Dogs - They'll never know how important they are to us

My little boy had his second birthday this month. I'd like to say I have happy memories of his birthday, but I don't.

After a complicated and stressful pregnancy, we suffered a traumatic birth, which left George with a seriously damaged arm. He then went on to develop meningitis, and once discharged from hospital was found to have a condition called silent reflux (this is essentially acid reflux, which is very painful for the baby and means that they cry almost constantly). All in all, pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood was a very tough time for me, as it is for many mothers. I often think about how I got through this time without breaking down or having to turn to antidepressants, and I think that my animals played a huge part.

I had a horse called Belle, who needed caring for each day. Grooming, feeding, mucking out. These daily duties were not a choice, they needed doing each and every day, screaming baby or not.  I also had Amber, our dog. At the time, Amber, our wonderful and clever Collie cross, had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. She was undergoing chemotherapy but still only had a prognosis of 6 - 12 months to live. I promised myself that she would get a good walk every single day, no excuses, and I lived up to that promise.

I know a lot of mother's with reflux babies avoid going out in public, because of the stress and the embarrassment of having a baby that cries all the time. However, I had to go out and care for my animals. I would strap George to my back, whether he was crying or not, and like this I would carry him around the stables, mucking out and caring for Belle as I always did. Belle always had a calming influence on me, and it seemed that she did on George too. He would be quite fascinated with her, reaching out to touch her and enjoying all the sights and sounds (and smells!) of the farm. 

Then, still using the trusty baby carrier, Me, George and Amber would all go walking. Sometimes I would get strange looks from other walkers, perhaps thinking me a neglectful parent for walking along ignoring my crying baby. Other times, I would walk past people and they would give me a look and a smile that said 'I know what you're going through', or sometimes they would come and chat and tell me about their own children who used to cry a lot. That was rare, but lovely and reassuring when it did happen. 

The fresh air, the exercise, the fact that, mostly, George would be distracted enough to stop screaming for a little while, it all made me feel better. It also made me feel like I was making some sort of an effort to be a good mother. I'm sure I ruined many a peaceful walk for other walkers, but tough luck! -They got to walk away and I didn't! Just because George was grumpy, it didn't mean that he deserved to be shut up in the house all day. He deserved to see the great outdoors just as much as the next baby. 

Above all, Belle and Amber gave me a reason to get out of the house. I couldn't lose my sanity (although some days it felt like it was hanging from a very fine thread!), because there was no one else to care for them. It had to be me. Having this duty helped to get me through, no doubt about it.

This is something that dogs (and other animals) give to people every day. They do these things for us and they don't even know how important they are. I wonder how many dogs have 'saved' their owners - just by being there?

Life can throw at us many challenges, which can push us close to the edge and make us want to give up. But having a dog to care for, that needs feeding and walking and loving, is sometimes all it takes to get us to keep going and get through it.

...And this is just what you're average dog can give, no special training, it just comes naturally to them.

Imagine what a disabled person's life would be like without the help of their assistance dog...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWvvpUfWGNM

Or an elderly person, living alone. What would their life be like without their little Westie sitting at their feet and cocking their head listening to chatter?..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXBqbkT1Wrs

Dogs can work wonders with disabled and autistic children too, giving them confidence, relaxing them when they are scared, giving them something to focus on, being their friend without any expectation or pressure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7lAN1zno0w

And what do they ask in return? 

Not much, a walk every day, a warm bed and food, care when they're sick, and a pat on the head every so often.

How very humbling.

Rest in peace Amber and Bella. They'll never know how much they did for me. 

Some Important Kennel News and Announcements

Hi there! 

Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. 

Apologies for a rather boring blog post this time! Just needed to get some important news and advice posted this time. (Incidentally if anyone can suggest blog topics or have any questions for us then please feel free to send me a message via Facebook - Sometimes I struggle to come up with interesting topics!) 

Summer holidays? Book them now! 

