Introducing Mac who came into welfare recently. He's about 5yrs old, and extremely loving. He can get a bit over excitable when he meets other dogs and he can also be strong on the lead.
Wednesday 23 February 2022
Welfare Welcome to Mac
Tuesday 22 February 2022
Tia's Pupdates - Stalked in the Fields
I had to pause for this moment. At the time it almost consumed me with terror, and that seems silly reflecting back. How could I have known otherwise? After all I'd never really known love or care from a hooman!
A couple of hours after my bold escape, the lady hooman arrived. I saw her enter the field and she must have thought herself smart because she'd brought treats with her. That wouldn't work now that I was big, brave, and strong. Although an undercurrent of fear lurked beneath my fierceness, so I ran, and she couldn’t catch me.
Over the next eight days I roamed around the different fields. I ran every time I saw anyone or anything, nothing and no-one could be trusted. I knew that I could keep myself safe, if only I knew what to do! I'd gained my bravery, but even in my inexperienced youth I realised that wouldn't be enough.
I regularly observed the lady hooman as she stalked me, but I always maintained my distance. I had to. If she had more of them treats, I might have succumbed to temptation. I hadn’t eaten for so long my tummy rumbled, and my strength faded. I needn’t have worried because after I evaded her on numerous occasions, she left some food and drink. I'd never experienced such overwhelming delight after eating and drinking. I felt a bit stronger - I could survive forever like this!
On the eighth day, the hooman returned. Again. She didn’t try to come near me, but simply left me more food. I waited for her to leave and then investigated. The lovely fishy aromas beguiled me, and while so eager to eat the fish I missed the signs of the danger around me. I hadn’t noticed the surrounding cage and the door had had already closed. 
Very shortly after, the hooman was back. Trapped in the cage I couldn't run, so I barked with all my might and flashed my teething. She didn't react, and just waited with dreadful patience.
Monday 21 February 2022
Behavioural Topics - Dog Friendly Dogs
Animal behaviours can be complex and just like human behaviour, are responses arise from to many stimuli. A significant factor in dog behaviour is often people, their owners, family, and strangers.
In this latest article Lisa Hird outlines one common situation you can help your dog with.
Discover more about her work and training experience on her website: https://www.dogbehaviourclinic.co.uk/
Dog Friendly Dogs
A common situation many dog owners face, on a daily basis, is their on-lead dog being harassed or frightened by off lead dogs running over, followed by owners shouting, “It’s OK, my dog is friendly” or another dog owner and their dog coming right up close so they can say “Hello” because their dog is sociable and “just wants to say hi”.
Having a sociable dog is great but it doesn’t mean that just because they are sociable, they should be in other dogs faces, especially if the other dog is nervous or even reactive.
Socialisation is the process by which puppies learn to relate and act appropriately to people and other animals. That doesn’t mean they should interact with every dog they see. Quite the opposite in fact. Socialisation is exposure to – not get to meet and play with every dog they see. 
It is not the job of other dogs to teach our dogs sociable behaviours.
Many sociable dogs just want to play and when they can’t, they may pull or whine or begin to lunge towards the other dog. Quite apart from being sore and unpleasant for the handler, it can often set the greeting off on the wrong foot.
Imagine someone you don’t know, coming over to you, screaming HELLO in a loud voice, running at you with arms outstretched… worse still, you are tied up….
Saturday 19 February 2022
Care Topics - Grooming Your GSD
Grooming the German Shepherd Dog
Before you start grooming your German Shepherd, make sure that you have habituated him to the equipment you will be using. Let him see the equipment and pair it with a treat. Progress to touching him with the brush and reward him. If you have a nervous dog, don’t try to rush it. Think about using “The bucket game” (Chirag Patel) or chin targeting. You will find notes on this on our behaviour and training Facebook group. Once you have habituated your dog to the tools, you can start to brush him gently. Short sessions to begin with to stop him getting stressed or bored. After a couple of minutes, stop brushing and reward your dog with a treat or a game. Then resume the grooming for another couple of minutes and then reward with a treat or a game. Make grooming an enjoyable experience for him.
With the standard coat GSD you can get away with grooming once a week or so, but with a long haired GSD, it probably needs to be done every other day. I prefer to use a rake on long coated and standard coats. I opted for the Karli double row rake. This will get the dead undercoat out. Once you have finished raking him, you can “polish” him with either a zoom groom or a slicker brush. I tend to use the zoom groom. You will be surprised how much dead hair this gets out. Don’t forget to check for knots. Their Trousers (boys) or bloomers (girls) can get tangled. If you have a long coated GSD, they are prone to knots behind the ears. I tend to cut these out if they are too bad as it can be painful for them if you try tugging the knots out.
