Dooagh Dog Training

28/07/2025

We would like to advise dog owners that our dog wardens will be in Ballina & surrounds over the next 2 weeks.

Dog licences can be purchased at http://licences.ie or from your local post office

Annual licence - €20
Lifetime licence - €140

On the spot fines of €150 may be issued

27/07/2025

MUZZLE-UP! APPEAL FOR VIDEO!

As a rescue, we are huge fans of muzzles for all kinds of reasons but it is very difficult to persuade people to use them. They are seen as unkind, that the dogs hate them... that they label your dog as aggressive, etc.

However, if trained right, most dogs really do learn to accept them and, oh boy, they buy you peace of mind and, very often, the dog a lot more freedom.

In a mission to encourage people to muzzle-train their dogs, we are looking for some pix and video clips of dogs showing how comfortable dogs can be wearing a muzzle when properly trained - for a short-film we will make publicly available.

If you can help, please WhatsApp to 07885797656 - along with a few words about the benefits you've experienced from having a muzzle-trained dog.

We would also love some suggestions below which muzzles you like/have worked well with your dog - and your experience of muzzle-training your dog (particularly what techniques have worked best for you).

10/07/2025

I’m hearing so much misinformation about what to or not to do with dogs in this weather.

I actually saw a comment claiming that dogs should never be allowed to get more than their paws and belly wet in hot weather as somehow any more than that would cause a barrier and they wouldn’t be able to sweat if they were wet 🙄🙄I’ve also heard it said that fully wet dogs would scald themselves as the water evaporated 🙄🙄
And the last one - if they go into cold water they’ll go into shock.

NONE OF THE ABOVE IS TRUE !!!

Firstly - dogs don’t sweat (apart from feet)
Secondly
When last did you get out of cool water and get scalded by steam ?? Never? No third degree burns from steam coz you didn’t dry off immediately? Nope? Ok then.
Ever experienced the comfort of dip in the pool
On holiday to cool down? Yes course you have.
Ever enjoyed the cooling effect of allowing the water to evaporate? Yes - and it’s lovely isn’t it?

The laws of physics don’t change around dogs.

People - allow your dogs to dunk themselves in cold water if they want to.

Also if they are in heat distress dunk them as quickly as possible into cold water. The latest veterinary advice is “wet then vet” ie wet thoroughly all over with cold water and get to a vet. None of this “sponge on warm water” nonsense.

I know these urban myths / ole wives’ tales probably start with good intentions but this advice is dangerous. And they’re rolled out with so much confidence and aplomb! ….. “ but my friend said and he’s had dogs all his life!” I’ve had teeth all my life - doesn’t make me a dentist!

Wet your dog in cold water all over as much as they need to stay cool. Seriously - a little critical thinking would be a welcome thing!

03/07/2025

"Why is your dog wearing a lead on his walk? "

Because it keeps him safe.

"Why don't you just train him. So he doesn't need a lead at all anywhere?"

Because that would be dangerous, he might cause an accident.

"Maybe you shouldn't take him out in public if you can't train him?"

But I keep him and others safe because he wears a lead in situations that could otherwise be dangerous...

Now swap the word "lead" for "muzzle".... 🙌

Honestly Everytime I post a photo of a dog in a muzzle I get quizzed " why is that dog in a muzzle?".

To which I usually explain the dog is reactive.

And I usually get a speech telling me some ridiculous reason why I'm cruel, why I shouldn't do that, how it's not normal for whippets to be reactive. 😵

most of my whippet caseload is reactivity 🤷‍♀️

You can ask to understand. 🤓

But asking with the only intention is to argue is really frustrating and completely unnecessary.

So here is my dog in a muzzle.

Because it's the safest option for everyone 🙌

17/06/2025

Protecting Working Dogs: Why Tick Prevention is Essential for Farm and Herding Dogs

Working dogs like Border Collies/sheepdogs spend long hours outdoors — frequently in environments where ticks thrive.

Without protection, they face a higher risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and other infections, which can impact their health, performance, and shorten their working life.

Here’s how you can protect your working dog:

✅ Check your dog daily after they return from fields or woodlands.

✅ Ask your vet about long-lasting tick prevention treatments.
✅ Spray your dog/s fur with essential oil sprays (oil of Eucalyptus is proven to be most effective)

✅ Remove ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers or tick twister — never crush the tick!

Your working dog is your partner — protect them like one.

Thank you Daria Maksyshko from the GRETB in Tuam for creating this post for Tick Talk Ireland. We are so grateful for this brilliant work.

17/06/2025

12/06/2025

Our Dog Wardens have been allocated a limited number of vouchers to contribute towards the cost of having your dog neutered and microchipped.

Vouchers will be allocated, when available, to eligible breeds. Dog must be licenced

For more info please email [email protected]

09/06/2025

In warmer weather, natural algae blooms and cyanobacteria become more prevalent along river and lake shorelines.

These produce toxins which have potential to cause illness in humans and fatalities of animals, especially dogs.

