Today we said a final goodbye to our friend Mick Clancy. Mick was a generous and gentle old man who was responsible for fostering hundreds of needy dogs over the years. He was a special man with a gift for gaining the trust of even the most fearful dog. Each newcomer would get a new red collar, a lucky penny and a bowl full of Mick’s special dinner. They knew he was kind to the core and they loved him dearly.
Mick always worried about everyone else and indulged in very few comforts in his life. His friends made him happy. I will always smile at the exclusive wine titled “The Dogs Bollicks” that he always had a few bottles of ready to give away. The one remaining bottle that I have will stay unopened forever and I will always laugh when I look at it!
Goodbye Mick I am sure you are in heaven feeding some pooch a piece of salted bacon. I am glad to have known you and you will always be remembered.
Mick will rest at Glasnevin Cemetery and will be greatly missed by all.
Death Notice:
CLANCY , Michael (Mick) (Glasnevin, Dublin and formerly of Park Developments Ltd and Monanagh, Ennistymon, Co. Clare) Nov., 25, 2008, (suddenly), at his home; sadly missed by his loving brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Funeral Service tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 2 o’c sharp at Glasnevin Crematorium, Glasnevin Cemetery. No flowers please. A Memorial Mass will be held in Ennistymon, Co. Clare in due course and will be announced later on Clare FM. “May he rest in peace”
Due to hectic schedules our dogs are required to stay at home for longer periods of time. Most dogs find this difficult and behaviours such as chewing soft wood, howling, crying, repetitive barking, self mutilation, excessive licking of the paws or skin, digging and general destructive behaviours will present.
Anything over 4 hours is excessive for a dog to cope alone especially if this is a regular occurrence.
Thankfully there are now many things you can do to help the situation.
Change the Feeding Pattern
What you will need:
1. Large KONG Toy x 2
2. Premier Treat Ball
3. Nylabone
Rather than feeding your dog from their bowl in the morning put their food along with some tasty extras into a large KONG toy. The KONG should be very interesting so use left over meat, cheese etc. The food should be stuffed inside so as it does not easily fall out. You can see recipes on www.kongcompany.com
Use a safe treat ball such as the one from Premier and put the dry food inside. The dog will learn to roll the ball and the food comes out. This will keep him mentally occupied especially if he has missed his breakfast that morning and needs to work to get the food out.
Leave a flavoured Nylabone for your dog to chew on. This will be far more interesting than your decking.
Daycare
Invest in Daycare for your dog. Spend as much as you can afford on daycare days for your dog where they can learn, socialise and receive training during the day.
Dog Walker or Sitter
Invest in a good dog walker or pet sitter. If someone can call to break up your dogs day that will be a considerable help. Spend as much as you can afford on a dog walker. Expect to pay €15 per walk.
Weekend and Evening Time
Spend as much time as possible with your dog at the weekend. In the evenings allow your dog inside regardless of muddy paws. They need human interaction and if they are outside all day it is unfair not to give them attention in the evening.
Training Classes
Enrol in a fun training course. For 1 evening a week you will spend time with your dog training and enjoying each others company.
Safety
Only use a safety collar on your dog when left alone especially if your dog is in a pen or there is decking or areas such as fencing where your dog can get caught. Many dogs suffer death by strangulation when their dogs collar gets caught and the dog panics.
Instead choose a Safety Collar which will snap open should your dog become caught in something.
Under no circumstances should a puppy under 16 weeks be left alone for more than 2 hours. You must either employ a pet sitter or leave your puppy in daycare during this period.
All items listed above such as KONG’s and treat balls are available from www.DogTrainingIreland.ie/shop
This is from a Production Company looking for Dog Trainers for a new show.
Do you love dogs, and training them? Can YOU run the ultimate bootcamp? Do you have proven experience in being able to train those aggressive breeds who go from trainer to trainer and never seem to learn how to sit or stay still?
Then we want YOU as our next drill sergeant!!!!
