Funday - 30th October 11am
Yes, it’s that time again. We will be dressing up and raising some money for charity again. This year funds will go to St Marys Church in Ash Vale where we currently hold some of our training classes. The money will go to creating something dog friendly for local dog walkers and users of the church.
Fun starts at 11am this is not an all day event and normally finishes around 2.30pm.
Being weather dependent, please ensure that you come prepared and if the rain is persistent (as it was at the last funday) we will have to cancel. Please leave dogs in car for the start. We will have fun games, prizes and a raffle. £10 entry.
Could you have the best dressed dog?
You could get a few extra points for best dressed dog and handler!!
Please ensure you read through the attached field rules. These rules are there for you and your dog’s protection and to make sure that everyone enjoys the day and all of our Field classes as much as possible.
Food and Nutrition
We are frequently asked for food advice and will be providing a leaflet outlining some of the facts in more detail; however here are a few pointers:
The Bad News …
If you normally feed a dry kibble food and occasionally give your dog rich human food, this will have a huge impact on the stomach and then obviously their toileting. The enzymes in your dog’s stomach regulate levels to digest the foods it receives and anything out of the ordinary should be given with caution and accompanied by something that will help your dog’s stomach adjust such as Yakult.
When selecting the right food for your dog, read through ingredients carefully. If it is not something that you would put on your plate, why should you expect your dog to eat it?? Chicken meal is not meat it is everything including beaks, claws and all.
Cheaper or sadly well known expensive branded foods (including Pedigree, Bakers etc) tend to be full of additives, salt and sugar. These unnecessary ingredients will have a tremendous effect on your dog which includes behaviour, coat condition, toilet quantities and even your dog’s teeth.
The more your dog poo’s the less its body is using; everything that comes out is waste. Additional chemicals can cause dandruff, allergies and too much salt/sugar will affect teeth and gums. Remember bones can harbor harmful bacteria and they should be checked for splinters to ensure that your dog does not choke or get any sharp parts stuck in their insides.
Food is not love and you can be causing unnecessary damage to your dog by over feeding them.
Obesity can lead to joint pain, high blood pressure, heart disease, heat intolerance, decrease immunity strength and breathing difficulties. It also greatly reduces the life expectancy of your dog.
The Good News …
Glucosamine is a good supplement for your dogs cartilage and help stave off conditions such as arthritis. Garlic is good for the heart and also helps fend off fleas and ticks.
Why not swap that calorific treat for a healthy carrot instead?
It’s healthier and will help keep their teeth clean and most dogs love them!
Remember dogs are not just carnivores they can and will eat vegetables; if you’re making your own dog food then rice, potato, carrots and peas can all be added safely for a healthy diet.
Grant Chanin – Now trading as Evolution Dogs
Grant Chanin is a local dog trainer/walker who has recently been taken to court for animal cruelty by the RSPCA and by the Trading Standards for fraud. The case, which we hope to attend, is being heard at a Crown Court in December; we will feedback the verdict once known. The list of charges includes breaking a puppy’s leg, forging insurance documents and home boarding licences, to name but a few. This man is still trading openly as a dog trainer.
Please ensure that any training or professional dog services you use are fully insured with public liability insurance covering the ‘specific’ nature of the services they are providing and that they do have the qualities / experience needed to give you and your dog the best advice possible.
Qualified does not mean experienced. Most dog related issues are traceable back to proven fact not myths or hearsay. Since people have different opinions and motivations, it is important to ensure that they are working from some form of a proven base of knowledge through education and that they have the experience of real dog and handler interaction / training.
Trainers are not normally behaviourists; behaviourists are recommended by a vet and will work alongside the vet to monitor behaviour through medical assessments that include diet / nutrition and mental wellbeing.
You should also check that any trainer has the written / legal permission to use the property for the purpose required. The use of MOD property without licensing will result in arrest and a fine up to twenty thousand pounds. Council land also requires permission and all those involved are prosecutable.
Home boarding requires not only a boarding licence but also specific insurance and planning permission. Most companies boarding without these do not have adequate facilities or the property / persons involved have been deemed unsuitable for the boarding of animals. Please check before leaving your pet with anyone you don’t know.
