Ticks might be tiny, but they can pose a significant threat to your Dog

Ticks might be tiny, but they can pose a significant threat to your dog, especially in the UK where they are prevalent, particularly in wooded and grassy areas. As a responsible pet owner, it’s essential to be informed about ticks and how to protect your dog from these pesky parasites. In this blog post, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about ticks on dogs in the UK, from identification to prevention and treatment.

Understanding Ticks

Ticks are small, blood-sucking parasites that attach themselves to animals, including dogs, and feed on their blood. In the UK, the most common species of ticks affecting dogs are the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) and the hedgehog tick (Ixodes hexagonus). These parasites thrive in moist and wooded environments, making dogs who love outdoor adventures particularly susceptible to tick bites.

Identifying Tick Bites

Ticks attach themselves to your dog’s skin by inserting their mouthparts into the skin, where they feed on blood. After feeding, ticks can swell in size, making them more visible. However, in their nymph stage or when they first attach, ticks can be as small as a pinhead, making them difficult to spot.

Some signs that your dog may have been bitten by a tick include:

Visible tick attached to the skin
Redness, swelling, or irritation at the site of the bite
Excessive scratching or licking
Fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite (in severe cases)

Preventing Tick Bites

Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your dog from tick bites. Here are some tips to help minimize the risk:

Use Tick Preventatives: Speak to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your dog, such as spot-on treatments, collars, or oral medications. These products can help repel ticks and kill them before they have a chance to bite.
Avoid Tick Habitats: When walking your dog, try to steer clear of areas known to be tick hotspots, such as dense woods, tall grass, and marshy areas. Stick to well-maintained paths and trails whenever possible.
Perform Regular Tick Checks: After outdoor adventures, thoroughly inspect your dog’s coat and skin for any signs of ticks. Pay close attention to areas such as the ears, neck, armpits, and between the toes, where ticks are more likely to attach.
Keep Your Yard Tidy: Regularly mow your lawn and remove any tall grass, leaf litter, or brush piles from your yard, as these are favorite hiding spots for ticks.

Removing Ticks Safely

If you find a tick attached to your dog, it’s essential to remove it promptly and correctly to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Here’s how to safely remove a tick:

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure, making sure not to twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.
Once removed, disinfect the bite site and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or placing it in a sealed container.

Seeking Veterinary Care

If you’re unsure how to remove a tick or if your dog develops any concerning symptoms after a tick bite, don’t hesitate to seek veterinary care. Your veterinarian can provide guidance on tick prevention, perform tick checks, and recommend appropriate treatment if your dog is infested or shows signs of tick-borne illness.

By staying informed about ticks and taking proactive measures to protect your dog, you can help ensure that your furry companion stays happy, healthy, and tick-free in the UK’s great outdoors. Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and enjoy many more adventures with your beloved canine companion!

Stay safe, and wag on!

Education is Key to Preventing a Dog Attack

A sad story with impact and hopefully with lessons for all of us.

In November 2021 a boy aged 10 was savagely mauled to death by a dog in South Wales. I am not going to post the child’s name, as I have not asked permission to do so, nor is it relevant, however reading this very sad story made me realise that what WolfeEdu is setting out to achieve, by educating people especially children of how to share a safe space with a dog could prevent such an attack.

The Dog "B"

The dog was a troubled, 15-month-old, very large, 8-stone American Pitbull “type” called “B” ( for article purposes and out of respect we are not using his real name). “B” in my opinion should have been responsibly passed over to a trained handler or euthanaised to avoid such a tragedy from happening.

B had shown severe aggression towards other dogs. His original owner had stated that “I’ve tried my best with him, I have other dogs and cannot put them at risk”. And that he was “great with people”.

I’m not here to speculate whether he was telling the truth or not, as the dog may well have shown no signs of aggression towards humans prior. However, being the size of dog, and the “type”, showing aggression towards other dogs, alarm bells should have been ringing LOUDLY.

So “B” was mistakenly rehomed.

In the short time that the new family had owned B it had attacked a cat, and an adult and lunged at a child. More clear signs that this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Then on this very tragic day, a 10-year-old boy was playing with a friend outside his house and decided to go back to his mate’s house. This is where the event took place where he was savagely and violently attacked and sadly killed

Things Could Have Been Different

Now I have no idea exactly what happened, I can only imagine from the articles that I have read; therefore, this is only written out of assumption below are possible reasons why the dog attacked this child.

