The Darling Dog Company

How to Check for Dehydration in your Dog

So far we have just seen a glimpse of the warm weather that we might get but I've seen a lot of hot and panting dogs out and about. Its important to remember that when you are warm, your dog is hot. When you can strip down to your shorts, your dog sits there looking at you wearing a full fur coat!

Try and take your dog out early in the morning and later in the evening when its cooled down. Early in the morning is great because the dew is on the grass which most dogs like to have a roll around in. Below is Jadeena the Rottweiler that I worked with out in India & you can see that we are all out with our dogs very early as it gets so very hot

Never leave your dog in the car in warm weather and if it has to travel with you, keep the windows down or put the air conditioning on. And remember that if they are in the back, the air con takes time to travel to them! Its also worth always carrying water with you, if you are going out on a really hot day, freeze a bottle of water and then take it, so it stays cold for longer.

If you can take your dog on a walk where there is free access to clean water, they can at least get in and cool their whole body down. Try to make sure they have saturated their fur so it goes through to the skin.

It's also worth keeping an eye on your dog throughout hot days, as many dogs don't remove themselves when they got too hot from basking in the sunshine so they are at risk of overheating. Keep checking the back of their neck and pulling the skin up towards you. If the dog is hydrated it should be elastic and fall back down into place immediately. If your dog is dehydrated, the skin will be far less elastic and take time to sink back.

Also check their gums, if sticky and pigmented, it can sometimes be another sign of dehydration. If your dog is showing these signs, don't allow them to gulp down an entire bowl of water, let them sip it slowly, perhaps giving them items like ice cubes to lick so that they rehydrate gradually. Also place them in the bath and shower and cool their core temperature down by refreshing them with cool water all over the body especially the chest plate and undercarriage.

I've also just ordered one of these for Cookie Dog as its great for the car but also for in the home if the weather is really warm. Prices start at £35 for a small, £65 for a medium and £95 for a large cooling mat. Its a memory foam mat that cools your dog. See what you think...

 

A Happy Dog is a Tired Dog

We all know the feeling of what it is like when your dog/s wander around looking up at you with anticipation in their eyes! If you own Cookie Dog you get a bit of a sigh here and there too!! Dogs love being out and about; they adore the mental and physical stimulation of the sights, the sounds and the things that they meet.

It is really really important that no matter what breed of dog you own, that you are giving it the exercise and stimulation that they require. Below is Tequilla the street dog puppy we worked with out in India after doing some detection work exercises.

Whether you own a teeny tiny teacup Yorkshire Terrier or a strapping Malamute, they all have their individual needs and its important to not underestimate these. If you start young with your puppy you can build up to what they will require as an adult.

Below is a young Whippet at Crufts who is shattered!

Now that the weather is getting better people are much better at taking their dogs out and about. Dogs need exercise come rain or shine; and you will have a much better behaved dog in the home if its exhausted because you have given it so much stimulation and exercise in the park. If you need advice on energy levels of your dog, drop me an email.

Don't buy a breed of dog that requires heaps of exercise like a working spaniel or collie if you only want to pootle around the park for half an hour a day. I can guarantee that you will end up with behavioural issues!!

Above is Cookie Dog who eventually gave in and conked out flat asleep at the DT offices last week. After an hours walk and then two hours of DT staff coming to play ball with her, she had to have a sleep!!

Training in Bristol & Assessing Noel

I went across to Bristol for 2 days at the end of last week, to do some work with a few of the girls I worked with in India in January. We had a great time and it was lovely to see what they get up to and how different it is to the work I'm up to in London.

We went across to South Gloucester Council's stray kennels and assessed one of the dogs that had been dumped last November. He's a Staffy X Jack Russell type and is called Noel!!!

We tested him in various situations and he did absolutely brilliantly. He was great around other dogs, he loved travelling in the car and just hopped up himself, we tried him on some agility jumps and he excelled. But most of all his tail was wagging the whole time and he is such a happy little soul. Taking photos of this kind can help to find a home a bit quicker as there is more to tell about him.

Meeting the Malinois

 

For the first time I got to know and work with the beautiful Malinois breed, also known as the Belgian Shepherd. There were four living on the farm where we were training the dogs, Esther, Elsa, Jessica and Cara. Elsa was my Darling Dog! She was truly beautiful inside and out. Originally a guarding breed, she took a while to get to know you but when she did, she flew out of the kennels to see you.

India.

I've just got back from India, where I spent an amazing month working with street dogs and some of the inspiring people trying to help them.

I'm still unpacking now, but I'll be sharing some of the stories and experiences I had over the next couple of posts.