The Dog Lounge

01/09/2025

Happy Spring day

01/08/2025

04/07/2025

It's gonna be a wet and cold weekend. Stay warm, and keep your pets warm too. Try these to keep your pet's brain busy:

* Snuffle mats
* Clicker training to teach a new trick
* Do some TTouch on your dog
* Be safe

30/06/2025

"They just adore each other" 😍

Do they? 🤔
Sometimes we really want to see signals that just aren't there.

We may focus on one area....like a wagging tail, because it "confirms" what we hope is true.
The reality though is scared, conflicted or anxious dogs can and often do wag their tails.

Unsure what's occurring?
In moments like these....the majority "rules".

A dog "backing away" ?
That can be a pretty clear signal for us to pay attention to.
It can even be combined with a little "happy dance".
That pattering and quick plods....those fast moving feet?

It can look playful but can mean your dog is unsure or even uncomfortable with what is happening.

Scroll back a few posts.
Look at ways to support those nervy greeters.
There are lots of ideas for that on this page.

Forcing interactions is never a way to fast track anything positive.

18/06/2025

🐾 Timing is Everything: Spaying Your Bitch the Right Way

When it comes to spaying a bitch, timing is absolutely critical — not just for reproductive control, but for her long-term health and well-being.

Too often, people rush into desexing at the wrong stage of development. Spaying a bitch too young can lead to serious hormonal imbalances, orthopedic issues, and disrupted growth patterns. These aren’t just theories — they’re real risks with lifelong consequences.

One common mistake? Choosing to spay during or too soon after the first season. The body is still hormonally active, and if she hasn’t fully come out of season, it can result in serious complications like:
• Ongoing hormone surges
• Phantom pregnancies
• Uterine inflammation or infection

So how do you know for sure that she’s out of season?

➡️ The answer is simple: a progesterone test.

This test accurately determines her hormonal status and ensures it’s safe to proceed with surgery. It’s a small step that can prevent major post-op complications and give your dog the healthiest possible outcome.

⸻

📍 At Sires On Ice Cape Town, we offer in-house progesterone testing and advice on timing desexing procedures safely.
For vets, breeders, and pet owners alike — let’s make informed choices for our dogs.

📩 Contact us today to book a test or learn more.

17/06/2025

So many tools available today to help with nails.

“Oh rubbish....our nails don’t hurt when they grow.”
I hear you, but let’s look at why trainers, groomers, vets (really anyone who works closely with dogs) will urge you to please trim your dog’s nails or “claws”.

It isn’t always nice to hear but it is an important message.

What happens when your dogs nails are too long?
The toes can start to splay, they can spread our unnaturally.
This affects how the foot can move and place itself.

Did your dog’s toes once sit neatly and tightly together?
Have you noticed they now sit wider apart?
Notice those bigger gaps?
The foot isn't as compact as it one was.

Over time.... the toes can twist and they may have a new way of moving or walking, one their body isn’t built for and it can be very subtle and tricky to spot.

That new movement affects joints and muscles all the way up the leg.
Eventually.... it can impact the hips.
The gait can be affected as well as their whole walking style.

Why does this happen?
Dog nails don’t retract.
They stay long (and for long nails concrete walking may not help at all...it just means more pain).
Long nails can’t sink into hard surfaces.
The toes bend... the joints strain and the foot compensates in unnatural ways.

Will they show pain?
Some dogs will..... many don’t or can’t.
That doesn't mean they’re not in a lot of discomfort.

Pain often shows in unexpected ways...unwanted behaviour, movement and posture.
Pain that is preventable becomes a welfare issue.

We owe it to our dogs to help them live (as much as possible) a pain free life.

Yes...nail care can be hard.
Yes, some dogs hate it and progress can be snail pace slow.

However....we owe it to our dogs to not give up on them or their nails.

17/06/2025

Genetics does matter. Well done, let's stand together and safe this breed

11/04/2025

My doll look at like

07/04/2025

Dogs just being dogs. One thing that we strive for is that dogs must do what dogs do.
To dig, get dirty, play with water and as always just to chilled all in a safe controlled environment

04/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/17cpsjZea7/

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!

10/03/2025

Clicker Obedience Course!.
10 weeks
Date: 15 March
Time: 9-10am
Clicker incl
Only 5 spaces available

10/03/2025

Come join us! Having fun while learning. Teaching owners how to understand their pups (9-16 weeks old)! 🎉🐶🐾
DATE 16 March
TIME: 8:30-9:30
CONTACT US TODAY