WTD wins Business Excellence Award
Walk the Dog has been awarded the title 'Most Promising New Business' at this year's Dacorum Business Excellence Awards 2009. The judges said of Walk the Dog;"We were very very impressed...this company demonstrated thorough market research, a clear business strategy, has achieved its objectives, and puts its customers [pets] at the heart of its business...this entry stood out from the rest". The gala night was held on Friday 23rd October at Shendish Manor. For more on this story, you can access our press release by clicking here.

Cold weather safety tips for your pets

With the recent snow flurries and cold weather we've been experiencing, not only is it important that you wrap up warm and take precautions when travelling around in such weather, but it's also important to take safety measures to ensure your pets stay safe. Below are some top safety tips for pets during the cold weather.

Coats - just because your dog has a fur coat, doesn't mean he won't feel the cold. Small dogs or dogs with little to no hair should have sweaters or jackets for protection against the cold. If your dog doesn't like wearing clothing, then better to keep them out of the cold and ensure food and water is provided inside the home to prevent from freezing.

Cold - pets shouldn't be left outside or walked for long periods of time. Even half an hour in frigid temperatures can cause problems. Never leave your pet outside for more than ten minutes when temperatures dip below freezing. Your pet's ears, feet and tail are highly susceptible to frostbite, so limit his time outdoors.

Ice and feet - when walking your dog near ice or frozen puddles/ponds/canals/lakes, keep your dog close to you and on the lead. This ensures your dog cannot run across the ice, avoids his feet getting accidentally cut on the ice and helps prevent falls on the ice which may lead to injury for you and your dog. Always wash your dog's paw's after a winter walk to remove any salt.

Shaking - if your pet is out in the cold and begins shaking or shivering, get him back to warm shelter as soon as possible. Signs of hypothermia include; shaking/violent shivering, slow and shallow respiration, a slower heart rate, gums may appear pale or blue. The pet may also appear listless. Call your vet immediately.

Eating snow/ground matter - avoid letting your pet eat snow or anything else on the ground. Dangerous objects or chemicals may be hidden in the snow or ice. Eating snow can also cause stomach upsets and even hypothermia. Keep water at room temperature. Pet's, especially dogs, become easily dehydrated in winter, so make sure he has easy access to fresh water.

Antifreeze - this is highly toxic! Antifreeze can get into puddles on the pavement and roads and taste sweet to pets, but even the smallest amount is deadly to your pet. Supervise your pet while outside (even in the garden) and if you suspect your dog has had any exposure to antifreeze, call your vet immediately.

Fire - if you use an indoor or outdoor fireplace, ensure you keep a safety guard around it in order to protect your pet from the flames and soot. Never leave a fire unattended.

Shelter/bedding - always ensure your pet has adequate shelter where it will be warm and dry. His bed shouldn't be in a drafty area and bedding should be kept dry. Provide extra blankets when temperatures dip below freezing.

Grooming - snow can get easily caught up in the fur of your pet. So, regular grooming will help avoid matter being caught in their coat and a well groomed coat means a better insulating coat for your dog or cat.

In the car - never leave your pet alone in a vehicle. If the engine is off, he may die from hypothermia. If the engine is left running, he may be overcome with carbon monoxide fumes. Better to leave your dog at home in the warm.

Follow the tips to keep your pet healthy and safe this winter.

Dog aggression

In my role as Dog Listener, I am often called in as the last resort to help clients experiencing a range of problems with their dogs from separation anxiety to excessive barking. While owners may tolerate some unwanted behaviours like pulling on the lead, one problem they can’t live with is aggression. It’s confusing for owners to have their loving dog suddenly turn into a Jekyll and Hyde character when out on a walk. As a result, walking the dog is no longer a pleasurable experience for the owner or the dog. So, why does this happen?

