Diary of a canine convert: February 2012

26 February 2012

Dog Control Orders - Who is really in control of our dogs?

Earlier this week I was asked to participate in a radio interview about whether dogs should be kept on leads at all times in public parks. The interview came about due to some press coverage of Hull City Council's proposed Dog Control Order for East Park, which would mean all dogs would have to be kept on lead whilst in the park.

Dog Control Orders, which are powers that councils can exert under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 ss55-68, allow councils to:

ban dogs from designated areas,
issue fines for dog fouling and failure to remove faeces
enforce keeping dogs on leads in designated areas
restrict the number of dogs one person can take on to any land

Many parks and beaches that were once happy haunts for dog lovers now have Dog Control Orders in place - either restricting access to certain times of the year, or all-out year-round bans.

The main reasons that the restrictions or bans are enforced seem to be down to a minority of dog owners...

...those that still believe in the elusive dog poo fairy - that magical being that cleans up after dogs and disposes of their poop - or those who are completely oblivious to their off-lead dogs and believe in the power of mind control, or some invisible bond, when it comes to recalling them!

The Radio Interview

The radio interview was on the Peter Levy show on BBC Radio Humberside and Lincolnshire. Of those interviewed, the overwhelming opinion was that dogs do need time to be dogs, to have off lead time and that it's a minority of dog owners who spoil it for the majority. You can listen to the interview below.

listen to ‘Radio interview about Dog Control Orders’ on Audioboo

If you're interested in finding out more about Dog Control Orders, KC Dog is a useful website providing information on dog control consultations and if, you're interested to know what legal obligations all dog owners have there's a great Information Guide - Do You Know Dog Law? - available on the Kennel Club website.

Man's Best Friend?

The interview got me thinking even more about how less tolerant society has become towards dogs in general. To me, it seems that there are less and less opportunities for our dogs to be dogs and that dogs are fast losing their "Man's best friend" status.

Even in the small village where I live there has been talk of banning dogs from the playing field (thankfully this hasn't materialised). This would leave the village with no green space to exercise dogs on and would be greatly missed.

Maybe I'm painting too bleak a picture but there don't seem to be many good news stories in the press and media about dogs. The news seems to be full of stories of 'dangerous dogs', dog attacks, cruelty cases and corresponding pictures and dognappings, all coupled with stories of overflowing rescue centres and record numbers of dogs being abandoned.

Who's To Blame?

One thing's for sure - the blame for this lack of tolerance certainly can't lie with our dogs. We're responsible for their care, well-being and training. If blame is to be apportioned it has to lie squarely at the feet of unthinking and irresponsible dog owners.

Those who don't clean up after their dogs, let them off lead without having a reliable recall, let their dogs roam or simply can't be bothered to train them, not only let their dogs down but let the majority of responsible dog owners down too.

So, what does the future hold for dogs in the UK? Will we see the introduction of dog parks like those in the USA? Will microchipping be made compulsory? Will the dog licence be brought back? Will the laws affecting dog owners become more stringent?

Mina on Perranporth beach in 2005

Whatever the future may hold, I hope that those places and venues that are dog friendly remain so. Most of my favourite memories stem from holidays and days out with my hubby and the hounds: I'd like to build on those memories - not lose them.

PS Don't forget, every comment left on my February 2012 posts gets entered into our Countdown to Crufts giveaway to win* a pair of Crufts tickets.

*Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway is open to UK residents only. Prize consists of one pair of tickets to Crufts for each of the two winners (tickets are valid for the day of the winner's choice).
The winner is responsible for arranging their own transport to and from the NEC.
Closing dates for entries is Tuesday 28 February 2012
Winners will be notified by email and/;or via my blog posts

22 February 2012

Playing Mind Games - Dog Activity Toys

Whilst it's relatively easy for us humans to give our brains a workout - a cross word puzzle, learning a new skill or reading a book - how easy is it for us to give our dogs' brains something to work on?

