Dog of the Month - May

This month there are THREE Dogs of the Month!

Scarlet, Henry and Benson are some of my oldest customers, and this weekend they are moving out of the area. They are going to a wonderful new home in the country, with lots more space for them to run about and play.



I will miss them terribly, but have enough fond memories to keep me going, and I have an invitation to visit to see how they've settled in, which I will look forward to.

The Walkies Award

This is a little rosette I give to the dogs after completely one year's 'service' with me. I think it's something to celebrate, our first anniversaries together!

So far we have five Walkies Award winners (plus one honourary) but I seem to have mislaid one of the 'presentation' photographs.

We have more award winners coming in the next few months, in the meantime, here's our current group of 'sophomores'.



Inky is looking a little bit sad as I can't find his photo with rosette.




Max




Bingley




Henry (honourary)




Benson



Scarlet (feeling peckish)

Winter 09 Newsletter - Winter Care for Pets

News from the Team

Fred is now a cover star! He has worked very hard to overcome his bad start in life, and walking with so many dogs over the past year has really helped him to settle down, so I was very pleased that he earned this honour!!

In case you can’t read it, the book is called ‘100 Ways to Solve Your Dog’s Problems’. Unfortunately I’ve been included in the photographs inside, but there aren’t many!

Mud!

I apologise! Some of the dogs seem to have an inbuilt mud magnet. I’m happy as long as they are enjoying themselves, but I do what I can to leave the mud outside. Please leave an old towel out for me to give your dog a final ‘polish’ before I leave them. If you’d like to leave newspaper, cardboard, plastic sheeting etc on the floor, I’ll happily walk on it.



Special Requests

Dog training - I’d like to extend an offer for basic training- I am able to teach the dogs, but need experience teachingpeople to teach their own dogs, so if you think you and your dogwould benefit from one or two sessions for basic exercises, sit,down, recall, lead walking, please get it touch. This will be alimited offer!




Food labels and empty bags

As part of my training I’m researching dog food and ingredients, so it would be really helpful if I could have empty dog food and treat bags, labels from tins etc. Just one or two of each would be great.

Winter Care

Young, elderly, ill or infirm dogs (sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Whippets or Salukis in particular) may need a coat when out of doors this winter.



Wind can be particularly chilling. Dogs with short coats living in centrally heated homes don't grow a winter coat in the same way an outdoor dog would. If you turn your heating off at night or while you are out, consider whether your dog might be cold, even indoors and think about getting a separate coat for night times.

Dogs don't usually need more food in the winter unless they are kept outside, so don't be tempted to give extra food. Outdoor water bowls can ice over, and very cold water is not good for dogs. There is a danger of ice burns to the tongue if the bowl is metal and cold enough, or a ceramic bowl can crack. Float a ball in the water to help prevent icing over, bring the bowl in, or empty it on very cold nights.

It can be just as dangerous to leave a dog in a cold car as a hot one, because the car keeps cold air in – make sure your dog is warm enough if you have to leave them for a while. Dogs, but in particular cats, have a great liking for anti-freeze
due to its sweet taste. Keep it well away from your pets because it can be fatal.

Cats have a tendency to climb into warm places in winter, and this includes car engines. Please be aware and try to be sure where your cat is before you drive off.

Chocolate and mistletoe are more in evidence at Christmas. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, although they may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk chocolate - small dogs are more at risk as they don’t need to eat much to be ill. Call the vet if you
suspect they have been in the Quality Streets – cooking chocolate is much worse, so watch out when chocolate cakes are around.

Mistletoe, and in particular the berries, are highly toxic, so make sure they are hung up carefully and can't be pulled down by the dogs. Watch out for fallen berries.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are often left outside in the winter.

