Karen x

Many years ago a revolution was declared in the dog world. ‘The Culture Clash’, by Jean Donaldson, spoke out in favour of dogs as adaptable, and yes – perfectly normal, not the misfits we were led to believe they were. Just because dogs bark and chew, sniff and dig, doesn’t mean they should be given a bad name. Jean’s name has always been synonymous with the best and most practical advice on all things dog-related. Common-sense and understanding

Nowadays this attitude is still as fresh as ever, and I asked Jean about her views on dog training, what makes a dog dangerous, why training with food is not the devil’s work, and how we can make dog ownership as easy as teaching a down stay…

Listen to the podcast here:

or subscribe on iTunes

You can also download the show here.

Read Jean’s blog : Jean Donaldson’s blog

About Jean Donaldson

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I thought I’d share my Hot List of Dog friendly venues in and around my local dog walking area of Brent: NW10, NW2, NW6. Hammersmith & Fulham: NW10, W10. Westminster: W9!

I hate being away from my dog almost as much as he hates being away from me! It’s wonderful to know that times are changing so social venues and open spaces are becoming much more dog friendly then they have been in the past. It is mainly because more people are bringing dogs into their family and they want them to be included just as much in their daily outings etc.

Many pubs, cafes, shops and even some salons are opening their doors to well behaved dogs! Here is my personal list of recommended places I visit often with LJ who offer great products, service and even a bowl of water for the pooch!

NW10: The Regent (pub) http://www.theregentkensalgreen.com/ The staff love all dogs (LJ always gets spoiled) get there for Tuesday’s 2 for 1 burger deal!

The Chamberlayne (pub) http://www.thechamberlayne.com/ dogs allowed in the bar. They grill some great steak!

The Masons Arms (pub) http://www.themasonsarmsnw10.co.uk/events.html Love dogs! check out their posh new garden!

The William IV (pub & Tapas) http://www.williamivlondon.com/ dog friendly and they sell my favourite Fruli Strawberry beer!

The Diner (cafe) http://www.goodlifediner.com/#/locations/kensalrise Dogs are allowed in their garden and receive lots of fuss from the staff!

8 Station Terrace (cafe) http://www.8stationterrace.com/ dogs welcome inside! They do GREAT weekend brunch!

Gracelands Cafe http://www.gracelandscafe.com/ Dogs welcome inside They also cook up a great lunch using all local produce.

Roundwood Park, Gladstone park, King Edward VII Recreation Ground.

NW6: Jacks Cafe http://www.jacks-cafe.com/ Dogs allowed in the garden. Great place to meet for a light lunch or just a coffee!

The Tricycle Cafe & Bar http://www.tricycle.co.uk/home/about-the-tricycle-pages/about-us-tab-menu/cafe/ lovely, friendly charity run cafe with nice food and tasty coffee. Dogs allowed into the cafe.

The Salusbury (pub) http://www.thesalusbury.co.uk/ Dogs welcome in the bar area. They also own the Chamberlayne so provide equally good grub!

Queens Park (dogs on lead only) Tiverton Green, Kilburn Grange Park

W10: Paradise by way of Kensal Green (pub) http://www.theparadise.co.uk/ The place for trendy sunday roasts!

The Nektar Bar (pub) http://www.timeout.com/london/venue/15308/nektar-bar Owned by Dimitri who, once you meet, you’ll NEVER forget! He & Maggie make amazing homecooked dishes with fresh ingredients and very generous portions! Dogs welcome inside.

The North Pole (pub) http://www.thenorth-pole.co.uk/ dog friendly and they do a good Quiz on Mondays!

The Garden Bar & Grill (pup) http://www.housebars.co.uk/gardenbar/findus.asp Dog friendly and in the summer they do smoking BBQ nights!

Notting Dale Pizza (set in a pub garden) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Notting-Dale-Pizza/132371263459532 Set in the beer garden of The Pig & Whistle pub, the owner is a lovely guy who loves dogs and, as dogs are allowed in the garden, you can eat your freshly prepped and baked pizza, in their Italian stone oven, with your pooch waiting for the scraps!

