Dexy Does... Stay!

Woof!

hello, another exciting addition to my Dexy Does... series today, one you'd think was simple, but is actually quite hard for a pup to grasp, and that is the art of stay. The trick of stay is a helpful one to command, it can stop a pup getting hurt, put more control in an owners life, and also provide a helpful tool when an important task is afoot! The only reason it's one of the hardest to learn is because of the lack of an instant reward like with most other commands, so a pup must learn to do it all by oneself, so expect it take longer than other commands for me to understand.

Tone of voice is the key to stay. Igaboo, my owner, only uses a strict tone when she commands it, whilst other commands are more friendly toned and higher pitched. She started by doing room to room, so she would go into the kitchen, tell me to stay there and then walk into the lounge, every time I followed her she put me back and tried again, eventually I learnt to stay, making sure I knew sit was essential for this too. Once I leant the basic notion we moved on to more advanced training which involved asking me to stay in the park and her walking away and calling me from a distance and also getting me to stay on my cushion when Igaboo goes out without me to stop me rushing outside too. Like always, patience is the key, try and try again and your pup will learn, just remember the command should be firm and you should only just say the command word and no other gossip!

Training stay with two people is a lot easier, one person can hold poochy and one can command, it's easier because obviously your pup can't escape and not stay, but also because you can reward your pup on the right behaviour at the time. The only trouble with this method is the fact when your pup is expected to stay by themselves, you may find yourself needing to top up their training to ensure they know how to do this too.

So that's it for stay, it all depends on your pup's personal intelligence, and it's definitely one that younger pups will struggle with due to their need for company and hyper ways. Igaboo remembers the first time I stayed properly without any effort, she was going out and just before she left she asked me to, and I did, she was so proud and happy but couldn't show me, so when she came back I got a super treat of some posh pate and cuddles! I stay every time she asks now, I wonder why...

Next time on Dexy Does... I shall be looking at baths, a worry for some pups and owners alike!

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x

Dexy Says Relax!

Woof!

Hi again! Today I'm going to be having a sniff and snuff around the subject of hyperactivity, that's when I run around and around like a fruit loop, woof needlessly and can be quite the destructive pup! Hyperactivity may seem like you're dog is happy but in most cases it can be because your pup is bored or not being fulfilled in some way. I use to be hyper most of the time, but now I have certain triggers or points of the day when I go a lil loco!

You may wonder why it's necessary to quell hyper behaviour, I mean, what's wrong with a mad puppy?! Well yesterday my owner was on a Disney film marathon after getting Beauty and the Beast to watch, all well and good, but unfortunate to her the film ran into my hyper time! Igaboo works hard to obtain a routine for me, and at certain times of the day it is madness time, where I'm encouraged to run and play and be my usual fruit loop, if I'm like this at other times she will ignore the behaviour until I calm down, but because her relax time had crept into my mad time she couldn't watch her films until my needs had been addressed. That's why it's good to be in a routine with your pooch, without one, you'll find it very hard to relax and sit back with a cuppa tea without a dog scooching about and ultimately annoying you. It's also not fair to have your pup expect something like a good playtime for an hour like usual and not provide it, scatty behaviour on your part will lead to scatty behaviour on my part!

Other reasons I could be hyperactive could be because something has spooked me- like the post, so we now have a box to stop me attacking those enveloped intruders, I can be hyper too if I haven't had enough exercise and a proper stimulating walk, so make sure I get both of those boxes ticked. Some pups are docile so you might not have a hyper pup to live with, but if you do just look for what triggers it and find ways to overcome it. I always get hyper when we have visitors, most people don't mind this, but some don't want a lil pooch jumping all over them, and some little people can be scared by me jumping at them, so whenever people pop over I get a hard rawhide bone which I show off proudly to our guests and promptly munch on it quietly on my cushion, although some of our guests like winding me up when I'm hyper but Igaboo always makes sure it becomes a structured game or activity that makes me learn and think, but more importantly calms me down.

Basic hyperactive behaviour can just come across as annoying or amusing to an owner, watching me run about in circles, chasing invisible cats, barking to thin air, but the most important reason to try and make it more structured is because I could really hurt myself doing it. My owner has watched me fall down the stairs, mistime jumps and also run straight into things, on all occasions I was whimpering and whelping but luckily it was nothing more than superficial, I also once got so excited that I tripped my owner when she was carrying a hot drink and both of us got a little burnt, I now steer clear of people holding cups! So just be careful with hyper behaviour and remember it may be fun to observe but it normally means your pup is unhappy about something and also could harm your pup as they rush about in their own mad mood.

