Your Dog 202003

Got a problem with your dog?

Whether it’s about behaviour, training,

health, or general care, the Your Dog experts

are here to help. Our panel includes some of

the top names in the dog world, so you can

rest assured that you are getting the best

quality advice.

Just email your problem/query to

[email protected] or, if you prefer,

you can post it to ‘Dog Answers’ at our

Bourne address (see page 3). You can also

post your query on Facebook

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Answers

Building brush con dence

DOG

TRAINING

Joanne says: Grooming

should be an enjoyable

experience for your dog

so handling is of the

utmost importance. You can start to

alleviate any worries by introducing

your dog slowly to being brushed.

Use a soft brush to start with, and

build your dog’s confi dence in being

handled over all areas of her body.

I would recommend that you

research and fi nd a qualifi ed

Q

I have recently rehomed

a small terrier with quite long,

coarse hair. The coat is going

to need professional attention at some

point, but I don’t know much about

where she came from, and she seems

very nervous.

How can I best prepare her for a visit

to the groomer so it isn’t too stressful,

or is it something I should try to

manage at home?

Ellie Gardner, North Yorkshire.

Start grooming your GROOMING

dog with a soft brush.

64 Your Dog March 2020

A new arrival

Good preparation can help

dogs and babies to get along.

Q

My partner

and I are

expecting

a baby this year, and

we are over the moon.

However, we are a bit

worried about how

our dog will react.

He is an eight-year-old

Labrador, and has not

had much experience

of babies or children.

Can you give us any

tips and advice on

how can we prepare

him for the new

arrival? We want

a happy household.

Ferne Colman,

Oxfordshire.

Kate says:

Congratulations

on your wonderful

news! It’s great

to hear that you’re already

thinking about how you can

settle your baby in smoothly

with your dog. The old saying

‘you can’t teach an old dog

new tricks’ isn’t true and

you’ve still got plenty of time

to start preparing him for the

arrival of your little one.

You want to start gradually

getting your dog used to

what life will be like when

the baby arrives — all the

sights, sounds, activities,

and lifestyle that will be

associated with a baby in the

home — from teaching him

to settle when your attention

isn’t available or when you

are carrying the baby, to

getting him used to baby

equipment and furniture.

You can fi nd some useful

advice on the Dogs Trust

Dog School website.

It would also be worth

getting a qualifi ed dog

trainer (you can source

someone through the Animal

Behaviour and Training

Council (ABTC)) to help you,

or attending some training

classes, such as those at

your nearest Dogs Trust

Dog School.

Good luck!