Aggression is a defence reflex, initially exhibited as a threat or warning, ultimately exhibited in a real form when there is no other option left. In other words, it can usually be avoided if you understand the cause, can read the signs and know how to desensitise the dog’s lack of trust towards the situation that resulted in the aggressive confrontation. Nearly all aggression results from a lack of trust on the part of the dog. So, it’s vital you get your dog to trust in you by giving him the right information whenever a question is raised “what happens now?” By getting your dog to elect you as leader, he will trust in you and follow your lead. There are four key areas where dogs look for leadership from us. These are; the hunt (or going for a walk), food/eating, status and perceived danger. Canine confrontation takes place within these four key areas (e.g.) dogs will fight over chew or may growl when another dog tries to cross its path. If we fail in our ‘leadership’ credentials then the dog’s survival instincts kick in, telling them someone has to take charge of the pack, and this is when the unwanted behaviours kick in.

The 4 F’s – flight, freeze, flirt or fight
Dogs exhibit four defence reflexes; flight, freeze, flirt and fight. This means when a dog feels threatened or challenged they will run away (flight), enter an almost catatonic state of immobility or snarl and growl (freeze), or try to initate some play and act like a puppy to avoid a fight (flirt) or they may finally bite (fight). The fight reflex is the most common reason for the popular diagnosis ‘aggressive dog’. Dogs that are prone to ‘fight’ as the first means of defence, will growl, snarl and eventually bite if we don’t read the signals. Dogs aren’t confrontational creatures; they won’t initiate aggression unless provoked. If a dog feels threatened – particularly if someone bends over it, directly approaches it, makes eye contact or tries to stroke their head and neck, then depending on that dog’s personality it will tell the human to ‘back off’ in the only way they can communicate. Below is a list from 1 to 7 of the warning signals dogs will give off, which if unheeded could lead to an attack.

1. Yawning, blinking, nose licking
2. Turning head away, then turning body away/sitting/pawing
3. Walking away or creeping backwards
4. Standing crouched, tail tucked under
5. Stiffening up and staring
6. Growling/snarling, tail high
7. Lunging then bite

If you would like to know more about how you can understand your dog and get the relationship you deserve, then call Hanne Grice, dog behaviour specialist and dog listener on 01442 878628 or email us at info@walk-the-dog.net

Understanding your cat

Ever wondered why your cat eats grass or wags its tail? Here’s a brief run down on common cat behaviours, to help you understand your feline friend.

• A purring cat is not necessarily a happy cat. Cats purr when in pain, distressed or giving birth. Cats in pain will purr when approached by people; this suggests cats purr to show they’re friendly and approachable - ready to be comforted or helped. Kittens purr to communicate to its mother that it’s well and content.



• Kneading is when a cat extends and retracts its claws – this usually happens when resting on its owner's lap. This behaviour comes from kittenhood. Kittens knead their mother while suckling to make the milk flow more freely. Adult cats do this when they feel safe and contented. If a cat dribbles or sucks at the owners’ clothes whilst kneading or purring, this is an indication that the cat may have been taken from its mother too early.



• Eating grass often occurs when your cat needs to clean out its stomach by vomiting (e.g. get rid of fur balls). If your cat doesn’t have access to grass, house plants or anything similar will be eaten! It’s been said that cats eat grass to obtain Folic Acid, something that cats need in small quantities for its well-being.



• Taking food out of the bowl and eating it off the floor is very common. Two theories as to why your cat behaves this way are that cats find the pieces of food too large, put them outside of the bowl so it’s easier to chew into smaller pieces. Or if the cats’ whiskers touch the side of the bowl, he may find this uncomfortable to eat, so he’ll scoop the food out.



• A wagging tail could mean your cat is angry or he’s feeling indecisive – the cat wants to do two things at once and cannot make up its mind which action to take.



• Cats bury their faeces so as not to demonstrate its presence to more dominant cats; a dominant cat will leave its faeces uncovered. A cat kept on their own will bury its faeces in the litter tray, suggesting the cat feels its owner is dominant. But in households with more than one cat, you’ll often find one or two cats leave their faeces uncovered, while the rest will cover it up.



• Cats greet one another by rubbing their faces, so when yours stands on its back legs, he’s simply trying to reach your face! This greeting is only done to humans the cat trusts. Cats have scent glands on their temples, around the mouth and base of the tail. If a cat rubs itself against you, it’s rubbing off its scent, saying "this is mine".