By the way the picture is me in the middle of a manic episode, I like to dig the duvet until Igaboo's nicely made bed is one big mess!

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x

Happy Halloween!

Woof!

Hello everyone! May I wish you all a happy Halloween and hope you all had fun scaring each other and having yummy treats! I celebrated in many ways, I went on a spooky trail through some woods, went to a party and also took part in a Samhain ceremony. I did even have my own witch outfit to wear, but I found it much more interesting to chew and play with it, so Igaboo gave up on me wearing it, she also dressed as a witch for our party, I didn't like the face paint she was wearing because it wasn't nice to give her any puppy kisses! I did manage to behead a werewolf though at the party, very strange, found a human inside it...

Halloween is very fun, and I liked all the dressing up and things to play with, it's true meaning is deep in the pagan belief system which I enjoyed celebrating too, fundamentally though, in today's times it's all about being scared. So I am using it as a basis to look at puppy frights and how to help your pup to be a brave lil soldier.

A few things scare me, lots of things use to scare me, it's all about understanding what it is and to tackle it so I'm not scared any more. A big one that use to scare me was the sound of motorbikes, I would tremble every time one went past, so Igaboo and I spent time just walking up and down busy roads to get me use to the sound, I don't even notice them going past now. She says the trick is to not reward my fear, so whenever she notices I am scared by something she reassures me with a friendly voice, but no physical contact, this is because by petting me you will affirm that I should be scared and then I'll never get over my worries. When I was first brought home I was too small to climb the stairs properly, I remember I got stuck half way up one day and I found that scary, but all Igaboo did was sit at the bottom and encouraged me down, by making me stand up to things I am scared of will build my confidence and make me more independent. It all depends on your pooch's particular fears, but these are the best two methods of helping them overcome it, either expose your pup to what they fear until it becomes a background appearance or make them tackle fears head on to build up courage, which ever you choose make sure it is the safest option for the specific situation.

At the moment I'm a little scared by fireworks, I've never heard them before and my owner tells me it's common to hear them in abundance now. When I'm at home my owner always makes sure I have background noise in way of a television or some music, this is good to have as it drowns out the sound of any bangs outside. The real problem is when I'm out walking, whenever I hear one I go a bit skittish on my lead, I jump around, try and get Igaboo's attention, stop walking, and can pull off sharply. None of this is good because it could mean I could hurt myself whilst out, what my owner has taken to doing is to sing to me when they are going off and she slows down the pace of walking, having the verbal reassurance which is toned to be friendly and fun, and by slowing down I relax because it's all behaviour that means there's nothing to be afraid of. Igaboo does feel silly singing quietly to a dog, but then I've noticed her talking to herself all the time, but hearing your owners voice is always comforting.

A truly happy pup should only be scared of things that could cause harm to them, irrational fears and phobias will only hinder a pooch and their dog days. Some will take time to eradicate, some will go without trying, just always look out for triggers and nip them in the bud as soon as you see anything, and as for Halloween frights, well, we all like a good scare every now and again, just remember your pets, but then we do have to deal with you everyday first thing in the morning....

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Dexy Doooooooooo

(Will do anything for a Dexy Snax)

x boo x boo x

Terror Tour!

Woof!

Last night I had a fantastic night out trekking the streets of the East End of London on the trail of Jack the Ripper! How scared does Igaboo look?! It was very, very dark in some of the lanes, so it was hard to get a picture of me during it, but couldn't resist shaming my owner with her look of terror!

It was a walking tour around all the streets of Whitechapel exploring all the locations the Ripper struck and did his nasty things, we learnt all about the theories of who it could of been and about the lives of the victims. There were a few spooky places for me to investigate and I had a good sniff and snuff to see if I could crack the case myself, I even had a bark at a few shadows just in case the Ripper was still lurking there! The tour lasted about 2 hours and was all walking so not only was it interesting, it also gave me some good exercise, until it got too cold and Igaboo snuck me under her coat and scarf and then we stopped off at a nice warm coffee shop and her friend, Spencer, gave me some yummy whipped cream and warm milk whilst all the staff there gave me many much attention! Igaboo weren't that impressed with what I was drinking but couldn't stop laughing when I re-emerged from my treat with a face full of cream and attacked Spencer with puppy kisses!

All in all it was an awesome night out for this pup! It's good to explore new places and interact with new people, and I love riding the tube! It's all important stuff for building up my confidence and making me a sociable pup, I just love all the attention I get when I'm out, everyone thinks I'm soooo cute! Although I didn't crack the case and don't know who Jack the Ripper was, I still had a lot of fun and enjoyed trying to solve the case, dogs aren't normally allowed on the tour but they made an exception for me, so if you fancy going on one yourself with your pooch make sure they can go first.