I'm sure many of you are now thinking about booking holidays for the spring and summer. 

If you have never used kennels before, be sure to go and view any prospective ones before booking. Make sure the kennels are clean and that the dogs look happy and well cared for, have a chat with the staff too about your dog's needs. It can be difficult to find a kennels that you like, so it's best to start the search early. 

We are already becoming booked up for February and the summer holiday months, so if you want to check us out or book a stay be sure to do it soon to avoid disappointment. 

Our usual viewing times are weekdays between 10am and 12pm, and weekends between 11am and 2pm. However these times aren't set in stone - if they aren't convenient for you then just give us a ring and we can arrange another time. 

Doggie Daycare Customers

Our little Doggie Daycare is now becoming quite busy! This means that it's important to book or at least check spaces before coming, particularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We only have a licence for 15 dogs in the daycare and we'd hate to turn anyone away. 

IMPORTANT - Kennels closed 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th Jan. 

Apologies for any inconvenience! 

We are closing the kennels to do some maintenance work on the kennel run floors as they are looking a bit tatty. This is not something that we can do with any dogs on the premises due to the fumes. It will be finished, dry and safe by the Monday, and looking a lot neater too! 

This means that there will be no one available on these dates to take people for kennel viewings. Again so sorry for the inconvenience. We will try our best to accommodate urgent viewings once we are home. 

The doggie daycare will be open as usual on the Friday and the Monday, it's just the kennels that is closed. 

Closing the gates

I hate to pester, but just wanted to remind customers to leave the gates as they find them. (ie it's OK to leave them open if they are already open, but if they are closed please close them again behind you after you drive in). This is to ensure the safety of the dogs especially as we are situated on the A54 which is a very busy road. 

Dogs and children

In the light of the recent horrific tragedy involving little Lexi Branson and her adopted rescue dog I thought it was fitting to write this blog post about how dogs and children can both be kept safe in each others company.(I also say keeping the dog safe, because lets face it, one mistake, one nip is all it takes for a death sentence to be issued on the poor creature. It is not only in the child's interest to be kept safe, but the dog's also). 

As you may know, we have a toddler, George, and we also have a young Border Collie bitch, Mila, who is eight months old. We actually decided to buy a puppy, simply because I believe that you can never fully vouch for the behaviour of a rescue dog. You don't know their history, you don't know who has trained them and using what methods, or what experiences they have had. Rescue dogs may be just fine with older (better trained!) children, but with babies and toddlers I personally wouldn't recommend it. We chose to buy a puppy, simply so that she could grow up with him and get to think of all the noise and excitement of our house as 'the norm'. It is obvious the rescue dog that attacked Lexi was unsuitable for family life with young children, but also, I think it's naive to assume that just because a dog has been brought up with children, that you have no need to take precautions or be careful. 

Lets face it. Children are an awful lot to cope with. They're noisy - they cry and shout and scream and squeal. They have little to no empathy and the attention span of a gnat. Even their toys are noisy and irritating! They're unpredictable and rough, and have tempestuous emotions. Children can, unfortunately, be a big stress causer for any pets in the home. 

Obviously, the first rule in child/dog safety is to not allow your child to approach strange dogs without specific permission from the owners. And even then the child must be made to approach quietly and calmly. But actually, statistics show that children are much more likely to be bitten by their own family dog than they are by a strange dog that they don't know. 

I personally believe that family dogs are expected to put up with too much. Often they are expected to take all the noise and the ear pulling and the teasing, without any protest at all. This is simply not fair to the dog. 

Any report I've ever heard about children being attacked by dogs always seems to indicate that the dog attacked 'without warning'. I simply don't see how this could be the case. The warning may have been subtle, but it will have been there. A little growl, raised hackles, lip licking, yawning, freezing, the dog could try running away from the child, or the dog taking too much interest in the child,  these are all warning signs. 

How can we keep our children and dogs safe? 