Exercise routines
Most dogs require between 20-60 minutes exercise a day and dogs need mental stimulation as much as exercise. Therefore, if you work for more than 4 hours a day you must ensure that your dog is mentally stimulated during that time. Boredom can lead to destructive and unruly behaviour.
Please consider not only your working hours, but also the time your dog is left at home whilst you are out visiting friends / family, shopping and even whilst you are sleeping and your dog is separated from the rest of the household.
All this time your dog is on their own getting bored, frustrated and probably lonely. Do not leave items out that you will be upset if your dog destroys. Reprimanding your dog for destroying your furniture, shoes etc is not acceptable if you have left them alone for a long period of time with these “toys” to play with.
Dogs are companion animals and should not be expected to cope alone. Dogs have the intelligence of a two to three year old; consider whether you would leave a toddler alone for that long?
Most rescue centres will not rehome a dog if it is to be left for more than four hours a day.
If your dog needs some extra activity then you can always enrol in an activity class such as agility, obedience or even swimming. For those of you with more time available to train your dog, simple searching exercises around the house and garden can also help break the daily boredom.
HOWEVER BEWARE: Do not over train your dog!! Dogs can also suffer with athlete’s burn. Too much exercise can lead to your dog being so fit, that it never wears itself out or winds down to relax as it needs to. Do not enrol in more than one physically active class on consecutive days; ensure your dog has a rest day in between allowing them to physically recover. Dogs that are devoted to their owners may not complain even if they are tired they can also continue exercising to the point of exhaustion and collapse.
Over exercising can also cause long term damage to joints/muscles and reduce life expectancy. Dogs that have been overweight previously may already be carrying injuries caused by the body carrying access weight, so be aware of how much you expect your dog to be able to do physically.
Agility / Pre-agility
Agility classes are going really well and will continue until 19th December and then return in 2011. Classes are available on Tuesday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Julie and Sid are our instructors for the course and keep the classes focused and fun. A minimum of ten obedience classes must be attended (at any club) before enrolling.
Further information can be received by contacting Julie on 07787 511713.
Pre-agility is a class focused on the younger dogs which uses balance, co-ordination, obedience and fun games. It will also to help build the bond between you and your dog and as it is aimed at younger dogs, it will give you the opportunity to develop your handling skills before being able to enrol in the full agility course when your dog is older.
Micro chipping / Collars and Tags
With the increase of dog thefts in the local area, it is hugely important to make sure that your dog is micro chipped or tattooed.
Microchips have developed massively since they were first launched and are currently the most reliable way of ensuring your dog is returned to you.
Collars must legally include a tag with the following information: Your name, house number and postcode, together with at least one contact telephone number (a second could be your vets).
Collars should fit correctly with space for two fingers so that they cannot slip over their head or are too tight for them to be comfortable.
Also ensure that both collar and leads are in good condition with no excess wear or tear.
Maternity dates
Sam is having a baby! Was hoping for a puppy but is apparently having a little baby girl instead.
So we are currently looking for some maternity cover for dog walking and some of the classes will be changing to allow for some time off over Christmas & the New Year as the baby is due on 23rd January 2011.
There will be some changes to services offered as we will not be able to realistically offer everything we currently provide due to transportation and licences / insurance.
There will be no homecare after Monday 1st November, and no day-care after Monday 29th November.
We can recommend another firm for day-care if required, who have offered to help out.
There will be no dog walking available over the Christmas / New Year Bank holidays.
Please ensure that if you require walking between Christmas Eve and January (excluding bank holidays) that you have booked your dates by the beginning of December.
Stuart Gore / Sealsun Gundogs, is no longer associated with Practical Pooches Limited.
Tuesday Evening classes in Fleet
Unfortunately, the hall rates have increased hugely to allow for the VAT increase and we can no longer reasonably accommodate the cost. We will continue the classes until mid November and the hall classes will continue at St Marys in Ash Vale on Saturdays at 11.30 instead.
Dog Walking Service
Please remember that you must cancel your dog walks 24 hrs in advance if you no longer require our services. If we arrive to collect your dog and you have made alternate arrangements without cancelling the fee will still charged to cover fuel costs / time involved.
