Ruff Cuts

15/06/2025

As many will know Ive had some van issues after breaking down in Nelson then taking 3 weeks (!) to get fixed at the mechanics. In that time I also could not avoid Covid any longer and got hit, dammit.

But I'm now back and slowly working through the backlog. Slowly, as my energy levels are a little up and down.

If you are on my list and you havent heard from me by the end of the week, send me a text.

26/04/2025

Changes are afoot... my body is starting to grizzle so I'm making a few changes.

I've taken on a new part time job that will be less strenuous and with less hirsute clientele, so I will be slowly easing back on dog grooming.

But don't panic, my lovely customers, all that will mean for you right now is that I won't be taking on any *new* customers and I won't be as flexible with days/times as I have been in the past.

So, from the week after next, Monday will be my main grooming day for Golden Bay and over the hill, as well as afternoons on the other days in GB.

Except Friday ⛳️🏓

02/04/2025

Thinking of getting a puppy? One at a time is best.

Getting two from the same litter sounds good in theory, playmates etc, but it's really not a good idea. It can make training somewhere between difficult to nigh impossible.

Understanding Littermate Syndrome in Puppies

Bringing home two puppies from the same litter might seem like a great idea—they’ll have built-in companionship, right? However, many dog owners are unaware of the challenges that come with Littermate Syndrome, a behavioral condition that can develop when sibling puppies are raised together.

What is Littermate Syndrome?

Littermate Syndrome is a set of behavioral issues that arise when two puppies from the same litter (or even unrelated puppies of the same age) are raised together. These issues often stem from excessive bonding between the puppies, making it difficult for them to develop independence and proper social skills.

Signs of Littermate Syndrome:

Severe Separation Anxiety: Puppies become highly distressed when separated, making training and socialization more difficult.

Fearfulness: They may become overly reliant on each other, leading to increased anxiety in new situations or around unfamiliar dogs and people.

Difficulty in Training: Since they focus more on each other than their human, training sessions can become ineffective.

Inter-Puppy Aggression: As they grow, fights between littermates can become more intense, sometimes escalating into serious conflicts.

How to Prevent Littermate Syndrome

If you’re raising two puppies together, consider these steps to ensure they grow into well-adjusted, independent dogs:

Separate Training Sessions: Train each puppy individually to ensure they learn to focus on you rather than each other.

Encourage Independence: Allow them to spend time apart daily so they learn to be comfortable alone.

Socialization: Expose each puppy to different people, dogs, and environments separately.

Individual Bonding: Spend one-on-one time with each puppy to strengthen your personal relationship with them.

Should You Get Two Puppies?

While raising two puppies is possible, it requires significant effort and commitment. If you’re considering adopting littermates, be prepared to implement structured training and socialization strategies to prevent Littermate Syndrome.

By understanding and addressing Littermate Syndrome early, you can help your puppies grow into happy, confident, and independent dogs!

07/01/2025

Awww what a handsome dude xx

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XmB5cGKfZ/

23/02/2024

At the Village Market tomorrow I have new dried treats of hoki skin, venison hooves, shark cartilage and beef lung all bagged up and ready for you.

And also on the stall will be the regular stock of lifejackets, cooling mats, bowls, grooming tools, collars and leads, balls, squeaky toys, shampoos, nail clippers, de-shedding tools, coats, probiotics, health products and, of course, ME! ready to answer any pet questions you might have. And Im always up for a yarn too.

See you Saturday!

24/01/2024

Come on Border Collie peeps, youve got this!

13/10/2023

Too windy for me at the Village Market today so I've been unpacking my new stock.

For summer fun with dogs Ive got a range of Ezidog Floatation Devices - all sizes of the X2 Boost range. Perfect for keeping your pet safe while you paddleboard, kayak, fish or swim. 1 of each size available at the moment. Check out the size chart for more.

Ive also got more balls (ooh err!) and toys from the Chuck It range. These are really durable products, whilst more expensive, they are long lasting and way better for your dogs teeth than tennis balls which wear them down.

I'll be at the Market next week (weather permitting) or if you want to get in earlier text me on 0277 789 798 and we can make an arrangement.

06/10/2023

Do you have a stash of dog leads, collars or harnesses at home that your pet has grown out of?

You can unclutter your home *and* help someone out *and* raise money for Foodbank Dogs or GB Animal Welfare by putting these items in our Koha box at the Market.

All proceeds to Charity.

29/09/2023

Regular customers!

My appointments system appears to have had a blip and some repeating appointments seem to have dropped off.

If you're a regular and want to doublecheck you're still on the list, text me on 0277 789 798 and Ill make sure it's all tickey-boo.

Old pic of Noodle, Max and Bhaji for attention ❤❤❤

11/09/2023

I've had some enquiries lately about allergies and how to deal with them. Signs of allergies are dogs scratching, chewing paws, licking, irritated skin or smelly ears with brown gunk (smells like yeast/honey).

Sometimes these symptoms can be coming from an unhappy tummy. Maybe they've had anti-biotics and their gut flora hasn't recovered, or maybe something else has irritated it. This can be helped by giving them a probiotic with their meal. It needs to be a dog probiotic, and given for a few weeks to see if there is improvement. There are quite a few dog probiotics available, whist one may not work for your pet, it is worth a go trying another.

As many will know, my Edie suffered from allergies most of her life and it took me quite a while to get to grips with them. I didn't like giving her medication, as that masked the symptoms rather than tackling the underlying reason for the itch. Plus all medication has other side effects, some not too bad and others pretty awful.

I had her hair-tested early on, even though I was skeptical as its a bit "woo-woo" but the results proved to be correct! She was allergic to chicken and fish. I also had her skin-tested for environmental allergies in Nelson ($$$) which came up with being allergic to dust and house mites and very allergic to Tradescantia (Wandering Willie).

The trouble with most manufactured dog foods is that they put a lot of varied proteins in. If you look at the ingredients there is a *massive* amount of extras in there. Often they use chicken or fish or beef as fillers or flavouring, even if they are not advertised as the main ingredient. They want to make them smelly, so dogs are keen on them. Edie proved to be allergic to seafood as well as fish, so all the extra goodies they put in for dog health like mussel or fish oil were actually harming her.

So if you have a dog with allergies, you may want to look at your dogs diet. I have heard of many dogs whose lives have been turned around after switching to raw feeding, which is basically feeding dogs the foods their bodies are designed to process.

And even if your dog doesn't have allergies, a good, raw diet will see improvements to their coat, skin and general wellbeing.

There is a lot of info available online, so much that it can be a bit confusing and daunting, so I've compiled a PDF with some basic information about what and how to feed.

https://www.ruffcuts.co.nz/s/rawfeeding.pdf

05/09/2023

Customers and Friends - do you know of a young person that loves dogs and would love to be a Dog Groomer?

A new grooming salon is being set up in Hope, and the owner is looking for a young person to train and employ. This would be top quality one on one training and is a *fantastic opportunity*.

Check out her Ad on TradeMe (link below). The young person will need to be dedicated, focussed and reliable but other than that, no experience necessary.

These opportunities almost never come along.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/jobs/other/auction-4310221632.htm

07/08/2023

Just a heads up - Im away in Wellington this weekend so won't be at the Telemarket on Saturday.

If anyone needs anything (food, treats, apparel etc), check out my website, message me and we can meet up before I head off.

www.ruffcuts.co.nz