Animal Behaviour Coach

03/09/2021

Hello everyone,

I've been very unwell for months but am slowly coming back to work. Thank you for your continued support while I've been out of action. I will gradually contact those who've left me messages starting with the least recent and giving priority to existing clients. If you have a new behavioural enquiry you will need referral from your vet as behavioural issues can be caused or exacerbated by physical conditions. For this reason I work closely with your veterinary team, so while you wait for my response to your message, please book your pet in for a health check.

Thanks for your patience, looking forward to speaking with you soon.

Lucy

26/11/2020

There appears to be an alarming rise in dogs imported after undergoing the inhumane procedure of having their ears mutilated, fulfilling the desire for a certain ‘look’ & encouraging a procedure outlawed in England since 1899. It’s time to close this 121-year-old legal loophole.

21/11/2020

Dogs TrustSold A Pup Ireland Published/Aired: November 2020Posted: November 12, 2020 LikeComments ShareShareFacebook Google Plus LinkedIn Pinterest Twitter Tags Film Ireland Public Interest, NGO Dogs Trust DescriptionSold A Pup highlights the cruelty and suffering behind the illegal sale of dogs i...

19/11/2020

04/11/2020

A growl to many is seen as a negative thing. In fact, if a dog growls we should always be thankful.
A growl is a communication, it let's us know there is something wrong. A dog may feel uncomfortable in a certain situation, feel scared or even be in pain.
A growl is like a fire alarm. Giving us a warning. If we punish a growl, it's like the alarm has had its batteries taken out.
We can talk, we can say no. Dogs cant. Be thankful for the growl and manage the situation so your dog doesn't feel the need to.
If you feel that it is a problem you cant handle then contact a fear free, science based behaviour practitioner for support.

22/10/2020

Organised public displays may be cancelled this year, and as a result there could be an increase in private firework displays.

19/10/2020

Delightful post from our local vet

Each segment of a tapeworm (called a proglottid) is both male and female, and can fertilise itself. They then separate from the rest of the worm and crawl out of your pet’s bottom - they look like little grains of wriggly rice! Talk to us about the best way to kill tapeworms before they start wriggling into your carpets...

26/09/2020

It's time!!

How can I treat my dogs arthritis at home?

There are lots of things you can do to help your dog be more comfortable at home.
Firstly, take a look at their environment and look for places where they can easily injure themselves - laminate and tiled flooring are common causes of slipping and injury, using stairs can risk trips and falls and jumping on and off furniture or in and out of the car can place huge forces through the joints that may exacerbate arthritis. Your dog needs to be comfortable when eating so raising their food bowl could be considered and they definitely need a supportive and comfortable bed to sleep in. Take a look at this home assessment tool to guide you through this process: https://bit.ly/2BNRYXx
You also need to consider your dogs diet - if your dog is overweight the excess pressure going through the joints will have a hugely negative impact on their arthritis. It is important they are kept lean and their diet may need to be adjusted to compensate for this. You may also consider the addition of a joint supplement to their diet, though do not be tempted to use these in place of prescription medications which are more likely to provide effective pain relief than a supplement alone.
It’s important that your dog still gets to exercise but monitor how they cope with it carefully and reduce the amount they are doing if you see they are struggling. Avoid high impact activities like prolonged periods of ball chasing or overly rough play with other dogs and consider instead gentle walks with plenty of time to stop and sniff around and enjoy their environment.

24/09/2020