Nowadays there's a whole host of interactive toys, which are great for providing our dogs with mental stimulation. Although some of the more popular brands can prove to be quite expensive it needn't cost the earth to provide our dogs with games that get them to use their grey matter.

It's quite easy to make homemade interactive games - all you need is imagination and a few props. One of my favourites is the tennis ball teaser...which involves a muffin tin, tennis balls and treats. It's really simple to create as the video shows.

Some of my, and the hounds, favourite homemade toys and games include:

Tuggies - you can make your own tuggies my plaiting together strips of fleece, for a fraction of the cost of a shop bought toy
Stuffed socks - if you've got a toy killer/stuffing shredder and squeaker seeker extraordinaire like Mina, an easy - and cheap - way to fulfil the shredding tendencies is by filling an old clean sock with stuffing (and a squeaker, if you're feeling extravagant) and knotting it.
Find the treat or scatter feeding - hide treats around the house (under cushions, and send your dog on a 'find the treat' mission or scatter some of your dog's daily kibble ration in somewhere like the garden
Destruction boxes - I could hire out Stevie as a secure shredding service. He loves shredding magazines, post and newspapers; when given the chance. A destruction box provides him with a great outlet for this. Just fill an old cardboard box with layers of newspaper, magazines, old toilet roll/kitchen roll cardboard tubes and add a few treats.

With any game or training activity, it's important to set our dogs up for success. In the video you'll see that the first thing I do, is give Mina the chance to eat the treats straight out of the muffin tin. This helps to build Mina's confidence and to get her used to looking for treats in the muffin tin. Then I can add the tennis balls and, if need be, help Mina understand that she needs to dislodge them to get to the treats.

It's also important to supervise your dog with interactive games to make sure they don't get frustrated and to ensure they remain safe.

I'll definitely be on the look out for some new game ideas at Crufts and would love to know what your favourite games are to play with your dogs...so please don't be shy and do leave a comment on the blog.

Remember, every comment left on my February 2012 posts gets entered into our Countdown to Crufts giveaway to win* a pair of Crufts tickets.

14 February 2012

Roll out the carpet - Greyhound trick training

I'm learning so much through my university studies. Sometimes it seems the more I learn, the more I realise what I don't know! Then again, we never stop learning do we? The same is true for our dogs - no matter what their age. Our dogs are always learning - they're like sponges - whether intentionally or unintentionally you can bet our dogs are learning something from us .

As part of my university progressive dog training module, Mina and I were to take the college tests - a mix of 10 different exercises. The tests included 5 compulsory exercises and then 5 from a selection of other exercises, one of which was to train a trick of our choice.

At one point, I honestly thought that Mina and I would never pass the module. Not through a lack of 'trainability' on Mina's part but due to her canine catastrophe tendencies! In June last year she had to have her toe amputated and then not long after she'd recovered from the operation, and just as we'd started training again, she split the webbing on one of her back paws.

Finally, with several injury-free weeks behind us, one of the last weekends in October proved to be a dry enough day to video the exercises.

My favourite part of the test was the trick training... I finally discovered a use for my old yoga mat as the video clip shows.

The ground was a bit lumpy and Mina got slightly distracted by a smell but as you can see, she can 'roll out the carpet'.

So, did we pass the module? Yes! With flying colours. I'm very proud of Mina - she's 10 years old and a greyhound - living proof that you can teach an old dog and a greyhound new tricks!

I'd be really interested to know what trick, or tricks, your dogs can do or what you'd like them to do...so please don't be shy and do leave a comment.

Remember, every comment left on my February 2012 posts gets entered into our Countdown to Crufts giveaway to win* a pair of Crufts tickets.

11 February 2012

Product Review: The Tuffies dog bed

'Dog gone tired'
Over the years I have been on the quest for the perfect dog bed for the hounds.