1.) Always supervise. A simple rule, but an important one. If your child is playing with your dog, then you must be around to supervise. Don't leave them in the same room together and walk off. George and Mila LOVE to play with each other, running around the house causing chaos, but often need reminding to not pull at fur, or to not jump up, or to stop running you'll fall! / knock him over! If you are there you can stop any disasters before they happen. 

2.) Allow the dog to have a 'safe place', where they can go and the child cannot follow. This is easier when you have a baby, as they can't move much or walk. Amber used to jump up on the settee when she'd had enough of George, but now he can walk, Mila doesn't have this luxury. She does have a doggie door to the garden, and so she can always shoot through this if she needs to. But mostly we keep them apart unless one of us is there. If I feel Mila is getting a bit fed up, I put her in another room to have a break. 

3.) Don't let dogs and children eat around each other. There was another fatal dog attack involving a child some years ago, it was a Pitbull, but I don't feel that was the issue (I don't thing breed specific legislation solves anything). The story went that the Nana of the child gave both the dog and the child a bag of crisps. She then left the room, and came running back once she heard the child screaming. I can actually picture what may have happened. The dog eats his crisps first, then goes for the child's. The child will not of wanted to give up their food, maybe the dog received a smack on the nose, and unfortunately we all know the rest.  The same sort of scenario could occur with toys instead of food. 

4.) If you have an old dog, or a poorly dog, then take caution when children are around. Children can be rough, and although they don't mean it, they may cause pain and end up being bitten. They may also surprise older dogs whose hearing and eyesight may not be so sharp, and in such instances the dog may react on instinct and snap. Also take care when a dog is sleeping, for the same reason. 

5.) Be aware that the squeaky little noises babies make can sound similar to prey. In some dogs this may trigger a predatory reaction. Let the dog smell and be near the baby, but as said before, never leave them unattended. Another dog attack comes to mind here, a Jack Russel Terrier that attacked a newborn baby. Terriers are excellent ratters, they are geared up to take a great interest in anything small and squeaky. 

Also, with older children when they run around, it could also trigger this sort of predatory response. The dog may chase them and nip, acting on instinct. 

6.) Teach them both well! A dog that responds to commands and knows their place will do better with one that has no rules or discipline in their life. Mila is only young but she knows that when I say 'Oi!', she has done something displeasing and she will stop dead in her tracks. Similarly, I will praise her when she does something I like. This is how she will learn how to behave around George, she will eventually know what's good behaviour, and what's not. 

And the same goes for George. He will be reprimanded for any fur pulling or roughness, and praised when he pets her gently. When he's a little older I will make sure he knows exactly how to behave around dogs, calmly and sensibly, not to put his face close to theirs, and not to shout etc. It is a learning process for both of them, but neither is exempt!

Dogs and children are made for each other. I think they can enrich each others lives and bring a lot of joy and happiness to each other. A few simple precautions and remembering to never be complacent can protect them both from harm, and ensure that their relationship is one that's based on mutual respect and love. 

GEORGE AND MILA - IN TRAINING! 

George and Mila meet for the first time! Here she is ragging on George's trousers, I'm pretty sure he probably gave her a whack just after this shot. Time for some serious training! 

                                                              Get off my slide puppy!!

What are you pair up to?!     

Here is Mila 'putting up' with George -  Her face says it all!  He is ramming his wheel barrow into her. Cue a telling off for George and a pat for Mila for being so tolerant. 

Double trouble! 

Mila looks at the balls but doesn't touch - Good girl! 

My dog has been attacked and now he's scared of other dogs...

A common story unfortunately. We usually hear about such stories when we show new owners around the kennels. A concerned expression will appear on their faces as we tell them about how we let the friendly dogs exercise together.

''Oh he's ever so scared of other dogs. He was attacked as a puppy by an alsatian/rottweiler/staffy/ (insert large and scary breed here!)''.

What do we do when boarding these nervous dogs?

