As fun as life at home can be, as you all know, these are the walks that your dog lives for. If it is possible, these are the walks that need to have an ‘off-road’ and off lead (or long line if recall is not reliable) element. Yes, dogs need to exercise and to run, but it is so much more than that. When a dog is out in a field or in a wood it is a sensory heaven for them. The majority of which they take in via their nose. If you own a working breed, then it is even more important that they have the opportunity to do what is part of their genetic make-up – to get their nose down and search for a good scent. So, don’t rush your walk, if they stop to sniff, stop with them, and enjoy watching them at work.
These daily walks can be an ideal opportunity for you to practice training with your dog and continue to build that bond. As well as poo bags, and ideally a whistle, tasty treats should never be forgotten. Work on recall, not by throwing a ball which is encouraging them to run away from you, but by making yourself fun and running away from them, so they have to catch you. Play hide and seek, by sneaking behind a tree and calling to them, it will become such a great game for them, they will want to find you and, therefore, be with you.
Stopping to play scent games will exercise and tire your dog’s brain. You can practice a sit and wait while you hide a few pieces of food in the grass or around tree roots, then teach a ‘find it’ cue to release them to find the food. You will be surprised how quickly they will learn to wait patiently while you set up.
If your dog is an only dog and not dog reactive, arrange to meet up with friends who have dogs regularly, so they get some dog on dog play time or to just have a sniffing buddy. Dogs are sociable creature that enjoy the company of other dogs. It will also give them the opportunity to practice communication through body language, especially if they are young.
So basically, put away your phone, leave the ball launcher at home (or in the bin – that’s a whole other blog!) and enjoy interacting with and watching your dog on one of their most important and fun times of the day!
]]>In the UK dog boarding and day-care is regulated under Animal Activity Licensing Regulations 2018. Incredibly dog walking and dog training is still unregulated. This means that anyone can set up as a dog walker or dog trainer with little or no experience other than maybe being a dog owner themselves. I started by working for an established dog walker (that I am forever grateful to for starting me on my journey to where I am now) and would never have been able to set out on my own without gaining that vital experience first.
It is also mind-blowing to think that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, with not a single course completed or qualification behind them Hopefully this will be changing in the near future and dog walkers and trainers will be brought in line with boarders and day care. A step in the right direction has begun with the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter, of which the IMDT is a signatory. You can read more about it at https://ukdogcharter.org/
So, when looking for dog professional to help you, I urge you to do your research, check their credentials and read the reviews.
]]>Every pet in our care should have:
Obviously, if are reading this, you are a responsible dog owner who does all this for your dog naturally. However, it is always good to have the knowledge to educate others!
People often acquire their pets without being aware or familiarising themselves with UK laws that can affect them as dog owners. As well as the Animal Welfare Act, the other important laws that dog owners should familiarise themselves with are: Environmental Protection Act (1990); Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; Control of Dogs Order 1992; Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, Animals Act 1971,section 3; Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
This is an easy to read information guide provided by the UK Kennel Club, which gives a good overview.
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