One scenario could be that the boy showed immense fear towards the dog and therefore omitted energy that the dog recognised as danger and attacked.
The boy could have approached the dog and didn’t understand the body language and the signals the dog was giving off, as he had never been taught, the dog was unable to flee and therefore his only option was to fight.
The dog did not show any prior signals or warn the boy. Due to mismanagement and poor treatment, these may not have been listened to in the past, so he has learnt to skip A & B and go straight to C which is attack!
The dog was extremely territorial and protective, and his instant reaction was to attack. Resource aggression can be reversed if done correctly, should your dog show any sort of resource aggression, it is important to contact a qualified Canine Behaviourist or Dog trainer.

The dog and the boy were allegedly unsupervised. Dogs should be supervised at all times when children are around no matter what breed. If you cannot supervise them then the dog should be removed from the vicinity and put into a safe, comfortable environment where they will not be disturbed.

I can surmise all the scenarios that happened and there are many more, but to be entirely honest I don’t know. So, the above is pure speculation.

What we Know is....

If this little boy was able to read the signs or even if the owners recognised that this dog was showing aggressive behaviour, then this may not have happened. Education is so important to all, to keep us safe, keep our children safe and keep our beloved pets safe.

So as much as you love your dog be honest with people, and ensure they are not around others if they show signs of being uncomfortable, especially around children. If you do have people coming around to your house give them a quick character reference of your dog and tell them how to act to ensure that everyone is comfortable and safe. If your guests or the dog seem agitated, then put your dog in a safe secure comfortable room away from people or ask your guests to leave.

Do not be afraid to offend by not letting your child go around to someone’s house if you feel that their dog may cause harm to your child. If you suspect the dog to be volatile or unsafe do not allow your child around there.

You wouldn’t let your child go around to someone’s house if you knew that there was domestic violence there, would you? So do not let your child go to someone else’s house if you suspect that the dog could show signs of being unpredictable or aggressive in any way.

Ensure you know who is at the house, not just the people but the animals as well, it is your responsibility.

Make your child aware of the dangers but do not instil fear. Give them the skills that they need in case they are nervous around dogs and equally overly confident.

More education is required, and WolfeEdu recognises this. The dog is not a human it doesn’t understand English, it understands commands and tone but cannot speak a specific language.

Therefore, we need to understand the dog, we need to recognise the signs when a dog is exhibiting distressed or anxious behaviours! You cannot rely on the owner alone to tell us this we have to be able to read them for ourselves.

Wayne David, the Labour MP for Caerphilly, said: “There needs to be an examination of the Dangerous Dogs Act to see if the law needs to be strengthened.”

But there also needs to be education, people break laws! Education to every single one of our children to prevent any future attacks!

Not everyone loves dogs! I know, I know, hard to believe but not everyone loves dogs, and even harder to believe that not everyone loves your dog (if you have one)! It’s an unbelievable and painful truth.

But….. Don’t take it personally, what you see in your dog is not what everyone else sees and that is OK.

I remember when I got my beautiful puppy and I thought he was the cutest most adorable thing in the world. He was a K9 unicorn! Then I had a cold hard slap in the face and was told he had evil eyes… What….. No way… he’s perfect how can this person say this, I was mortified! Then I realised, it is their opinion and every single one of us is entitled to one.

Reasons for People Not Liking Dogs

Most dog people are totally oblivious to other people when they are out walking their dogs unless it’s another dog owner. They do not realise that 1 in 20 people are absolutely petrified of your beloved doodle, your Labrador, your chihuahua, the mixed breed or your Mastiff, so there is a good chance when you are out walking that you will encounter someone, whether you realise it or not, who has that ingrained fear.

I’ve seen teenage boys jump on park benches to get away from a dog, that is 30 meters away. I have seen people paralysed with fear from a slobbering, waggy-tailed, overly affectionate dog, I’ve seen kiddies cling to their mums in the fear that a dog will get too close, I have even been pushed in front of someone who was so scared that they had no option but to put me between themselves and the dog due to fear, that sudden reaction resulted in me being nipped, and neither at fault as the dog just got startled.

