Moving house is stressful for your dog. It can cause behavioural problems and your dog may even go missing. This is what happened to one of Fidos' dogs. You are essentially moving the den. It is a challenging time and threatens their view of survival as they do not understand what is happening. The familiar smells are changing, the sounds are different, your house will be full of people lifting and straining, filled with raised voices, alarming noises and doors are left open. To help your dog move with as little stress as possible the simplest way is to:
Moving Day
Some Signs of Anxiety
0 Comments
Have you seen your dog try to roll in an airfreshner that is plugged into your wall? Or roll in something on the street after a shampoo and wash? Does your cat poop outsider the litter tray? Dogs, cats and hamsters (for example) have a heightened sense of smell, at least 40 x more powerful than our own.
Air freshners are overpowering scents for our pets. Can i suggest that for them, an air freshner maybe like smelling a bottle of formaldehyde. This is a smell that WE find overpowering. Imagine amplifying this smell by at least 40? Do our airfreshners and shampoos have the same affect on our pets? Dogs will try to roll in a strong smell because it is so overwhelmingly powerful that they feel they need to camouflage themselves in the same scent. Hence rubbing up to a airfreshener plugged into the wall or rolling on something disgusting in the street after a shampoo. Dogs don't want to draw attention to themselves, they feel safer blending into the surroundings. Strong smells like these can be threatening to an animal. Dogs may also urinate or defecate in the home, to try and over ride the smell of the airfreshener. As a dog listener i can recall a colleague’s story of a dog suddenly becoming nervous around the family's 13yr old daughter. It was discovered that the daughter had been given perfume for her birthday and the dog was reacting to it. A perfume smelt 40 x more than we would smell it! Cats may poop out of their litter trays when their own territorial signals are overridden by strong smells or strong human odours. They may poop on the bed or at the entrance to the flat (den). They dont know that the smell is of pine, they just know, that to other cats, this smell overrides their attempts at marking their territory to trespassing cats. Hence they try to make their mark stronger and poo outside the litter tray. Be aware of the affect your air freshners have on your pets. Ask your groomer to wash and shampoo your dog with a natural non smelling shampoo. Wash your hands with neutral soap before handling a hamster and do you really need the airfreshners plugged into the wall? Reference for January 2013 I am exceptionally happy with the quality of care my cat received when I travel. Susie and team play with him and attend to his needs, as well as looking after my plants and making sure cat does not trash the apartment with his energetic tendencies. I have happily recommended Susie to several colleagues who are thinking of getting pets and are concerned about pet care while they travel. Sarah Eves and ‘Cat’ It is that time of year and I have come across a couple of cases of Kennel Cough. Here is some information for a quick diagnosis and treatment.
It is a extremely contagious respiratory disease in dogs. It most commonly occurs where groups of dogs are congregated together, such as doggie day-cares, pet shops, veterinary hospitals, grooming parlors, parks, shelters, and kennels. If untreated it can become serious and even lead to pneumonia, especially in young puppies. An interesting fact is that Kennel cough can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or mycoplasmas, or a combination of the three, so in cases of a viral infection antibiotics will not ¨cure¨ the cough. The biggest thing that antibiotics do is keep it from worsening. Kennel cough is characterized by a dry, hacking cough in the later stages or a dog clearing its throat in the earlier stages, it is often followed by gagging. Coughing can be induced when the dog becomes excited or exercises. If you think your dog has kennel cough, isolate it from other animals and visit your vet. Kennel cough is easily spread through aerosols in the air, contact with other dogs. contact with contaminated surfaces, such as the ground, toys, water and sidewalks. Treatment is with antibiotics, rest and warmth, as in human flu. There are also available, natural therapies to support your dog. ReferencesMy husband and I are very grateful to have found Susie Hunt of Fidos Playground to take care of both our dog and our cat for the last two years. Because we travel frequently, sometimes for an extended number of days, it feels good to know our pets are being well taken care of so we don't have to worry. I would recommend Susie to anyone who is looking for dependable and knowledgeable pet sitting. Diana and Nader Mahmoud and Charlie and Rascal "Yes everything was fine when we got back on Wed afternoon. I have been meaning to send you a mail thanking you for a excellent service since we got back. We were very happy with everything and with the job that Linda