Varuna Entertainment is currently casting for a dramatic reality docuseries in development for the Animal Planet. The network is taking the next step in K9 training by having their drill sergeant make troubled dogs good once again. Candidates must be able to take a stern and militaristic, yet
positive attitude towards dog training, and can show us on video or in pictures.Think “Celebrity Fit Club” or “Biggest Loser.” We want you to show us how YOU run the best bootcamp!!!
If that’s you, please call Cheryl at Varuna Entertainment at (323) 801-2280, ext. 3311, or send an e-mail to cpanlilioATvarunatv.com telling us about
yourself and your program. Be sure to include your contact info.
So write in to cpanlilio@varunatv.com and click here http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations and give your tuppence worth. After all it’s your money and your paying for the Animal Planet on your cable!
Click here on the Dog Training Ireland Gallery for photos of the Pet Expo 2008
If you have any photos you would like to share please send them to Info@dogtrainingireland.ie
www.DogTrainingIreland.ie/gallery
Go to Doggie Events and Pet Expo 08 Photos
Enjoy!
Following on from the success of the previous Cavalier King Charles Training Days and courses we started another Cavalier King Charles training course on Saturday 1st November.
12 Dogs booked onto the course. Blenheims, Black and Tan, Ruby and Tri’s.
And what a pleasure it is to work with these wonderful little dogs. Their owners should be very proud.
It is important that everyone who owns a Cavalier King Charles is aware of the various medical issues that these dogs suffer from.
For Everything Cavalier log onto www.cavaliertalk.com
Photos of this class will be uploaded soon!
Some may think that employing a dog walker is a good idea. In the most part it is a great idea once you find the right walker!
It is very important that you pick the right person or company to work with your dog. One slip up and you could be in for a bumpy ride trying to fix the problems caused by an inexperienced dog walker. These problems can range from pulling on the lead to serious behavioural issues.
Insurance
Reputable Dog Walkers will have adequate insurance. Generally a single dog walker can only walk a maximum of 3 dogs. This is because walking anymore than 3 dogs is dangerous from a health and safety point of view.Take your Dog Walkers Insurance Details. Make sure your dog is walked with other social dogs. Check if you are liable if your dog damages another dog or person while in the company of the dog walker.
Equipment
Make sure your dog walker does not use choke chains, prong collars or harnesses that employ P+ or punishment (pain, fear, water squirt, interactive punishment) if your dog pulls or does something wrong.
Training
Make sure your dog walker understands how to teach a dog ‘loose lead’ walking. Every dog walker should have a basic understanding of canine behaviour. They should know how to build confidence in shy or fearful dogs and teach self control to more bouncy dogs.
If they are trained then from where and is it recognised or simply an online course?
Canine First Aid
Is your dog walker certified in Canine First Aid? Do they know what to do in the event of an emergency or dog fight?
If they are certified then from where? And is their cert up to date?
Transport
Is the vehicle used to transport the dogs safe (crates with soft bedding), clean, temperature controlled (cool in summer, warm in winter), insured and appropriate?
The Law
Is the dog walker aware of the control of dogs act? Will they be letting your dog offlead? Remember you are still liable for any damage that your dog may cause whether they are with you or the walker.
This area is NOT REGULATED. There are no laws or recommendations for dog walkers so the advice from us is Buyer Beware.
Some companies who tick all the boxes are as follows:
www.doggienannywalks.com
www.dogtiredwalks.com
We are delighted to announce that Tara Choules, Lisa Whelan and Laura Jennings have been awarded the CCPDT certification (Council for Certified Pet Dog Trainers). After a lot of study and practical work we sat the four-hour exam at Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street earlier this month.
The CCPDT is an international testing and certification program for professional pet dog trainers.
The CCPDT’s certification program is based on humane training practices and the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training. Competence and continued growth in training practices is promoted through the recertification of qualified professionals.
We are the only Dog Training Company in Ireland with trainers with this certification. It is a huge honour and privilege to be awarded the CCPDT certification as it is independently assessed and only awarded to those who have an excellent understanding and experience of Instruction Skills, Animal husbandry, Ethology, Learning Theory and Equipment.
For more on the certification and what it means to you as a dog owner please go to www.ccpdt.org
We pride ourselves on our high level of education, certification and deep understanding of canine learning, behaviour and training.
