Dog training in South Westminster UK

Sunday 23rd June,

Great day for dogs - big and small - from Bertie the french bulldog to Tyson the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - the rain stayed off for an afternoon of walking to heal - introducition of Tyson to small dogs and other staffies - and teaching Betty the pug (or her owner Heidi) that learning 'recall' and being of lead was 'fun'!!

Then darling Rocco the lurcher came in with his new dog collar and much more calmer than he was in the last session!! Good boy Rocco you obviously 'did your homework'!! Romeo the little jack russell was tearing up and down with his new pals until he got a bit hyperactive - so back on the lead for him!! Jasper was trying to find where my 'training dog treats' were hidden - found the 'water bowl' instead.
No matter what the weather always make sure you have water for the dogs during exercise and while walking - More so in hot weather.

We talked about the Dog Control Act , Diet and also toilet training - not that four month old Bertie was listening - until I mentioned ' he was banned from the bedroom' until he was 100% house trained -
Sorry Bertie but your owners are changing the 'house rules'!!

 Bailey, Casper and Tuppence's owners texted me their apologies.

Another great day of training. socialising and fun with dogs in St Georges Square, Pimlico SW1

Dog classes in South Westminster UK

Saturday 15th June, 2013

Friday was such a beautiful day when out walking the dogs SO why when it is time for my Dog Training Class on Saturday at precisely 2pm the rain comes tumbling down!!! But then dogs have to go out and enjoy the experience of walking in all weathers!!  Just not the perfect time for dog training!!

First comes Jimmy and Jasper dragging their owner with her umbrella towards me - then Poppy the little westie who is a bit nervous of human contact - with her bright raincoat on.  Then Samuel the Beagle who has incurred two 'nasty dog attacks within a few days of each other but thankfully with the help of his vet is recovering nicely - well physically anyway!!

As the sun comes out between the clouds - Bailey the now very grown up labrador comes bounding up to me and then skids into a 'sit' position - like he just remembered 'something' from puppy classes. Followed by a quick appearance by Tuppence a terrier cross accompanied by his apologetic owner who unfortunately can not stay but will be back next week.  A Beautiful ridgeback comes gracefully to my side - what a socialised treasure - one of my previous 'clients' - his owner asks if he can observe the lesson - of course - welcome all breeds - shapes and sizes and thats NOT just the dogs!

Sadly Dusty the whippet has passed away since the last dog training class and his owners have got a new pure white whippet x from Battersea Dogs Home who needs help with nipping the little terrier who has just come in to play.

Dog Owners get ready to sign up - disaster the registration forms are soaked from the earlier downpour - so will have to register next session - Sunday 23rd June.

It turned out to be a great afternoon but also it was a very special day for Emma (Bailey's family) a young girl who is the bravest girl I know - for on Monday Emma will have a big heart operation and she talks about it with full insight yet so matter of fact and so brave - that as an adult I have to make sure I am half as brave and not cry.  All of the dog owners in the area had made a special photo album of all the dogs and given Emma cards and teddies.

I know that not only myself but all who know Emma will be praying for the success and as I said to Emma - Get Well soon I need you as my 'special assistant' for my next dog classes

Your Dog - Your Reponsibility- Get Microchipped

Wednesday 5th June 2013

We held a 'FREE Microchipping Event' at St Judes Hall Ilbert Street, Queens Park W10 - with myself and a dog warden from Westminster to give advice and general health check to all dogs in the area.

Microchipping of all dogs will be a legal requirement in 2016 But why wait when so many of our dogs go missing, get lost or stolen and if they are microchipped the owners stand a much better chance of getting their dogs returned to them.

Information on low cost neutering and spaying at local rescue shelters was given out to the dog owners and also advice on the positives of neutering were explained. Also free neutering vouchers were available to 'bull breeds' - www.mayhewanimalhome.org.uk

Thanks to City West Homes for their help with this event and for the free hire of the Hall and Tony Crisp and the dog warden of westminister

Ageism!!! When Are You too OLD to ADOPT a pet

Sitting here with my two rescues - Missy Blue a jack russell/whippet cross and Chelsea Rose a jack russell cross - one aged ten years and the other about seven years old - I can not imagine NEVER having a dog or dogs in my life. Yet what happens when I am older and the day comes when my 'precious canine pals' have passed and I want once again to 'adopt' and give my heart and home to another dog . What happens  when my 'advancing years' are approaching - and even though I am active - healthy  in body and mind - Suddenly  my 'ability' to 'walk' 'care' and offer a homeless dog a safe and loving home is 'in doubt' by the very rescue centers I have always supported!!!

