Emotional Health is as important as Physical Health, read on for further advice and resources.

Your dog would like you to read this!   This section takes a brief look at: the need for a life time of support, fun and enrichment, regardless of age; the role of their owner/caregiver in providing for their health and welfare needs

Working in partnership with your dog right from the word go and having a lifelong learning mindset, as part of your dog’s welfare - can’t be encouraged enough!

  • Understanding your pet - what are they trying to tell you!
    We will be adding more resources to help with this soon.

    Developing a good understanding of your pet's body language!  

    This is vital to help your dog settle-in, experience new activities and events and learn that the world can be a fun place to be.   The following links give some great body language information from trusted sources:

    Recognising stress in your dog - they are communicating with us and how they are feeling - we need to 'listen' to their body language signs. The ladder of canine communication (formerly called ladder of aggression) is an example of how a dog's behaviour signs can show an escalation of their emotions from being mildly anxious (green on diagram) to very anxious and fearful (red on diagram).

    Canine Ladder of Communication, click here.

    Understanding  why your pet flips! Situation stacking occurs when a dog has too many experiences (positive and/negative!) in quick succession, e.g. over the course of a day (though can be over a longer or shorter period) and becomes overwhelmed.
    Dogs Trust: Trigger / Situation-Stacking, click here.

    Why do they do what they do?!!
    Firstly don't jump to conclusions!  Humans are very quick to humanise their dog's behaviour and may misinterpret or inadvertently ignore their body language signs, what their pet is doing and why.  Knowledge is power!   Dogs really do think differently.  The following is a great resource and puts a lot of every day canine occurrences into perspective.

    Pawsabillity: Dogz Thinkz Differentz booklet, click here.

    A note on Dominance:   

    Unlike humans, dogs are not complicated creatures!  They want to keep themselves safe, be happy, have food, water and companionship.  They want to avoid feelings of frustration, anxiety and fear and will react accordingly to prevent or reduce events that cause this.   Humans are often misguided and wrongly advised when they are faced with difficult behaviour - historically the term 'dominance' has been wrongly used as an explanation of a dogs bad behaviour, resulting in mistreatment of some dogs and worsening of their behaviour.  For further information on this subject, please click on the links below:

    American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior : Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behaviour Modification of Animals,     click here.
    Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors:  My Dog’s Being ‘Dominant’… USEFUL OR OUTDATED CONCEPT?     click here. 

  • Training Classes and Activities
    Whether you are reading this and have a new addition or existing dog – dog training forms part of their ongoing learning.  This requires time, patience and at least at the start money.  This investment is a necessary part of your puppy / dog's life and needs to be considered before getting a pet.  Think of it as a child being taught at home versus going to school - there are many unseen benefits from attending school and it is an environment that is challenging recreate at home.  This is the same for puppies and dogs generally.  Rescued or anxious dogs can present more of a challenge but its equally important to build their skills too.

    Teaching the basics at home (or in class); e.g. come, sit, stay, settle, down, wait, touch, heal, fetch and find-it …  and attending reputable dog training classes, forms a large amount of their lifelong learning.  Alongside puppy and teenager classes there are a whole number of different fun activities and training opportunities to try, e.g. clicker training, agility, heel work, tracking and scent work.  Help them build up an ever expanding library of different skills that can be used anywhere, e.g. at home on a rainy day or during visits to the vets!  Using these skills to help focus when anxious, will really help your dog when they find themselves in difficult situations.

    There really is no age limit to training your dog!  And in fact, yes you certainly can teach an old dog new tricks! It is just as good for their brain health as it is for the young ones – in the same way all ages of people are encouraged to be active both physically and mentally!

    Working in partnership with your dog right from the word go and having a lifelong learning mindset, as part of your dog’s welfare and care - can’t be encouraged enough.  

    Body health and brain health are firmly linked, this is absolutely the case for our pets.  Teaching, learning, playing and working are important parts to your dog’s life – it makes them happier, healthier and will increase the loving bond you have with your pet.

    Vaccinations - meeting other dogs and getting your puppy or dog out and about!