Some people do not necessarily fear dogs, some people simply do not like dogs end of, and that too is OK! They don’t like the barking, the relentless urinating, the smell, the neediness, the ball throwing, the dog poo, the bounding, the jumping up, the uncontrolled rude dog, not to mention the neurotic dog owner ohh the list goes on.

People do not like dogs for many reasons

They have had a bad experience
They suffer from cynophobia (the fear of dogs)
It is their personal preference
They like dogs just not your dog

So next time you are walking your dog be aware of other people around you, have your dog under control and please please don’t say to someone “don’t worry he won’t hurt you he loves people” as the feeling may not be mutual. If your dog does run up to someone before you can get him on the lead and you can see they are uncomfortable recall your dog, remove them from that person’s crutch, apologise and acknowledge that it is your responsibility to keep your dog under control.

Bulgarian Mountain Dogs

I have been so very fortunate to go on a fabulous trip to Bulgaria last month and I will be completely honest I wasn’t disappointed.

We chose Bulgaria as we wanted to go on a family ski trip it has been a long time since we had a break and it was certainly needed!

Skiing is in our blood, both myself and Craig were ski instructors many moons ago, in what seems like a past life, and we so desired to teach our kids how to ski from an early age!

Traveling from Sofia Airport in Bulgaria the poverty was immediately apparent. I was saddened to see the depressed ruined buildings, the sadness in the brickwork, and the obvious inability to restore these homes to what many would consider liveable conditions. On our 2-hour transfer to the ski town of Bansko, I witnessed several dogs either chained up or hobbling on 3 legs, coats overgrown and matted and extremely mangey-looking.

In England, dogs are considered sentient beings and any dog in the state that we witnessed would see the owners prosecuted, but in Bulgaria and other countries this is the sad norm for many canines and unfortunately their reality.

Once we reached the mountain resort of Bansko everything changed! The vibrancy the fresh air, the feeling of lightness, and happiness. On our first day exploring we wandered around to familiarise ourselves with the alpine town, I noticed many dogs without collars just blending in! Beautiful dogs, big dogs, medium dogs, Mountain dogs!

They interacted with each other just as dogs should and it was a pleasure to witness the social etiquette they had with each other without human interference. Two dogs in particular who looked almost related played in the snow and went scavenging for scraps of food that tourists had dropped. They were not bothered by people nor were they scared, aggressive, or intimidated they just existed in this symbiotic relationship of being free and living alongside us homo-sapiens, using us to their advantage.

Now, these dogs were not necessarily “homeless” “strays” or “abandoned” but they were left to their own devices during the day at the base of the gondola where everyone congregated in the morning to get up to the slopes ( at night I have no idea where they would go, or what they would do) “! Some dogs were sprayed, and tagged with ear tags much like those in a sheep, non that I saw running free had collars on, but they obviously belonged to someone or somewhere.

What I did love was seeing these dogs play together to interact with each other and people just left them alone (most of the time) at points people would approach them but the interaction was always on the dog’s terms, they would enjoy a loving scratch or would avoid the situation and trot on to where they needed to be.

People would be skiing with their dogs, dogs would be waiting patiently for their owners at the bottom of the mountain whilst they had a day up the slope, dogs waiting patiently for their owners outside of shops, and no sign that anyone was wary that someone may decide to take them home! They were very happy pooches indeed. However, many stray dogs in Bansko do require rehoming and a neutering program is essential to reduce the stray dog population to find out more you can click here

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Separation Anxiety is a Hot Topic Right now in the World of Canine Behaviour!

The population of dogs has rapidly increased in the last few years from 8.5 million in 2018 to a whopping 12.5 million today and that’s just in the UK!! This increase in lockdown dogs has also given rise to an unwanted behavioral trait!

One that I’m afraid we humans have created out of love and circumstances is called Separation Anxiety.

Many of us have gone back to a pre-March 2020 way of life, but our 4-legged friends have no idea what the bleep is going on! One minute you are there, with your little canine shadow, following your every movement, and the next you have left, gone, vanished, vamoosed! Leaving them all on their lonesome to defend themselves and they simply cannot cope!

A dog is a pack animal that we have domesticated to become part of our pack! Packs provide safety and security and when the safety and security of pack members disappear the dog will become distressed, anxious, and unsettled!

