The Cadgwith Canines Dog Blog

Life after Lockdown

Oldfieldjulie@aol.com (Julie Oldfield) — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:28:52 GMT

It's scary for our dogs too.

As we begin to emerge from lockdown, it's important to remember that things are changing for our dogs too. They may have got used to having you around more often and suddenly they are faced with long periods of being home alone. Preparation is key here. If you know that you will be going back to work soon then start to leave them for short periods now, and gradually increase the time they are left. I love having a camera permanently on at home so that I can see and hear what my dogs are up to, via my phone. Don't assume they are ok just because they seem fine when you get home! Places that have been nice and quiet for months will now be full of noise, people and other dogs. Watch your dog's body language carefully to see how they are coping, lip licking, yawning and trying to pull away from you are ways that dogs communicate they are uncomfortable. If you have a lockdown puppy then you need to prepare them carefully as this is a whole new experience for them. Take it slowly and remember that distance is your friend when it comes to desensitisation to new things. Do you have a new puppy who has maybe never been to the beach, pub etc? I'd love to see a picture and hear about your post lockdown experience.

Help to save Cornwalls Seal Sanctuary

Oldfieldjulie@aol.com (Julie Oldfield) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 17:33:17 GMT

Special offer available now, until the end of Lockdown. If your dog pulls on the lead, runs away when called, jumps up at people or something similar. I am offering a one hour individual training session locally or online for a donation of £30 to the Gweek seal sanctuary. These people do amazing work, rescuing and rehabilitating seals in Cornwall. Limited spaces available terms and conditions apply. Call now to book your space. 07717606506 All training will be done inline with government guidelines.

Train your dog whilst helping the Seals

Firework Anxiety

Oldfieldjulie@aol.com (Julie Oldfield) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 12:48:23 GMT

Noise sensitivity

Many dogs suffer from Noise Sensitivity which becomes more obvious around Firework season. There are some simple measures you can take now to help your dog to cope with the anxiety and stress this causes.

Firstly prepare in advance to ensure you are not caught out by early firework noise. Build your dog a den in a quiet corner away from windows and doors. This can be a crate or pen covered with blankets and filled with your dogs favourite things. You can also use a table or 2 chairs with blankets draped over them. Encourage your dog to go in the den as much as possible beforehand by placing his food in there or a long lasting chew.

Make sure you go out for a walk early to avoid any firework noise. There is a myth about not comforting your dog if they get anxious, this is totally wrong, just like us they can benefit from lots of calm reassurance if they are feeling anxious. There are lots of calming products on the market which some find useful, a pheromone plug in or spray, also wearing a snug wrap like a Thunder Shirt may help. Playing loud music or having the TV on will help to drown out the noise outside. Allow your dog to move around freely inside the house as restricting them may cause more anxiety. Remain nice and calm yourself and breath deeply, dogs often take their cues from us, if we're ok then it must be ok.

If your dog gets really stressed and pants heavily, drawls excessively, shakes or barks frantically please get some medication from your Vet in plenty of time before the event.

Please share with us anything you have found useful with your own dogs around this time of year. .

Making the most of the extra time with your dog

Oldfieldjulie@aol.com (Julie Oldfield) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 19:14:11 GMT

Don't let COVID stop you having fun together.

Many of us are having to spend more time at home during this Pandemic. This means we're maybe much more available for our dogs than previously. Dogs left to their own devices will often sleep for a large part of the day, however when their owners are around it can be a different story. This can be difficult especially if you're trying to work from home. The way to manage it is by breaking up your day into manageable chunks. By building in Playtime, Walks, training and snuggles you and your dog can enjoy this extra quality time together. Dogs are definitely creatures of habit so having set times for activities can help them to settle down in between. Use long lasting chews and filled Kongs to settle restless hounds. The time you spend away from the keyboard or other devices will allow you to feel refreshed and become more productive in the long run.

Write to me in the comments below, I'd love to hear how you have been having fun and enjoying the time with your dog during this period.