    Puppies:
    • If you have a puppy and they are unvaccinated they can meet other dogs providing you are certain they are fully vaccinated themselves.  Their own vaccination regime will determine when they are allowed to venture out on foot – this can be up to 4 weeks after their 2nd vaccination – so check with us when it will be safe to do so
    • Unvaccinated puppy status doesn't mean you cant go anyway!  From the time you pick your pup up until 12-16 weeks your dog is being moulded to the world around them - people / pets / their home environment and the big outside world.  This is a critical time to help them experience as much as possible in a positive way - another reason to learn your dog's body language and facial expressions, you can spot when they are becoming uncomfortable and either change the situation or remove them from it
    • Carrying your puppy to experience different things, travelling in the car and sitting in a stationary car watching the world go by or consider a buggy e.g. for larger puppies (providing your puppy is comfortable with this - body language check!) will help with these early socialisation and habituation needs
    Adult Dogs:
    If you have an adult dog that isn't vaccinated you don't have to keep them in like you do a puppy - continue as normal but get them booked in for their vaccinations as soon as possibl

    Finding the right dog training class:

    • If you are looking into your own local dog training providers (** see below) check their experience, qualifications, reviews but importantly check which dog training Associations they are members of.  Check the Association is a member organisation of the Animal Training and Behaviour Council ( atbc.org.uk ) – this means the trainer will have suitable qualifications, experience and be working to a good minimum standard.  For more in-depth information on finding a suitably experienced training, click here.
    • Before using a dog trainer – consider visiting a class / activity, so you are comfortable with the setting and the trainer.  Ask about their vaccination policy
    • Check class sizes – starting with small classes to let your dog settle in
    • If your dog is a little anxious with new places, people or other pets, ask your chosen trainer for a 1-2-1 session.  This could be in class, at home or an outside setting such as an enclosed dog field or out on a walk
    • If you dog becomes disruptive in class – take time out or consider ending the class early.  Don’t be offended if you are asked to leave the class – this is done with your dog’s best interest at heart.  It’s likely they are overwhelmed, anxious and/or frustrated and continuing the class could make it an unpleasant experience for them.  But make sure you speak to your trainer and get advice about helping your dog before the next class
    • If your dog is unwell or in season – do not let them mix with other dogs
    • And finally - if you are not getting on with your dog trainer then please seek out another.  Good quality training classes and a trainer you can trust is worth its weight in gold!

    How clever is your dog!

    Dog training doesn't mean a structured obedience class.  There is fun to be had and tapping into breed specific behaviours are a great way to satisfy your dog's need to perform natural instinctive behaviour!  Agility, scent work and gun dog training are just a few!  Ask your dog trainer for further details.

     
    ** Trusted Dog Trainers in our area:

  • Helpful tips!
    • Dogs need a kind, consistent and predictable approach to life, this includes training.  Work in partnership with them and take the time to learn their body language and facial expressions – this is how they communicate with you
    • Write a list of skills and expectations, you and your family would like your dog to be able to do / you have for them and actively seek to help train in any necessary skills 
    • Don’t wear out your dog’s name!  Have a word / very short phrase or action that is used by everyone for the same skill you are teaching / asking for
    • Don’t take your dog to the max!   End training sessions on a positive note, use the same cue each time to let them know they are done ... and if your dog isn’t getting it, give him something easy to do then try again / take a break or leave it for the day
    • Your dog will pick up on the emotions of the people around them, bear this in mind when doing a training session as you might need to leave it for the day and pick up again tomorrow!
    • Initial meet and greets with unknown dogs (and people) should be short – a quick sniff can be sufficient.

  • The importance of enrichment - think dog - think breed type!!
    It is important to provide a variety of enrichment opportunities to keep your pet's brain active, give them brain exercise (its not just about physical exercise, brain exercise is needed too to keep our pet's healthy) and help satisfy their natural needs as a dog but also inherited breed specific requirements.  If you haven't already - then do research your dog's breed/s and find out what they have been bred for and unlock the activities they will love!   The Kennel Club's breed A-Z pages ( click here ) and breed specific clubs will offer further information.

    Click here for the Dog's Trust introduction to providing enrichment for your dog.

