Faithful Friends

01/09/2025

30/08/2025

😂

21/08/2025

🩶 What are the signs of ageing in dogs?

👂 Change in Responses
😶 Less observable joy or enthusiasm
🗣️ Increased barking, whining or howling 🐺 🌙
🌟 A sudden anxiety if left alone or if put behind a barrier
🫨 Disorientation due to cognitive decline
🤯 Familiar cues may not get the same response
💤 Sleep routines can be affected
💩 More frequent toilet breaks required

Knowing what the signs are and knowing that you can also help to alleviate and even slow down the progression of cognitive decline is empowering! Help your senior dog through their golden years 💗 🤗

17/08/2025

🐾 How Your Dog’s Gut Shapes Their Behaviour (And What You Can Do About It!)
https://a-ok9.com/collections/gut-health

👀 Ever wondered why your dog sometimes seems anxious, hyper, or struggles to focus—no matter how much training you do?

Here’s the shocking truth: your dog’s gut health directly influences their behaviour.

🚨 The Big Problem
Most dog owners think behaviour is just about training.

But here’s the kicker: if the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your dog’s digestive system) is out of balance, it can send stress signals to the brain.

👉 That means instead of calm, focused learning… your dog gets reactive, distracted, or downright naughty.

😱 Why This Matters

🔥 Gut imbalance = inflammation and stress hormones flooding the system
😴 Stress hormones = poor sleep, over-arousal, short fuse
🐕 That “always on edge” dog? Often a gut issue, not just training

And the sad part? Even the BEST training games can feel like pushing water uphill if the gut isn’t happy.

💡 The Solution
The gut and brain are connected through the gut-brain axis (yes, it’s real science).

When the gut is thriving:
✅ Serotonin and dopamine stabilise, boosting focus and calm
✅ Inflammation reduces, so the brain can think instead of react
✅ Your dog learns faster, listens better, and feels calmer

🎯 Training + gut support = the magic combo.

🔑 The 3 Secrets You Need to Know

1️⃣ Probiotics aren’t all created equal - multi-strain blends work best for behaviour and digestion
2️⃣ Prebiotics are the fuel - without them, good bacteria can’t thrive
3️⃣ Gut care is daily care - no quick fix, but the transformation is huge

🎯 Your Next Step
If you’re serious about transforming your dog’s behaviour, don’t stop at training alone.

➡️ Support the gut, and you’ll see a calmer, more focused, happier learner.
https://a-ok9.com/collections/gut-health

📚 Resources & Further Reading
📖 Mayer EA, Tillisch K, Gupta A. “Gut/brain axis and the microbiota.” J Clin Invest. 2015
📖 Dinan TG, Cryan JF. “Gut microbiota: a missing link in psychiatry.” World Psychiatry. 2020
📖 Vuong HE, Yano JM, Fung TC, Hsiao EY. “The microbiome and host behavior.” Annu Rev Neurosci. 2017
🌐 A-OK9 Blog: How Your Dog’s Brain Wellbeing, Gut Wellness and Training All Work Together
https://a-ok9.com/blogs/blog/brain-gut-training

23/07/2025

This..

The hot summer weather has arrived and along with it comes the seasonal debate on " Should I shave my dog's coat this summer?"

If you own a breed of dog that has a double coat ( German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, and Siberian Huskies, Malamutes and other northern breeds) then the answer is resoundingly NO, you should NOT seasonally shave these dogs in an effort to make them cooler.

So very sad to know that there are some Vets and groomers out there who are so ignorant about this subject that they advocate shaving for these dogs.

A double coated dog's outer coat is designed to create an air pocket to trap cool air and to protect its skin from the burning rays of the hot sun. If you shave these breeds of dogs, you are taking away the only protection their skin has from the hot sun. Additionally, when you shave the fur off of a double coated breed dog, the new coat that grows in may come in patchy and damaged. As well, shaving could unwittingly cause allopecia ( a condition where the hair follicles are no longer able to produce hair) meaning that your dog now will not be able to fully grow back their winter coats.

So please, there are other ways to keep double coated dogs cool in the summer heat without shaving off their coats. Do make sure you that you comb out the insulating undercoat to help facilitate air circulation to the skin and body. Removing this undercoat will help your dog feel cooler in the warmer summer temperatures.

23/07/2025

BREAKING: Your dog has given you a new job title. Take your birth month + the first letter of your last name = your new role in the household.

Warning: Accuracy level is uncomfortably high. 😂

Drop yours below – we need to know what the dogs are calling you! 👇

20/07/2025

Local friends please don’t miss out on this fabulous evening… only £15 for a (non meal) ticket!

Proceeds are going towards buying an ambulance for Ukraine!

Enjoy a mini festival vibe — listen to truly excellent live music from folk music to jazz, samba and DJ!

Enjoy an evening filled with music, savoury and sweet snacks, treats and drinks!!
See you there!!

Get your tickets from eventbrite or Malmesbury town hall!!

12/07/2025

10/07/2025

Your summer fun’s about to get an upgrade 🥳

Because Tug-E-Nuff’s summer sale is live… and that means free toys for everyone! 🐾🙌
I’m a Tug-E-Nuff partner because I know their toys are powerful training aids, supremely well made, and frankly? A WHOLE LOAD of fun!
Scoop yourself up a FREE POCKET POWERBALL FAUXTASTIC with any 2 toys in the sale and thank me later. 😉
And if you need help choosing the best picks for your dog? Drop me a comment or a DM and I’ll help you decide.
👇Enter the summer sale 👇
tug-e-nuff.com/offer/?ref=FAITHTUG
If you use my link to buy, I’ll get a little thank you kick back which helps small businesses like mine to thrive (and it won’t cost you a penny more).
Make this summer one your pooch will remember for all the right reasons. 🧡

Get a free Pocket PowerBall Fauxtastic toy when you purchase 2 full priced items.