Anywho, I'm off to do some more investigating now, see where that smell of sausages is coming from... must probe Igaboo on this matter! Elementary my dears!

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x

Puppy Farms

Woof!

Hello, no story about me today, instead I'm having a nose about the growing concern of puppy farms. These are horrible places where poor mummy dogs are kept in disgusting conditions and forced to bear litter after litter of puppies to supply to people, and more worrying, a large majority of pet shops. The Welsh government has announced plans to revise the Breeding of Dogs Act of 1973 to ensure all breeders in Wales are responsible, and more importantly that the dogs and puppies in their care are treated fairly and humanely, this is fantastic news due to a large proportion of puppy farming taking place in Wales.

A puppy farm is one of the worse places a dog could be in, most are dirty, damp, and also provide no outside living space, some farms have even been found to keep the poor animals in complete darkness all day and night long. Due to living conditions in these vile places disease and infection is rife, puppies are forced to live in cramped conditions, normally in small concrete cells, they live, sleep, and eat around their own filth as they have nowhere to escape it, this of course causes illness and many pups may not even survive their time there. Sadly, many puppies do die whilst in these horrid conditions, and if that wasn't awful enough, the lonely little bodies are normally left in the cells, that's right, not only do other pups have to deal with the filth, but they also have to comprehend the lost of siblings and live with their dead bodies in the tiny cages.

The puppies born into a farm really do not have much chance of a happy life, if one is lucky enough not to die or get very poorly from the conditions it's more than likely they will have psychological issues. This could range from severe aggression to complete fearfulness because the puppies are not use to the real world and have trust issues with humans as they have been treated so badly. Many farmed puppies also have underlying genetic health problems as the importance to ensure healthy breeding from the parentage is lacked and many genetic problems occur due to this. Some farms have been found to have over 150 animals on the premises, and once a mummy dog can't have any more pups they are usually abandoned or even worse, killed by the breeders, and that is not always done by putting them to sleep, I'll let you imagine the worse the breeders could do to kill a dog they don't want any more.

The most tragic thing of puppy farming is that it is not illegal. Anyone can start one up, and with clever administration run one of these evil places. Hopefully the Welsh assembly will pass the new legislation that would govern all breeders in Wales to register, have their dogs microchipped and also to have no one person in charge of more than 20 dogs. These are only small steps of course, but it's a start. It should announced in the next few days if their plans are going ahead, and if successful will be in practice by March next year.

Hopefully this has explained a bit about the horrors of puppy farming, and one day I'd like to see it banned completely, no pup should live like that and it makes me feel very lucky to have the life I have. Things we can all do to help it along is to not buy from these breeders or pet shops, if you want a puppy find a small breeder or rescue centre, if buying from a breeder always see the mummy dog with her puppies, and if possible their daddy dog too, also check the Kennel Club to ensure that if you're buying a pedigree then that is what you are getting. I've added a link to this blog biscuit to the Puppy Love Campaign who are a charity fighting the puppy farms, it has a lot of information and news on the subject, it also includes leaflets and posters for you to pass around to others to spread the word of this heinous world of puppy farming. As their campaign motto says- We have a choice, they don't.

Puppy Love and Kisses

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x

Puppy Love Campaign- http://www.puppylovecampaigns.org/

Please help in anyway you can, thank you :)

Dexy Does... Walkies!

Woof!

Hello! Sorry it's been so long, been a busy pup! So I return with a new Dexy Does.. all about the art of walkies. Igaboo, my owner, was very silly when she first got me and thought as a dog I would naturally walk happily on a lead, well, she learnt that's not true, walking your pooch is a skill you need to teach us pups, and the key to happy walkies is the key to good exercise and stimulus for me.

The first thing you need to consider is the lead, I have a puppy lead and collar, but there are many varieties of leads out there and also harnesses; which can be better with larger breeds. Make sure the lead is safe and secure and wont snap, and also is not too long that your furry friend can get away from you at a distance. When placing a collar on, ensure there is a gap between my neck and collar, about enough to put a couple of fingers between. A great idea to get me use to my new collar is to make me wear it all day around the house, once I'm use to it, you can leave it off.

The important thing to consider with walking your do is the pack mentality we have. It's all about being alpha, so is that you or is that your dog? To provide you with the status of top dog, you need to lead the walk, so start off right by leaving the house first and letting your dog follow you out. By letting a dog lead you in any capacity will lead the lil pup to think they are the alpha to your beta and try and take over your pleasant walk. The pack mentality will compel me to explore the area and also look out for danger, and the more I feel that I am the alpha the more tense and anxious I will be to ensure I am keeping you safe, and ergo, not enjoying of benefiting from my walk.