  • Challenging behaviour - when more than just a good trainer is needed
    If you have any concerns about your pet's behaviour then please contact us.  Early intervention with any change in behaviour or difficult behaviour can be challenging for you and your pet.  As with most conditions, early intervention with the right support and guidance is essential for your pet's welfare.  Appointments can be made with our Behaviour Support Nurse 
    You may have considered or we may have already recommend that you seek further help for pet's behaviour.  Emotional health and therefore behaviour is as important as treating any clinical condition.   

    Where referral is considered the best course of action we recommend and will only refer to, practitioners registered under the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (abtc.org.uk) either directly or through an approved affiliated organisation e.g. Association of Pet Behaviour Councillors (apbc.org.uk).  

    This may be a Veterinary Behaviourist; Clinical Animal Behaviourist or Accredited Animal Behaviourist. All follow a strict code of conduct and require patients to be referred to them via veterinary referral.

    A recent veterinary examination is needed to ensure your pet is clinically well.  For example if your pet has or is experiencing pain, this can affect their behaviour and will require treatment.  There are many other conditions that could affect your pets behaviour - like us, their emotional health is closely related to their physical health and vice versa.

    You can search abtc.org.uk for a practitioner, or contact the following local Clinical Animal Behaviourists.  We recommend you make initial contact to briefly discuss your pets needs and how their service works.  While these practitioners are not employees of our practice, we work closely with them.

    Please refer to their websites for their services, which unless noted below cover all aspects of behaviour issues. 

    Contact details for local Clinical Animal Behaviourists:

    Jane Williams - www.athenae.co.uk 
    Dawn Turner - www.dawnturner4pets.co.uk
    Lauren Watts - www.dogmummindset.com (mainly separation anxiety cases)
    Debbie Emmerson - Pet Behaviour Clinic: petbehaviourclinic@writtle.ac.uk

    Veterinary Behaviourists:

    Royal Veterinary College, Potters Bar - 
    www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/specialist-referrals/clinical-services/animal-behaviour

    Remote assistance from Veterinary Behaviourists and Clinical Animal Behaviourists and are still worth considering when behaviour support is needed and may in fact be in the best interest of your pet, depending on their behaviour condition.  

    The following websites will give links to further behaviourists:

    www.positivepetbehaviour.co.uk
    www.behaviouralreferrals.co.uk
    www.beha.vet
    www.lifeonfourlegs.co.uk

    We recommend you check your pets insurance policy for any available cover towards treatment of behaviour and referral to one of the above practitioners.

  • Visiting the VETS!
    We want all dogs to be as comfortable as they can when visiting us. 

    From a practical point of view we ask that all dogs are restrained when on the premises, whether this is on a lead / in a carrier or in the owners arms.  If flexi leads are being used, please keep these short and check it is safe to leave they consult room when you are coming back out to the waiting room.  While many of our patients are friendly and happy to meet and greet people and other dogs - many are not due to anxiety levels or feeling unwell.  We ask that you keep any interactive with other dogs to a minimum and be guided by their owners before doing so. 

    We don't provide water bowls outside or in the waiting room due to disease control - a number of pet's visiting us will be unwell.  Please bring your own water bottle/bowl with you or ask at reception for a bowl of water.  Treats are helpful too - bring some favourites from home and ask them for known cues.  This can help reduce anxiety levels as they focus on you and increase their confidence, before being examined in the consult room.

    For puppies, frequent visits to see our nursing team, will help them get used to coming to see us.  They will need to visit a number of times throughout their life, even if super healthy, so we are keen to help them settle in!  (These visits a are free if your pet is signed onto our MVP Care Plan - for more details click here.)  We offer nurse lead confidence consults for our anxious patients and have a Behaviour Support Nurse on hand, please get in touch for more information and advice.

    It's good to know you don't have to conform to the waiting room experience when visiting us!  This is a great time read your your dog's body language and facial expression and help reduce their stress levels.  Often dogs that are " being silly / being naughty / not listening to you / will not sit / barking at others / being over excited " ... are actually feeling anxious about being here and need help.  Waiting in the car, waiting outside, waiting by our backdoor are all options and don't forget we do house calls too!

