Category: Uncategorized

The purpose of Dog grooming is two-fold. First and foremost, it is about maintaining the health of your dog.  And secondly, it is done to improve their appearance.

Regular grooming will reduce the incidence of health problems such as scratches and cuts and make you more aware of any issues you might miss if you were not grooming your dog regularly.

Keeping your dog well-groomed will help with general cleanliness.  Your dog will smell less, which is a particularly issue for some breeds like Basset Hounds and Beagles.  Also for dogs
that are heavy shedders of the hair, being groomed on a regular basis can keep their coat softer, cleaner and less likely to shed.

Spending time grooming will also have the added benefit of increasing the bond between you and your dog.  They are a man’s best friend remember, so any, one-on-one time spent together will help with this bond.

We recommend grooming begins when your dog is a young puppy.  This not only helps with bonding but also gets them use to grooming at an early age. If it was only introduced when the dog is older it might be difficult for them to get use to.

How often should your groom your dog?

This frequency of dog grooming will be determined by several factors.  The breed of your dog, their hair type and activity level will impact this.  For example, short haired dogs require less attention than longer haired dogs whose hair might get easily matted.

There are other factors as well. For example, if you dog has allergies or other underlining health problems can mean you need to groom your dog more.

The Benefits of Professional Dog Grooming

It is important to find a certified dog groomer and one that is familiar with your breed of dog.  A professional dog grooming service will likely include:

• A health check
• A brush, comb and dematting
• A bath and a wash and then dried using a hair dryer
• Nails will be cleaned and trimmed
• A haircut and / or a shave depending on your dogs needs
• Clean and express the dogs anal glands
• Flea treatment and removal.

A dog should be professionally groomed every four to six weeks.  Unfortunately this may not always be possible often due to financial reasons.  If this is the case a lot can be done by the dog-owner themselves.

Types of Dog Grooming

As noted above there are several different types of dog grooming.  For example:

Hair removal

Whilst some hair removal is necessary for practical reasons (like keeping hair out of a dogs eyes) much is based on the preference of the owner.  If you are showing your dog this will also be factor as you may have to adhere to certain requirements.

Bathing

Dogs can be washed in a bath, or sprayed with a shower or washed with a sponge from water in a bucket. Dogs should always be brushed first to get rid of an mats.  The correct dog shampoo should be used and it is essential a dogs coat is fully rinsed and free from shampoo otherwise, like with humans. Their skin can become irritated and uncomfortable.
Most dogs do not require bathing often.  Over-bathing can actually stripyour dog’s coat of its natural oils causing it to dry out.

Nail trimming

Keeping your dogs nails trimmed is an important part of their health. If nails are left to grow, they can curl over and make walking and running painful.  If they remain untrimmed they can curl into the paw causing pain and infection.

Grooming products

There is a large array of dog grooming products available on the market.  
For example:

• Combs
• Brushes
• Clippers
• Scissors
• Dryers
• Flea control products
• Dental products

Summary

Grooming is an integral part of the care of your Dog.  Neglecting this can have significant consequences for your pet.  It need not be expensive and a lot of grooming can be done by yourself which can in fact be an enjoyable time spent with your dog.  If you have questions on dog grooming we recommend speaking with your vet or getting in touch with the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association.

Watching Crufts or other dog shows, gives you an idea of how well and to what level dogs can be trained.  This level of obedience though is difficult to achieve and takes a great deal of dedication from both the dog trainer and the dog themselves.  Dog training though is essential and in this post, we discuss the following:

• What are the benefits of training your dog?
• When to start dog training
• Obedience classes or train yourself
• Which dogs are easier / harder to train
• Simple dog training commands
• Advanced dog training commands

What are the benefits of training your dog?

Paws Training and Behaviour Modification, list these five benefits:

1. Dog training can save your dog’s life
2. You get to take your dog to more places
3. You will develop a stronger bond with your dog
4. Training allows you to understand your dog
5. Both of you will live happy lives.

When to start training your Dog

The saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks sums it up!  Of course, it is never too late to begin training a dog.  And you may have no choice other than to begin when a dog is several years old.  For example, if you get an adult dog from a rescue centre they may never have been trained before.  However, if you begin early, success with training will likely come quicker because simply, your puppy will not have had the time or gained the experience to develop any bad habits.

