Humdinger Dogs

I know it has been a while since you have heard from us here at Humdinger Dogs...Have been busy being a Soccer Mum. Anyway, I wanted to offer you something special leading up to Christmas and to let you know I haven't forgotten you ... So here it is.... Both of our printed books are HALF PRICED!! 🥳🥳 There is limited stock of these printed book, so get in quick to avoid disappointment 😥. Purchase online through our Website. https://Humdingerdogs.wordpress.com/store/

**New Zealand postal address only**

Wishing you & your pups all the best

Loads of woofs
Tania & Onyx

It's National Black Dog Day...

Great article from one of my favourite dog trainers - Jack Fenton - Dorset Dog Trainer

Today, I was involved in a car crash. Here are some things you can learn about your dog's anxiety.

Firstly, everyone is fine. No physical injuries. A tree fell into the road while a student was giving me a lift into town, and we drove straight through. Most of the wood was rotten and broken, but a headlight was still smashed, the grill was pushed in and there were quite a few dents.

It would be easy to write this off as a simply scary event, and call it there. I, right now, feel fine about it.

But the body keeps score of the things that happen. And mentally? I might not later.

There's a couple of reasons for this. We witnessed a stressful incident in class with a dog walker and some cyclists, and I got some annoying personal news mid-class. All these things in isolation are stressful, but added together over the course of a few hours? It's a lot.

Your dog is the same. A build up of stressful events can make something that they might be able to brush off 'stick' inside their mind.

It is also unfair to say the event was 'fine'. It was, but it was still frightening, and while consciously I feel okay subconsciously my body might not. So I'll need to bear in mind my anxiety if there are any issues when I get in a car again, even though I feel like that is unlikely.

Again, your dog is the same. They might have an incident that they brush off at the time, but it doesn't mean it might not creep up down the road.

Finally, I'm not going to avoid cars.

If I said 'I'm not going anywhere near a car for a while', I risk creating an issue when there isn't one. I'll be aware of how I feel when I'm in a car, but to completely avoid them would lead to more issues (especially when I do feel alright at this point).

Seeing a pattern? Your dog is the same.

If we completely avoid dogs, or people, or cyclists, or children, we can exacerbate the problem. Should we through our dog into social situations immediately? No!

But they still need safe exposure. Hiding won't solve anything.

Keep in mind that a stressful incident is never just in isolation, that what we might view as a non-event now might not be, and that we shouldn't avoid situations where our dog has been previously stressed. We just need to adjust how we approach them for a while, until we know they're okay!

Great article on play for dogs....

I can so relate to this post … miss you Mocha!

https://www.facebook.com/share/17sjBpnnTcKzXJpR/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Does anyone else’s dog live in a football mad household? Onyx does! Only she isn’t the chilled, cuddly kind of dog 😉

That would be my Onyx!

Interesting article in the use of ball launcher toys…

Ball launchers have become a popular accessory for dog owners who want to keep their dogs active and entertained. However, these devices can have negative effects on your dog's health and wellbeing.

Ball Launchers Can Cause Obsession:

Some dogs become obsessed with fetching a ball, which can lead to behavioural problems. They may become aggressive or anxious when they are not playing with the ball launcher, making it difficult to enjoy time with your pet. It's important to recognise the signs of obsession and to limit your dog's use of the ball launcher.

Ball Launchers Interrupt Natural Behaviour:

Dogs are naturally curious and enjoy exploring their surroundings through sniffing and relaxing. However, when they become obsessed with fetching a ball, they may lose interest in these natural behaviours. This can lead to boredom and frustration, causing your dog to become less active and less healthy.

Ball Launchers Can Cause Joint Problems:

Repeatedly launching a ball puts a lot of stress on your dog's joints, especially if they are a high energy breed. This can lead to joint problems such as arthritis, which can be very painful and expensive to treat. It's important to limit the amount of time your dog spends playing with a ball launcher and to give them plenty of rest breaks.

While ball launchers may seem like a fun and easy way to keep your dog entertained, they can have negative effects on their health and wellbeing. They interrupt natural behaviour, can cause joint problems, and lead to obsession. If you want to keep your dog healthy and happy, it's best to limit their use of ball launchers and encourage them to engage in natural behaviours such as sniffing, scent work, exploring and simply relaxing.