Welcome

For a long time I was with the majority of people in thinking that giving dogs bones would risk them getting a bone stuck in their throat. But after reading Raw Meaty Bones I now give the Pack Raw meaty bones 2-3 x week. Thanks to Dopson Butchers in Crowthorne for providing the Dog Trouble Pack with some juicy bones !

Welcome

Two weeks ago I had a phone call from the Happy Staffie Rescue in Worcestershire about Chester a 4 year old Staffie that was apparently just going crazy in his kennel and could I help. So I drove to Shropshire and took a look at a couple of the dogs for them including Chester. He seemed really excitable and full of energy, didn’t seem to react to other dogs but had been re-homed 4 times. So Chester came back to the Centre with me. He’s been with us for just over a week now and seems to be doing great. With any dog that comes to Boot Camp I take them through some tests to see how they react to situations and although Chester seemed fairly ok when I saw him he obviously had a huge anxiety issue about being around other dogs. The first time I introduced him to the Pack he performed a ‘Shark Roll’ for about 2 minutes and then completely gave it up and laid down on his side. The Pack kept their distance and let him do his thing whilst his energy was not quite in check. We then let him walk around amongst the pack and gradually over the week he’s learned to use his nose and greet them properly -as you can see in the photo!

He’s an absolutely fantastic dog but like any powerful breed needs an assertive owner who will give him rules and boundaries, plenty of exercise and not too much affection to keep him balanced. He’s not food aggressive and will let me take his food away from him, he walks really well on the lead, plays ball with the pack and actually lives with the pack now. Like most rescue dogs he loves a warm radiator to sleep next too!

If anyone is interested in meeting Chester to see if they could become his new owners then please call us today Tel: 07919400920. Happy Staffie Rescue also have some further information about him.

Welcome

Terriers….terriers…hmm where do I begin ?! A bit like Marmite some people love them and some people don’t…I personally think they are fabulous ! They have so much character, energy and buzz about them but sure they need assertive owners who can teach them the rules and boundaries but also provide them with what they need as a breed! Lucky for Paddy he’s got The Whitton family to do just that! I took Alfie along on his first Puppy Consultation and Paddy absolutely loved him and wouldn’t leave him alone ! Good ol’ Alfie stayed calm as he always is whilst Paddy constantly jumped and licked his face….The kids even got to take Alfie for a walk as well whilst learning how to walk Paddy so that he doesn’t pull them along anymore. Kids always pick things up really quickly with dogs and I was again blown away by how assertive they were when giving Paddy a corrective touch. He’s quite an assertive dog but started to learn how to drop his toy, how to walk on the lead, waiting calmly by the open door and not to jump up on the kids. Stay in control kids and remember to reward him when he’s done something good! It was great working with another lovely family who have taken the time to be responsible owners and learned the basics of how to keep their dog balanced! Enjoy every moment!

Welcome

Cesar is another Rescue Collie who seems to have picked up some anxiety and worries on his journey…squirrel watching, herding visitors and being very protective over ‘his’ territory. Cesar is bit apprehensive so lots of calm, gentle energy was needed to help him see that things weren’t so bad after all. It really does takes patience and consistency to rehabilitate a dog like this and Jim and Carol have made great progress over the time that they have had him but maybe just a few too many treats ?!! Looking forward to seeing you guys again this week to see how you’ve got on with your homework !

Welcome

At last a week of local consultations meant not much driving Yippee !!….Max was pleased not to have to be in the dog bus for hours ! Thanks to The Head Family for making Max feel so at home on our Consult with Tibetan Terrier Bode. Max showed him how to walk calmly on the lead and also how to behave around other dogs when out on a walk. Good Luck Jo and the kids on your daily walks with Bode!

Welcome

What a relief when you find a nice hotel that accepts dogs ! Staff at the Healds Hall Hotel in West Yorkshire made us feel really welcome….We even found time to chat about their dog issues ! Great food and red wine if you’re ever up that way ! It was a great opportunity for Freddy rehab, getting used to life outside the farm and Alfie working through his fear of noises. With a couple of practice runs for Alfie learning not to hide when the room heater thermostat clicked it was a peaceful night!

A Pack Walk through Liversedge morning traffic gave Freddy some real challenges with his car chasing obsessions. He’s come on loads not reacting to cars but still at times will make an effort to chase a lorry or ice cream van….who eats ice cream in Yorkshire in Winter?!! Typical that it started to rain again for our trip heading South to Derby for a consultation with Christine and her collie Jess. Great to meet such a determined and committed owner and I’m looking forward to catching up with you both in 2 weeks for stage 2 – Get cycling, stay calm and believe that Jess can achieve anything you want her too !

Welcome

You know you’re up north when you start seeing Eddie Stobart trucks! What a Monday to pick driving to Yorkshire…..It rained the whole day ! Freddy and Alfie joined us for the road trip to meet Illustrator Linda Birkinshaw and her dogs. It’s the first long trip Freddy has done in the ‘Dog Bus’ and luckily no worries….apart from seeing my cheese roll again that he’d eaten out of my bag before we left !!

I always love watching the first ‘meet n greet’ when I introduce some of my pack to other dogs, there is so much to learn from just stepping back and watching how they interact. It was also fab sharing dog stories with you Linda. Thanks for the Yorkshire Tea n biccies and all the dogs for playing ball with Freddy and Alfie! Hope the ‘visitors at the door’ training remains calm !

Welcome

I enjoyed another great Puppy Basics Consultation this time with Ella and her family. They learned some practical tips that will help them provide a balanced routine with their new Boxer puppy, Nelly. We talked through the basics of how a puppy grows up and also went through some practical tips on toilet training, walking, feeding, sleeping, playing and how to introduce the cats to her ! Max came along and gave Nelly a quick lesson on showing respect to her elders and how to give another dog space when they ask….with a warning growl when she started nibbling his tail !