Obedience classes or train yourself?

You will likely find there are a variety of dog obedience classes running near where you live.  For example, the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSCPA) lists a number of dog training courses in the Dublin area.

Whether you decide to avail of one of these, or train your dog yourself will likely depend on a number of factors.  For example:

1. Do have the time to train your dog yourself?
2. Do you have necessary skills to train your dog yourself?
3. Is your dog receptive to you own training efforts?
4. Can you afford to take you dog to obedience classes?

Of course, you can do both – that is take your dog to obedience classes, then practice what you have learnt outside of training classes.  The more time and effort you put into training the better the results will be.

How to teach your dog commands

Dogtime.com  provide a list of guidelines to help with training.  They suggest:

1. Be consistent in your commands
2. Start with simple commands gradually making them more complex
3. Don’t repeat the command
4. Use food treats as rewards for completing a command although use them sparingly and over time phase them out
5. Keep training short and sweet
6. Mix up the people and places associated with your training
7. Be patient and don’t lose your cool
8. Keep practising and remember practise makes perfect!

Simple dog training commands

As with all sorts of training it is best to start with the basics. So for your dog, these would be:

1. Sit
2. Stay
3. Come
4. Down
5. Walk

If you can get your dog responding to these commands, you can have increasing confidence that your dog will be able to cope with a range of external environmental factors.  Also, you will then be able to move onto more advance training commands.

Advance dog training commands

1. Make your dog bark
2. Make your dog be quiet
3. Use hand signals only
4. Teach your dog to not to pick something up from the floor
5. Teach your dog to ask for permission
6. Search for items by sent
7. Distance control

Summary

A well-trained dog is a happier dog and you will be a happier dog owner.  Although it requires time and effort the rewards of dog training will benefit you both.  The confidence in your pet will grow as will your bond, further solidifying your dog as a man’s (or woman’s) best friend.

March, was a big month in the dog showing world, with Crufts – the world’s largest dog show taking place.  Between March 9^th and March 12, 2017, over 20,000 dogs and many more times that number of humans attended the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, United Kingdom for the Greatest [Dog] Show on earth.

 The History Of Crufts

The history of Crufts dates back over 125 years.  It was founded by a British business man, Charles Crufts who at the time was working for a dog biscuit manufacturers.  In 1876, his job took him to France and he was invited to run a dog show at the Word’s Fair where his company was exhibiting.  Further offers to run dog shows followed and in 1886 he ran a dog show for terries in London.

Five years later, in 1891 the dog show that still bears his name today was run.  It was billed as ‘Cruft’s Greatest Dog show’ and was held at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London.

Over the years, the show has gained in popularity and prestige.  Since it began back in 1891, the show has run annually with the exception of the two World Wars and a couple of other occasions as this time line shows.  Since 1950 the event has been televised (on the BBC until 2004, and from then, byChannel 4 and More 4).

Crufts in 2017

Today Crufts is big business and it is far more than a dog show.  Visitors come from all over the world and range in age from young to old.

There is a huge exhibition providing visitors with the chance to shop for every kind of dog product you can think of, from food and training devices, to clothing and doggy fashion.

Over 200 breeds of dogs are represented and knowledgeable owners and breeders are on hand to provide advice on all aspects of dog care.

Children are encouraged, and there is a Junior Handling Competition.  Also, the Young Kennel Club is represented allowing Children to join up and become more involved in Dog Showing.

Each of the four days of Crufts features different breeds of dogs

• Day 1: Terrier & Hound breeds

• Day 2: Toy & Utility breeds

• Day 3: Gundog breeds
• Day 4: Working & Pastoral breeds as well as Best Of Show in the evening programme.

And the Winner Is…..

This year, saw a two year old American Cooker Spaniel named Afterglow Miami Ink.  This was not without controversy with some people branding the decision a joke!

It’s not just pedigrees – introducing Scuffts!