    For further advice on what you can do to make visiting the vets more comfortable for you and your pet, click here.  Being handled and 'examined' at home, what to ask when you are booking your appointment and how to help your pet when they are in the waiting room and the consulting room, will help you and your pet when visiting us.

    PLEASE NOTE: We appreciate its not just your pet that may be anxious about visiting the vets.  We encourage all clients to chat about their own needs and requirements when visiting us - from owner's own phobias of e.g. dogs, to coping with a busy waiting room environment.  A number of our staff are also Dementia Friendly.  Please do chat to us so we can help make your visits more comfortable.

  • Home Alone - training, support and a happy settled dog!
    We will be adding more advice and resources to help with this soon.

  • Car Travel from the word go - advice and tips
    We will be adding more advice and resources to help with this soon.

  • Vaccinations - what, when and why!
    Vaccinations are an important part of your pet's ongoing health and welfare.  We can reduce the risk of your pet developing serious and often fatal diseases through a vaccination programme to build immunity for a number of common viruses.  Please read on for vaccination scheduling and further advice ...

    Puppies:

    • If you have a puppy and they are unvaccinated they can meet other dogs providing you are certain they are fully vaccinated themselves.  Their own vaccination regime will determine when they are allowed to venture out on foot – this can be up to 4 weeks after their 2nd vaccination – so check with us when it will be safe to do so
    • Unvaccinated puppy status doesn't mean you cant go anyway!  From the time you pick your pup up until 12-16 weeks your dog is being moulded to the world around them - people / pets / their home environment and the big outside world.  This is a critical time to help them experience as much as possible in a positive way - another reason to learn your dog's body language and facial expressions, you can spot when they are becoming uncomfortable and either change the situation or remove them from it
    • Carrying your puppy to experience different things, travelling in the car and sitting in a stationary car watching the world go by or consider a buggy e.g. for larger puppies (providing your puppy is comfortable with this - body language check!) will help with these early socialisation and habituation needs

    Adult Dogs:
    If you have an adult dog that isn't vaccinated you don't have to keep them in like you do a puppy - continue as normal but get them booked in for their vaccinations as soon as possible

    A bit more information on vaccinations:

    • Puppies are given a vaccination course, generally this is at 8 and 10 weeks old.  
    • Regardless of the dogs age, we vaccine against: parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, leptospira (L2) and parainfluenza.  
    • We advise a top-up parvovirus vaccination at 16 weeks or older for more susceptible breeds.   Certain breeds and types of dogs appear to have a higher risk of parvovirus infection or show more severe illness once infected. These include Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bull Terrier breeds, Weimaraner and Alaskan sled dogs.  A parvovirus top-up can be given 14 days following the second part of the full vaccination course, providing the puppy is between 4 - 12 months.  This is a nurse appointment if the puppy has already had a recent examination with one of our vets
    • After the initial primary course, an annual vaccination is needed for the rest of their life.
    • The initial primary vaccination course requires a full 2 weeks to reach onset of immunity, this includes dogs who have lapsed in their vaccination programme
    • We follow a 4 year vaccination rolling programme and do not blanket vaccinate 
    • Kennel cough vaccine (infectious bronchitis) is also recommended.  The virus is not restricted to kennel environments, but anywhere your pet comes into contact with other dogs.  This vaccine is either given orally or intranasally and protects them against the common cause of this condition - bordetella bronchiseptica
    • Where pets are travelling to Europe and beyond, a rabies vaccination will be needed.  This takes three weeks for the onset of immunity.  Booster vaccinations are given every 3 years

    Further information on vaccinations:

    We follow the most up-to-date veterinary advice on the vaccination of pets, available to the UK veterinary profession.  Titre blood sample testing is available where requested, please note that testing is not available for all diseases.  Please contact us for further advice and fees.

  • Protection from Parasites - what, when and why!
    We will be adding more advice and resources to help with this soon.

  • The Law, you and your dog
    We will be adding more advice and resources to help with this soon.

  • Further resources
    We will be adding more advice and resources to help with this soon.
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