Your Dog 202003

LETTERS

36 Your Dog March 2020

SCRAGGS by Richard Duszczak

SPONSORED BY

GIVE IT TIME

I read Julie Hill’s article, about dogs who are

fearful of the vet’s, with interest (‘Fighting

the fear’, February issue). It was particularly

relevant to me because my dog was always

anxious about vet visits and it is only in the

last year or so that he seems to have come

to accept them.

I can’t really say what the reason for this

is, other than we always persevered with

him, and the vets and surgery staf were

always really good at making him

as welcome as they could, and handling

him sympathetically.

I do look back and think that when he

was a puppy, I was too concerned about

him being well behaved, and I think some

of my anxiety transferred to him. In more

recent years, I have always taken plenty of

treats to reward him for being quiet and

calm in the waiting room (di cult when

cats are around!), and for being good in

the examination area. He still pants quite

a lot, but he loves seeing the vets, and

leaves with his tail wagging.

I think as Julie intimated, it is very

much a team ef ort and owners working

alongside vets and veterinary nurses is key

to helping a dog overcome any anxieties

he may have.

Lois Thompson, Cumbria.

DOG WISDOM

I enjoyed reading about the university that

has recruited a four-legged member to its

well-being team (News, February issue).

I think this is a brilliant idea and one that

more universities should take up.

Certain dogs seem to have a natural

connection with young people, and we

often don’t acknowledge this enough.

I have a teenage daughter and she can

be a real teenager sometimes in that she

becomes grumpy, rude (occasionally),

often highly stressed, and easily upset

about things. Without fail, our Cavalier

King Charles Spaniel, Jodie, is wonderful

with her, calms her down, and listens, in

a non-judgemental way, to all her woes.

My daughter now actively seeks Jodie

out if she’s feeling down. She knows she can

chatter away and Jodie will still love her and

give her a loving lick no matter what she

has told her.

I am constantly amazed at the versatility

of dogs and their ability to connect with

people at a very fundamental level. I love

to see dogs’ talents being more widely

appreciated and used.

Faye Lothan, Shropshire.

SWEET DREAMS

ALL ROUND!

I loved the article on sleeping dogs in the

January issue of the mag.

It was full of fascinating facts and

information — who would have guessed

that the average pet dog sleeps that long

— not me!

It also got me thinking how di cult life

must be if you don’t have a dog who settles

at night.

I’ve been lucky in that all my dogs have

been good sleepers, who always settled.

I think a good routine has a lot to do

with it, and I have to say I have always

used a crate with my dogs. My current dog

loves it, and sees it as a refuge. He loves his

night-time routine too, and always goes

straight into his crate and settles down, and

receives a couple of treats as a reward.

I’m sure a routine helps, although a lot

depends on the make-up of the dog. My

current dog is a loving, but rather lazy, type,

so he’s happy to stay in bed until the late

morning. But, a few years ago, I had a dog

who was awake and ready to go at 6am

come what may. He always settled happily,

and was i ne through the night, but he

never slept beyond 6am for his entire life,

and would bark for the rest of the house to

get up too — even when we were

on holiday!

Susan Mottram, Cheshire.

36 Your Dog February 2020 http://www.yourdog.co.uk 37

Do you and your dog start to

panic every time you approach

the veterinary surgery? It needn’t

be like this, says Julie Hill.

place that doesn’t smell like “...we take them to this funny

anywhere else.”

regularly look at their teeth...”“Make a deliberate effort to

Many dogs are afraid of vet visits.

W

ABOUT JULIEJulie Hill has hosted DogCast Radio, written, and broadcast about dogs for over

10 years. She lives in rural Shropshire with her family — both two- and four-legged.

BullmastiffMaz is people and dog reactive, and going to the vet was her worst nightmare, so owner Beth Richardson, X Staff ordshire Bull Terrier

from Buckley, Flintshire, did a lot of desensitisation training with her. ahead of time. “When my vets need She also practised treatment

something doing they tell me what it is, and I go home and train it. A lot of owners will fi nd this useful — I taught a hand touch. I say ‘Touch’, and she

puts her nose on my hand and she can hold it there solidly for up to 30 seconds, which is more than enough time for an injection.”

Beth’s vet is forward thinking and

Mhabituating them, teaching them people are nice,” pointed out behaviourist Fiona “We do all this work socialising them, any dogs develop a fear of the vet’s surgery and, from a dog’s point of view, it’s a fairly logical reaction.

