Field of Freedom Chertsey 2024 - enclosed dog walking field

05/03/2026

19/02/2026

It might be grey, but it’s not wet 💦 There is still a lot of water about, the footpath from the car park is very soggy in places but it’s ok 👍 Walking boots or Wellies required. The river Thames is still flowing very fast and the water level is high, keep dogs well away from the water’s edge. I will continue to monitor flood alerts and keep you all updated.

24/12/2025

HOW TO MANAGE CHRISTMAS WITH ANXIOUS DOGS

Christmas can be a stressful time of year for humans and it can be even harder for anxious dogs. Changes to routine, lots of well-meaning visitors and busier walks can increase anxiety levels in sensitive dogs and can even be challenging for dogs who usually cope well.

🌲 We get lots of queries at this time of year from people asking how to help their dogs cope over Christmas. One of the most common questions is how to manage dogs sharing the house on Christmas Day. This needs careful thought even for dogs without anxiety issues and even more so for reactive dogs.

🐕 Quite honestly, if your dog is dog reactive then Christmas is NOT the time to start new dog introductions. When you want to relax and enjoy time with family and friends, added stress is the last thing anyone needs. It is often kinder to leave your dog at home with a stuffed Kong and if that is not possible then clear separation of space in the house is essential.

🐶 Introductions between new dogs should always start on neutral ground, never in the house, and should begin with parallel walking with people on the inside and dogs on the outside. If your dog is not yet able to make new friends through parallel walking and counter conditioning then do not try this on Christmas Day when time is limited and patience is often shorter. Do not risk family fall-outs or an emergency vet visit by pushing things too soon. Wait until a quieter time and involve your trainer or behaviourist if you can. We regularly help clients with first meetings between family dogs to make sure they go smoothly.

Separate space in the home is essential if dogs are not yet comfortable sharing. See my separate post about safe spaces. Tall stair gates work best and it is worth taking your own if you are visiting. Crates can work for some dogs but only if they are already happy and relaxed using them as a safe space. Some dogs also need visual barriers to fully relax so blankets over stair gates or crates can be helpful.

🧸 Even if your dog usually mixes well with others, always have a back-up plan to separate dogs if needed. Be sensible with high-value resources. Many dogs will not want to share toys, favourite beds or food. Put tempting items away to avoid unnecessary conflict. What is valuable enough to guard will vary between dogs. In our house we put antlers away when dog friends visit as they are particularly special to one of our dogs. Provide multiple water bowls and beds so dogs have choice and do not need to worry about sharing.

🥘 Be careful with dogs under the table at dinner time. We usually get at least two calls a year involving problems around the table. Dogs often lie underneath waiting for dropped food and issues can arise if another dog approaches or a child reaches under. If your dog is not used to visitors or sharing space then being in a separate room or behind a stair gate with a stuffed Kong or chew is often a much safer option while people are eating.

🪧 Make sure everyone knows the rules. Put signs on doors or stair gates so dogs are not accidentally let into areas they should not be. Dogs often cope best when they are not in busy spaces. An upstairs bedroom can be far less stressful than the kitchen for worried dogs.

🐕 Remember that not everyone reads dogs as well as you do. Visitors are unlikely to notice subtle early signs of stress such as head turning, yawning, lip licking or frowning and children often miss these completely. Active supervision means FULL attention on your dog which is very hard when you have guests. For many dogs it is kinder and safer to keep them separate until a quieter time of day when you can focus properly.

💤 Make sure your dog gets enough sleep. This sounds obvious but it is often forgotten. Just like people, dogs need good quality rest and plenty of it. Lots of visitors and changes to routine can easily lead to overtired dogs and overtired dogs often cope much less well.

😡 Remember stress is cumulative. It is often not the one thing your dog reacts to but everything else that has happened earlier that day or even in the days before. Busy walks, lots of visitors and fireworks the night before can all stack together and lower your dog’s tolerance, meaning they react to things they would normally manage.

🌳 During stressful periods walks should be quieter and easier and your rate of reward should go up. Sniffy walks are ideal to help dogs decompress. Be prepared to give more space from things they find difficult as stress levels may already be high.

🦴 Provide plenty of chewing time. Fill the freezer with frozen Kongs and consider a new activity toy for Christmas. You may want to warn visitors before they hunt for ice in your freezer if your Kongs are stuffed with chicken feet or other animal part delights!

🍷 Enjoy your break with your dogs and remember it will soon be over. When in doubt, choose a quiet walk somewhere peaceful, ideally with a bottle of gin!

Laura McAuliffe, Dog Communication 2025

18/07/2025

Stay safe everyone!

15/07/2025

Did you know the clock at the field also shows temperature and humidity, as well as the time? Just to check its accuracy, last week (pre-heatwave) I compared it to the BBC forecast on my phone and it was pretty similar!
At that temperature, it was lovely in the shade of the trees 🌳 but way too hot in the sun ☀️

12/07/2025

Recent research by Vet Compass and the The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) showed correlation between human heat warning and heat stroke cases.

Yellow heat health alerts are now in force with temperatures expected to hit 34C (93F) in parts of the UK this weekend.

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if safe immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below with updates from Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

12/07/2025

⚠️IF IT HITS 24, WALK NO MORE ⚠️

With the weather hitting very high temperatures this weekend, it’s a responsible idea to familiarise yourself with what temperatures are safe for your dog☀️🐶

As a general rule of thumb, temperatures exceeding 24 degrees should attempt to be avoided for all dog walks. But some larger breeds, flat faced, obese or puppies could struggle in heat over 16 degrees. You should also take a moment to consider if your dog struggles with any emotional behaviour difficulties as studies have suggested that an increase in temperature can lead to a lower threshold for aggression.

Every year our vets treat hundreds of heat stroke cases and heartbreakingly, some end in tragedy. Many are unfortunately a result of owners not knowing the dangers of exercising their dogs in temperatures to hot for them to handle.

Heat-related illnesses are almost always preventable. DONT TAKE THE RISK and make sure your pet isn’t overheating in the sun ☀️ Walk your dog earlier or later in the day when the temperatures are cooler.

If you think your dog may be suffering from heat stroke, contact your vet immediately or, if out-of-hours, find your nearest emergency vet.

10/07/2025

Limited availability this weekend due to the heat, early and late sessions have been added where possible. If you are booked in, you can always reschedule and if you wish to cancel due to the heat, I will refund.

27/06/2025

Life saving advice here.
There is limited availability this weekend due to the extreme heat. I've extended opening hours to as early/late as possible but with temperatures still in high 20's in the evenings, it's just not cooling down enough until after dark. Please don't take any risks. If you are booked in and wish to reschedule/cancel, please do, I will refund.

15/06/2025

One for the dog Dads out there

Happy Father’s Day dog dads. Thank you for all you do.