Rabbits can deal with this as long as they are not in a draught or getting damp. For guinea pigs it’s pure misery! Bring your guinea pigs into a shed or unused garage, and give them, and rabbits, thick newspaper under the bedding to help insulate,
and plenty of extra bedding, changed more frequently as if it gets wet (either rain or urine), it will freeze. Bubble wrap is your furry friend’s Best Friend. Keep two water bottles, and make sure to swap them over if one freezes. Don’t forget to spend
time with your pets, even if it is cold and dark outside.

Snow and fur is not a good mix, and sometimes snow balls form on long haired dogs. Even shorter haired breeds can gather these on their feet, and once they have formed they need to be left to melt (hairdryers can help if your dog will tolerate it). They
are very painful for your dog to walk on, so if you spot them, take the dog home for a break. Vaseline between the toes, and keeping long fur trimmed can help. Leave some fur on, as is will help to protect their pads from frozen ground.



If we get heavy snowfall again this season, watch out for snow on buildings or trees that might melt and fall – just as your dog is underneath. Check that the height of the snow in the garden doesn't open up an escape route for your dog.

Snow, ice and hail usually lead to gritting lorries. The salt and other materials can irritate your dogs feet, so you may need to give them a damp wipe over when returning from a walk; try not to let your dogs lick their feet in case they ingest something that could make them ill.

Christmas is Coming!

Well, not quite Christmas, but as a busy dog walker with a good reputation I am fast getting booked up. Scarlet, Henry and Benson are doing their best to be Good Dogs so that Santa will come.

Parties, Christmas shopping, school functions, present wrapping, sometimes the dog has to take second place to your human family. Don't let the dog feel blue, left home alone, I can bring him into my home for some love and attention, playtimes and long leisurely walks - whatever the weather!

If you prefer I can collect your dog from your home. My walks are well-known for ensuring dogs only want to sleep when they get home, so you can get on with other things without feeling pressured by your dog.

If you have to be out late, I can visit to break up the time. After dark walks will be in well-lit areas and may have to be on-lead, but I know plenty of games to play on-lead too, so your dog won't notice they haven't had their normal run. Dogs will be provided with a reflective jacket.

I am an experienced dog walker, licenced, fully insured, vet & police checked to take dogs into my home to care for them. They live with my family in the home, not kennels, outhouses or summer houses, and are treated as one of the family. They get lots of walks, physical activity and plenty of playtimes and cuddles.

Please check my website for further information - http://www.brentwooddogwalker.co.uk/

Some of my previous boards can be found here - http://diary-of-a-dog-walker.blogspot.com/search/label/Home%20Boarding - I think the photos speak for themselves! All photos are genuine dogs who have shared my home, not stock shots of dogs I've never met.

There are no exclusions for breed, age, size, sex or health issues. As long as your dog can live with adults and teenagers, and get along with other dogs they are welcome in my home and on my walks.

Walks are generally in groups, although realistically evenings and/or late afternoons your dog is likely to have me all to him/herself. Groups are small - no more than four, and the size of your dog is not an issue. Groups are decided by the needs of the dog for exercise, companionship, discipline (ie they have to behave themselves!) and matched to dogs with similar needs - no matter what their breed!

Prices are good - I can walk your dog for an hour for £10, or I can bring him into my home for an afternoon (from 3-8pm) for the same price! This also includes an hour walk, the evening meal (owner must provide) or a snack. A real bargain!

Overnight stays from £20.

December weekends are nearly all booked up for boarding- only one left! New Year's Eve is fully booked for boarding, but I do have space Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day - please enquire for prices.

Walks and Home visits are still available all through December.

Ginormous Dogs

It's been so busy I haven't had time to blog, but I have to squeeze in this photo.

A customer has just brought home a gorgeous Mastiff puppy, 6 months old. I knew he would be big, just underestimated by a few inches!

All three followed me as I left ('big brother' is home during holidays so they have access to the garden) and squidged into the narrow walkway along the side of the house. It was a perfect moment to catch them together!



Quick quiz.

One of these dogs is a Great Dane. One is a Mastiff x Great Dane. One is the 6 month pup.