When out walking, choose a trick word to get me walk, my word is 'come', say it in a pleasant voice and spur me on, never drag me if I don't walk at first because this will only cause me to resent or fear walkies. Keep the length of the lead so I can heel to your ankles, like I said before, I should not be leading the walk because then I will be too preoccupied to benefit, keep talking to me and try not to stop too often, I may be naughty and try and jump at you and wrangle your legs with my lead, but persevere with discipline and verbal cues, and eventually you'll have a pup walking along happily alongside you.

Spatial awareness is very important to consider when out walking your pup, you must look out for hazards and potential dangers for my safety. The big one is roads, train me to stop at all roads, regardless of traffic conditions, and one thing my owner has taught me is when we are crossing a road she uses the word 'quick' to make me walk faster over it whilst picking up her own pace. Also be aware of other dogs being present when out on an adventure, most dogs you will meet will be friendly, but it is important to make sure first. Beware cyclists on paths (very dangerous if you ask me!) and also children, as their behaviour can be scary or exciting. Another thing to be alert to is litter on the streets, I have had many great finds removed from me as some things I find on the street are dangerous to me, so be vigilant to what your pup picks up along the way!

Walkies are an essential contribution to your poochy's health, it provides excellent exercise to keep me fit and all my joints get a good workout, it also provides mental stimulation that I may not receive whilst at home, it's a great way of interacting me with other people and dogs so I'm a nice sociable pup and best of all it provides a real good bonding experience between us. My owner loves going for walks with me and we walk about 3 miles everyday at least! I was a nightmare to walk first and it was frustrating but now I am a happy pup that skips along with my owner and love going on my many adventures with her!

Hope that helps with walkies! On my next Dexy Does... I shall be looking at the art of training stay. I have just mastered it myself to the point where I return to a specific spot when I have to stay in particular places, at this rate I'm going to need a doggie diploma! Tail wags for now!

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x

Indoor Fun & Games

Woof!

Hello everyone! Today Igaboo and I are going to suggest some indoor games to play with your puppy to keep us occupied since we can't spend lots and lots of time outdoors anymore. My owner is needing to keep me entertained because I've been rather naughty lately and been having fun shredding anything through the letterbox, choosing to scratch at things I shouldn't and trying out for the X-Factor with my glorious singing voice at the strangest times at night. I also have to be careful because my owner has hurt her wrist again, and the bandage is so tempting to gnaw on but it hurts her and could cause an infection. So here are some games to play indoors, that will keep me entertain, uses my brain and also gets some extra exercise in.

Ball Of Wool

This game is great fun, all you need is a ball of wool that has some wool loose but the rest secured into it's ball. Ok, sit on the floor and using the loose piece, start spinning the wool around you and I'll start spinning around you too! Once you have me chasing, change the direction you go round, and then speed it up until I can't see it anymore but assuming it's just around you. Once you have me chasing the shadow, wait until I'll behind you and hide the ball on your lap, I go round a few times without realising I'm not chasing anything anymore! Let me find it, give me love and start again!

Hide & Seek

A super simple game involving any of my toys-especially great if you have to leave me at home by myself. All you need to do is hide some of my favourite toys or treats about the house, could be anywhere from behind doors, behind the sofa, and/or up high on the stairs. I love going for an investigation and I eventually find all my things, it's a great way to hone my sniffing skills and keeps me occupied whilst you're gone, and when you get home, I'll proudly show you all my finds!

Indoor Fetch

As it says, like fetch, but indoors! Ping pong balls are great for this game as they can't damage anything they strike and their bounciness is super awesome to chase around and try to catch. My owner throws them all over the place and gets me running around like a fruit loop all around the house, she even confuses me by throwing two balls at once, or only pretending to throw it, fetch is one of my favourite games in the whole wide world!

Hide The Treat

This is a great way to test my mental ability, all you need is a few plastic cups/boxes and some treats, and all you need to do is hide a treat under one of them and let me try and find it! Mix it up and play along yourself like you are doing a magic trick, swap the cups over, try and distract me, but then see how quickly I can find it-I always do!

So there are four of my favourite rainy days games. Of course, my owner plays with me in a lot of different ways and is always getting me different toys to play with too. Rainy days are no fun for anyone, so maybe instead of just playing, use the time to train me some obedience tricks, just as long as I am kept entertained and feel loved I will be one happy pup!

Puppy Kisses and Love

Dexy Do Dah Dog

x x x