I Let the Dogs Out

06/08/2025

Find a qualified Dynamic Dog Practitioner near you with the ADDP Practitioner Directory: https://association-ddp.newzenler.com/find-a-practitioner

Do you work with dogs and want to spot subtle signs of discomfort? Suspect something’s ‘off’ with a dog but can’t quite put your finger on it? Struggling to make progress with no obvious reason why?

Does your dog have behaviours you just can’t resolve? Noticed anything odd about the way your dog sits or moves? Has your dog’s behaviour changed suddenly with no clear cause?

Our directory connects you with trusted practitioners who can help.

Visit now to find the support you and your dog need: https://association-ddp.newzenler.com/find-a-practitioner

09/02/2025

💕

Please help spread the word about our lovely little shop ❤️

We are a small team with lots of experience and advice.

Your dogs are always welcome to visit our quiet shop... (but beware of the cats 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️)

Some of the products and services we offer:
🐶 Harness fittings including Perfect Fit
🥣Nutrition advice
🍗 Variety of food brands including Eden, Royal Canin, Barking Heads.
🥎 Pet enrichment advice and products
🦜 Wild and pet bird food
🐹 Small animal food, bedding and accessories
🦴Raw dog and cat food including We Love Raw, Nutriment, Natures Menu and Natural Instinct
🎒Dog training equipment including leads, long lines, treat bags, gundog dummies and clickers
🐩 Grooming supplies

You can check out our website for an extended list of products.

03/02/2025

With sky-high costs for essentials such as eating and heating, many dog owners are unable to provide for their dogs. I know this as I have received many calls from desperate dog owners who feel they’ve run out of options.

The Dog Trust says inquiries to give up a dog have increased to the highest level since our records began. People cite huge increases in their regular monthly bills, such as energy and mortgage payments, as the reason they can no longer afford doggy basics such as food, which has also increased in price. This is utterly heartbreaking; Spaniel Aid has just posted that they are reeling from the number of surrendered dogs. 😔

Don't struggle; contact https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/cost-of-living

We are reeling here at Spaniel Aid HQ. We expected January to be busy, but no one predicted 197 requests to surrender a dog to us, including 11 pairs. After follow up calls, 109 of those requests resulted in us agreeing to accept the dog. This doesn’t include strays or returning dogs.

By the time Spaniel Aid turns 10 on the 1st March, we will be very close to reaching 5,000 dogs taken in for rehoming. But they have never come in at the rate they are now.

Speak to any other rescue and they will tell you the same: owner surrenders are at an all time high. The waiting list for dogs to go into the major charities is months long. For dogs with issues, demand for rehoming is outstripping the available supply of homes. We have never been more needed, but we take no joy in it.

Why is it so bad? The cost of living crisis continues to hit hard, making it difficult for people to afford the time and money to care for a dog. Indiscriminate breeding, especially during lockdown, is still having an impact: dogs aged between four and five are still arriving in disproportionately high numbers. It remains too easy to acquire a dog without being fully prepared for the commitment. Too many people fail to do their research about the breed characteristics. And dogs are increasing treated as commodities, a new lifestyle accessory to be given to charity when it no longer suits.

At Spaniel Aid we have always taken a non-judgemental approach to owner surrenders. We know that life sometimes brings surprises that no one anticipated, and we are here to help you find the right home for your dog, if yours is no longer the best place for them.

But if you are thinking of getting a dog, remember, dog ownership is hard. You have to go out in all weathers, training is time consuming and demanding, dogs bark, get sick, chew stuff, and yes, they sometimes bite the hand that feeds them. You have to change your life to accommodate a dog, different holidays, days out, nightlife, even jobs. You have to accept that bringing a baby into a home with a dog carries the risk that the dog will not be able to cope.

Is it worth it? Of course it is. Dogs give back so much more than they take. We are all dog lovers or we wouldn’t be here. We will continue to work silly hours, unpaid, to find these dogs the very best homes. And there are thousands of great homes out there. And we will continue to shed tears for the ones to whom we have to say no, sorry, we have no room.

To foster for us: https://spanielaid.co.uk/forms/foster-application-form/

16/09/2024

Pain is complex, inherently subjective, and based on the individual’s perception. Whether it's a human or an animal, what one being experiences as painful can vary significantly from one another, even with similar injuries. A quick palpation during a veterinary examination cannot definitively rule out pain; it requires a more comprehensive approach and ongoing vigilance and consideration.

This is becoming a welfare issue!

Im tired of hearing “the vet says there is no pain” by a guardian after they have taken their dog to the vet. It leaves me deflated and frustrated and feeling so sorry for the dog.

Myth Bust:

PAIN CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN ANY ANIMAL (dog, cat, horse or hamster), by anyone!

* A quick palpation - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

WHY?

The dog may shut down due to environmental factors or dislike of a strange human touching them, they keep still to get it over with ASAP!

The dog may be over aroused or overwhelmed by the clinical environment (excited/scared etc) to the point that adrenaline is so high it blocks pain!

* Blood Tests - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

There is currently NO blood test that can detect pain.

* Diagnostic imaging - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

Yes they can pick up a variety of conditions, but even the GOLD standard MRI doesn’t pick up everything, but NONE of them can detect PAIN.