Which is which!?

X things all Dogs Deserve to be Taught

There are certain things that I think all dogs deserve to be taught - I call it X because although I have three specifics in mind I may think of more later.

As I may have mentioned I'm not a 'dog trainer' in that I don't teach dog owners to train their dogs and don't have hundreds of dogs or training hours under my belt [At the time of writing I was not dog training - just over a year later, I'm proud to say that I am now a dog trainer!]. But I have trained more than the average dog owner, and as a dog walker these are the little things that make it so much easier to manage the dogs I walk every day.

My good friend Joe, who is a dog trainer, does remind me that many of these things work for me because I am persistent and consistent and rarely let the dogs off 'just this once'. Also I haven't had many working breeds to work with, so obviously my experience isn't as broad as it could be. I am working on this! But in the meantime, here we go...

Wait at the Gate - Pause at Doors

The wait command has many uses, but waiting for permission to cross doorways and gateways I think is a biggy. It has so many uses, and could possibly save your dog from running off and getting lost, or worse, rushing an open door straight onto a main road. I use this so the dogs wait quietly while I get them in and out of crates in the car, open unfamiliar doors with unfamiliar keys, check for anything unusual (or livestock) on the other sides of gates in the parks or countryside, open the door to the postie, and open the door to strangers.


The basics are that to a dog, an open door should not be an invitation to rush through it. I teach them to wait quietly while I open the door or gate, and while some people prefer the dog to wait for them to go first, I prefer the dog to go first. Once they've gone through, they turn to check with me before continuing - this way they wait before and after going through the door, so they have two chances to get things right.

Nutmeg is my star pupil, because she's really good at this - you can see the door opening a little more each photo and she's just sitting there. I even took her lead off (it's not just photoshopped out, she really is just quietly sitting, waiting) and once released to go through she turns round (sorry for the blurred face, she's very quick!) for permission to go off. She's such a star she did this once when I opened the door to a delivery man! She knew something was going on that was exciting, but still waited!

This has to be practiced constantly, if you forget to reinforce the training, and the rewards! the dog will soon learn to forget. Here's some shots of some other dogs doing the same exercise.

Benson, the large GD X Mastiff, has been used to using his weight to get what he wants, but he learned this really quickly too!


Fred and Beauty waiting at the gate of their crates to be allowed to get out and go for their walks..



Also Inky:

Sporting Dogs

I can tell summer is here - or very much on the way. The dogs are cracking out their sports kits.

Here's a small sample..



Above is Max, preparing for the upcoming doggy talent show season, and below is Benson, who's just up for a game any old time!

Summer is Here!

From my vast experience as a Dog Walker (6 months now), I recommend the following for the sunny weather:

* Slimline backpack/water bladder carrier
* Bumbag for all those things normally stuffed in the (now discarded) coat pockets
* Water in the car, for me (there is always some for the dogs) as anything other than water means being in and out of the loo all day - something I learned when I was a cabbie!
* Silver screens to put up in car while out of it
* Factor 30 SPF
* Insect repellant
* Carabiners just in case
* Bit of nice lippy

I also recommend NOT throwing a ball (not matter how gently as it WILL bounce and go further than expected) for an enormous and powerful dog while he's on a lead.



That bruise has now developed into something two inches long. Ouch. Idiot!

Training a Reliable Recall for your Dog

Recall is one of the most important things to teach dogs, but often it's seen as difficult to train. You can get by without it, but with it, life with your dog becomes a joy, even if he can't do anything else.

Make sure you adjust your dog's dinner if you use food as a reward. How long this takes depends on how long your dog might have been playing 'chase me' every time you try to catch him!

Begin at Home

Recall training, as with most training, starts in the home.

Regularly call your dog to you, as many times as possible, using a high-pitched and interesting tone of voice. Pick a word to use and stick to it, making sure all members of the family are happy to use it. If time is hard to find, try doing it when the adverts come on during your favourite telly programme, or if you watch soaps and serials, call every time someone has a drink, an argument, or a snog! Don't try calling him if he's doing something far more rewarding, wait until he's lying down, or looking a bit bored and needing some attention. You want to start with success.