For years Crufts was only for Pedigree breeds.  However, your crossbreeds can get in on the action too!  The Kennel club introduced Scruffts back in 2000 and at Crufts you can find out more about how your non-pedigree can compete in various classes such as:

• Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog (6 months – 8 years)
• Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch (6 months – 8 years)
• Childs Best Friend (Handler aged 6 – 16 years)
• Golden Oldie Crossbreed (8 years +)
• Best Crossbreed Rescue
• GCDS Crossbreed Class (for entrants that have a GCDS certificate at any level)

The Future of Crufts

The future of Crufts looks good.With strong corporate sponsorship and a huge public interest – their Facebook page has 260,592 followers and their Twitter page over 55,000 the show looks to set to continue for many more years.

As Dogworld stated “Crufts is more than a dog show; it is an event celebrating all that is good in the world of dogs from dog events on the one hand – through the excellent dogs being shown in the breed competitions to improved canine health and welfare on the other. 

Separation anxiety is a pretty serious matter not only for your dog but for you, too! At first, you start stressing about whether your neighbours will be mad about all the barking. Then, you worry if the dog is going to make a mess out of your place while you’re gone. Finally, you feel bad that the dog is anxious in the first place.

Today, we’ll share with you some tips that can help you overcome your dog’s separation anxiety problem.

Try talking with a professional trainer or your dog’s vet

Seeking advice from a professional isn’t usually the first resort, but in some cases, it is the right thing to do. A vet might prescribe medication to temporarily fight your dog’s anxiety. Also, you might want to work with a professional trainer. They might be able to come up with a strategy on training your dog to deal with being left alone better.

Know what acts as a “trigger”

In order to cure something, you must know the cause, right? That’s why you must learn what triggers your dog’s anxious behavior. It might be the sound of the keys when you pick them up. Or, it might be the moment when you start preparing to go to work. Try to pinpoint the triggers and then work towards making them less powerful until they stop triggering the anxiety completely.

Tire the dog out!

We must note that physical exercise isn’t going to magically solve your problem, but it can be pretty efficient in reducing it. If you try hard to wear your dog down with exercise, it’ll take your absence as a chance to rest.

• Take your dog for a long walk.
• Make sure you give them many chew toys.
• Try to leave treats so that the dog can get them while you’re gone.

Set an example

This is a very important piece of advice — you need to be calm about leaving. You should never be the one to become emotional about it. You probably feel sorry for the dog. Well, don’t be! Or, at least, don’t show that you’re sad about leaving. The more anxiety you show, the worse it will feel! So, make sure you’re the one to set an example for your dog.

Separation anxiety is rarely that big of an issue, and it’s something you can easily overcome. However, if your dog shows signs of serious destructive behaviour, we’d recommend talking to a professional. Nevertheless, we certainly hope you’ll benefit from the advice we shared today!

Guide dogs (also called assistance dogs or seeing eye dogs) are not a new phenomenon.

A popular verse alphabet of the mid 16^th-century began “A is for Archer, B is for Blind man led by dog”.  In the 19^th-century novel Aurora Leighby Elizabeth Barrett Browning begins “The man walks wherever the dog pulls / And so I answered”

The history of Irish Guide Dogs for the blind

The Irish Guide Dogs for the blind is a more recent development!  Thenon profit organisation was established in 1976 by Mrs Mary Dunlop and Jim Dennehy.  Prior to this Mrs Dunlop had taken part in fundraising to facilitate people in Ireland with a visual impairment travelling to the United Kingdom for guide dog training (the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was founded in 1934 in the UK).

For 40 years, the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind have supported people who are blind or who are visually impaired.  In more recent times, they have assisted families of children with autism, providing assistance dogs which offer afford autistic children companionship and greater independence.

This charity performs a critical service.  The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) offers support and services nationally to people with eyesight problems.  Of over 15,000 members, 5% (750 people, are completely blind).  With Ireland’s ageing population, these figures are set to increase.

The benefits of a guide dog

• Guide Dogs help their owners travel around more independently and more safely
• Guide Dogs make navigating streets much easier.  For example, they assist their owners in avoiding obstacles, crossing roads safely and reaching their destination.
• Guide Dogs make it easier for the person who is blind or vision impaired to use public transport
• Guide Dogs provide companionship
• Guide dogs affords visually impaired people greater work opportunities.
• Guide dogs can improve the health and fitness of their owner and encourage a more active social life.