Well, first of all, we may only work on the dog's confidence with the owner's consent. If the prospect of group play upsets the owner and makes them nervous, or if the dog has become aggressive as a result of the attack, then of course we will exercise alone.

However, a lot of the time owners express to us how much they would love their dog to enjoy playing with other dogs again, and allow us to introduce their dog to others during their stay and aim to build their confidence back up. After all, here we have access to lots of dogs which we know very well and that we know are friendly and safe, this is something you can never be sure of when meeting dogs whilst out walking.

It's a simple process, but can take a variable amount of time, and not every stage can be reached. We let the dog work through the stages at their own pace and only move on when we see their behaviour change to show that they are more comfortable.

The first stage is to build up a trusting relationship with the dog ourselves. This can be instantaneous with some dogs, and take a long time with others. We get their simply by spending time with the dog, talking to them as we feed them and clean the kennels, by giving them a treat or two or a pampering. We make friends.

The second stage is where we introduce the dog to either our own dog, or a kennel/daycare dog who we know very well and are certain is a calm and quiet character. The nervous dog will obviously find this a little stressful at first, they may run away from the other dog or show overly submissive behaviour, but with a little time and repetition, they learn that nothing bad has happened. They may come out of their shell a little, and take more interest in the other dog, perhaps even showing signs of playfullness.

Dogs may show submissive behaviour at first, but they soon learn to not be afraid

The dog may start to show signs of interest in the other dogs

They learn that it is nice to have company.

The third stage is where we gradually push the dog out of their comfort zone, little by little. We do this by adding more challenging characters to their playtimes (and when I say challenging, I mean more playful, or more barky, we never ever put aggressive dogs in group play - everyone is thoroughly temperament assessed before being allowed in group play). This third stage is where we find what the dog's real character is, now they have gained confidence and lost the fear they once had. You would be surprised how many of these nervous dogs end up being put in the boisterous play group after a week!

Some dogs even get too boisterous for the quiet group, and have to be move up into the crazy group! 

We have had many owners say how pleased they are to have a happy and confident dog back when they return from their holidays. Sometimes they and their dog have been carrying the fear of attack around for years, which is a real shame as it is such a joy to watch dogs play together. Also, it can play a part in preventing any future attacks, as the dog will learn how to properly interact with others, they will have a more confident posture and disposition, and this alone can play a big part in not becoming a victim again.

We are by no means dog trainers, but running the doggie daycare means that all the staff are excellent at reading dog body language and supervising the group play to ensure that the right dogs are grouped together, and that everyone has a good time. It is the best part of the job, especially when you can see their confidence and happiness change in front of your eyes.

This is what it's all about - the smiling faces! 

Life with a new pup...

As you all know, at Easter time we lost our beloved Amber, and not long after (wanting a distraction from the pain) we welcomed little Mila (pronounced Mee-la) into our lives.

I felt a little guilty at buying a puppy, as I've always felt re-homing is the best thing to do, especially if you are experienced with dogs as we are. However now that we have George, our little boy, I felt it was unfair to both the rescue dog (who would probably have enough issues to start with, without having to learn to cope with a noisy toddler) and to George, who above all needs to be kept safe. The last thing I wanted to do was adopt a dog only to end up letting it down, or putting George in danger.

We decided that this one time, a puppy was what we needed. So that it could grow up with George and the sound of tantrums and musical toys would just be background noise - the norm. She will probably be our one and only puppy in our lifetimes. We spotted an advert in the local free paper, so off we went to the farm, and there she was. Small and oh so fluffy, with one bright blue eye like a sparkling jewel. The decision took all of ten seconds!

Small and oh so fluffy, with one blue eye like a sparkling jewel. 

 I won't lie, it was hard at first, though it was no fault of Mila's. I found it very very hard adjusting to life without my old friend Amber. It's quite a shock to the system to go from having a well trained, sensible old dog who you know inside and out, to having a fluffy ball of trouble tearing round the house chewing shoes and pooing and weeing all over the show! I pined for my old girl, missed her so much that it hurt.