Reward your dog every time he comes with a treat, a game, throwing a toy, or just a lot of love and attention. If at first he won't come, split his dinner into small amounts, and call him for his dinner. Wait until he's given up hope of any more and has wandered off, and call him for the next 'course', and so on. Once he's had his treat or other reward, send him away, again pick one word or short phrase and stick to it, make it flat and a bit dull. He won't know what it means at first, but if you ignore him once you've said it he'll get the point and wander off after a while. This word shouldn't be another command, so don't tell him to go and lie down, it's just to make him leave you - what he does once he's gone is up to him. He doesn't get a reward for leaving you, he should be reasonably happy to go, but leaving his owners will hopefully mean things get a bit less fun once you are out on a walk.

Once he's understood this new game and is nice and reliable, drop the treats or games to every other time, then one in three, then randomly until finally you are rewarding only the very best, super quickest returns - aim for the 'whiplash' effect where your dog's head swivels to you when you call no matter what he's doing – his body should be following!

In the Garden

Now is the time to move into the garden, where there are more distractions – be prepared to start from the very beginning if necessary, and treats should be back to every time at the beginning. It shouldn't take long to get his attention back to what it was indoors, but if it does, persevere. Some dogs are more distractable or just more independant that others, while others still have to spend some time learning that fun comes from being with people. Once his recall is good in the garden, leave some distractions about, his toys, perhaps ask another family member to lurk around the garden, even a family friend. If it goes well, get the other person to play with your dog and work on calling him back from there. Don't take that step too soon though, you want to set yourself and your dog up to suceed. If you have one, you can use a long line in the garden, to encourage your dog back to you to start with.



Don't drag him - if you have to drag him you have gone too far too soon. If you don't have a garden, see if you can find an unused tennis court - early in the morning can be a good time.

Out and About

Once you're feeling confident, take your dog out for some practise in public. Try not to think of this as 'a walk', but recall training with some walking about. That way you won't get so frustrated if you don't get anywhere, and if your dog is being really hard work and you are not getting anywhere you can come home.

The scariest time might be taking your dog off the lead in a public place for the first time. Try to find somewhere safe, away from roads, and quiet without too many distractions – a country park just before lunchtime on a Sunday is probably not going to give you the results you are looking for. Don't do this just after dinner either. You want your dog to come back for food, if nothing else! You can use your long line to start with if you feel you need it.

Take some high value treats or a toy your dog loves with you. If you can keep this toy ONLY for walks from now on this will help a great deal. 'Tune' him into it with some very short, exciting games that finish before he wants to stop, and you always get to keep the toy at the end of the game.



Don't take the long line off until you are successful on a regular basis. Some dogs may never be able to be let off lead, but the vast majority will be fine.

Take your dog's (short) lead off. Then walk in the opposite direction a short way. If properly prepared at home your dog should stay quite close to you, or he may decide to scamper off, but as you are in a safe area, don't panic. Don't chase him either. Or call, unless you think he really will come back, callling fruitlessly encourages him to stay away as he knows you are still with him. Run further away, or make sounds as if you are. Sit down, lie down. Make noises as if you've just found the most wonderful thing in the world, and his natural curiosity should bring him to you.

Don't try to catch him. Go away again. He'll think this is a wonderful new game and follow. If he comes close enough, give him a treat and tell him to go away, ideally before he's gone, but while he's going will do nearly as well. Repeat this a few times, making sure to send him away again each time, and then begin calling him back to you - when he is already on his way to start with. After a while you may find it difficult to get your dog to leave you (possibly unbelievable, but true).