So, what can you do??

Well, the first thing to know is that it’s not a quick fix and you have to put in the work and reverse engineer the damage, but here are a few little tips to get you started!

Understand why your dog has separation anxiety
Lower your vibration! Do not make a big deal about leaving or be over excited on your return as hard as this can be, blend in as if you have never been away, and leave like you are going nowhere!
Practice stimulating games, boundary platforms, and separation games (YouTube can give you a tonne of ideas for this)
Brain Stimulating Puzzle Toys like a snuffle mat, box, Kong, etc… there are so many to choose from
Change your exit routine, mix it up. If you normally go out the front go out the back, if you usually have breakfast before a shower change it up, put your keys in your pocket the night before! Reduce the number of triggers that intensifies the anxiety.
Practice separation whilst you are in the house do not let your dog follow you to the toilet, or sleep in the same room as you, do not allow him/her to be your shadow 24 hours a day! Encourage them to find a comfortable, quiet space to be on their own.
Make sure your dog has had adequate exercise before leaving for a prolonged period.
Register for the WolfeEdu Separation Workshop a 5 week course that will give you all the tips and trick you require to help combat this crippling behavioural issue!

Children and Dogs

Simple steps on how Kids should act and interact with dogs

Many children do not know how to interact with dogs some are overzealous, and others are so shy that they do not know where to look and can be so scared that they become paralysed with fear or run as fast as Usain Bolt in a major panic screaming, which is very enticing for most dogs!

Both can be very dangerous, but both can be managed if a child is educated in a way that does not instill more fear or more unauthorised confidence in a child!

We expect a lot from our dogs and how they should behave around our children, and they should instinctively know how to act. Dogs learn how to behave around people through experience and handling when a pup, it is not instinctive it is taught! We need to teach our children too!

This blog is about the overzealous, overconfident, overbearing child.

Have you heard a mother or father say ohh my son just adores dogs or my daughter loves every dog and they love her back, my child is so good with dogs, they are so natural with animals! Yes, it is lovely that your child is an “animal lover” but do they understand the basic signs of animal behaviour and the signs that a dog could be distressed, in pain, or showing signs of anxiety, fear or anger?

Climbing on a dog, pulling, hugging, prodding and just getting into their space is a big no-no, should they cross these boundaries they are at an increased risk of being bitten. Should your child be itching to get up close and personal it is so vitally important that they understand that dogs, no matter how well you know them value their personal space and like us humans have boundaries, just some are more tolerant than others!

Interactions between a child and a dog should be a good experience for both! Instilling fear into them is not advisable. Ask a child to do simple tasks, games, and basic training that will help build a relationship, teach a child how to be in control, and how to read basic body language and warning signs that a dog is giving off.

Tasks involving Positive Reinforcement

Sit
Lie Down
Stay
Come
Ball playing

Teach your child to give simple commands to not overuse its name. You can assign a name for your child to use that is not used in training for example pup, or pooky! Children tend to overuse a dog’s name and they can very easily become numb, deadened, to it! Therefore if the overuse of their name is used when it comes to commands such as recalling then you can have a whole feast of problems.

This should be supervised to ensure timely rewards are given and they are both interacting safely and calmly.

How to make the interactions as positive and as safe as possible. Talk to the child before introducing them to a dog. Tell them that sometimes we are unable to see if a dog is in pain or if a dog is unhappy so it is best to let a dog approach you rather than the other way round, and always ask the owner if it is OK to touch.

Highlight to a child that if a dog is sleeping, eating or has taken itself away then it is to be left alone.

Playtime is for outside only! This is so very important to maintain a level of calm in a house, plus a dog outside can flee should it need to (in a secure back garden/yard ). In a house there are walls and they can feel trapped therefore the fight instinct may be the only option they have if they are cornered.

Direct Supervision you should never leave your child alone with a dog always supervise, be calm and help them to build a harmonised, respectful relationship.

If you cannot supervise all the time, give the dog a space where he or she can chill without being disturbed by a child, and ensure the child understands that when they are in this space they are not to be approached.