What breeds are used for Guide Dogs

Guide dogs typically need a number of qualities to make them suitable.

• Willingness to please
• Have initiative
• Is bright
• Can learn / be trained
• Complete obstacle work

Several dog breeds are suitable to become guide dogs. These include:

• Golden Retriever
• Golden Doodle (Golden Retriever crossed with a Poodle)
• German Shepherd
• Labradoodle (Labrador crossed with a Poodle)
• Labrador
• Labrador crossed with a Golden Retriever
• Shepherd crossed with a Golden Retriever

Assistance Dog Programme for families of Children with Autism

In 2005, the Assistance Dog Programme for families of Children with Autism was established.  Following application, a 3-day workshop and a visit to the family home is carried out as part of the assessment to determine eligibility.  This has proven to be an high demand service (applications for this year are currently closed).

Dog’s that don’t make it / Retired guide dogs

On occasion, dogs are removed from training and this can be for a variety of reasons such as health or behavioural and the charity look to re home them.  Also, dogs that have completed their service (typically 9 to 11 years) are offered for rehoming.  These types of dogs do not suit everybody and an eligibility criteria needs to be met

They need your support

It costs circa €38,000 to train a guide dog and over 4M per year to run the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Ireland.  They rely on donations, of which 80% of their income comes from.  There are several ways they can be supported such as donations, fund raising, volunteering and corporate fundraising.

If you are interested in supporting this worthwhile cause you can find out more on their website or by phoning 1850 506 300.

Why do dogs bark and how can you reduce unnecessary barking?

The persistent barking of your dog, or perhaps worse, a neighbour’s dog, can at the very least be an annoyance.  If very loud and sustained over periods of time it can drive you to distraction.

So why does a dog bark and what can you do about it?

It would of course be unrealistic and unreasonable to expect your dog never to bark in the same way you would expect a child not to cry.  A dog’s barking, along with whining and howling is one of its natural means of communication so you should not be looking to prevent them from this action completely.  Instead you should be striving to control their behavior, building trust and confidence with your dog, so that they bark when it is appropriate for them to do so.

What triggers a dog to bark?

Genetics

Some dogs are more predisposed to barking than others.  According to Baxterboo Beagles and Yorkshire Terriers are amongst the biggest barkers where as Great Danes and Collies bark very little.

Of course environmental factors play a role in triggering a dog to bark.  For example:

Being left alone and being bored

A lonely dog is often an unhappy and bored dog and one way for them to express their boredom is by barking.

Young, undisciplined dog

Much like a small baby a young dog knows no better and makes a range of different sounds including barking.

Warning of danger

If a dog senses danger one of their natural responses is to bark.  This what makes dogs such good security guards!

Territorial behavior / About to attack

You often see dogs “mixing” with other dogs and sometimes their barks, coupled with their body movements are fierce, with owners (hopefully) restraining their own dogs on leads.  This type of bark is one way a dog can protect its territory and also be a warning of attack.

Wanting to play

A nice bark is one when your dog bounds up to you with a stick in their mouth, drops the stick and barks once, it’s a fairly clear sign they want you to play with them

Tips to prevent a dog from barking

Dog barking should not normally be ignored.  As we have shown above, dogs bark for a reason.  Some of these are good, some acceptable, whilst others are of concern.  All should be understood and appropriate action taken.

Be the boss

If your dog knows you are the boss they will more likely respond to your order to stop barking.  There are a number of ways this can be done:

• Use a look
• Use a sound
• Use a physical correction
• Gently closing your dog’s mouth

Create distractions

By distracting your dog, you can stop them from barking for example with a toy or a game.

Training

This is something you can do yourself if you have the time or alternatively seek professional help.  There will likely be a dog training school or dog training professional near you.  An internet search fill help you locate these.  The DSPCA also training courses

Anti-bark Collars

A range of anti-bark training collars are available which can help correct a dogs persistent barking.

When you do you want your dog to bark

Clearly not all barking is bad and it would be both unnatural and we think a little unfair to prevent a dog from barking entirely.  Spending time with your dog coupled with obedience training can help you help them learn to bark on command or at times when you really want them to.