Do not be tempted to bath your GSD too often as it can dry their skin. Every 3 months is plenty. I don’t even bath mine that much. Be mindful that some shampoos are carcinogenic. Try to use a more natural one with less chemicals. I like Cooper and Gracie or Avogel neem shampoo. Do not use human shampoo on your dog and avoid some of the dog shampoos available in the bargain stores. They are cheap for a reason. Some people use baby shampoo, but remember, Johnson and Johnson were successfully sued over cancer claims regarding their baby powder. Rinse thoroughly.
One of my best buys is my blaster. I could not be without it. You will be amazed at the dust and dead hair this blows out. I leave it at the back door, and give the dogs a quick blast as they come in if it has been raining or if they have been in puddles etc. They are powerful and noisy so the dog needs to be gradually habituated to it. Start by pairing the noise with treats. Do not have it too near the dog at this point. Only when your dog is not worried by the noise, progress to directing the nozzle towards his back from a distance making it an enjoyable experience paired with treats. Gradually work up to directing the nozzle on his coat. If the noise is too worrying for your dog, (some dogs are noise sensitive) try using ear mufflers on him, but remember, you will have to habituate him to these too. There are special licky mats (bath buddies) that you can use while blasting your dog.
Check nails and ears regularly. Most dogs hate having their nails clipped. If they struggle as you are about to clip a nail, it can cause a problem. Always habituate your dog to the clippers and then use the bucket game (Chirag Patel) or chin rest (instructions for this on our training and behaviour Facebook group. Be careful not to cut the quick as this is painful for the dog. Look at the back of the nail and you will see the “vein like” quick. I usually put my finder under so I am protecting the quick when cutting. Cut at an angle. If you do and it bleeds, you can use cornflower to stem the flow of blood, but your dog will certainly be more wary next time. I like these clippers. Doggy man 7 inch. They are more expensive than some but are good. 
Ensure your dog's ears are kept clean. Start with a good ear cleaner applied in the ear and clean with cotton wool. The Cooper and Gracie range is nice. If you dog has any issues with his ears, try Thornit. I have used this for years and have known it clear problem ears when all else has failed. Just a quarter of a teaspoon in each ear. Again, habituate your dog then use the bucket game or chin rest.
Join our Facebook group if you have questions or would just like to talk with like minded owners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/230713463690105
Friday 18 February 2022
Tia's Pupdates - Start at the Beginning
Yesterday I promised you my life story, and that was easy to say into a mic (I do like how shapes appear on the hooman glowy box when I do that), but the reality of remembering and sharing is not so easy. However a bitch's word is her bond - more so than you can imagine and so we start at the beginning.
A lady bought me as a young pup, and she wanted me to be a guard dog. She wanted me to be big, brave, strong, and fierce. I tried, honest I did - I'm no slacker despite what some hooman might say, but really, I lacked the traits she expected of me.
The lady never introduced me to things, so everything I encountered frightened me, and I barked but not through courage - simply fear of the unknown surrounding me at every waking moment. Still a pup, I still lacked size and strength.
One day, some people came to the house and the lady handed them my lead and they put me in their car. They hadn’t spent any time getting to know me, so remained a confusion of unrecognised features and scents. Petrified into submission I didn’t dare bark this time. I lay still and wondered what would become of me.
After a long journey we arrived at a house. The drive must have lasted two hours, or maybe more, but in my fear I couldn't be certain. They opened the car door, the biggest dog I'd ever seen waited for me.
I reacted instantly not knowing why these strange hoomans had brought me to this great beast, only knowing that I needed to flee to be safe. I leapt out and ran for my life. Who knows what these people were going to do to me? Escape offered my only chance for survival, so I ran into a field and hid.
These humans continued looking for me but every time they came near me, I showed them my teeth and pretended how fierce I could be. That worked and I must have looked big, brave, and strong then because they left. I did it. If only my owner could have seen me then. Maybe she would not have sent me away.
Thursday 17 February 2022
Tia's Pupdates - Tia Joins Social Media
Hello everypawdy. Tia here. I thought I would write a pupdate to introduce myself on these social thingies that the hoomans have given me. I am a rather clever and delightful 18 months old German Shepherd.
The GSD Welfare Fund brought me into their care about 6 months ago. Well, when I say I came into Welfare, I mean they dognapped me. Can you believe it? I didn’t know they were that desperate to collect dogs.
My story had started before then though and I can tell you all about it if you like and subscribe to my own channels. They told me to write that, but I hope you will as there's so much fun we can have!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TiasPupdates
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PupdateTiaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/tiaspupdates/
Wednesday 16 February 2022
Welfare Welcome to Ceto
Please give a warm Welfare welcome to this beauty. Ceto is a 9 month old female German Shepherd. Sadly she's found herself in Welfare due to family circumstances. She is very nervous but is now starting to relax a bit more. She is being loved and cared for by Uncle Lawrence. Welcome to the family Ceto 
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