More: https://mayo.ie/news/AlgaeWarning

27/05/2025

Lost and Stray Dogs

Every day we receive reports of both lost and straying dogs. Sometimes they are quickly located or matched to their owners, sadly sometimes not. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly; escapes from gardens, gates accidently left open or talented escape artists. However if you own a dog, you need to know:

By law ALL dogs MUST be chipped, licenced and have a collar with a tag that bears a phone number. This also means that if your dog gets lost it can be found and matched to you very quickly.

We have a number of ID tags for sale in the shelter at the moment

No dog should be out without an owner and by law no dog should be off a lead unless owner has full control of that dog. Bear in mind that if your dog attacks sheep or cows or causes a road accident, you will held responsible.

You need to have a secure garden for your dog. If they keep escaping (and we know how frustrating it can be) you need to keep working on it.

You should know where your dog is at all times. It's not enough to say they always come back or they're reliable. They need to be in your control.

If you can't locate your dog take action immediately. Contact us with the area and a photo. The vet's, dog warden and local radio are all good options. Use social media to your advantage. But ensure your dog is chipped and has a tag with your number before this happens.

We understand how horrible it is when your dog is missing and equally how frightening for a dog to be far from home and alone. Let's all work together to prevent these scenarios.

Please share with every dog owner you know.

20/05/2025

We might have forgotten what rain is like but as these weeks of sun start to break, we will get thunderstorms. Dogs can sense thunder long before we do and a terrified dog will clear boundaries and cover distances they wouldn't usually seem capable of.

Be prepared. It's a legal requirement for your dog to be chipped and wear ID (with your phone number)so ensure both are in place. ID in particular is the first thing someone will look for if they find a stray dog.

Check your fences and boundaries and keep gates closed.

Don't let your dog wander even if "they never go far".

Prepare a safe area in your house for your dog to hide if they need to. Play soft music, TV or radio and talk to your vet if you feel they need extra support with storm related anxiety

If you find a stray dog after a storm, check for ID (and a vet will scan for a chip). Call the dog warden and send us a photo and location.

19/04/2025

14/04/2025

🐾 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 🐾

In recent months, we’ve seen an alarming number of surrender requests for Cockapoos and Cockapoo puppies, many with 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀. These dogs, bred from a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel, have surged in popularity, but the rise in demand is causing serious, often overlooked consequences.

🛑 Currently, 4.9% of all ads - 23 out of 467 - on Dogs.ie are for litters of Cockapoos, making them the most advertised "breed" on the platform. These puppies are sold with a high price tag, around €500 each, drawing in buyers with their cute appearance and trendy "designer" label. But what happens when the new owners realize the reality of owning one?

💔 Breeders, especially those producing puppies purely for profit, are unlikely to take them back when the owners struggle. That responsibility falls on rescues and pounds who are left to pick up the pieces.

🐶 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗼𝘀: 𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀

Despite their high price, Cockapoos are not a pedigree breed. There are significant drawbacks to choosing a non-pedigree dog, like Cockapoos. With mixed breeds, it’s often difficult or impossible to determine exactly what breed traits will dominate, making it hard to predict their behaviour and size as adults.

🧬 While the disposition of the parents can offer clues to a puppy’s temperament, in many cases, Cockapoo parentage is undocumented or unknown. This contrasts with pedigree dogs, whose medical and behavioral histories are well-recorded. With Cockapoos, health issues can be much more unpredictable.

⚠️ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱?

Cockapoos are often bought as family pets because of their adorable looks, but their 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 can lead to significant 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 that many families aren’t prepared to handle. Cockapoos are a mix of two highly intelligent working breeds - Poodles and Cocker Spaniels. This leads to a unique set of challenges:

🐾 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: With strong hunting instincts from both sides, Cockapoos can become reactive and may chase small animals if not properly trained.
💔 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: These dogs thrive on companionship and can develop severe anxiety when left alone for long periods, often leading to destructive behavior.
😟 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: Without proper early socialisation, Cockapoos can become fearful and reactive to unfamiliar situations, people, or other dogs.
🔒 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀: Cockapoos often exhibit 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, a behavior linked to their hunting breed background. Both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles have instincts to protect valuable resources like food or toys. Without training and clear boundaries, these traits can escalate into possessive behaviors and even aggression.
⚠️ These behaviors, especially resource guarding, 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀. This is why many Cockapoos, despite their cute appearance, find themselves surrendered to shelters.

💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

Cockapoos are rarely, if ever, ethically bred. 𝗡𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗱. Reputable breeders are dedicated to improving the health, temperament, and overall quality of their specific breed. They carefully select mates for their dogs to maintain or enhance these traits - not to crossbreed for profit.

Breeders who are committed to improving their breed follow strict guidelines, health tests, and pair their dogs based on genetics, temperament, and health. In contrast, many Cockapoos are bred without these considerations. The primary focus for these breeders is demand and profit, not the welfare of the animals or the long-term health of the breed. The results are dogs that often suffer from poor genetics or behavioral issues that could have been avoided with responsible breeding.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲?

If people stopped purchasing from bad breeders, they would no longer profit from this cruel cycle. When people buy Cockapoos from irresponsible breeders without doing proper research, they’re unknowingly supporting an industry that cares more about money than the welfare of the animals.

✅ 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Before committing to any dog, especially a "designer" breed like a Cockapoo, it’s crucial to understand their unique needs.

𝗕𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗼𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.