Minglewood Kennels

08/23/2025

08/18/2025

We have seen a couple venomous snake bites at Crown!
Here’s what you need to know about snake bites in dogs in New Jersey—what to look for, what to do, and how to prevent it.

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1. Are there venomous snakes in New Jersey?

Yes—New Jersey is home to several venomous snakes, including the copperhead, timber rattlesnake, and the eastern coral snake (though coral sightings are rare). While your location isn’t cited yet, this matches typical species distribution in the region. (Not venomous—it’s just good to know.)

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2. Signs of Snake Bites in Dogs
• Local signs: Swelling, bruising, pain at the bite site, often with one or two puncture wounds or oozing from the area.  
• Rapidly spreading swelling that might not show puncture marks if swelling is severe.  
• Systemic symptoms of envenomation: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, lethargy, collapse, pale gums, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, weakness.   

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3. Immediate Steps to Take
1. Get to a veterinarian—FAST. Snake bites (venomous or not) are medical emergencies.   
2. While en route:
• Keep your dog calm, warm, and minimize movement—carry them if possible.  
• Keep the bite area at or below heart level to slow venom spread.  
3. Do NOT do any of these:
• Suck out venom, apply tourniquets, ice, or snakebite kits.   
• Give medications like Benadryl, steroids, or NSAIDs—these can delay effective treatment and may worsen harm.  
4. If you can, document the snake safely—a distant photo or clear description helps vets identify the species.  

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4. Veterinary Treatment

Once at the clinic, vets typically provide:
• IV fluids for circulation and shock support
• Pain management and antibiotics to handle pain and prevent infection
• Antivenom, if the bite is from a venomous snake and available—this is the most effective treatment for envenomation and may require multiple vials.    
• Bloodwork and monitoring, especially if systemic signs are present   
• Hospitalization, often ranging from one to several days depending on severity  

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5. Prognosis

With prompt, appropriate treatment, less than 10% of dogs die from viper bites (like copperheads and rattlesnakes). Bites to the face, chest, or delays in treatment increase risk.  
Nonvenomous bites still pose dangers due to infection and swelling.

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6. Prevention Tips (Especially in NJ)
• Keep your dog on a leash, especially along wooded trails or areas with tall grass.  
• Avoid places snakes like—rocky outcrops, logs, brush piles, wood or leaf piles, and dense vegetation.   
• Maintain your yard: mow grass, remove debris or brush piles, seal holes, and store firewood away from your home.  
• Train your dog with snake avoidance training—positive reinforcement methods help your dog avoid snakes voluntarily. 
• Talk to your vet about the rattlesnake (Crotalus) vaccine—while it’s not fully protective and only targets specific rattlesnake species, it may reduce severity in certain regions.   

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July!

07/03/2025

With Independence Day celebrations fast approaching, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after Fourth of July festivities. Here are 7️⃣ pet safety tips to keep in mind. You can find more important information here: https://bit.ly/44f7FSj

06/18/2025

Riddle me this ?
When is a yawn not a yawn ?
When it is communication and a subtle signal that they may be uncomfortable.

Have you noticed that intense yawn when they are touched?
That "turn head" yawn when you meet another person and their dog on a walk?
What about that weird yawn they do when visitors arrive and the house is suddenly busier and louder than normal?

Yes.... a yawn can just be a yawn but sometimes these can be shown at times when your dog feels uncomfortable.
Being uncomfortable isn't necessarily a bad thing either.... but could there be a bit more going on than just being a bit unsettled?

Yawning can be a displacement sign, a way dogs can show they would like to calm the situation down a bit, release some stress or diffuse tension.

Just because we don't see the issue.....it doesn't mean your dog doesn't feel anxiety or discomfort.
In fact, often when we take note of these yawns...patterns become clear.

That allows us to advocate.
We can put our dogs feelings first at times they may be anxious or just help distract them when they are mildly uncomfortable.

Communication doesn't really mean much if no one listens.
So we do need to pay attention.