did, first class and we will for sure use the service again." Darren Meadows, father of Otis Collserola Fun!The walks into the Collserola have begun! Lush was our first walker. Loaded into Linda's car, she visited the cool hills behind Barcelona while her folk were enjoying the Costa Brava. The dogs are more alive up there with a sparkle to their eyes, as the pavements are replaced by earth and leaf laden ground and car fumes are replaced by the smell of wild boar and pine trees. A Day in the Life of FidoIts a busy Friday for Fido. Running his paw down his appointments Fido notices that he has a weekend of pet sitting Boris and Obie. He will need to visit them 3 x a day for the next 4 days. He enjoys their company and slobbers at the thought of hanging out with them. He also notices that he has four sets of cats to visit. He loves his feline companions. They bring out his feminine side (he would never admit this to Boris and Obie) and he sneakily packs some nail varnish for a good ol pampering. Preparing his bag the night before he collects all the keys he will need, and again double checks that he has the right keys (he has been known to forget keys or arrive with the wrong set), and then packs his camera, sunglasses, hat and energy bars. Bright and bushy tailed the next morning he heads off to meet his mates. They are pleased to see him and they share some time together in the park. Not too many girls out this early in the morning, but they know they will be back at lunch time and again in the evening. Maybe more luck then. After breakfast Fido is off again. Running to steal the last bicing from a fellow bicinger he cycles off to visit with his first cat. This one is a grey cat and Fido is very aware that she is very shy. She reads a lot, smokes long thin cigars and likes her own company. She enjoys Fidos visits, but he still needs to sit patiently and wait for her to open the conversation, but when she talks ... well ... it is difficult for Fido to leave. The next set of cats to visit are a pair of great friends. They are also great gossipers. They tell him about their day, who walked past their window and at what time. They remind him to remove the bones from the food he prepares for them and then they ask him to sit outside on the grass with them while they soak up a bit of sun. Travelling by the metro this time, Fido is back to visit Boris and Obie. They decide it is too hot and a sit under a shady tree works just fine. All the trees have been marked up until this point so they would not have got very far if they had tried anyway. Fido stops to buy a bocadillo, eyes the pigeons that hang out on the street and then pads his way to visit the next cat. A very charming young lady, he asks her to paint his nails and they sit out on the terrace together sipping homemade pinacoladas. He has time to keep up with his facebook page and also make some calls. He is hooked on his new smart phone. Just before he is due to meet with Boris and Obie for the night he is phoned by a new client. This time it is a family of 2 galgos, a little dog and a cat that have apporached him for some care. He updates his diary, looks up on google where they live and then finishes the day with a bone.
Introducing Linda Koldal. Linda has been working alongside me now for nearly a year, but i did not truly 'see' her until much later when suddenly (a bit like Mr I. Newton, except i did not get hit in the head with an apple) the light came on in my head that she would be a perfect person to join the Fidos' team. On that note as of the 1st of July she leaves the computer (she has a computer sciences degree) and joins the animals. I include a reference from one of her first jobs and a happy dog owner: ''Yes everything was fine when we got back on Wed afternoon. I have been meaning to send you a mail thanking you for a excellent service since we got back. We were very happy with everything and with the job that Linda did, first class and we will for sure use the service again.'' Darren Meadows father of Otis the English bulldog. Dogs sweat through their paws. Keep them off the hot pavements during the hottest time of the day. They also sweat by panting. Be sensitive to this behaviour in the heat. Walk or run your dog during the coolest hours of the day. They are close to the ground and feel the heat directly as it rises. Carry room temperature water with you for them to drink. Make the most of the Barcelona fountains. Allow them to sleep, provide a damp towel for them to lie on, wash them down with water from the pads of their feet upwards and around the neck, keep them in the shade. Switch on a fan. Old and overweight animals suffer in hot weather. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats like Bulldogs and Persians and those with heart or lung diseases should be kept indoors in air conditioning as much as possible. Dido 'The Escaparista' gives advice on what to do if you lose your dog.
Reference for the month of JuneWhen our family moved to Barcelona from Canada last year we brought our 3 year-old Labradoodle, Lucy, with us. We now also have a large fish, named Ken (you can see their photos on the About Our Pets page).