Dogs and babies

Whether you’ve got a new addition to the family or have friends visiting with young children, there are ways in which you can ensure your dog bonds with a new baby. ‘Baby proofing’ your dog, is all about making your dog feel comfortable and safe. If you are expecting, then watching how your dog reacts around other children will help to give you an indication of what you can expect when your little one arrives.

A dog’s primary sense is smell – your dog is able to detect the smell of human perspiration at a concentration up to a million times lower than humans can detect! Once we understand how powerful this sense of smell is, it’s no wonder our dog shoves its nose into our shopping bags to investigate what’s in it! A baby’s going to smell fascinating to your dog – so if you’re expecting, it’s important to introduce your dog now to baby smells; allow him to explore the sweet-smelling baby products you’ll be using. When the baby is born, have a friend or family member bring home a blanket and ask them to praise your dog when he sniffs it, give him a delicious treat and allow him to smell it again. This should be repeated a number of times before the baby comes home.

Hearing is the dog’s second sense and while the cry of a newborn can make any mother nervous, it can also affect your dog. Some behaviourists suggest using a sound effects CD that includes the sounds of children and babies crying. When the CD is played at a low level, you should play with your dog and treat him to ensure he has a positive association with the noise. Also, by simply acting ‘matter of factly’ in front of the dog when your baby cries and remaining calm, will show your dog there is nothing to fear, you’re in charge and his involvement isn’t needed.

Sight is your dog’s third sense, so it’s important that your dog gets used to what a baby looks and feels like. It’s a good idea to buy a life-size baby doll and allow your dog to touch the doll’s feet with his nose; you then praise him and treat. Wrap the doll in a blanket and walk around with it in your arms, sit with the doll in one arm – as if you were feeding it and stroke your dog with the other hand. Your dog will begin to associate the close presence of your baby with good things happening to him. Use food treats to reward your dog for calm behaviour.

From the time you bring your baby home until your child is at least six to eight years of age, he or she should never be left unsupervised with any dog, no matter how well-mannered and well-trained that dog might be. Think ‘prevention is better than cure’.

More information on dogs and babies can be found on our blog petdiary.walk-the-dog.net with a great article written by Jan Fennell, The Dog Listener on ‘How to ensure your dog and baby bonds’.

Understanding your dog - canine body language and interpreting it

There are probably times when you wish you knew what your dog was thinking. By looking at your dog’s body language, watching their expressions and actions this can help you understand what they might be feeling. On average dogs have 30 calming signals. These signals are used in times of fear, to avoid confrontation and on a day to day basis. As humans we often fail to see our dogs using these signals, so much so, that some dogs may give up using them altogether. For others, they become so desperate and frustrated they can get aggressive, nervous or stressed out as a result. Below are some basic calming signals dogs use to communicate their feelings.

Yawning
Your dog may yawn when someone bends over him, when you sound angry or there’s yelling, when he’s at the vets, and when someone’s walking or staring directly towards him. This tells you he feels uncomfortable and is trying to calm the situation down. When your dog is excited and there’s anticipation such as going out for a walk, dogs will yawn to take in more oxygen, as instinctively adrenalin has kicked in to prepare them for the ‘hunt’. Threatening signals (making direct eye contact, fast movements, bending over the dog etc) will often cause your dog to use a calming signal.

Licking
Licking is another calming signal - when meeting new people, dogs or in stressful situations. Licking is especially used by black/dark coloured dogs and dogs with a lot of fur around their faces as their facial expressions are harder to read. To show a dog you’re not a threat, avoid making direct eye contact, yawn and lick your lips – this is a pacifying signal and helps the dog to feel less anxious.

Turning away
A dog will turn his head slightly to one side or turn completely around so his back and tail is facing whoever the dog is calming. If a person seems angry, aggressive or threatening, dogs will often turn away. When you bend over a dog to stroke him or he’s taken by surprise - lookout for his head turning away. Dogs will use this signal to other dogs to prevent possible conflicts. Dogs that perceive themselves to be head of their pack will also use this body or head turn as a way of showing you where they want you to pat them. It’s a case of ‘who do you think you are?’ when you try to stroke them over the head. To show a strange or a nervous dog you’re not a threat, crouch down, don’t ‘invade their body space’, avoid direct eye contact, let the dog sniff you, then slowly hold your hand out for them to smell you. Once the dog is calm, then stroke him gently under the chin.