When Mina first came to live with us, we had one of those plastic beds that you put bedding in. Mina never seemed that comfortable in so we then tried another type - the stuffed duvet type. They worked well and would wash up nicely but soon seemed to flatten.

Stuffed duvet type beds

Stevie flattens his stuffed duvet type bed

Donut dog beds

We then moved onto a donut or nest type bed for all 3. The hounds seemed to like them and often Mina and Jasper would cosy on up together!

Jasper & Mina cosy up in their donut bed

However, after a wee while it wasn't long before Mina decided to take the stuffing out of them.

Mina tries to perfect her 'It wasn't me' look

After the destruction of the donut bed, we were on the look out for something more durable...

And now a Tuffies bed

At Crufts last year however, I was fortunate enough to meet Luise from Tuffies. Tuffies are, as the name suggests, 'tuff' dog beds. I don't mean the kind that are hard to lie on; I mean the sort that are designed to withstand a 35kg greyhound (and sometimes 70kg of hound, when two lie on them) sleeping on them without going flat.

Tuffies Bed

Out of all the types of beds the hounds have tested over the years, the Tuffies bed has been by far the one that they all seem to prefer.

I must admit when the bed first arrived I wondered if the hounds would get used to it. For a start, it was huge (but then again, at full stretch so are greyhounds!) and it was covered in hard wearing, waterproof material - not the soft type of bedding the hounds are generally used to. However, I needn't have worried.

The great thing about the Tuffies bed is that it NEVER and I mean never - goes flat. With all the beds the hounds have had, after a while they all go flat. No amount of plumping them up works (with the exception of washing and tumble drying the duvets).

Stevie & Mina bookends on their Tuffies bed

You can buy Tuffies in a number of sizes and shapes. We've got a flat waterproof one, for which you can buy optional soft covers (which I keep meaning to buy but haven't got round to yet - I'll probably end up buying one at Crufts) and there's also a Tuffies Nest and a chew-proof design.

Our Tuffies bed has stayed nice and plump for nearly a year now and is really easy to clean - simply wipe it (or in extreme cases of muckyness - hose it) down. I tend to cover the bed with a blanket as my hounds like to make 'nests' of their beds.

The only thing I have noticed about the bed is that it's noisy! How can a bed be noisy you may ask? Well, what I mean is that when Stevie, in particular, is settling down and trying to find that just comfy spot - the bed seems to make crinkle-like noises. That said, this is my only 'complaint' (and it's so minor it doesn't really warrant a complaint - but the right word escapes me) about the bed.

In reality, the bed has been a great addition to the hounds' day and night time resting places. I would imagine that if you have a dog that loves to get muddy and then roll on their bed that a Tuffies bed would be ideal.

You can find out more about Tuffies and their prices at www.tuffies.co.uk

The final word and picture must belong to Mina though...

Who me? On my Tuffies bed? A 'dead' reindeer toy? Never!

What's your dog's favourite place for a snooze - do let us know.

PS Don't forget, any comments left on the blog during February 2012, will be entered into our Crufts tickets giveaway.See our 'Countdown to Crufts' page for details.

*Disclaimer:
Tuffies provided me with a free Tuffies bed to test and review. I have received no payment for writing this review and the views expressed are my own.

09 February 2012

Chasing Snowballs - Greyhound Winter Games

Adele may be chasing pavements but it's fair to say when there's snow around, Mina is definitely fond of chasing snowballs!

I normally wrap the hounds up in their coats and keep walks fairly short when there's snow. Mina even gets to wear two coats; she tends to feel the cold very badly, so has an undercoat and a rather red (and aptly named) blizzard coat as her top coat. However, no matter how cold Mina loves two things about the snow - snorting it, or catching snowballs.

The snow at the weekend meant we had a chance to play one of her favourite games... Catch the snowball! She loves it, and hopefully the video shows this (Watch out for Jasper's nose making an appearance at the end)

We had great fun in the playing field and I was very careful with the snowballs I threw (I didn't want them to contain any hard lumps of ice). The snow was very powdery and ideal for a game of fetch.