Susie has taken care of Lucy and Ken for us on a number of occasions. She has always been very professional in her approach and we were very comfortable leaving them in her care from day one. Lucy is very happy with Susie and we have not had any problems or concerns. She’s always very happy to see Susie especially as she loves the homemade dog biscuits Susie brings. When we were away for the Christmas holiday last year Susie also sent us photographs of Lucy, which we were very happy to see. Ken has also been equally well cared for. I have been happy to recommend Susie and Fido’s Playground to my friends and know they will enjoy the same peace of mind while they are away. Wendy Dick and Lucy and Ken Our adventures in May included the care of 2 Java Finches and 3 Budgies. You may remember that Fido cared for the Java Finches called 'Donna' and 'Ocell' in December. Since then they became sweethearts and Donna laid 5 creamy coloured eggs. Of the 5, 3 did not hatch, 1 died after hatching and the last one is alive and thriving and now a member of Fidos' animal community. He is called 'Domingo', because he hatched on a Sunday and also flew the nest on a Sunday. As you will see from the photo Domingo still has his baby plumage, a smudging of black feathers on his back. It is quite amazing that he should have grown to this size as the eggs were tiny, no bigger than the nail of my index finger! What does a cat's tail say?Cat Care or Cat sitting with Fido!Fido also looked after 4 cats. He visited Sugar while her parents were away on honeymoon, JD while his mum was undergoing eye surgery for new sight, Cat while his mum was away on work travel, and Rascal while her folks travelled to visit family. Dog walking, doggie daycare and doggie sittingFido still walks his dogs. He trots up to their houses to take them out, gives food and any medication, and generally listens while the dogs bark about their day. Dog care at home included 2 whippets, 'Minky' and 'Thierry'. Minky needs her medication every evening at meal times, and Fido is careful to administer it, even though Minky actuallly likes to chew it like a gummy bear. 'Pepper' from El Borne also popped up for a weekend here and there. 'Jessie, Dido, Nico and Lucy' enjoyed walks and the play group continued under Fido's watchful eye with Charlie, Dora, Zac and Hunter. Fido also shared his kennel and toys with Sam, Dora, and Charlie. All the best for a warm upcoming June. Remember to leave lots of water out for your pets as the days heat up.
Susie has looked after our somewhat shy cat several times for us whilst we have been away and each time she has taken great care to keep us informed of how things are back at home. We have appreciated her professionalism, and trust her completely with our cat, and our home. She even did us the favor of watering our plants, which was greatly appreciated. We would be happy to recommend her to anyone in need of a sitter. Emma Reynolds and Cosita This is the title of a book written by Turid Rugaas a Norwegian dog trainer and behavourist. She calls her book “On Talking terms with dogs: Calming Signals” Turid talks about yawning, lip licking, head turning and many other signals that dogs use to communicate with one another and their humans. These signals are also the basis for the Doggonesafe (a non profit organisation) presentation against dog bites for which I am a presenter. If your dog is awake, it is communicating to you. Besides the obvious body language, the dog uses very subtle and almost invisible signals. Dogs have the same ability and the same social skills to avoid conflicts as wolves. Conflict solving is part of their heritage and nature. They do not want a fight. They will use the 'fight' reaction as a last resort. Dogs use these signals at an early stage in any tense situation. They talk, using the signals to calm themselves, to convey peace, to calm others or to show goodwill. I teach children and adults to notice these signals helping them make informed decisions around familiar and unfamiliar dogs. According to Turid there are at least 30 signals. Some are very subtle and some are so swift that you can hardly see them. It takes experience and awareness to pick up your dog’s signals. Watch your dog at home, find these signals in the dog park (you will realise that most dogs are more stressed in the dog park than happy) or as you walk out with your dog. Notice, how your dog communicates with other dogs or how other dogs communicate in return. Here are a few signals. Head Turning. Have you ever noticed that when you point your camera at a dog to take a photo … it turns its head! How frustrating! The camera is equivalent to a direct stare with your eyes, so a dog will turn its head to divert the gaze, which is considered threatening in 'dog speak'. Dogs off lead will stand facing each other but you may notice that one will look one way and the other will look the other way. This is 'Dog Curtesy'. Like a human shaking another's hand. Direct eye contact is bad manners in 'Dog Speak'. Licking. Licking is a sign that a dog is thinking, unsure and watching. I see this signal a lot out in the street when i am walking a big confident dog. The smaller dogs lick their lips furiously in an effort to convey to the big dog that they are not a threat and please to leave them