Play bow
A dog bending down on his front legs is an invitation to play if he’s moving his legs from side to side in a playful manner. But if the dog’s standing still while bowing, this is a signal to calm someone or another dog down. However, the invitation to play is often a calming signal by itself because the dog is making a potentially dangerous situation less tense and diverts with something safe.

Sniffing the ground
You’ll often see this when out walking with your dog and someone’s coming towards you, in noisy situations or places where there’s a lot going on or when your dog sees objects that he’s not sure of and finds it intimidating. Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up again to sticking their nose to the ground and sniffing persistently for several minutes. Of course, dogs sniff a lot anyway to find out whom or what has passed along the street before them! But depending on the situation this is used as a calming signal.

Sitting down/lifting one paw
Some dogs will sit down and lift a paw towards another dog or human to calm a situation down. Dogs will also sit or lay down as another dog approaches as a way to calm that approaching dog, if they feel it’s coming towards them too quickly. Dogs may also sit with their backs turned against the owner when they sound too strict, angry or the owner’s speaking in a loud voice!

Walking in a curve
This signal is the main reason why dogs react so strongly to meeting other dogs when they’re forced to walk straight at them. Instincts tell our dog that it’s wrong to approach someone like that – as humans we think differently. The dog can get anxious or defensive and this results in the dog barking and/or lunging at other dogs. When we’re outside with our dogs, we’re at our most human. So, if our dog barks or acts in an aggressive manner towards another dog, we then get flustered and anxious and may even shout at our dog. This creates a chaotic and stressful situation and now the dog has a negative association with other dogs. When given a chance, dogs will walk in curves around each other. Watch how your dog meets another dog when off the lead. Some dogs need large curves; others only need to walk slightly curved. Don’t walk your dog directly toward a dog, instead stop and change direction. If this isn’t possible give him some more leash to enable him to manoeuvre away from the dog and walk the other side of you. The more anxious your dog is, the wider the space you create between you and the other dog. Remember to take a deep breath, stay calm – keep your pulse rate steady and show your dog you’re not concerned and he will soon follow your lead.

Dog problems - Boredom Busters

Have you ever come home to find your dog has chewed through your favourite shoes or dug a tunnel in the garden that resembles something from the Great Escape? There are many causes for destructiveness from anxiousness and stress to teething. But boredom can also be a cause. So, here are some fun and clever ways to help stimulate your dog while you’re away.

The Bubble Machine
Bubble machine produces a stream of bubbles which can last for hours. Battery operated; bubbles come in bacon, liver, chicken and even peanut butter flavour! Typical cost £20.

The Time Kong Dispenser
This machine dispenses Kongs filled with treats at regular intervals during the day. It holds up to four Kongs at a time, keeping your dog occupied for hours. Prices start from approx £60.
Wiggly Giggly Mini Balls
These balls make noises as your dog rolls them or carries them around. This interactive toy encourages the dog to play by themselves. Typical cost £4.

Your imagination…
…you don’t just have to buy expensive toys to entertain your pooch! Why not fill an old box with tasty titbits and rags, your dog then has to hunt out the treats. Alternatively, scattering kibble across the garden enables your dog to use his natural scenting instinct to sniff out his dinner.

De-stress your dog
Dogs are pack animals, so when left alone some dogs become anxious. To help de-stress your dog leave an item of clothing you’ve worn overnight in your dog’s bed; your scent will give him comfort. Leaving a radio or television on can also be soothing. Be aware of not making a fuss of your dog when you’re coming and going. This is a key area where we can over-excite our dogs and do more harm than good! So, when arriving home wait until your dog is calm and settled, then call him over for a cuddle! When leaving, gather your belongings and pop a treat down for the dog, don’t say anything or make eye contact just leave quietly, enabling the dog to be as relaxed as possible at your departure.

All these dog products, together with a range of other brain-busting toys are available from the internet. For more game ideas or if you’re experiencing problems such as destructive chewing, then call Hanne Grice on 01442 878628 or email us at info@walk-the-dog.net For more information about our canine behaviour and dog training services, visit http://www.doglistener.tv/