Safe at Home Dog Trainer & Behaviourist

26/03/2024

26/02/2024

The office is looking particularly stunning this morning 💙

26/02/2024

Taking one for the team !!!!
St. Francis Dogs Home

26/01/2024

PUPPY CLUB

Working again today with this little man who is soon to be 5 months old.
Amazing owners who signed up to the SAFE AT HOME PUPPY CLUB to give their puppy the best start in life. Today was our third session and we worked on disengagement with higher distractions which he smashed, loose lead walking with good eye contact and we also started some exercises as a pre-cursor to recall.
Considering he is an only a few months old, he is making astounding progress and this is down to the hard work the owners are putting in.

If we can help you give your puppy the best start, have a look at my website

www.safeathomecornwall.co.uk or message me

21/01/2024

For those clients using my dog training & behaviour services, you can now book and pay online through my website

www.safeathomecornwall.co.uk

Click on BOOK WITH ME and it will take you to either NEW CLIENT FIRST SESSION or FOLLOW UP (which is for clients I am already working with).
Payment is via Paypal so completely safe and you don't need to have a Paypal account.

This is saving me so much admin time but I am new to it so there may be the odd hiccup. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and so far so good !!!

If you would rather book direct, I am still happy to do that, just drop me a message or email.

Using the latest science based learning methods, along with good old fashioned hands-on experience, I am able to help you and your dog.

20/01/2024

Working with this beautiful boy this week. Not yet a year old and recently allowed off lead for short periods and learning about his environment.
It is important that he is allowed time to use his nose and his ears to process these new sounds and smells. I stood close by in silence. He knew I was there and he returned to me afterwards, as I had taught him, where he was praised and rewarded. A positive experience for us both.
Best with sound on so you can hear what we heard.

04/10/2023

WITH CHRISTMAS LOOMING PLEASE SHARE THIS FAR AND WIDE

Rawhide chews are not christmas gifts; they are unplanned emergency vet visits just waiting to happen!
They are terrible for dogs but stores sell them because people keep buying them. Rawhide are harmful from processing with irritating chemicals, the small choking hazard pieces, the swallowed piece sits in the stomach and irritates your dogs stomach for months or forms a complete blockage from a big piece or several smaller pieces clumping together in the dogs intestines.

Canine intestinal blockage or foreign body surgery costs about 2-3k in this area to treat an obstruction. That £5 candy cane rawhide doesn't look so cute now, does it?

These are the most common rawhide risks:

Contamination. As with pet toys, rawhide chews can contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals. And, as with other pet (or human) foods, Salmonella or E. coli contamination is possible. Even humans can be at risk when coming into contact with these bacteria on rawhide treats.

Digestive irritation. Some dogs are simply sensitive or allergic to rawhide or other substances used in their manufacture processes. This can cause problems, including diarrhea and vomiting.

Choking or blockages. Rawhide bones and other edible chews can pose a choking and blockage risk. In fact, this is a much bigger risk than contamination or digestive irritation. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Depending on its size and where it is located, a local vet may be able to remove these pieces fairly easily through the throat. But sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.

It doesn't take much. Similar to the way small pieces of hair clog a drain, the small pieces of rawhide can clump and block your dog similar to the various items pictured in the first photo below. This is usually a hard thing to diagnose because rawhide is skin. Xrays don't show skin very well so usually a contrast study with barium is needed. Once the blockage is found then the surgery or endoscopic retrieval can be done. The best case scenario is your dog is puking and pooping out the pieces and this can be painful it there's a pointed piece that injures the tissues on its way out.

Please save your dog some pain and yourself hours waiting at an emergency clinic and thousands of dollars.

Don't buy rawhide.

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/rawhide-good-or-bad-for-your-dog

18/09/2023

Just speaking from my experience, but a really caring, above and beyond, dog welfare centred veterinary practice and one I have transferred my dogs to.

18/09/2023

Some good information here

17/09/2023

The latest news about the new breed specific legislation relating to the banning of XL Bullies saddens me partly because I do not agree that this is the answer but particularly for the owners who own them and the dogs themselves, who rarely deserve to be described as a 'dangerous dog'.

Education, Education Education
Training Training Training
Responsibility Responsibility Responsibility
ARE THE ONLY ANSWERS!!!!

If you are looking to get a dog, all trainers and behaviourists will gladly advise on the best breed for your lifestyle and circumstances. You would be surprised what breed is, and what is not, suitable.
I certainly am happy to advise this free of charge.

Please do not assume that by simply bringing any dog into your home, it will fall into your routine and be an integral part of the family. This is RARELY the case. All dogs WILL require proper training, not just to make your life easier but YOU OWE IT TO YOUR DOG so that he or she knows where they fit into your family and what is expected of them. Without this, you WILL experience behavioural problems.

Dog behaviour and training is a really big subject and I do not want to bore everyone but I urge anyone with a dog, or considering getting one, to ensure that you build into your budget some professional training early on. When you get a dog, you take on a duty of care to do the very best for them. THEIR LIFE IS COMPLETELY IN YOUR HANDS and as a Trustee of St Francis Dogs Home, I see first hand the sad cases that pass through our doors due only to a wrong choice of breed, lack of training or a family who did not consider their situation before committing to a dog.

Advice is out there - PLEASE PLEASE seek it. We are not there to judge or preach. We are there to ensure the dog lives their best life and you can enjoy the time they are with you.

I know my fellow dog trainers are offering FREE muzzle training to XL breeds and I am happy to join them so please get in touch if I can help.

Above all, love and enjoy your dogs and give them the unconditional love they give you AND PLEASE KEEP THEM SAFE !!!

04/09/2023

I really do get the best jobs. This is how I spent some of today❤️❤️❤️❤️