Professional Grooming
By Anne Rogers
In Ireland there are great numbers of groomers and mobile grooming companies, most veterinary practices and some pet shops have their own groomers and many boarding kennels offer a professional grooming service. This quantity does not necessarily reflect quality however.
How does someone become a groomer?
Anybody, regardless of experience or education, can begin to offer a grooming service today and charge pet owners for the privilege. There are no Irish grooming qualifications although some groomers opt for the UK City & Guilds Advanced Certificate in Dog Grooming 7750-03 which examines both theory and practical skills. If interested a groomer will usually have at least 18 months experience before beginning this qualification route.
You can check out details of qualifications open to groomers here:
www.petcare.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=565&Itemid=190
The vast majority of groomers (worldwide) are more likely to have experience rather than certificates. In my opinion a groomer should have had at least 400 hours of training with a qualified groomer and at least 18 months of work under the close supervision or guidance of a qualified groomer.
Membership of professional groomers’ groups, although important as it shows that the groomer is not professionally isolated, is not a guarantee of the groomers’ ability or skill. The Irish Professional Dog Groomers Assoc. can be joined by any groomer upon applying and paying a fee – in order to keep up membership groomers must attend a number of organised groomers’ events. Check out www.ipdga.com for more information on membership requirements.
Ask the groomer about their insurance status; insurance for groomers is available in Ireland and all professional groomers should be covered for the services that they offer.
Good groomers:
Professional grooming should not just be about good looks; a good groomer should act as an intermediary between pet owner and vet. Therefore a groomer should be able to offer up to date advice on health care, nutrition, behaviour as well as grooming concerns for your individual pet. A good groomer should not diagnose a problem but be able to recommend that you seek advice from veterinary staff or behaviour professionals.
A good groomer should aim to educate you in relation to your individual pets’ grooming needs. Ask them to show you how to maintain your pet’s coat, which equipment to use, how often to schedule grooming appointments.
A good groomer will be proud of their work – ask to see pictures of their work particularly work they have done on dogs like yours.
Good groomers should handle pets with kindness and compassion; their care and consideration for your pet should be obvious. They should do everything possible to provide the best, safest, lowest stress and most skilled service that they can.
Choosing a groomer:
When choosing a groomer don’t just flick through the phone book or base your choice on price.
Ask for one referral from your vet, one from another pet care professional and at least one from dog owning friends.
Contact the groomer, have a chat with them on the phone and arrange to visit their establishment. Most will have an ‘open-door’ policy so that you can pay a visit and carry out an inspection if you feel like it.
Trust your ‘gut’ – are they friendly, knowledgeable and interested in you and your pet? do they put you at ease? do you feel safe leaving your pet with them?
Don’t forget to gauge your pet’s response to the groomer. If your pet is nervous, giddy etc. assess how the groomer handles this.
Inspection
is the establishment well lit and ventilated?
is the establishment clean and smell clean? (many groomers’ will smell of ‘wet dog’ but they should not smell of dirt, damp, urine or faeces)
do the groomer/s handle pets gently?
are cages/crates clean and adequately sized?
are clients’ pets separated from one another?
are pets under supervision for the length of their stay?
can the groomer/staff see your dog even when not being groomed?
do they use drying cabinets or cage drying?
if they use drying cabinets are the cabinets serviced and maintained regularly, are pets closely supervised while in drying cabinets?
what safety equipment do they use? – restraint systems, lifting equipment, muzzles
is there a lot of barking, whining there?
are there a lot of dogs there?
are the dogs showing signs of distress? heavy panting, vocalizing, struggling etc.
are complete records kept? medical information, vaccinations, your pets likes and dislikes, emergency contact information
Interview
Ask the groomer:
how long they have been grooming for,
who did they train with,
how long did they train for (how many hours),
do they specialise in certain breeds, certain techniques, certain categories of pets (large dogs, old pets etc.)
if so ask what skills they bring to these specialisations
do they have groomers insurance
which professional groups do they belong to and why
how do they handle uncooperative pets
what is their emergency procedure e.g. if pets bite, fall ill etc.
which disorders would warrant a pet being refused entry
can they recognise distress signals in dogs
do they have pet first aid training
ask them to describe in detail what will actually happen to your pet during a groom – ask them to clarify any points that you don’t understand
Your grooming appointment
Hopefully you have made the right choice and have decided to bring your pet to a particular groomer.
