1st June 2023 • The HERALD • Page 53 v SEND ALL YOUR NEWS TO THE HERALD v ANIMAL MAGIC The Often Unexpected Reason for Your Dog’s Problem Behaviour by Rachel Clark, Little Rascals Dog Coaching Is your dog noise sensitive? Is your dog becoming increasingly grumpy, particularly in the evening? Does your dog have a Jekyll and Hyde personality, o en a ectionate but with apparently random outbursts of aggression? Did you know that these behavioural symptoms are common in dogs who are experiencing pain? A study which looked at dogs who were receiving help for problem behaviour from a veterinary behaviourist found that pain was a contributing factor in as many as 80% of cases. Hips, knees, spine and gastrointestinal problems were cited as some of the most common sources of pain. is is why if you engage a quali ed trainer to help you with a behaviour problem you should expect them to want to engage your vet to investigate potential sources of pain, even if only to rule it out. But my dog loves his walks When dogs are running around or doing something they enjoy, their brains are producing lots of feel-good chemicals which help mask pain and distract them from discomfort. ink of an occasion when you’ve overdone it, sport, gardening, a longer than usual walk. Can you remember wincing that evening or the next day and thinking to yourself “shouldn’t have done that!” Dogs who seem grumpy in the evening are o en feeling the e ects of the fun they had earlier. Vets are so expensive, is there another way to test for pain? Pain can be di cult to diagnose in the short amount of time vets have. Like us, dogs will have good days and bad days and adrenaline (produced when they’re stressed) will also mask pain. e more information you can give your vet, the easier it is for them to help. Start by cutting back on exercise. If your dog usually chases balls, hide them instead of throwing them so they have to use their nose. If your dog usually has 2 walks a day, replace one with enrichment activities such as hiding their dinner round the garden. Brain exercise from using their nose will tire your dog out more productively than pure physical exercise. Keep a diary and make a note of any changes in behaviour for example reductions in the number or intensity of behaviour incidents. Use your phone to record short videos of your dog from di erent angles which will help identify any red ags such as bunny hopping or waddling. Behaviour can be complex and there’s o en a combination of factors at play, not just one. When you ask me for help with a behaviour problem it’s a case of putting all the pieces together, like a jigsaw puzzle. If you’d like help with your little rascal, get in touch with me via my website: www.littlerascalsdogcoaching. co.uk or give me a call on: 07903 859960. Photo credit: Karsten Winegeart at Unsplash ALL THE THINGS A DOG LOVES PACKED INTO TWO DAYS OF FUN AT DOGSTIVAL! DOGSTIVAL, the festival dedicated to four-legged fun, is back this June to show the nation’s pooches some love this summer. Jam-packed with all the things a dog loves, furry friends are sure to have the time of their life at this two-day pooch fest, which takes place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June at the Broadlands Estate in Romsey. Headline sponsored by Naturo pet food, Dogstival’s ve-star fun is ever present with four-legged guests treated to epic arena displays, ‘have a go’ activities such as agility, scentwork and yball, as well as fun dog shows. Dogstival has also teamed up with UK Agility, who will be hosting a regional tournament within the festival, so pups of all levels can compete for rosettes. ere’s also the Barkour adventure playground and giant splash pools for water-loving woofers. But with their ‘Glastonbury for dogs’ credentials, paw-trons can also expect a generous layer of Dogstival’s bonkersness too! As ever, Dogstival will be gi -wrapped with over 140 shopping stands catering to a dog’s tastebuds, lifestyle, fun, health and wellbeing, as well as a smorgasbord of delicious hound and human food. Guaranteed to get tails wagging, pups will be able to tuck into tasty treats from e Four-Legged Fancies bakery, puppuccinos from Pop & Bark and mini dog pizza from the Chulli Pizza stand. Flavour? Poocheroni of course! Meanwhile pet parents will be able to feast on a whole host of delicious foods from around the world including crispy duck rotisserie, melted cheese raclette and churros. So, guests are encouraged to come hungry! For kids young and old, Dogstival will also have a vintage fun fair. Every year the festival supports a number of charities with proceeds from the Fun Dog Show and this year welcomes e Dogs Trust with their rehoming village to help nd amazing pooches their furever home. Dogstival is also supporting a number of selected charities and causes for our 2023 event including Pets As erapy and Guide Dogs and StreetVet. Tickets are priced from £18 adults, 6-16yrs from £10. For more information and for tickets, visit Dogstival.co.uk and head to @ dogstival on social for on-going ‘pupdates’. BUGGY WALK Go along to Lepe Country Park and join them for a buggy friendly, guided walk on 19th June and 17th July from 10am. A great way to meet other parents and carers from the area and introduce your little ones to the wonderful outdoors. End your walk in e Lookout where you can purchase refreshments and nd sensory toys for you and your babies to explore. Changing facilities available. Free to attend, usual parking charges apply. RNLI - Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things Langley WI’s next meeting is on Tuesday 20th June for a talk titled ‘RNLI - Ordinary People doing Extraordinary ings’ with Caroline Tilley. e WI o ers women the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and campaign on wideranging issues. Langley WI meets every third Tuesday at St Francis Church Hall, West Common, SO45 1XU at 7.30pm. Email: langleypres@hampshirewi.org.uk or check out their website at: www.hampshirewi.org.uk/wi-page/ langley-wi HYTHE CINEMA e Hythe Cinema Moviola show lms in high de nition Blu-ray and stereo sound on a large screen at e Parish Hall, West Street, Hythe. eir next o ering is Matilda (PG) on Tuesday 20th June at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. An adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical. Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results. Tickets are £6 and available in advance from Pebbles ladies clothes shop in the High Street (opposite Costa), or on the door on show days. From Page to Stage with New Forest Sounds With another donation to charity, this time to Solent Mind, New Forest Sounds ladies choir are proud to present their next concert. is will be the choir’s second public performance and follows the packed out Christmas concert they gave last December. It will again be in St John’s Church, Hythe and is on Wednesday 21st June at 7.30pm. Conducted by Dawn Hall and accompanied by Rose Butler, the concert will include a very varied selection of well-known songs, both old and new, from stage and screen so something for everyone to enjoy on a summer evening. It will be a pleasure to be able to support Solent Mind as well at a time when mental health is of concern to so many. Do remember that singing is of enormous help in regard to this so if any ladies would like to join this small and friendly choir they would be very welcome. Tickets for the concert are £9 to include refreshments and can be purchased in advance from choir members or on the door. ey look forward to seeing you there and lling the church again with music for a full house. Free Computer, Phone & Tablet Support If you need help with your phone, tablet, laptop, public computers (or any other device!), Hythe Library now have two sessions during the week to sit and help with your questions. Drop in Tuesdays 11am-2pm or Wednesdays 10-11am, their volunteers will be happy to help. e sessions run on a rst-come- rst-serve basis but there’s no job too small.
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