Herald - Issue 409

Page 70 • The HERALD • 15th July 2021 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v ANIMAL MAGIC 38 Pylewell Road, Hythe, Southampton, Hants SO45 6AQ Tel: (023) 8084 1000 Fax: (023) 8084 5651 www.hythevets.co.uk An Independent Local Practice The Pet Healthcare Centre Do You Need Help with Dog Problems? BK9Confident Say goodbye to training problems, unwanted behaviours, pulling on the lead, fear reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, recall problems, puppy problems, confidence problems, dominant behaviour, resource guarding and much more! Stop unwanted behaviours like chewing, excessive barking, pulling on the lead, jumping up, scent marking indoors etc. E-learning courses available from £9.99 FREE Courses & Resources Private & Confidential Consultations from £20 Qualified Advanced Canine Behaviourists, Insured, Experienced, Force-Free Methods Only Enquiries T: 023 8178 17 07 E: dogs2fosteruk@gmail.com in association with www.dogs2fosteruk.org IS YOUR DOG HAPPY? by Dogs2Foster Recent research by the PDSA 2020 PAWS report identi ed that 75% of owners would like to change their dog’s behaviour! During these very trying times, our dogs are also going through huge amounts of changes in their routines and daily lives. Have you noticed subtle changes or even signi cant ones in your dog? For example, at times, does your dog seem agitated, jumpy, withdrawn, or depressed? Have they become destructive, started having “accidents” indoors, sleeping much more than usual or are they restless all the time? Maybe you have seen them frantically scratching at the carpet or sofa? Or possibly they have become more excitable, you have seen an increase in zoomies for example, they have started jumping up, becoming more attention seeking? Or, you are experiencing more challenging behaviour like leash reactivity, fear aggression towards other dogs, people or guarding behaviour around the home? ese can all be signs of stress and anxiety. e way our dogs behave is a direct re ection of how they feel. Like us, their behaviour can become more overt the more frustrated, scared, and anxious they feel. When their behaviour escalates, it can be inconvenient and frustrating and commonly the poor dog gets labelled with negative names like ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’ when it is simply the dog’s way of communicating how rotten they feel. A change in your dog’s behaviour can be caused by health issues that you may be unaware of or something in their environment which needs to be changed to help them feel better. Dogs give us lots of signals using body language to tell us they are stressed, uncomfortable or unhappy way before they resort to more overt behaviours like reactivity, snapping or biting but o en these are missed which causes their behaviour to escalate. Can you identify with any of these signals in your dog? • Restlessness, cannot relax, hyperactive, zoomies. • Excessive sleeping (o en due to exhaustion) • Hyper vigilant, irritable, jumpy • Destructive • Panting (if not hot) • Excessive self-grooming, licking. • Loss of appetite or obsessed with food. • Whale eye (he is watching all the time but turns his head to the side causing the whites of the eye to show • Sweaty paw prints (dogs sweat through their feet) • Submissive urination (when feeling intimidated) • Lip licking, yawning • Scratching or digging at their bed, carpets, bedding etc. • Attention seeking behaviour including jumping up, excessive barking and humping. • Looking away from you, ignoring you, walking away, turning away, pawing • e kiss to dismiss – they give you a quick kiss and then move away. • Creeping, sti , cautious movements, tail tucked under, at ears. • Lying down and exposing belly especially where their head is farthest away from you. • Staring • Phobias, lunging, growling, snapping. Just like humans, prolonged stress for a dog can result in all sorts of health problems. A dog can exhibit identical behaviour to another dog for completely di erent reasons. erefore, asking other dog owners to self-diagnose or advise on the problem is not helpful, this o en happens on social media and the advice can be very misguided at best. If you have experienced a sudden change in your dog’s behaviour it is important you rule out health problems rst as this may be the cause, then seek further professional help. e problem will not x itself; it will only get worse, so do not delay getting your dog the help they need. You can book your FREE 15-minute consultation with a Canine Behaviour Consultant on: 023 8178 1707 or email us at: dogs2fosteruk@gmail.com for help and advice. Jollyes, the nationwide pet store, has o ered its top tips for travelling with dogs in the car, the mistakes to avoid and how to make sure your pet is safe. Dog ownership increased dramatically during lockdown and there are now an estimated 12 million dogs in the UK. Lockdown restrictions mean that many owners will have done little travelling with their new pets during the past year. For many dogs this summer this may be the rst time they have travelled any distance for a while. Don’t leave your dog unsecured in the car If your dog is not securely strapped in it can be a distraction for the driver and there is a risk of serious injury to the animal or other passengers if the vehicle stops suddenly. Highway Code Rule 57 states that ‘dogs must be restrained so they cannot distract the driver or be injured or cause injury if the vehicle stops quickly.’ Police could view having an unrestrained dog as driving without due care and attention, raising the risk of a ne or penalty points, and potentially invalidating insurance in the event of an accident. Keep them away from the driver Dogs – no matter how small – should not be allowed to sit on the driver’s lap because it can impair the driver’s vision and interfere with the use of the steering wheel and controls. Avoid the front passenger seat Having a dog as front seat passenger can be a distraction and they could be seriously hurt if the airbags operate. If they must travel in the front, switch o the passenger air bag. Don’t let them hang their head out of the window Dogs may enjoy the smells as the wind rushes past, but there is a risk they could fall or jump out of the vehicle, get hit by an insect or stone or be struck by a passing vehicle. Top tips for keeping pets and people safe Jollyes senior buyer, Andy Je reys, said: “Going away with the dog for a day trip or a holiday is great fun, but it’s important to keep your pet and passenger’s safe no matter how long the journey. Having an unrestrained dog could result in a fine or leave your insurance invalid. You don’t want to get collared by the police or face an unwelcome bill, so think of a harness as a seat belt and don’t set off without it.” Keep them secure Make sure your dog is secure and comfortable by using a harness attached to the seat belt, a crate or pet carrier. Comfort breaks On long journeys, it’s not just drivers and passengers who need to visit the service station amenities. Plan rest breaks so your dog can stretch their legs and have a comfort break too. Water and food It’s important to have fresh water available so dogs don’t get thirsty and overheat and on longer journeys, have a bowl of food ready for mealtimes. Handy accessories Make sure there is a lead to clip on to your pet before you open the door, take poo bags for pit stops and have a towel handy in case of a British summer downpour. Jollyes has an extensive range of harnesses and can o er advice on how best to use them. For details go to: www.jollyes.co.uk Don’t get Collared! Pooch Perfect – Keeping your best friend safe in the car with a harness