alone. Sniffing. This may be used as a long signal, where the dog will put its nose to the ground and move around sniffing, or it may be a very quick movement, a dip to the ground and then the nose comes back up. This has been used on me! A sweet visitor to my flat picked up that i was a little frazzled and she started to sniff around the room! She was calming me down! Yawning. A dog may yawn if there is a fight within the family, or if a person starts to hug a dog. Yawning can also be used when a dog knows that it is going into a situation that it does not enjoy. I have used this signal to calm a dog that is aggressive when i go to leave its flat. I yawn and yawn, and it stares at me in absolute calmness. Curving. Look at dogs greeting each other in the street. Notice how they may approach each other in a half circle. This is 'Dog Courtesy'. A paw lift. I walk a dog regularly every Tuesday. Before she comes to me she stands at a distance with her paw lifted. I signal to her that i am not a threat by sitting with my back to her. This is another signal. Blinking eyes or the white half moon eye. If a dog is holding onto a bone and you approach it, you may notice the white half moon in the eye, or if you take a photo of the dog, you will see the white half moon. Humans tend to notice the other more obvious body language like standing big and tall, growling, or that the dog has raised its hackles. But these are not calming signals. These are signals that tell of the dogs arousal or excitement. The calming signals are more important and indicate the subtle thoughts of the dog before the dog becomes aroused. Also be aware that dogs may communicate using one signal more than another. For example a black dog may prefer to yawn or a little dog may prefer to lift its paw. Take your time with your observations. Enjoy your increased awareness. Sit on a bench and watch. There is a silent conversation going on all around us. Breed Differences The domestic dog, or Canis familiaris, has 78 chromosomes — the same number as a wolf. Whether the dog is a chihuahua or an Irish wolfhound the number of chromosomes is still the same, thus, there is no difference between breeds of dogs and the ancient bedrock of behaviour stemming from the wolf. Qualitatively speaking, genetic manipulation has virtually no effect on behaviour due to the intense genetic selection. You can breed selectively for a dog that brings back more food to the pack, or to guard the den more effectively, but we can't teach them abstract thought or conditional sentences — "if you do that again I'll be very angry", will only ever be a tone of voice or a body gesture to a dog, nothing more. Dogs, whatever the breed, all have excellent cognitive powers, are amazingly perceptive to nuance and observe the most imperceptible changes within us. On saying that, different breeds have different stamina, sensory perceptions, size, agility and emotions. These are the differences that one will need to take into account when bringing a new dog into the home. Which Breed to bring back to your home? Take an honest look at your life. Don't fall for the cutest face or biggest round set of eyes, because the puppy you chose for life, to honour, love and cherish will become a dog that may need special requirements and certain commitments. Are you a couch potato? Some dogs will need more exercise than others eg Pointer needs more than a Pug, and Galgos make excellent companion couch potatoes! Some will need high maintenance grooming to keep healthy coat and mind, e.g. Spaniels or Shih Tzu compared to a mini pinscher. Do you have a spare 1000 euros, dollars or pounds? Some breeds will have significantly shorter lifespan and will therefore incur medical costs associated with old age that much sooner, e.g. Great Danes. Other breeds come with genetic characteristics that may require extra veterinary care. For example, the bulldog intolerant of hot weather may easily die in the heat through breathing difficulties and is subject to many genetic health problems costing thousands to treat. Do you live in a one bedroom flat, have a house with a garden or own a farm? Size is important, big dogs need room (or a huge couch) to grow and stretch. Compare a wolfhound to a maltese. Do you have children? Human children are seen by a dogs as a very different species to a human adult. Children walk differently, maintain eye contact, make more noise and have a tendency to tug and pull. It is important to find a breed that is generally known to be calm and tolerant and then teach your children the correct behaviour around dogs. Maltese, for example, are not considered good breeds for children whereas the Cavalier King Charles generally love kids, according to the AKBA. If you are looking for a specific breed, the ABKA has a wonderful informative breed dictionary. I also strongly recommend that you look for breeders that abide by the code of ethics for specific breeds. For example, German Shepherds suffer from hip dysplasia and will suffer extreme pain as their hips start to collapse, causing massive veterinary bills and unnecessary discomfort. Many of you may have noticed German Shepherds on the streets of Barcelona with very poor hip scoring. It is very important to look for reputable breeders. |
Sign up for our newsletter
Archives
June 2020
Categories |