North Kensington Vet: http://www.sthelensvets.co.uk/

Wormwood Scrubs, Little Wormwood Scrubs, Meanwhile Gardens (great dog friendly community space!)

W9: The Warrington (pub) http://www.gordonramsay.com/thewarrington/ Posh eatery upstairs but dogs are allowed in the saloon bar downstairs. Good for a posh pint!

Raoul’s (cafe) http://raoulsgourmet.com/ lovely food and a great atmosphere. Dogs allowed in outside area but its covered by a big awning when its raining so you’ll always be comfortable!

Paddington Recreation Ground:  http://www.westminster.gov.uk/workspace/assets/publications/siteinfopadrec-1261583395.pdf This place is awesome! They even have a dog friendly section outside in the cafe!

You can always enjoy your days out with your pooch if you hate leaving them behind! If, on the other hand, you prefer to have a dog free day then I will be more then happy to take them off your hands for a fun doggy day of their very own! check out my Doggy Day Care.

Laura x

Do you have a great dog-friendly venue in your area, and would like to give them some well-deserved publicity here on the blog? Add your comment below!

Our saying is, and has always been – ‘Because dogs have people..’

Now is your chance to star with your dog family in our new mini-movie and WIN some fantastic prizes!

All you need to do is make a very short video (only a few seconds – like the sample below) of you and your dog(s) together in as imaginative a place or way as possible saying ‘BECAUSE…DOGS…HAVE…PEOPLE……LIKE ME!’ (or ‘Like us’ if there’s more than one human!) The dogs don’t have to say it of course – but you can get them to bark, sit, jump, do tricks, play, do whatever you please whilst YOU say the phrase!

Prizes on offer:

WIN! Border Collie Trust GB mug

WIN! Make your own dog!

WIN! Dastardly Dogs!

Prizes will be given based on the following:

• Most original location
• Funniest
• Cutest
• Most breathtaking
• Best Dog Actor
• Best Supporting Human

And of course the chance to star in the mini-movie on the Intellidogs site and blog!

We will use bits of each film in the finished product so make sure you space out the words as you speak them in your film. See the sample below this post that our fab friend Natz did with the lovely Mika – now it’s your turn!

When you have your little snippet of film, go to WildPaw Intellidogs Facebook page and upload your video! Winners and stars of the film will be notified by the end of August so…

….ACTION!

A fantastic doggy chat with a very sensible dog owner, experienced with pugs, who also happens to be a novelist, actress, presenter, journalist and model… we were thrilled to have Annabel as part of this special guest WildPaw podcast – take a look at some of the pics below whilst you listen!

Listen to the podcast HERE

or subscribe on iTunes

You can also download the show here.

Godfrey - Pug extraordinaire

Annabel, Godfrey, and Ted

Godfrey after his eye accident

All dressed up for a wedding - Annabel doesn't normally dress Godfrey, but this was a one-off special!

Multi-dog households can be a pleasure and a curse. I absolutely love watching my dogs playing together, and we have a lot of visiting dogs too. It’s a lot of fun. Nevertheless I am very careful when it comes to compatibility and temperament. This week’s topic was inspired by a question I got from a podcast listener, Rosie P “We have a 14 wk red lab (Madison) but our 6 yr old yorkie (Harvey) is really jealous + goes for her. Especially if we tell the lab off. help?”

Listen to the podcast HERE

or subscribe on iTunes

You can also download the show here.

Dogs together can get along fine – in fact I try to take the view that there is no reason why they wouldn’t. Nevertheless at work I am asked to sort out doggy problems that stem from multi dog households.

Should I get another dog?

You must ask yourself the following question first. ‘Why do I want another dog?’

Is your existing dog lonely? Bear in mind that separation anxiety may not be cured by getting another dog, since your dog may well be missing you, and only you. In other words, a new dog may end up missing you as well, but the dogs may not be comforted by each other. That’s how separation bonds seem to work. Is your current dog really overexcitable and perhaps you are hoping that a new dog will calm your existing one down? They might. However, it might be that as you have not really got to grips with your current dog’s behaviour, you will then end up with TWO very unruly dogs.