The kids have broken up for school now and many of us will have summer holidays planned.  If you are a dog owner, your decision on where to go may be somewhat constrained, or at the very least you will have to be taking your four-legged friend into account and decide what to do with them, whilst you are away, splashing around in the Costa Del Something.

So what are your choices for your Dog for Summer holidays?Below we discuss a few of these.

Leave them behind with friends or family?

This might be the perfect option if your dog is happy to go elsewhere and the people are equipped to look after your dog properly for the week or two you’re away.  If you are considering this option, satisfy yourself that your dog will feel at home there and there are unlikely to be an issues for them or the dog sitters in your absence.  For example:

• Are the people use to dogs?
• Will your dog be left home alone?
• Do they have young children?
• Will they have the time to look after your dog like you want them to?
• Where will your dog sleep
• What food will your dog eat
• Will there be sufficient time for exercise and play?

Leave them behind in Dog Kennels?

 If you do not have a friends or family that are able to take your dog, whilst you are on holiday the likely best option to you might be to put them in a Dog Kennels.  There are several things to consider here.  The standard of kennels can vary, as can the prices you will pay to house your dog like this for a week or two. 

 I’d suggest, if possible you select a kennel on recommendation from someone you know.  I’d also make sure to visit the kennels prior to packing your dog off there, to both look around the kennels and talk to the people that run it.  Much like booking a holiday for yourself, make sure the kennels have everything you want for your dog.  You will enjoy your holiday a lot more if you have the peace of mind knowing your dog is having a great time too!

Leave them behind in a Dog Hotel!

They exist.  They really do although I’ve not come across them in Ireland as yet.  However, in Suffolk, in the UK, there is the House of Mutt which from-our review of their website is essentially a posh kennel and for £45 per night you can be safe in the knowledge they are in the lap of luxury whilst you are away yourself.

Take them with you – Staying in Ireland

If you are planning to holiday within Ireland, the logistics of taking your dog with you are considerably easier than if you were going abroad.  Within Ireland, it is going to be easier to find out if your intended accommodation is dog-friendly and whether there are suitable facilities for Mans Best Friend.  If you do a Google search there are plenty of websites to reference for good suggestions for pet friendly places, for example check out Ireland Guide or this post on Oh My Dog

Take them with you – Going abroad

Catching an aeroplane or boat with your beloved dog may be a daunting prospect but you love them, and surely they deserve some fun in the sun too right?  So, if you decide to take with this is what you need to know.

Every Irish pet that is brought out of Ireland to another EU Member State or re-enters Ireland must have an EU Pet Passport. In Ireland this is issued by private Vets directly to pet owners.  Also, the ISPCA stresses the importance of ensuring your pet is wearing a collar, an ID tag and is micro-chipped.

Since Ireland is a rabies-free country, you will be able to enter any other country with minimal paperwork and without quarantine but it’s possible that there could be issues coming back from certain countries where there is a high incidence.  More information can be found out here

Take them with you  –Air travel

Airlines all have different rules on pet travel so you should always check this on their website before booking flights.

Ryanair, for example, does not carry animals on flights except for guide dogs and even then, only on certain routes.Aer Lingus do not allow animals on short haul flights, but they will carry them on most other flights within the cargo hold. KLM – the national airline of the Netherlands however, do allow cats and smaller dogs to transported in the cabin of the airplane providing there are in a travel kennel/ pet travel bag.

Longer journeys are of course more tiring and stressful for both human and dog travelers, so this should be considered when deciding to take a flight. This can be compounded by travel to and from the airport and any delays you may encounter.

Take them with you  –Boat travel

An alternative to air travel is by boat.  This may be an ideal option if you or your dog are afraid of flying.  Boat travel can be a much less stressful way to travel as you can keep your dog in its familiar surroundings of your car or motorhome.  Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries both have very useful sections on their websites which provide a wealth information for people intending to travel on board the ships with dogs.

In summary

Summer holidays can be fun for you Dogs too!  In this post we’ve discussed both leaving them behind you and taking them with you and of course this is your call. Knowing your dog and knowing your options will make your decision a little bit easier.  Personally, as our Dog is very much part of the family, finding a suitable location that is not only dog friendly but dog loving is imperative to me.  Going away without them is simply not an option.