Ageism  in the 'Animal World' seems to be following the 'trend' of the workplace - and it is a sad day that 'shelters' and 'over zealous' administrators should judge us on a 'number' rather than on our ability to be a loving responsible adoptor of the numerous unwanted canines.

When I heard the story of a lovely lady who had had dogs all her life, just lost her little terrier of 15 years and wanted to rescue another little dog and was refused!! One rescue she contacted had the perfect dog for her and everything was going well - UNTIL she told them her age! Suddenly the dog had been already adopted- only to appear on their 'site' a few days later.  I met this lady - she is active - walks everywhere - lovely home with a secure garden and oh yes ----- nearly eighty.  She doesn't want a pup - she wants a dog who she can share her life with for quite a few years to come - thank you!!

So many homeless - abandoned dogs and cats - dumped  - young puppies - some just abandoned in parks - streets - unwanted litters surrendered to shelters - not only in UK but all over the world. Many thousands do not always get adopted - and in dog pounds in UK they have only seven days to be reunited with their owners - get rescue places OR being euthanized!!  Every day on the internet dogs, cats are networked by everyone to find them rescues, homes, fosters - animals that are on death row - animals that are in dog pounds.  Animals that are pleading with their eyes for just one chance of life and
through 'officialdoms red tape' and a focus on 'age' rather than a loving home here, at least in UK older animal lovers are being excluded from homing a dog.

Of course home checks are important - and activity and ability to own a dog is part of the process but please let rescues/shelters look again at their 'ageism' policy'

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Not Knowing the History of a dog - adolescent pup or adult!!

More and more animal lovers  are making that great decision to rescue a dog from a rescue - as in the recent years more and more animals are being abandoned NOT only in UK but all over the world. I myself have two rescues and would never go anywhere else to get an animal but a rescue - a pound or a shelter. Also fostering a dog temporarily while they wait for a forever home is another option especially if your lifestyle or work schedule is not ideal for a dog to Adopt but would help out a shelter and save a life by offering a 'homeless dog' a  temporary 'home'.

 DOGS IN SHELTERS/RESCUES/ POUNDS

Dogs and pups, some pregnant - some pups barely old enough to leave their mothers - seniors - given up   when they need more care or just because they are old.  Their loyalty over the years meaning nothing! Some dogs are given up for financial reasons - relationship break ups or they are just not wanted anymore. Sadly the breed that is the most - abandoned - surrendered breed- is the staffordshire bull terrier and most rescues are full of this gentle 'unloved' and 'misrepresented' breed of dog.

Then there are the puppy mills - where pedigree dogs are bred year after year - never seeing daylight - some sadly die without seeing daylight or knowing a comforting touch.  Others are rescued and brought into the tender care of rescues like the wonderful Many Tears who have dedicated fosterers who help the sad unsocialised and traumatised ' yorkies, collies, - 'the forgotten breeding machines' adjust to a life outside a cage of darkness. 

Lastly not least are the beautiful healthy 'pound dogs' - strays who have no microchip or if they do - the owners don't come for them - and dedicated  animal advocates seek rescues to come forward and try to get them out of the dog pounds -      and  are given 7 days sometimes less to get a 'safe rescue'  for the dogs   otherwise they are  euthanized. 

Many have no history - a lot of them have had no training - May never have  been socialised with other dogs - children - lived in a home environment - like ex breeding dogs - they have spent their whole life in isolation - many not housetrained - many terrified of all elements of normal life. 

So when you walk in your local shelter - or you contact a rescue about a dog or a young pup and they ask you lots of questions and then want to check your home and then ask you go to training classes (some do - some don't) or they say though they have assessed the dog they have no history - please don't be put off getting a rescue dog. Please don't think that they are being 'too judgemental' - because all they want is the best for you BUT MOST of all that the 'pup' 'adult' 'senior' is in the right home and it will be for LIFE .