Don’t ever, ever get another dog to try and sort the other dog’s problems out without professional advice from a qualified trainer or behaviourist. In my experience it can easily send you from one problem to two big bad ones (or worse), because the dogs interact as well and can learn all sorts of things from each other.

Will the dogs get along?

Dogs are social creatures – they can get on but then again, they may not get on. I am a strong believer in dogs generally wanting to get along and peacefully co-exist. However, I do see a number of cases in my behaviour work indicating that not every dog wants another dog muscling in on all their resources. Comfort, attention, locations are not always wanting to be shared. Bear this in mind. If you do get a new puppy, be aware that the older dog may not exactly be feeling ‘jealous’ but they certainly may not appreciate suddenly having all their best things limited or shared.

Is it much extra work?

Yes, two dogs (or more) is in my opinion a lot more work than one dog. Exponentially more work! You might think that you are just adding to a bit to the food bill. Think again. Dogs form relationships with each other as well, so what was a fairly simple family relationship with one dog suddenly adds in a whole number of new interactions. Often, one dog’s behaviour will spark off another. Be ready to deal with that by teaching each dog separately.

Practical considerations

This is what most people are really good at, but nevertheless you need to make certain you have made provision for things like:

• Kennelling or other care whilst you are on holiday. Be aware that some holiday places will allow one dog but not more than one.
• Vet treatments – regular ones, such as vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, but also those unexpected Vet bills that can really set you back.
• Insurance – This is quite pricey for one dog and you may get discounts for additional dogs within the household. Nevertheless in my experience many owners of more than one dog simply feel that they cannot afford the premiums. You should always make sure your dog is covered by at least third party insurance in case they cause an accident.
• Microchipping – This is a one off cost, but essential!
• And finally, and most importantly in my view, TRAINING! And the training has to be done SEPARATELY…(at least, at first).

Often if there is a problem with more than one dog it is likely they are setting each other off and escalating the situation. Owners do not look forward to the prospect of having to take the dogs out separately to teach them. Nevertheless, trying to train several untrained dogs in one go is rather like as Lord Alan Sugar (from The Apprentice) is fond of saying ‘Trying to nail jelly to a wall’. Or better described by my Mum’s favourite saying ‘Trying to put an Octopus into a string bag’…or even ‘Trying to catch a greased pig…’ (don’t ask!)

In other words, it is not easy at all. It is far more effective to train one dog, then train the next one, then train them together. This way you can really keep an eye on reliability and most of all that age-old standby of the trainer: ‘Be consistent’.

What about a new puppy and an older dog?

Try and make sure that whilst the new puppy gets time to play with the older dog, the older dog needs time to themselves, too. Don’t rely on your other dog or dogs to be the only ones that teach puppy the life lessons it needs. It can put a lot of strain on the older dog. Take your puppy out and mix it with other, nice adult dogs of all shapes and sizes. Give the older dog time to play separately with his or her normal buddies, too. And most of all, give each dog some quality time alone with you and your family.

Consult help from an expert

Never be afraid to ask for help. Act before things escalate or get to the point where your dogs are actually fighting regularly. You may witness the occasional skirmish, but any real signs of a fight – call a qualified accredited behaviourist – try www.APBC.org.uk for example. It is sometimes easier to get an outsiders view, and not a friend or family member. Paid-for advice is independent and valuable because that person is an expert in their profession.

You can catch more of this discussion by listening in to the WildPaw podcast, the link is at the top of this page.

If you have other problems with your dog you would like addressed, contact Karen Wild, behaviourist and trainer, on podcast@intellidogs.com or why not take a look at our back catalogue, accessible on The WildPaw Dog Blog

Comments are always welcome – let us know about your dogs below!

Karen x

The adorable and very funny (he really is nice! Yes he is!) Paul Ross and his wife were most sympathetic to Bonnie’s plight. They have a Dogue de Bordeaux whose head is probably the same size as Bonnie. Paul suggested that I perhaps bath the dog in Comfort… cue slap on shoulder from his other half haha!