Now is the time to make contact, a pat on the head, flap his ears, if you can, stroke his collar, or even grasp it briefly if you can. Send him away again. Your eventual aim is to be able to call him to you and put his lead on. Once you've done that, walk a few steps, take the lead off, and send him away. This will stop any silliness where the dog sees the lead come out and knows it means the end of the walk and won't come to you.

While you're walking, occasionally hide behind a tree. Your dog will wonder where you are. Give them a few seconds, and call them (you don't want them thinking you've gone home and trying to run off home by themselves so don't leave it too long). Try to vary your route, or suddenly turn and go back the way you came, without telling your dog. Give him a chance to realise you've changed direction (without obviously waiting for him) and he will learn to watch where you are going, rather than going his own sweet way.

If you leave the area by the same gate, or always end up at your car, do the same thing there if it's safe to do so – call the dog, send him away, call, send away, on lead, off lead, send away. If there is a distraction your dog will not leave, try to call before he gets there, or even before he's made one pawstep in that direction. Keep your eye out, and sometimes you can call before he even spots it. If you have to put him on a lead to walk him past the distraction, he should be quite happy with this by now because he will know there is off-lead time coming again.

And Finally

Hopefully by now you will have a dog you can trust to let off the lead. Be realistic - for some dogs there are distractions simply too great for them to ignore in favour of you alone. This is where your toy comes in, or you may just have to accept that you need to keep your dog on a lead for a time. As your dog grows older, or gets more used to coming back it might be that one day the conditioning to return to you will override any impulse of his own, so keep up the work. Once he's learnt this, he should have a solid, reliable recall. But there's no harm in recalling him for no particular reason during walks all through his life.

All in a Day's Work

Tags
I put a name tag on each of the dogs I walk (and am considering asking cat owners to do the same if they allow them out while I am looking after them), and to make sure I don't end up with no fingernails, I use a small carabiner for easy but secure clipping and a waterproof capsule with my details inside.

I like the capsules, because they are a reasonable enough size that in an emergency anyone can see there is something on the dog (I like them so much I am considering dumping my dogs' metal tags and using them on mine) without them being too annoying for the dog, and the size means I usually remember to remove them when I go home. It doesn't matter if they get dragged through water and they are sturdy enough not to be flicked off by bushes and branches. And with the new 'fashion' for really thick metal bars on collars, there is no risk of a split ring being bent out of shape and working free.

It works for most of the dogs I walk.

Just not for Max.



Toilet
Sometimes I arrive a little later than planned. Brentwood has two roads closed right in the middle of the busy high street (which is also a 'short cut' when the A12, A127 and/or M25 is causing problems - and I live the other side of it from all my customers) and there is so much housebuilding going on there are temporary traffic lights popping up all over the place. It's all delays, and they spring up overnight so sometimes it can take me a little longer to get around town than expected.

I felt really guilty when I saw how much Benson needed the loo today...


Anyone got a mop?

Snow Babies!

I make no apology, I love the snow! I had more cancellations during the day, but here are some photos of the snow babes I did manage to get to see today.

First walk of the day, Fred and Beauty. Fred can't wait to get out there and stuff his head in a snow drift, it even made having to wear his jumper worthwhile!

Next up, Bingley, my new Whippet puppy. As he's so tiny he borrowed Fred's jumper. He wasn't so keen, but we had a good walk anyway.



Then we stopped by for TJ. He managed to gather so many snowballs we cut the walk short a bit. He'd have been uncomfortable lying in bed, as I didn't know where the hairdryer was kept! I towelled most of them off, so he should have had peaceful sweet dreams in the warm for the afternoon.

My final job was Benson and Scarlet - as the ground was frozen I let them out together for a play - when it's wet they get too muddy as they are turning the lawn into a mudbath, and not too good for the lawn either!
Scarlet was demonstrating one of the best bits of a walk - the aftersnooze.







And last, definitely least, and probably the only glimpse you'll see - me! I may look stupid, but I was warm and dry and the dogs don't laugh!

And after all that - the van only managed to catch three snowballs!