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Maisie’s Blog – October 2016

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maisie-dog-blog

Hello everyone

The Boss has been having quite a time recently helping you humans understand your pets toileting habits! So I thought I would give you some insider knowledge and give you a dog’s eye view on PEE and POO.

It’s not a big deal to us but it certainly seems to be to some of you humans….you want us to do it outside… then you want us to tell you when we need to go,…..you want us to do it in the same place all the time but some of you don’t want us to do it in the garden at all… then you want to feed us for doing it…phew we are confused.

I have a pal called Henry he is a Basset Hound now Henry is quite partial to an occasional mouthful of horse dung …. why not let him …. he really likes what the horse has been eating … seems really sensible to us dogs.

Can I let you into a secret…we dogs couldn’t care less where we toilet so if you humans want it outside we need to learn this. Try and be patient with us we really don’t understand why you shout at us for doing it inside and some of my pals have had their noses rubbed in it … What’s that all about?

Some of my more nervous and timid pals will leave a present (The Boss’s expression not mine) in the house near a door or a window when left on their own. Now they are not being naughty but they are scared with too much space and when they put their scent down it helps them feel safe to go to sleep. If you humans let them sleep in their own crate the toileting would stop. We dogs don’t like to mess our beds.

Now sometimes it is just plain old testosterone that acts up! My pal Jack is going to have lots of little Jacks one day so he likes to scent ALL over the furniture … keeps other boy dogs away… That’s so easy to sort but you won’t have any little Jacks around of course!

Puppies as you know I find a nuisance sometimes. They just want to be around you humans getting fussed and don’t want to go out on their own. I would let them eat outside and throw their dinner over the grass you will soon find they are much happier to do their stuff out side.

Why do you humans give puppies food for doing the toilet? They will toilet anywhere if they are going to get fed!!!!

So there you have it … a few tips about toileting from a dogs perspective

Hope it makes sense and helps you understand us better

Woofing off

maisie-dog-blog-paw

Maisie’s Blog – September 2016

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Maisie's Blog - September 2015

Hello again everyone.

I know I have been quiet over the last wee while but with holidays and the Boss busy growing her business it’s been full on!

The Boss is starting someone new to help teach even more of you humans how to understand us dogs . Now this chap has a puppy Border Collie which is how the Boss met him .I haven’t met the pup yet as the boss knows I have a short fuse where cheeky puppies are concerned. She says she wants the human to teach the pup manners not me!

I almost feel sorry for the pup with both its owner and the boss teaching it how to behave….. well….. not really!
I know the Boss is looking for lots more people to train as she has a passion to help you humans totally ‘get’ your dogs the way I ‘get’ the boss and she ‘gets’ me.

Mind you I was a bit confused recently with the Boss’s behaviour and that doesn’t happen often. We were at a BBQ in the country and the Boss and I went off for a walk and as usual I took off into the undergrowth to find….tennis balls! Well I didn’t find any but went one better and found a lovely white very fluffy chicken! It was hardly moving so I gently picked it up and ran back proudly to the Boss. I thought she would be really pleased as I put it at her feet and tried to spit out the masses of feathers which were nearly choking me!

Instead the Boss was horrified as she at first thought I had killed it…MOI!…kill a a chicken…..never…What does she think I am ….a hunting dog like Jack Russel or even a Patterdale terrier….I am a highly trained gundog who has won prizes for her seek and retrieve and I have the softest of mouths! Anyway after investigation it was clear the bird had been attacked by some animal and I had just found it . I will spare you the details but the bird was quickly put out of its misery and everyone was thanking me for finding it and stopping its suffering.
And I was back in the good books.

So you humans can sometimes surprise even me .You really are a funny species! The Boss still wonders how I managed to find a fluffy white chicken in the middle of nowhere………..I am not saying!

Until next time…

Woofing off

maisie-dog-blog-paw

Maisie’s Blog

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maisie-dog-blog

Hi there and a big welcome to my first Dog Blog.

I live with the BOSS and I decided to start this blog to give you humans my take on life…..a dog’s eye view so to speak….

I know I am lucky because the Boss ‘gets me.’…too well sometimes but you humans can, without realising or meaning to, really mess with our heads.

Take LOVE for example….. Well I love a long walk and I love my food and I love sleeping on my back but I know the Boss won’t let me get all my own way…believe me I’ve tried. We have rules in our pack and I have learnt them. I would love to sleep curled up beside the Boss every night and I would love to get fed whatever and whenever I want and wade through the mud to find tennis balls but it doesn’t happen and do you know what…. I love it when I am not allowed to do everything I want because that’s just plane scary. I need to know The Boss IS the Boss in our pack.

So I’m suggesting to you humans that of course it’s ok to love us and we will love you back but don’t make it all about love we need to feel safe and secure as well. It’s a scary world out there if you let us do everything we want. So give us some guidance and rules on how to behave. We will always love you but we need MORE!

The other day I was coming home from a great long run in the park …did I tell you I used to chase and hunt for a living…well that’s another story..anyway the Boss meets this human with her pack of Snauzers. Gran, Mum and the youngster of 4 months. The Human bent down to give me a treat and quick as a flash the kid moved in, growled at me and snaffled the treat! The Mum and Gran ignored the Kid’s bad manners and the Human thought it was funny!! I looked at the Boss and I could see she agreed with me that that Kid is going to get into serious trouble if it doesn’t learn some manners quickly.

