The Dog Den

07/03/2025

15/02/2025

Being a adolesent is tiring work! Everything is under construction ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Brain , Body, Emotions, Hormones....😴😴😴😴😴

08/01/2025

PUPPY PASS HAS NOW EXPIRED!!!! ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

At now 20wks of age Jeffreys puppy pass has offically expired! Humans and other dogs give puppys a pass until this age (apptox 16-20wk) and then it changes to more of a "You should have learned by now" response!

What does this mean or look.like?

- Interactions with other dogs can change. This is espically important to be aware of with multidog households to avoid conflict. What behaviour was acceptable before by other dogs may now get a much harsher and bigger reaction.

- Humans expectations have suddenly increased alot and patience for the pup has drastically decreased.

Whats really exciting about this stage of life, becoming a tennager, is your young dogs brain for the 2nd time in his life is having a blast of new neurons develop, creating huge opportunity - the brain is ready and wanting information!!!! 🥳

USE IT OR LOSE IT! (kinda)

- If these neurons fire often (i.e you practice behaviours you want) , they become bigger, fatter, stronger , faster and protected !!!! 💪💪💪👏. If they are no used the opposite happens weaker, smaller and get prunned.

- If you are letting your dog practice behaviour independantly that you don't like or want you need to be aware that the same thing is happening - these neurons are getting bigger, stronger and more protected and hence more resistant and harder to change in future.

This is a great time to get your young dog onto the right track!!!! Information is power!!!

01/01/2025

We have had a lovely Social media free Christmas & New year!
We wish everyone all the best for 2025....full of adventures and doing the things you love to do with the people and pets you love to do it with! Xx

16/12/2024

⚠️⚠️⚠️FEAR PERIODS - what to expect & what to do?!

At 17wks of age now, we have started noticing over the last wk some different reactions and responces to things and experiences that he was neutral towards, or even happy about, prior to this age. For example:

- Conflicted response to unknown people, wants to sniff them but only if they don't move, prior to this he would expect everyone to come say hello
- Louder Traffic, asking for me to pick him up
- Thinking that Wheelie bins may now be a killing monster
- No longer a fan of the putting on of the harness or lead, fine when they are on.

What am I doing about it?

Fear periods are a normal part of development, and generally do not last more than a few wks. It is very important to make sure nothing seriously scary happens during a fear period that leaves a long lasting result (so the 2 dogs that had escaped from their house and targeted us on a walk last wk was far from ideal 🙈).

When the brain is firing fear signals it is not the optimum time for learning so ...:

- We are sticking to familar enviroments and experiences (nothing new during this time)
- Walking in more remote places where theres nothing to spook him
- We are avoiding crowds of people as hes still cute as a button and people are drawn to reach out and pet him (this will be too much for him right now)
- Lots of opportunity to chill & sleep, this is an exhausting time for them!
- We are encoraging moving away from perceived scary 'X' rather than towards (to avoid triggering a bigger responce)
-

Fear periods and when they pop up can differ with individuals, some sail through them and owners don't notice anything, for others the behaviour change is obvious like with Jeffrey!

Unfortunitly for some there pup may have been struggling and fearful as their basline before even reaching a fear period. For those pups we reccomend finding a trainer in your area to help you navigate.

06/12/2024

Storm Daragh Ready!!!

12/11/2024

12-16 Week Plan

For the last month in Jeffreys most sensitive / critical developmental stage we aim for as much variety as possible in everything we do. (This can be hard for some that love routines, same time of day walking , same route etc) and lots of doing nothing and just sitting and watching the world go by - a skill alot of dogs struggle with, and a hard one this time of year when its wet & cold! 🥶, but we will do it!

I LOVE walking in deserted places , and i will do some of that for me, but its about Jeffrey right now and me feeling like Ive done everything I possible can for him to grow into a resilent , confident , stable dog. (This may not be the case, genetics have a huge role to play, but its about his potential, and me feeling I have done my best for him to reach his potential)

We will still have our routines around sleeping time, alone time, feeding times etc .

This wont stop after 16wks if age but more on that at a later stage.

Our active training teaching foubdation behaviours are still going on in the background but they are not the priority right now.

We will keep you posted on his journey.
Any questions, please let me know!

08/11/2024

In general im not a fan on flexi leads!

But everything has its Pro's & Con's!

- I don't like the bulkiness of the handle in my hand
- If they wrap around a finger they can be lethal!

However now that Jeffrey is allowed to go for walks not in my arms its the tool of choice for us for the next few months (and a long line) . I won't start activly teaching loose lead walking until he is older as i want him to just explore the world and build confidence. (However passivly i will be teaching him that all the good things happen by my side / behind me)

** but don't worry ill never be that person that lets him take up the whole pavements that passerbys need to step over the line 🤦🏻‍♀️....yes this has happened me multiple times!

04/11/2024

11 - 12 WEEK OLD PLAN

01/11/2024

We would be lost without this yucky dirty Bull Pizzle.....yes its a nicer word for a p***s, but thats what it is!!!

Theres sooo many great things about having a puppy...
- So Cute!!!
- Watching them learn their motor skills, learn about the world , training them behaviours!
- They are Super fun!