Always up to something!

However, of course, Mila grew on me. and after 6 months I can honestly say that she is just what we need at this point in our lives. She is the perfect mixture of laid back and intelligent, she has funny little ways that make us laugh (like sticking her tongue out all the time!) and she behaves perfectly with George.

I'm ashamed to say that I have spent very little time training her. With an active toddler and a busy business to run, it leaves little time to spare. However despite this, she still seems to be learning the right things, such is the joy of Collies. They soak up knowledge like sponges. 

She has taught herself to go through the doggie door, and since discovering it, goes outside to toilet now without fail. She comes to call, knows 'sit', 'down' and 'out'. If she does something I want her to stop, I just have to say 'Aa! - Aa!' and she immediately stops. She is very responsive to voice commands which is useful as I always seem to have my hands full! Although not perfect on the lead yet, she is not far off.

We are just starting to let her off her lead on our walks, she's very good at her recall - except when she sees another dog. This is because she goes in the daycare everyday to play with her friends, and now she thinks every dog wants to wrestle with her! So I'm trying to take her out to more popular dog walking routes so that she sees lots of dogs and learns to greet calmly, and I know eventually this will come, I see an improvement every time we go out.

http://youtu.be/9lhXgLcQWlk

When I allow her to play with George, she knows that she is not to jump up, not to take toys from him, and if George wants her toy she is to give it to him. I also train George at the same time! No fur pulling or climbing all over allowed. I want them to have a good relationship where they can have lots of fun together but also respect each other.

I think it's funny sometimes how dogs seem to find their owners. Mila seemed to be waiting for us, the last pup left in the litter because of her blue eye and small size (other people thought her eye may be defective in some way, and of course no one wants the runt). Just as Amber was waiting for us at the rescue kennels years ago. 

So here's to making lots of new memories, learning lots of new lessons, and welcoming another dog into the family. She's going to be a good one :) 

Yeah yeah we all know...

... not to leave our dogs in the car during the summer time.

However even so, you still hear stories about it happening. It's even happened with police dogs. People just don't seem to be aware of how fast a car can heat up, even with all the windows cracked open, it only takes minutes for the temperature to start rising.

I found a good video on the internet where an American vet experiences how it feels for himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOcCQ-y3OY 


At the kennels we change our routine during heatwaves. We start the day an hour earlier, feeding at 5am and starting exercise at 7.30am so that the dogs can run and play without getting overheated.

The kennels themselves are nice and cool, and their drinking water is changed and topped up with fresh numerous times a day.

The dogs in the daycare are encouraged to have some rest time in the hottest part of the day.

Sometimes we take them out onto the little paddock where there is a nice breeze and shade from the trees. We like to spray them all with the hose if they are looking a little hot and even have a paddling pool for them to play in.

Jess and the dogs enjoying the shade

Some dogs with white fur need sunblock putting on at regular intervals around the top of their noses and eyebrows to protect their delicate skin from burning.

Henry is one of the dogs who needs sunblock on when he plays outside 

There are also other things you can do to help keep your dog cool on these hot days,  a good groom and hair cut can help them keep cool, perhaps take them for a swim at the lake rather than his usual walk, or put some toys in an empty ice cream tub, fill with water and freeze, and then let him lick and chew at the ice in order to free the toys!

I'm loving having a proper summer this year, as I'm sure everyone is, and with a few sensible precautions our dogs can enjoy the summer along with us.

Stay safe people!

The importance of socialisation

Socialisation means allowing your dogs to get used to and learn to play and interact correctly with other dogs. This means developing the correct social skills when meeting new dogs, learning to play nicely (and adjusting the play to match the playmate) and also learning when another dog wants to be left alone. These social skills are important because, basically, dogs love to be around other dogs. It makes them happy, and I always think a dog who doesn't ever socialise is missing out a little. It can also be a life saver, if your dog knows and understands the signals that mean 'leave me alone' it will save them from aggressive confrontations. 