So love is great and important but we all need a Boss as well.

 

…..til next time

Woofing off

maisie-dog-blog-paw

 

 

…….look out for my  free resources section which is coming soon and will offer helpful tips, articles, links to other services and much more.

 

 

A Few Simple Rules for Pregnant Dog Owners

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dogs-and-pregnancy

Bringing home a baby can be especially daunting when you have a pet. Once the object of your affection, a dog can be deeply unsettled by the arrival of a newborn who steals away your attention!

DO Prepare in advance

Start making changes in your dog’s routine when you’re pregnant, at least 6 months before the baby is due to arrive.

Change your routine – this means everything from the time of walks to feeding times.

Walk your dog erratically and feed your dog inside and outside.

Scatter food in the garden for him/her to find.

Your dog should not see his bowl as the only food source.

This prevents your dog  getting defensive if your baby goes near its food bowl.

Stop hand feeding your dog if you’re guilty of this.

Your dog may try to take food from your baby’s hand.

Stop any excessive jumping well before the baby arrives.

Remember … Dogs learn by association and repetition.

DO set boundaries 

  • Ignore your dog at times and particularly  – don’t respond to their attention seeking behaviours.
  • They definitely won’t have your attention when you have a baby to look after!
  • Praise and make a fuss of your dog when he/she isn’t making a noise or demanding anything.
  • Play at your command – if your dog wants to play then don’t indulge him/her.
  • Only instigate play when you have the time.
  • Set boundaries – places like sofas should be off limits to your dog.
  • You probably won’t want them jumping around places where your baby might be.
  • Let the whole family know the rules and stick to them.
  • Invest in a crate –it provides a comfortable place for your dog to sleep in and retreat to.
  • It’s especially useful in the first few months when you will have constant visitors.
  • The increase in activity can overwhelm many dogs.
  • Secure your garden. Your dog can happily play in the garden when you have to deal with the baby.

The Baby’s Arrival

  • Arrival – ideally  have someone else carry the baby into the house.
  • Remember, to your dog the size of his pack has just increased. To him the baby is like a new puppy arriving.
  • The vast majority of dogs accept a new baby easily BUT your dog is not a little human and has canine instincts.
  • NEVER bend down and let the dog sniff the baby.
  • NEVER leave a baby and dog unattended.
  • The shrill cry of a baby can over-excite a dog. Be ready to correct any unwanted behaviour.
  • When you sit down with the baby make sure your dog is kept on the ground.
  • This is not a time to have your dog up on the sofa with you.
  • Introduce the two – proceed with caution and be wary of how your dog might act.

Spring Has Sprung (Well almost!)

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dogs-and-spring

Scottish Outdoor Access Code: What you need to know

For most dog owners, springtime means spending more time outside and exploring the countryside or city parks with their favourite companion. However, some people may not be aware of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which highlights your rights and responsibilities as a dog owner.

The main points of the country code are as follows:

  •  Don’t take your dog into a field where there are lambs, calves or other young animals.
  •  Don’t take your dog into a field of vegetables and fruit.
  •  Keep your dog on a short lead or under close control in: –

A. Fields where there are cows and horses.
B. Fields where there are sheep.
C. Areas where ground-nesting birds are breeding and rearing their young.
D. Near Reservoirs and stream intakes.
E. Near Recreational areas and other public places.

  • Always clean up after your dog in any public open place.

Did you know…

  • Cows can get very aggressive when protecting their calves.
  • A dog running loose in a field of pregnant animals or mothers with their young will cause immense stress to the animals.
  • A farmer can have the right to shoot your dog.
  • If possible try to avoid walking through fields with cattle during breeding season.
  • If you have to cross a field make sure your dog is on a lead and under control. Give the animals distance and walk slowly and calmly.
  • An excited or barking dog can spook livestock particularly if they are pregnant or with their young.
  • Diseases can spread from leftover faeces to your dog and other animals.
  • Diseases can be transmitted from fields containing fruit and vegetables to your dog.

Remember

  • Keep your dog under close control – Particularly in Spring, with the arrival of new calves and lambs, dogs chasing farm animals can cause considerable upset. A pregnant ewe can miscarry or a newborn lamb may become separated from its mother and rejected upon its return.
  •  Cattle can act aggressively and risk injury and distress to themselves and others if provoked. If possible, avoid taking your dog through these fields with young farm animals or, alternatively, have them on a short lead to keep them close at hand.
  • Avoid disturbing ground-nesting birds – They can be found in areas such as moorland, forests, grassland and shores. It is very important that these nests remain undisturbed as an adult bird can abandon its young altogether if forced off the nest. Listen out for alarm calls and look out for birds circulating the area to best minimise disturbance.
  • Working breed dogs – These dogs are most likely to cause disturbances of birds and farm animals as they characteristically love to run through the undergrowth sniffing everything as they go. Typical dogs can include springer/cocker spaniels, labradors and of course labradoodles and many terrier types. I just avoid these areas with my working cocker spaniel during breeding season. Usually the larger country parks put up notices to remind walkers.
  • Breeding season can last from March through to June.

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