HOWEVER lets not sugar coat it and be realistic..... there are as many if not more negative things that come with having a puppy...

- Constant wet floor because of all the knocked over water bowls 🙄
- Late nights, early mornings 😴
- Regardless of weather your out in it to toliet train 🥶
- Something is contantly attached to your trouser bottom / ankle / laces 😂
- You think your while wardbrobe!
- The conflict and divided household that can become an issue.....scared kids, shouting adults etc (The reality v's the expectations , these are 2 very different pictures)
- The bruises, the cuts , the non- stop mouthing and biting 🦷🦷🦷...This is the hardest for households I think, espically when you don't know about dental development and whats going on in that 'cute as a crocodile" mouth! 🐊

Thats brings be back to Jeffrey and the Pizzle, 100% natural, no nasties, just dyhydrated. I had lots of different natural chews left over from Oscar, but this large one has been my favourite for Jeffrey. I can hold one end while he chews the other and I can save my fingers! It lasts so long... as you can see this ones needs a good clean! 🤢

Don't worry puppy owners , we will get a few weeks of peace before those 28 baby teeth start falling out and those 42 adult ones come in 🤣. We are all in the same boat, i knew 100% what having a puppy in the house meant and its still difficult so give yourself a break!!!! They will all turn into adults with time...thats for certain! (This is the point you might be thinking that an adult dog was possibly the right choice for you rather than a pup....and thats defo something to think about for future). It took me 10+yrs to invite another pup into my home after my last!!!! 🤣

I get the &tail brand from and a new order will be going in over the wkend!!!! Stock up puppy folk!

29/10/2024

10-11 Wk PLAN

Last wk was challenging (as expected, and I predict this wk will be moreso).....confidence increased, energy levels increased, lots of new teeth (painful for him and the rest of us) , lots of piranha type behaviour ....coupled with still not covered vaccination wise to go walking.

This is all part of owning a puppy, nothing abnormal just puppys do what puppys do!!!!

21/10/2024

Busy busy!!!! We did start some of the above earlier than planned. I have been playing with him for short periods with collar / harness on. Front garden Play sessions, and 'Sits'.
Plans always need to be flexible depending on the indivdual infront of you.. Sometimes you can move faster than planned, sometimes you need to take 5 steps back and go much slower.

At the forefront of my mind is finding the balance with enough new experiences / exposures v's overwhelming him.

I NEVER want to overwhelm him and do more damage than good!

20/10/2024

APROPRIATE CHEW TOYS 🦷🦷🦷

We can't stop it , we can't punish it, its just the reality of deciding to bring a puppy into your home. AKA baby shark.
However we can redirect it to suitable items. Lots of different textures that feel good on those teething gums.

Jeffreys prefrence changes hourly but all of these items are a hit and an absolute neccesity with a pup in the home.

The mouthing is ALOT harder and frequent when pups are overtired so make sure they are getting regular undisturbed naps, it will save your hands , ankles , clothes & sanity 😏

17/10/2024

CATS & DOGS INTROS!

I have 3 older kittens: Frank, Ann & Duffy, still full time indoors.
I wanted to make sure all animals felt safe & comfortable ( and id love them to be friends , but bare minimal civil to eachother) so it has all been very controled & supervised.
Lots of baby gates intros, and nothing when Jeffrey is in his crazy active periods where he would pounch at them which would result in them taking his eye out! 🙈

14/10/2024

13/10/2024

Meet Jeffrey! ❤️
First impressions ; he is brave , bold and confident!
This one will definatly keep me on my toes ( and possibly pulling my hair out! 🤦‍♀️)

He spent 2 hours on my lap on the way home, another 3 hrs in the crate as that part of the journey i traveled alone. Lots of toliet breaks as expected but he did so well, settled himself and slept.

Last night ...not so much. The crate and pen was abandoned for the night and he was on my chest on the couch. I had preplanned a few nights on the couch rather than him in my room (no right of wrong method, just personal choice)

From tommorow I will share what my plans are for this week (8-9wks of age) . Any questions on what or why im doing, post away.

And yes of course I went for a spaniel ....I like the mad ones! 😏🤦‍♀️

Ps : I'm exhausted already !!!! Doesn't matter if your a trainer or not , Puppys are still such hard work for ALL of us!!!!

11/10/2024

The time has come to expand our family! The new arrival will join me and 3 feline siblings this weekend and we are SUPER excited!!! We will be sharing our journey through the next 8 wks of his critical most sensitive developmental stage so stay tunned if you are at a similar stage with your own 🐶......

Also if you know me and think you know what breed or Cross I have gone for guess away......😏

01/10/2024

Today,1st Oct 2024, is the day! 😪

Its time to prepare! If you are in doubt as to if you have an XL bully type , or if your dog could fall into the "physical conformation standard" of this type outlined on gov.ie then apply for a certificate of exemption from your local authority. If the certificate of exemption is not in place prior to 1st Feb 2025 then your dog may be seized from you.

All information on new rules, checklist for certificate application etc can be found on www.gov.ie