Just because a source cannot be found doesn’t mean there is no pain.

PAIN is subjective, it is whatever that being (human or animal) perceives it to be!

Pain can come in many different forms, it is extremely complex, and can effect the individual in many different ways. A dog may get injured, the injury may have healed, but the pain remains … this is known as maladaptive pain.

Behaviour can be a HUGE indicator for PAIN:

* There could be a change of behaviour that has been directly caused by PAIN.

* There could be a worsening of behaviour due to an increase or new presence of PAIN.

* There could be a lack of “normal” behaviour due to PAIN.

* There could be behaviours that are present but that the guardian/owner don’t deem to be problematic that are indicators of PAIN.

* The dog may have ALWAYS displayed behaviours that are indicators of PAIN, but they have been ignored and put down to “just the way they are”.

* There may be NO problematic behaviours at all …. And the dog might still be in PAIN!

* The dog might be energetic, always on the go … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog might be lazy … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog may zoom up and down stairs … and still be in PAIN.

Diagnosing PAIN is not simple and can be difficult to get on top of.

A PAIN relief trail can be great! But often only one type of analgesic is tried and sometimes this doesn’t get results leading to the ASSUMPTION that there is no PAIN!

Here’s why:

* The drug was only trialed for 2 weeks - when living with chronic pain it can take longer to relieve. 2 weeks is not enough.

* The drug used wasn’t targeted to the type of pain the animal is feeling; soft tissue, bone, nerve or a combination of all.

It might take a number of different medications or a combination OVER TIME to see a difference.

ALWAYS keep in mind, NO ONE can rule out another being’s PAIN.

NO ONE. Not me. Not you. Not a Doctor. Not a Vet.

04/09/2024

At last! and about time!

Finally! The new Pet Abduction Act comes into force today meaning anyone found guilty of stealing a dog in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both 🙌

As members of the family, we know that having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, heart-breaking experience. But until now having your pet stolen has been treated no differently to mobile phone or laptop theft.

Under the new law, dogs and cats are no longer seen as objects but as sentient beings who can experience emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners 💛

Read our information on preventing pet theft and what to do if the worst does happen and your dog is stolen 👉 https://bit.ly/4a2S0pC

07/08/2024

I have renewed my membership and received my certification as an Accredited Canine Behaviourist with the Association of INTODogs! 🐾

As many of you know, the animal behaviour and training industry in the UK is currently unregulated. This makes it crucial for professionals to demonstrate their commitment to the highest standards of practice. Being Knowledge and Skills Assessed (KSA) yearly ensures that I stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and methodologies in canine behaviour.

At the core of my practice is a firm belief in force-free, positive methods. This approach not only respects the well-being of our beloved canine companions but also fosters a trusting and loving bond between dogs and their humans. 💚

Continual professional development (CPD) is a cornerstone of my commitment to providing the best possible care and guidance. I am dedicated to ongoing learning and improvement, ensuring that my clients receive the most effective and humane strategies for their canine companions.

Thank you to The Association of INTODogs for supporting and accrediting dog trainers and behaviour professionals like myself. Together, we uphold the highest ethical standards in the treatment of animals and professional conduct.

Here's to another year of promoting positive, compassionate training methods and making a difference in the lives of dogs and their families! 🩷🧡

https://www.intodogs.net/
https://www.facebook.com/TheAssociationofINTODogs

15/06/2024

Excellent 👍

In the FREE professional group today we are discussing the impact of head halti/collars

Credit Through Eyes of Dogs

15/05/2024

It's not always a limp or a whine! Pain-related behaviour is extremely complex. Dogs don't often show that they are in discomfort in ways we would usually expect; it is often subtle and goes unnoticed for weeks, months, and even years!

A Dynamic Dog Practitioner has been taught the skills to confidently spot potential signs of discomfort and relay them to the vet so that you and your dog find relief sooner while simultaneously helping you manage your dog's behaviour.

Why wait for your dog to go lame before you consider they are in pain?

14/05/2024

Why Wait for your dog to go lame before you consider they are in Pain!

Never forget you are your dog's advocate. Addressing your dog's Pain and discomfort could be the missing puzzle piece you have been searching for.

Think Behaviour!

Contact a Dynamic Dog Practioner https://www.dynamicdog.co.uk/dynamic-dog-assessment

09/05/2024

As a behaviourist dedicated to fostering positive relationships between dogs and their owners, I felt compelled to share Jo’s post.

Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, have long been a controversial tool in the dog training community, and for good reason.

At their core, prong collars are aversive tools designed to deliver discomfort or pain to a dog when they pull on the lead. While some argue that they can effectively control strong or unruly dogs, the truth is that they come with a host of negative consequences.

They can cause significant damage to a dog’s neck and trachea, especially when used with excessive force. The metal prongs can dig into the skin, leading to bruising, abrasions, and, in severe cases, puncture wounds.

The pressure exerted by the prongs can cause pain and irritation, particularly during tension or pulling on the lead.

Using pain to modify behaviour undermines the trust between a dog and their owner and can exacerbate existing behavioural issues.

Furthermore, prong collars fail to address the root cause of a dog’s behaviour. They simply suppress unwanted behaviours through fear and discomfort.

Read-on if you're still not convinced…