Socialisation is best started as early as possible (after the puppy is fully vaccinated of course, and only with other vaccinated dogs). We have recently had quite a few puppies start attending daycare, including our own, and they really love it. It's a joy to see them playing and learning the important social skills. 

It goes without saying that if during the temperament assessment a dog shows any sign of aggression means the dog will have to be exercised with just human company and won't be able to socialise. This doesn't mean that we don't like your dog! or that they won't get as much attention, it is simply for safety's sake, as I'm sure you can understand. We are also extra cautious with bigger or powerful breeds ie staffies or rottweilers. This isn't because we believe the media hysteria which gives the breeds an undeserved bad name, but simply because they are stronger and even a minimal amount of aggression would be quite serious - where if a shih-tzu is a bit grumpy it's not such a big deal. 

The dogs we can help are ones that are simply nervous, or lacking in social skills but friendly, can certainly be worked on and improved. We also need the consent of the owner to allow their dog to be exercised in a small group environment. Most owners with friendly dogs are more than happy to do so, as it simply makes the dog's experience in kennels a much happier and more interesting one, and I'm sure it's the secret to why our kennels is so lovely and quiet - no manic barking here! Because everyone is well exercised and mentally stimulated. I've read that 20 mins doggie playing with worth an hours lead walk, so no wonder everyone is nice and tired after exercise time.     

The beauty of our  kennels and daycare is that it provides a perfect environment for learning socialisation skills. When meeting dogs down the park your can't always guarantee they are friendly or under control. All the dogs are temperament assessed before being allowed in group play and supervised by very experienced staff. We also have the opportunity to hand pick playmates who match your dog's character and socialisation level. For example, if your dog has very little experience with other dogs and is very nervous or submissive, we can pick older or less playful dogs for them to meet first. These dogs aren't likely to do more than sniff your dog and walk off. What they will do is provide unobtrusive company, and this can be good for helping nervous dogs overcome their fear as their is no pressure to play or even be too close to other dogs. If the nervous dog gains confidence in this playgroup and shows signs of wanting to play, we can pick other playmates which are a little more exciting. Often a dog can come to stay with us and starts out very nervous, but goes home with bags of confidence and enjoying the company of other dogs rather than being scared. 

Another example of how good socialisation can be good for dogs is when they are boisterous (ie essentially very friendly but with not very refined social skills... too 'in your face' for most dogs to cope with. These dogs may often be met with aggression even through they themselves are very friendly). What these dogs need to learn is to control their excitement, be more polite, and learn to recognise who wants to play and who doesn't. With more contact with other dogs these boisterous sorts will soon become less exited around other dogs, simply because it's not such a novelty. They will also learn what gets the best response from the other dogs, and often learn to tone down their behaviour - otherwise no one wants to make friends with them! This also goes for puppies too, who are often over exuberant with their greetings and play at first. 

We have quite an established group in the daycare now, and it is lovely to watch the dynamics and behaviour of the dogs. They all seem to know who wants to play and who's needs a rest, and they adjust their play to suit the playmate - ie the big dogs will wrestle lying on their backs, giving their smaller friend the advantage and making the game 'fair'. 

They all look forward to coming to daycare, dragging their owners in and often not wanting to go home! (and some of these dogs started off very nervous too!).

Doggie daycare is becoming more popular now with owners working long hours and simply not having the time to spend walking their dog. Daycare is a perfect solution as the dog has both human and canine company all day, lots of exercise and stimulation. It boosts their confidence and makes them calmer and more manageable at home. 

What's nice about our daycare here at Woodland View is that it is quite small, with only limited numbers attending. This means that the staff can manage the dogs easily, making the environment safer and also more suitable for small puppies or older, or nervous dogs who would be overwhelmed at a bigger daycare. 

For lots of pictures and videos of the playtimes, please visit our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/woodlandviewkennels

Any other enquiries please give us a call or e-mail.