Allow your pet to greet the groomer; they should then inspect your pet and discuss with you the grooming procedure to be used.
Groomers are not mind readers so provide them with lots of details. Your groomer should spend time with you discussing your requirements – how much hair do you want taken off (1cm, 5cm etc.), how long would you like the legs, ears, face left etc., does your pet have any special requirements or individual needs e.g. allergies stiffness, pain etc., inform the groomer of your pets likes and dislikes (“he doesn’t let me touch his feet” for example).
Ask for a ‘ball park’ charge for this grooming job. Make sure you understand why these charges are applied – is your pet in good condition etc.
Make sure that the groomer has taken all of this information on board and that they have a contact number for you just in case.
Say a short and sweet good bye to your pet and go.
On your return greet your pet and provide the groomer with feedback e.g. next you would prefer longer ears etc. Discuss any issues that arose during the groom; the groomer should give you a run through of how your pet got on and any work you need to do before the next appointment.
How to make grooming easier for your pet:
From the time you get your pet bring him to the groomers once a week just to get a treat and meet the staff. Ask the groomer if you can carry out simple training tasks in their establishment.
If your dog is nervous about going to the groomers (it is awfully like the vets!) bring your dog’s favourite treats or toys to the groomers and just go and hang out.
From the time you get your puppy carry out simple grooming tasks even though they may not have much coat – brush them with a soft brush, handle every part of their body daily, clip their nails regularly
Maintain your dog’s coat between grooming appointments – ask your groomer for advice and guidance on the type of equipment and how to use it
If your pet has trouble with being groomed employ the help of a positive trainer who can help your pet to enjoy grooming.
Groomers are not miracle workers and it is your responsibility to have your dog ready for grooming.
If your dog experiences a sudden change in behaviour then the first port of call is your vet. Take it one step at a time and follow a responsible course of action keeping your dog and others safe while you seek out the cause and appropriate treatment for your dog.
1. Contact your vet for a full physical. This will rule out any pain or condition that could be causing the aggression.
2. Contact us so as we can assess your dog and devise an appropriate behaviour modification plan
Common Medical Causes of Aggression:- Hypothyroidism
- Hypoglycemia
- Brian Inflamation
- Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)
- Hydrocephalus – most common in short-nosed breeds [brachycephalics].
- Encephalitis (bacterial or viral)
- Head trauma
- Brain tumor
- Epilepsy
- Brain Seizures
Other Causes Include:
- Inner ear pain, infection in the ear
- Mouth, gum or teeth pain
- Joint Pain caused by arthritis
- Ingrowing Nails
- Stomach Pain cause by intestinal parasites
- Anal Glan Pain, infection of the anal glands
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Allergies
- Injury
- Back Pain or Strain
Be sure to get your dog a full physical at least once a year and discuss any behavioural, appetite, general mood and overall health changes your dog may be experiencing.
If you are unsure contact
Anicare Veterinary Practises www.anicare.ie
OR
Cara Veterinary Practise www.caravetgroup.com
Finding a dog groomer is easy. Finding a TRUE dog groomer is harder than you may think.
Dog groomers vary from those who have attended a week long course and can just barely wash and blow dry to those who understand each dogs requirements both mentally and their coat needs including how to handle their canine clients with due care and attention.
The Dog Training Ireland Dogs are Groomed at Doggie Dazzlers
Doggie Dazzlers
All visits include:
Nail clipping, eye & ear hygiene, bathing, drying, de-matting & checks for parasites & skin conditions.
Clipping & trimming if required
Phone Maria for an appointment:
086 2690 612Located in: Abbey Park, Killester, Dublin 5
(just off Killester Avenue, near the Malahide Road)
And remember if your groomer has a 10 week waiting list there could be a very good reason for that!