So begins my search for non-flaky products. I have been told by the expert at Lintbells (Yumega) that itrelates to the Omega oils in Bonnie’s food. Yumega can help this, apparently (here’s the science bit). I will let you know!

At the pet shop near me the girls advised an oil to add to food, and a shampoo as well. The dogs LOVE the oil and will happily drink it without needing it added to their dinner. Dougals Den have a product called Bionic Biotic, a food supplement to stop itching and flakiness. Somehow I think lots of dogs might have this problem, so what is the cause?

The shampoo, however, is a different story. This evil concoction smells of what I can only describe as ‘sweaty coalman’ so now my hands, the dog, the bathroom all stink. And the flakiness is still there.

Fantastic buddy Gabriela from Collarways has suggested I save Bonnie’s blushes by using Comfy Dog. Gabriela uses it on her little black pug William as he gets itchy without it!

The brilliant Roly from Dorwest Herbs, aided by Dr Monkey, a rather special Border Terrier, contacted me to say “In most cases this can be simply and effectively improved by feeding a diet which is as natural as possible which should contain some omega 3 oils. Along with this a high quality Evening Primrose Oil (10% GlA) will show and improvement in flaky and scurvy skin in around 10 days to 3 weeks in most case. We have full details herehttp://www.dorwest.com/Catalogue/Dietary-Supplements/Evening-Primrose-Oil-capsules ”

So, watch this space. What do you use? Are you a groomer or nutrition bod who knows about these things? What ideas do you have? It’s a new one on me, and I don’t want a flaky ChiChiSpi…!

P.S. Can you spot the dog in the ‘pop art’ photo?

Karen

If the previews were anything to go by this makes absolute must-see viewing for dog lovers. Why? Surely the sight of a terrier growling in close proximity to two contestants is enough to get us watching, but also the interest in what goes into pet food nowadays is huge business. I am always being asked by clients about the ‘best’ dog food, and there is a lot of speculation on food affecting behaviour. Val Strong indicated that a lower protein diet can help certain dogs, for example.

I am not sure how much we get to see but it would be fascinating to get a look at the marketing of these products given their ingredients. Let’s not forget that cost will also be an issue so there is a chance we could see how expensive (or not) this food really is to make, and how much potentially might go into the advertising.

It may end up just being the usual Apprentice romp of mistakes, rows and rumbles that go on in most everyday business. Condensed into an hour, it makes for compelling viewing! I would love to know which petfood expert Dara O’Briain is going to pull onto the post-show roundup ‘The Apprentice – You’re Fired’…!

Will the whole thing end up a ‘dogs dinner’?

Karen x

You can watch the very brief preview here Watch Apprentice Preview

About The Apprentice: Lord (Alan) Sugar, famous businessman and entrepreneur, sets a task each week for contestants to complete. Next week they have been asked to design, manufacture and promote a pet food. The winner of the series gets a £250,000 investment in a joint business partnership with Sugar himself. In the USA, The Apprentice is headed up by US businessman Donald Trump.

Many many thanks to Lorna whose fascinating blog can be accessed here: A SheepDog Diary. Enjoy the film! (please allow time for film to load below)

Lorna writes about the film here:

“The Collie Walk was filmed whilst experimenting with my camera, capturing what I see my dogs doing on a daily basis. Apart from dogs at play, what is the video showing? The two dogs ‘stalking’ (or ‘walking up’) are displaying traits for which Border Collies have been selectively bred. Many Collies have a herding instinct but in some it’s more pronounced.

In the video, the first collie to ‘walk up’ – Cafe Latte Girl – was introduced to sheep at 10 weeks of age. She had a strong work instinct with style and a strong eye. If there are no sheep, she will work the other dogs.

The second dog to ‘walk up’ was, by 4 months old, working very nicely around sheep.

So where does their focus lie in the Collie Walk clip?

Womble Bum is senior dog, both in age and status. She is the one in a down, closest to the camera. Handsome Lad was 2nd to join the group and it is clear from the clip that he is focused on WB. There is a 19 month age gap, so WB has always been there. It’s therefore natural that she should be his focus.