Share your tips for snow time fun for chance to win Crufts tickets

What are your favourite snow time games with your dogs?
Please do leave a comment and share - I've two pairs of tickets* to giveaway to Crufts to visitors who leave a comment on my blog!

*Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway is open to UK residents only.Prize consists of one pair of tickets to Crufts for each of the two winners (tickets are valid for the day of the winner's choice).
The winner is responsible for arranging their own transport to and from the NEC.
Closing dates for entries is Tuesday 28 February 2012
Winners will be notified by email and/;or via my blog posts

01 February 2012

Countdown to Crufts – Win tickets to this year’s show

Crufts has a very special place in my heart and, believe it or not, is responsible for changing my life back in 2010! So, to celebrate this fact, I have two pairs of Crufts tickets to giveaway to readers of my blog during February.

I’m somewhat ashamed to say that prior to 2010 I’d never been to Crufts. Sure enough, I’d read about it and seen coverage on the TV but I’d never actually mustered the energy to go. Then back in 2010 I took the plunge and visited for the first time…little did I know it, but that visit was to have a profound effect on my life!


A rather blurry pic of my first Crufts tweetup

2010 was the year that I really became serious about pursuing a career with dogs. I had enrolled on my canine behaviour and training degree, started reading (a now) ever-growing pile of dog books and become friends with some great dog trainers, behaviourists and fellow dog lovers. Crufts 2010 was also the place that I attended my first ever tweetup – meeting many of the people I had been tweeting with over the previous year and months leading up to the show.

I didn’t really know what to expect from Crufts. All I really knew was that it was a dog show and that I’d chosen to go on Friday, 12 March, the Terrier and Hound day (naturally). Well, if Crufts used to be just a dog show, it had certainly evolved by 2010. For a first timer like me, I was struck at how huge the event was – halls and halls of the NEC were filled with trade stands selling absolutely everything and anything dog related; it was shopping heaven and I came away with rather a lot of goodies and even had to invest in a wheeled trolley to cart them all home in.

I also managed to watch some of the displays and got my first glimpse of dog agility, which I’m now beginning to train in with Mina, and watched dog trainers and instructors giving demonstrations with their pupils – both human and canine. It was also my first ‘proper’ introduction to the Kennel Club…

Little did I know it at the time, but a mere 5 weeks later I would find myself working for the Kennel Club.

Thanks to Crufts, I discovered that the Kennel Club tweeted and I started to follow them on Twitter. A few days later, on 1st April, I received notification that I was being made redundant from my marketing job and then I spotted a tweet from the Kennel Club. They were looking for someone to work in their press office for 3 months to cover sabbatical leave. Fate must have played a role that day. I applied for the job and within the space of a fortnight had been offered the role and joined the team and for the 3 months I was with them had one of my best jobs ever – mixing my two passions of marketing/PR and dogs!

Me, in my element, with a beautiful Borzoi at Crufts 2011

Fast forward to 2011 and I had the opportunity to work in the Crufts press office. Once again, I jumped at the chance. It was a great experience and really opened my eyes to the huge amount of organization and dedication that goes into organizing the ‘greatest dog show on earth.’ A working day at Crufts is a long day – we were on coaches to the venue at 6.30am and leaving on the 10pm coach on a daily basis.

This year, however, I’m visiting Crufts as a blogger and visitor and to help celebrate that fact, I have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to two lucky people during February.* To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is leave a comment on any of my February blog posts. For each post you comment on your name will be entered into the draw. So if you post on this post and say, 3 others in February, your name will be entered 4 times!

The closing date for entries is Tuesday 28 February and I’ll announce the winners on Wednesday 29 February.

If you want to double your chances of winning, I’m also giving away tickets through my Puppy School Facebook and Twitter pages – all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is post or tweet us a photo of your dog with their favourite toy.