06/11/2025

Weird....Why did you do that?

Notice those little "quirky" things your dog does?
Displacement behaviours can be responsible for those "Hmmmm" moments.
Seemingly normal, everyday movements that are shown at times where it just feels a wee bit "odd" to us.

➡️The sneezing around another dog
➡️Stopping mid play to have a good ole scratch or nibble on their leg
➡️Ignoring everything....even exciting situations occurring around them and suddenly being very, very interested in that little tiny patch of grass.

Every dog seems to have their own "preferred" displacement behaviours.
Their own individual "tells".

It is a little like our own habits of scratching when we are thinking or tapping our feet when we feel a little unsure.

Take a note of these little curious signals your dog gives.
It can be a strong communication signal.

Can it just be a scratch at an odd time.....absolutely.
Watch for patterns.
Similarities in other situations can lead you to make more definite conclusions.

Just a scratch?
Or is there a bit more too it?

06/05/2025

It’s easy to label a dog’s behavior as “bad.”

They bark, they pull, they chew, they growl, they ignore cues. And we’re quick to call it disobedience.

But what if we stopped looking at behavior as something to correct… and started seeing it as something to understand?

Because the truth is, behaviour is communication.

It’s your dog’s way of navigating a human world that doesn’t always make sense to them.

It’s how they express their needs, emotions, fears, and excitement. It’s their voice.

When a dog jumps on guests, they may be overjoyed and unsure how else to say hello.

When they pull on leash, they’re excited, curious, or possibly anxious.

When they growl, they’re saying, “I’m uncomfortable, please give me space.”

None of these behaviours are “naughty” or malicious.

They’re messages and signals. Opportunities to listen.

Yet too often, these behaviours are punished or shut down without ever asking why they’re happening. We silence the symptom without addressing the cause.

And in doing so, we risk making things worse: not only suppressing behaviour, but suppressing trust.

When we shift our mindset from "disobedience" to "communication," our entire relationship with our dogs transforms. We move from frustration to empathy.

We need to teach our dogs that they can trust us to listen when they’re struggling. We become their safe place, not their source of pressure.

So the next time your dog “misbehaves,” pause.
Ask yourself: What are they trying to tell me?

Because every bark, every growl, every moment of resistance - that's not defiance.

It’s dialogue. And dogs are desperate for us to hear them.

06/02/2025

10 interesting facts about dogs https://amzn.to/3SMRMvY

05/15/2025

Not all pain shows up as a "limp".
Sometimes it looks like a dog who’s suddenly distant.
Grumpy.
Avoiding touch.
No longer interested in the things they used to love.

Dogs don’t always cry, yelp, or show obvious signs when they’re hurting — especially chronic or internal pain.
Often, their personality changes first.
There may be subtle shifts that might not look like “pain”… but absolutely are.

If your dog seems “off”….. trust that instinct.
It might not be old age, "stubbornness", or mood.
It might be pain.

Save this. Share it. It could help someone recognise what their dog has been trying to say.

This graphic proudly made and designed by humans is available from our website the address is on the graphic 🙂

05/13/2025

This really is our "fault" as a society.❗
Socialisation is a very misconstrued and warped term.
"Socialisation" really isn't play.
Play is a very separate and important skill.
"Why can't they play"?
Never said they couldn't....
However, because of the societal pressure to meet/play with "all" other dogs and puppies (wherever we take them) we can VERY easily set our dogs up to view all dogs and puppies as a source of constant amusement and excitement.
Soon that can become reactivity.
At the mere glimpse of another dog or puppy, your dog may go to an extreme of emotions.
They may "dig in" and drag you closer.
You may have little control.
The barking, shrieking and spinning can start....for two reasons, the emotional extremes dogs now have attached to other dogs/puppies and the absolute frustration because they can't reach that other dog quick enough.
So maybe the term "socialisation" is the issue, because for us it means "socialising".
Acclimation is a far better term.

05/04/2025

I love this

Author Ross McCammon

05/04/2025

May the 4th be with you and your Scots!