Bless your life and theirs and ADOPT or FOSTER a 'homeless dog''

Training tips contact Crissie 07949 523 710  www.canineculture.co.uk 

http://canineculture.blogspot,com/

Dog Classes in (Dog Area)  Paddington Recreation Grounds London W2

Socialising dogs and dog owners is so important - different breeds - ie. German Shepherds - Akitas - Huskies - Staffordshire Bull Terriers - mixed breeds - jack russells - pugs - whippets - the list goes on!
Thats what I like about my classes in Westminster  there is always a  a  variety of dogs - and a variety of behavioural  problems and because of the support of wards like Harrow Road Ward and Queens Park Ward I have the opportunity to teach our four legged friends the social enjoyment of being a dog.

When I first meet a new dog I am a stranger to them which gives me an opportunity to study his body language to see how friendly or otherwise his reaction will be with strangers - does he come forward tail wagging - does he hesitate nervously  - wary but not aggressive - or is he giving low growls or warning barks.  Does the dog 'sit' or 'bounce' - like Bella the young lab pup or utter a slow uncertain growl like Ringo the american bull dog - or try to 'mug me ' for the treats in my pocket - like Molly the Romanian GSD mix!  Of course all the dogs are on leads and I let the dog and owner  approach me - as I crouch down on one knee with my body sideways and eyes averted so there is no direct challenge to the dog. And Even though the dogs are on leads - the owners have come to the class to learn 'lead control' so they are not necessarily holding their 'precious pet' correctly.

I like to start the lesson with owners introducing themselves and their dogs and explaining what 'they feel their dog needs to learn or what their behavioural problems are' - then I make  my assessment.

An assessment at the beginning of the first class is very important because some dogs might have a problem that needs a one on one dog training session ie. fear aggression that could trigger the three F's Freedom Flight or Fight - as they would be on lead initially the first two F's would not be possible and that would only leave FIGHT.  This was in the case of Beautiful Lexy a Bull Breed that had been living in abusive circumstances for five years and also used as a breeding machine until the last year of rescue and also she was a big dog that her owner could not manage - so I arranged for Lexys owner to contact me for a one on one.  Junior the GSD was not good with other dogs (but lived with cats!!) but walked really well on the lead and his owner had a muzzle (if needed)

I like the dogs in the class not only to learn not to pull, to sit and of course - recall but also to leave at the final lesson with 'new friends' to behave socially not only with other dogs and dog owners but also non dog owners - so no jumping up - sitting 'politely' when people pass by in a public places - to make owning a dog fun and also a pleasure for both dog and owner.  And to Be responsible  - Get your pet microchipped - tagged - neutered or spayed and Insured and of course a pet is for LIFE

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Dog Classes Saturday 23rd February 2013

A cold day - a threat of snow but I was determined my 'dog socialising class' was going ahead!!

I had arranged for the classes to take place in the (Dog Area)  Paddington Recreation Ground W9 - a lovely big enclosure for safe and security for all the dogs taking part. With registration forms, (for Public care and Liability Insurance and monitoring for Westminster Council) - training leads - water bowls (yes even in cold weather it is still good to have access to water for thirsty 'trainees') I was already to go - just needed some 'dogs' to bring their owners!!!

First to 'Bounce' through the gate was Ringo a lovely 'american bulldog' rescued from Bullies in Need - raring to 'socalise himself' with lots of vigor - then along came Junior a GSD x all the way from Spain - he was fearful of other dogs.

Bella the labrador came bounding up to me - her  owner holding 'for dear life' to the lead!  Alaska and Arakeetall (beautiful names) two very friendly huskies - Alaska the female had a little stubborn streak and only wanted to do what Alaska wanted! Rocky a handsome six month lurcher/GSD x came in - needs to learn 'lead control' and to be more confident around other dogs. BB the staffie cross came in with Molly the Romanian dog rescue eight years ago - both determined to show the 'other dogs' how 'it was done' as  they had been to 'quite a few' classes before.

Oh and lastly but not least Little Ava a little staffie pup with her 'foster mum' looking a bit overwhelmed with all the 'Big guys'! Ava is from the mayhew animal  home trenmar Gardens London NW10  - I offer a place in the class free to a puppy or dog from a rescue home for one or two sessions.

The first class is always to assess the dogs and the 'owners' behaviour and to socialise the dogs with each other - all on leads - it is also important that owners discuss in a group their own 'views' on their dogs behaviour before we practice 'walking on the lead' together in pairs - and to show how to stop the dogs from pulling - using the 'block'.
It was a great group of dogs - and I look forward to next Saturday 's session - and I hope they do too!!