Snippets: September 2009 Archives

It's getting towards that time of year again, so our canine correspondent John Verity offers a timely reminder about pets and fireworks...

I know that Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Years Eve seem to be a long way away, but now is the time to prepare yourself and your pets for the forthcoming period of the year when countless fireworks are discharged. Again this year November the 5th occurs mid week so we can expect a week or two of loud explosions that could send my four dogs into a state of panic unless I take action now. So how can we cope with fearful dogs and other pets?

Ideally we should take our animals to a distant corner of the countryside where they are away from the noise altogether but of course that is not possible.

So we have to make preparations now.

First consult your vet and seek their advise on the best method of calming down the dog.

On the market there are CD's of fireworks that can get the animal used to the sound before the real fireworks start. Ask your vet about a DAP diffuser that emits a Dog Appeasing Pheromone, similar to the scent of a lactating bitch. Don't worry we cannot smell it but the dogs can and the scent can have a calming effect on the dogs. For those who prefer the natural remedies a product called Valerian is available from www.dorwest.com. this has the similar effect of a DAP diffuser. Some dogs may get the calming effect from a method of massage called the Tellington T Touch which uses a technique that helps a dog overcome a variety of health and behaviour problems by specific movements. More information on this T Touch is available on www.ttouchteam.co.uk.

Another method that works with my dogs is the use of a radio. Try Classic FM as this appears to be the most calming radio station and is used in the kennels of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

I have not mentioned our other pets. Cats should be kept indoors during the hours of darkness and other furry friends kept in a quiet area of the house and the radio can be used to calm them down.

One last word. Keep calm yourself. Do not let the animals see that you are nervous as that will cause them to pick up that signal. Do not leave the animals alone in the house if they are nervous of the explosions and if you are having a firework party let your neighbours with pets know so that they can take extra precautions to avoid their pets becoming nervous and agitated.

John and Pauline Verity are still over the moon after their 4 year old Border Collie Wisp beat all comers at the British Agility Association Grand 2009 finals held at Ashfordby in Leicstershire to become British Clever Dogs Champion 2009.

The sport of Clever Dogs has been around in the United Kingdom for about 10 years and consists of the dogs having to complete an agility course and then run up a line of small hurdles, collect a tennis ball from a spring loaded box and then return to the handler. Dogs compete against each other in a knockout type of competition for the Grand Final and it is the winner of the best of three heats that goes through to the next round.

Wisp in action

John and Pauline have been training agility dogs for about 10 years and have previous successes with the now retired 15 year old Smudge who won the Clever Dogs Champion title in 2001 as well as successes in dog agility competitions up to 2006.

As well as Wisp and Smudge, John and Pauline have two other Border Collies. 11 year old Jake is well known at St. Leonards Hospice as a Pets As Therapy dog and 2 year Oscar is not only in training to become an agility dog but also is training to become a sheep herding dog.

All John and Pauline's dogs are re-homed dogs who have been given a second chance.