Cafe Latte Girl was next to join the group. Again, you can see from the video that her focus is clearly on HL.

Then we have the two Highland Hooligans who are also lying in a down on the hill. One works sheep, the other doesn’t.

There were few prompts given in the video, a couple of ‘walk ups’ and the release of ‘that’ll do’. However, the first prompt was only given after the 2 dogs started the ‘walk ups’ as they were doing what comes naturally. The two on the hill are quite content to watch the others.

On the release command, you can see that no one releases until WB goes … she is senior bitch, after myself of course! They’re all having fun but they maintain the group hierarchy.

Thanks for watching! Lorna”

First of all, sit down and slow down. Dogs pick up on your signals, so if you are stressed out, that won’t help.

Too much to do?

• The Dog - Is the dog tired? Puppies often seem to get more mouthy and frantic when they need a good nap. This can happen especially if you have a busy home or at busy family events which will tire your dog out more quickly. So, don’t be afraid to give them a quiet place to sleep when you spot the first signs (usually a child yelling that the puppy is hanging off their trousers or sleeves). A crate is good, or a quiet corner, or use a houseline to keep puppy near you and near their bed. This is not ‘punishment’ as such, although it is ‘time out’. Why leave your dog making mischief and learning all the attention for unwanted behaviour lessons that go along with it?

• You - Well, it could be that you are just plain tired. A client of mine rang me the other day saying she could no longer cope with her young dog due to his behaviour. It turned out after we had had a nice chat, that the poor lady had had very little sleep as she has young children. She is a terrific parent and has been very succesful in training her puppy so far. Nevertheless, a setback had really knocked her for six. It’s not as obvious as it sounds. My job sometimes involves feeding back what I am hearing to give an owner a bit of an outside view. In this case, she was tired out and the puppy’s normally bouncy antics were just too much on that day. The cure? Give it a couple of days and bring back the household controls such as a houseline and regular naps – for you and the dog too. You could even ask family, or a neighbour, or doggy day care just to take the dog for the day while you get things back within your comfort zone. It works!

Not enough to do?

Well, yes, opposite of the above, and more common in older dogs in my experience. The old saying goes, ‘a tired dog is a good dog’ (note: not an ‘overtired’ dog – see above, and make sure your dog doesn’t have hip or back problems!). Here are your essentials:

• How easy is it for your dog to get their dinner? Really easy? In a bowl, lasts two seconds? Make them work for it with a treat ball, pyramid or tug-a-jug toy. On a budget? Consider scatter-feeding by sprinkling your dog’s food in the garden to make them hunt for their food. Or, hide it in small mounds. There is no law in the dog world that states ‘Food shalt be served in a bowl’. Your dog has a highly developed nose and often an excellent hunting instinct. Get them to use it.

• Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. A half hour spin around the block is not really enough. Two walks a day, please, if you find your dog is being a bit of a nightmare. If you can’t do that yourself, get a dog walker to help you.

Having problems with this? Bad dog day every day?

Well, if people like you didn’t exist I would not be as busy doing my job as I am, so first of all pat yourself on the back and say ‘Welcome to the human dog-owning race’. Lots and lots of people are in exactly the same situation as you, and I am here to help if I can.

It might be that your dog barks at other dogs. You can find free help on that subject here on this blog in several places: Help! My dog barks and Dog-dog aggression.

Dog won’t come back? Does this mean you can’t take it off lead to exercise it properly? You could download my mini-books ‘Rock Solid Recall’ or ‘Stop your dog Running Away’ (choose the adolescent dog tab)

Maybe your dog is pulling you on its lead. Again, there’s a mini-book ‘Stop your dog pulling on the lead’ on this very site that will help you with fast, non-gimmicky results. If that isn’t for you, get someone in to give you tailored advice – it doesn’t have to be me! Consult a qualified expert for proper help.

So, next time you are pulling your hair out, don’t go for a hair of the dog (it’s a drink, folks). Take a deep breath, assess what you can do, take the advice above – and above all, think  ‘In six months, it will all be very different’.