With the winter creeping in quickly please ensure that you leave out towels to enable us to dry your dogs off. Please bear in mind that long haired dogs will need to be brushed out later once they are dry, to ensure that their coat does not become matted and uncomfortable.
It would also be really appreciated if you could let us know if you have fed your dog anything out of the ordinary so that we can make sure we can accommodate any ‘loose’ toileting. We know the Poo Fairy does not exist! If your dog is likely to have the runs on the day of walking, then we will keep them on lead to ensure we can clean up after your dog and also provide additional water as your dog is likely to be dehydrated.
Field Rules - Please help us keep this area a safe environment for all dogs and their owners
Do not release your dogs from your vehicle, until you are instructed to
No access to the rest of site, please remain within the PPL field
Do not let dogs off lead without instruction from trainer
Do not let your dog approach another dog without permission
Please keep your dog under control at all times
MAX 3 dogs per handler - on or off lead
Children must be supervised at all times
ALL Dog mess must be cleared up, along with any rubbish
NO SMOKING in the field area
Gate must remain closed at all times - Police/Army dogs use main site
The trees are protected, so please do not climb or damage them
Dog Control Orders must be abided by in class environments
Do not bring your dog into the field, if they are suffering with sickness and diarrhoea or any other contagious, quick spreading infection.
There has been a recent breakout of Parvovirus in Fleet, Hartley Wintney and Farnborough.
The intestinal form of dog parvo is the most common form. It’s contracted orally through infected feces, soil, etc.
After ingestion, the lymphatic system serves as the replicating point for the virus, particularly around the throat. The bloodstream is then infected, and the virus begins attacking other lymphatic cells, the intestines, and bone marrow.
This causes weakening of the intestinal tissue, and so the separation begins to deteriorate, severely affecting digestion. Bacteria normally contained in the intestines is then allowed to flood the bloodstream, causing more problems.
Three or four days later, the virus will be in the dog’s feces, and this is when you can really notice the smell. If you wait this long before realizing the truth, however, it might be too late.
The dog parvo symptoms to look for in this case are the usual: vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lethargy.
Get your dog to a vet immediately.
If your dog, especially your new puppy, begins exhibiting any of these symptoms, see a veterinarian right away. When parvo is involved, every hour counts. The secret of survival is quick treatment, so don’t ignore these symptoms! One or all of these will usually being showing after 3 – 10 days of infection.
§ Lethargic. If your dog normally likes to play and has high energy, this is the clearest sign that something is wrong. You could say they act depressed.
§ Lack of Appetite. The more common strains attack the digestive system.
§ Vomiting with no change in diet. It usually looks clear and foamy.
§ Bloody Diarrhea.
§ Stronger Feces Odor. It’s unmistakable and you will never forget it.
The vomiting and diarrhea are the most dangerous, as they can quickly lead to dehydration and malnutrition. This leads to other problems that eventually compound on top of each other to finally kill the dog.
Lyme Disease has also been confirmed in a child, caught from Tweseldown Racecourse
Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete called Borrelia. A spirochete is a type of bacterium. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick. The feeding tick is basically a blood sucker. It must keep its host’s blood from clotting in order to continue sucking so it is able to regurgitate assorted enzymes to keep the blood flow liquid and smooth. It is during this regurgitation process that the Lyme spirochete is brought up from the tick’s midgut to its mouthparts. This process requires a minimum of 48 hours which means that if the tick is removed within 48 hours of attachment, the spirochete cannot be transmitted and the host will not get the disease. Once in the blood stream, it is carried to many parts of the dog's body. It is especially likely to localize in joints.
Lyme Disease Symptoms:
In dogs, Lyme disease produces symptoms characterized by arthritis, though it can sometimes involve heart, nervous system and the kidneys. The arthritic joints may become swollen and hot, and there may be a fever (102 to 105 degrees) and poor appetite. Dogs may also become lame because of the disease. This painful lameness often appears suddenly and may shift from one leg to another. If untreated, it may eventually disappear, only to recur weeks or months later. The glands (lymph nodes) of the dog may also be swollen.
Many dogs suffering from Lyme Disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Often these dogs have high fevers.
Some dogs are affected with the Lyme Disease organism for over a year before they finally show symptoms. By this time, the disease may be quite widespread in the dog's body.