Whelan. “Then, randomly, we take them to this funny place that doesn’t smell like anywhere else. We have people that smell

funny, who stick thermometers up their bums, and needles in their necks, and all sorts of unpleasant things. Of course they develop a fear.”

The Company of Animals, and is seeing increasing numbers of dogs with a fear or phobia of the vet’s. Fiona is a behaviour consultant at

As a vet, Cat Henstridge has to deal with the issue regularly. “It’s hard if you have a dog who’s afraid of the vet’s. It can make visits a stressful experience for both of you, not to mention potentially embarrassing, and the temptation to never cross the clinic threshold again can be strong!”However, owners of fearful dogs need to

be honest with their vet.advised: “Owners need to let the vet know that their dog is anxious or nervous; Veterinary researcher Rachel Malkani

however, the vet also needs to be astute at reading dog body language and interpreting how that dog is feeling during the consultation.”

learn to be comfortable at the vet’s surgery. With time and training, your dog can Rachel said: “It depends on what the

dog is scared of. If the dog is nervous in the waiting room environment as a result of noise, or other animals, if a consultation room is free, let them sit in there with lots

of treats. Treats are key in the veterinary setting; they can help change a negative mindset to a positive one.”Owners are not helpless. Cat said: “One

thing you can do which will have a massive impact is to make a deliberate eff ort to regularly look at their teeth, lift up their ears, feel their paws, and clip their nails. If

they are used to it at home, they’ll be far more accepting of it at the vet’s.”

extend this habituation. “I get something as simple as a biro, because a dog doesn’t know if it’s a pen or a syringe. I have a tub Fiona has numerous suggestions to

of very small, very tasty treats where the dog can see them but does not have access, and then I literally start by showing him the pen, use a marker word such as ‘Yes’, then

reward; show him the pen, ‘Yes’, reward.”to progress to touching him somewhere he doesn’t mind being touched with the pen, If the dog responds well, Fiona’s advice is

mark, and reward. You can then build up to touching him all over in the same way and

studyCase

THE FEAR

FIGHTING

Forward thinking

who is helping to make vet practices more dog friendly.a veterinary researcher Rachel Malkani is Cat Henstridge advises owners to ask their vet for help. behaviour consultant at The Company of Animals.Fiona Whelan is

suggested that Beth stay with Maz for a pre-med before surgery, and be the one who took her out of the kennel afterwards.

become happy with hands-on treatment. hard work has paid off. “The physio was With lots of support, Maz has even Beth has been delighted at how the

terrifithe sweetest bond. She really likes Maz; Maz will walk in, know what’s coming, and reverses up to the physiotherapist as ed of her initially; now they’ve got

if she’s saying: ‘Massage please!’just shows how much diff erence doing that little bit of training — and having “You have to advocate for your dog. It

a really good vet — can make.”

Maz (right) with sibling Flo. Maz has learned to be comfortable even during hands-on treatment.

timecomfortable at the helping Maz to be vet’s surgery. and eff ort into

at

s

A part of a new initiative to help students university has recruited a four-legged member to its well-being team as

manage their mental and physical health.Jack Russell Bessie is available

throughout the day to students and staf at Newcastle University for stress-busting

walks or cuddles.The three-year-old terrier, who belongs

to director of student health and well-being Sally Ingram, is already

proving popular. Philosophy student Paige Coope and James Woods,

communication, both recommend the who’s studying business, media, and

‘Borrow Bessie’ scheme, especially for anyone stressed with exams or missing

their own pets. “Bessie is sure to bring you some much-deserved downtime when

you need it,” said James.Bessie follows hot on the heels of

retired Greyhound Frankie, from Therapy Dogs Nationwide, who helped the

de-stress and unwind during exams.university’s Business School students

In addition, the School of Psychology

is also trialling a ‘Dogs for Welfare’ scheme, which enables staf to bring

their pets into work one day a week to help manage stress, promote physical

activity, and encourage social interaction. Dogs who successfully complete their

‘pawbationary’ period are given a ‘PAWSport’ that allows them to come

into work with their owner.

Borrowing

Bessie gives

students paws

for thought

proving a popular recruit.Jack Russell Bessie is

p nion to kiss on command.

Image: Owen Humphreys, PA Media.

Puppy dreams!

From our February issue.

From our February issue.

35-36_Letters-MarGW(SW)ok.indd 36 23/01/2020 16:08