour.

The “why” can be due to so many reasons - boredom, frustration, loneliness, anxiety, fear, frustration, separation distress, lack of mental or physical stimulation, lack of social interaction, environmental stimuli, attention seeking, excitement, greeting, to initiate play or even a medical condition. Look at what the consequence of barking is for the dog – does something move closer or further away, do they receive attention, whether positive or negative – negative attention is still attention.

We recently had contractors repairing our roof after a particularly bad storm. My husband became increasingly irritated and angry at the dogs constantly barking at the strange people climbing all over the roof. We live in a crime riddled country and I asked him if he would still be irritated if they barked at burglars trying to gain access from the roof to the house in the middle of the night. The dogs don’t know the difference and their barking, although irritating, was understandable. Giving them a long-lasting chew, telling them that all was fine and keeping them inside where they couldn’t hear or see the contractors, solved the problem.

Using punishment or any other type of aversive method to stop barking is cruel and inhumane. We don’t punish people for speaking. Look for the “why”, before working on the “how”.

In the wise words of Dr Ian Dunbar – “Punishing a dog for barking is like punishing a bird for singing"

26/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐕

Importance of Antioxidants in Your Dog’s Meals

Antioxidants play a key role in longevity, and an antioxidant-rich diet benefits the aging canine brain. 🐶🧠 Here are some rich sources of antioxidants that you can offer as nutrient-dense, fresh food treats or meal toppers for your pet. ⬇️

Learn more about the importance of antioxidants for dogs in today’s free pet health article (link in the comments)

03/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐕

Specialist Advice Dogs are slowly but surely having more and more of a prominent footing in our society. Bars and cafes are becoming more dog-friendly, selling treats and setting out water bowls, and dogs themselves are getting more and more rights. What a great time to be alive. But do we really un...

01/02/2023

Our job is to know (and respect) what our cats like and dislike, as individuals. 🐈💛

Today’s free article is all about showing your cat affection in a way that resonates with them. Read it now on our new website.



Here are more ways to show your love to your cat: https://bit.ly/3JyjpFV

01/02/2023

Love, love, love ❤

01/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐕

Aloe vera (the inner gel part!) is not just beneficial for humans — it can benefit pets in multiple ways, too. 🐶🐱🙌

Discover other natural remedies that can be useful to pets in today’s free article. Read it on our new website now by clicking the link in the comments. 👇

01/02/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐕

REACTIVITY REDEFINED
Although reactivity has other causes, many types of reactivity are triggered by the core emotion of fear.
The fear of whatever is making a dog feel unsafe, the fear of a valuable possession being taken away or the fear of a strange person or animal coming into their territory. Anxiety, stress, over excitement, over stimulation, feeling overwhelmed, trigger stacking, or a dog that is tired, in pain or even has chronic itching will often feel irritable and may be reactive in certain situations. When being reactive is successful in making the scary thing go away, it becomes a rewarding behaviour because it’s something that works and makes them feel better.
Reactive dogs are often misunderstood. A dog that is reacting is not trying to be difficult, they are having a difficult time coping with that particular situation and are trying their best to make the thing go away in the only way they know how.
It’s not easy to be the owner of a reactive dog. One of my dogs is reactive and I know how dogs like this can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, angry or frustrated. Why do they have to be so difficult, why can’t they just behave normally? Everyone is looking at me, judging me, thinking that I’m a bad owner, have no training skills, can’t control my dog or have a unsocialised, vicious dog that shouldn’t be taken out in public.
As hard as it may be, we need to take the focus off how we as owners feel about their reactivity and focus on how our dogs are feeling and what is causing their reaction. Whatever it is, it’s not something our dogs can overcome on their own and we need to take steps to help them cope. Reactive dogs need compassion, understanding, management, force free, positive reinforcement interventions and decompression – a return to a normal, more relaxed state after a period of intense stress, psychological pressure, or urgent activity. These interventions take time and patience but are so important in helping our dogs feel safe and learn more acceptable ways of coping.
I have learnt through many mistakes, to recognise what triggers my reactive dog and take steps to either avoid those situations, provide enough distance, or provide her with an alternative choice where she feels safe and more in control. There will always be unexpected triggers around the next corner that are not within our control, but doing all we can to manage reactive triggers has so many benefits.

23/01/2023

Please look out for these vulnerable souls 🙏🏻 ❤ 🐕

17/01/2023

Love them naturally ❤ 🐕

If you’re considering making homemade food for your pet, it’s important to have a good understanding of why the diet you prepare must provide all the essential nutrients your pet needs. Here are the 3 common mistakes to avoid. ⬇️🚫

Read today’s free pet health article (link in the comments) to learn the components of a nutritionally balanced homemade pet food

17/01/2023

Love them naturally ❤🐈

⚠️ This Popular Pet Toy Can Lead to Behavior Disorders ⚠️

Laser pointers can be an excellent way to get in some much-needed activity for your cat. However, veterinary behaviorists found that like dogs, cats can also develop an obsession and behavior disorders as a result of chasing, but never catching, those little red dots. 😿

One way to make laser pointers a safer toy for your kitty is to clicker train them first. The click of the clicker, followed by a delicious treat, lets your kitty know they have pleased you and are rewarded for it. Once they’re clicker trained, allow your cat to periodically "catch" the laser light and when they do, deliver a click followed by a treat. This provides them with a concrete, tangible result for “catching” the laser light.

Read today’s free article (link in the comments) to learn more about laser pointer play, as well as alternative toys to play with your kitty.

11/01/2023

I just love this...🤣❤🐕

Love this from LotsDogs.