My child wants to hug my puppy how do I stop them? Some dogs do not mind being hugged by a child, but many do. Your pet Labrador may be very tolerant of this, but what happens when your child goes to a friend’s house where they have a dog who does not tolerate being smothered. It can end in dire consequences. The child can be bitten very easily!

It is therefore so vitally important that boundaries are set for children, that they are told that not all dogs like cuddles! That they must always ask the owner first. Stop before approaching, Ask the owner, Wait for a response and be Calm and Gentle! Good dog owners should always talk to a child before they get a chance to smother it with love or remove the dog from the situation putting it in a safe quiet place where it can be on its own and not bothered.

I had a situation with my dog when a 2-year-old came running up to him. We were outside, my dog was on a lead and under control. My dog does not appreciate being touched by strangers. 9 times out of 10 he would be fine but it only takes that one time for something unfortunate to happen! Luckily I was able to stop the child before she came into contact with him, but I had to put my hand up to provide distance between her and the dog. Unfortunately, it resulted in tears due to my quick reaction, but it could have been a lot of lot worse! The thing that amazed me the most was her mother, who put her on the ground to go and touch the dog without asking me, I was shocked at how she put her child in danger purely through lack of education. Should we be able to educate children who will eventually become adults we will have a lot fewer incidents of children being bitten by dogs, and dogs being unfairly euthanised or rehomed.

It is nice for humans to hug each other but for a dog, it can make them feel confined, threatened, and claustrophobic. Imagine someone holding onto you for a prolonged period of time or a stranger coming up to you and placing their hands on you, don’t you think you would try whatever you could to get away. So why do we expect our dogs to tolerate this and not react?

The best way that a dog knows how to handle an unfavorable situation is that they move away ( they would rather flee a situation than fight), ensure your child does not follow them if the dog gets up and removes itself from a situation, and allow this, allow them to set some boundaries as you do too! Recognise the small cues the dog is giving out don’t ignore signs such as licking of the lips, cowering, tail between its legs, ears flat to their head, yawning, looking away, snarling, growling etc… these are all signs that the dog is uncomfortable.

Dogs are dogs they are not robots we expect so much from our dogs but they all have their individual personalities and have their own stories they can all react so very differently from each other. Keep our children safe keep our dogs safe!

Harmonised living between person and pooch!

Recall Training

How can you make yourself super attractive to your dog?

How can you make yourself super attractive to your dog (and not in the I’m pretty kind of way)? What if you could call your dog and he or she is there by your side, despite any distractions?

We love to see our dogs having a wonderful time with other dogs, nose down bum up, tail wagging, on a scent that is invisible to the human nose! As dog owners, we love to see them run and bound and just be free!

But…

Ohh there’s always a but, we want them to be sharp on the recall, to disengage immediately from whatever it is he or she is into and to come back on command, which is not always that easy!

Most owners do not want their dogs on the lead all the time. I think we would have all seen those canine gods who walk down a busy town center with their dog at their heels no further than 2 paces in front or behind with no man-made piece of tethering equipment in sight. We all look at them in awe, admiration, and amazement, I know I do!

So, what do they have that you don’t?

Well, they have mastered the art that they are so much more attractive to the dog than anything else, that their dog feels safe by their side, that their dog is in-distractable!

Below are some Top Tips to Help You be Sexier than anything Else (in a dog’s eyes), hopefully, this will give you some guidance on improving the recall and in turn the relationship with your dog, as there is nothing more frustrating than calling your dog umpteen times and them totally ignoring you, it could also save your dog’s life!

Ten Top tips to help your dog to think you are the most desirable thing on this planet!

Let’s aim to make that squirrel running up the tree so bland compared to you, that that fox poo they have just wandered past is not for rolling in as being by your side is waayyy better than the beautiful sweet-smelling aroma of fox poo, that the dog passing you by who appears to want to savage your dog is completely ignored!

Every dog has its unique thing that they love that they will do almost anything for, food, balls/toys, even commands (games), stimulation, love, and attention! It’s up to you to work out what that is!

Always practice at home in a safe familiar environment, with no distractions. Start by recalling your dog on a lead or training line! Work out what it is your dog loves is it a squeaky ball, a treat, a tug toy, or simple praise?
Use clicker training, positive reinforcement, and rewards! Clicker training is so powerful and used in conjunction with a physical reward, the dog will learn to associate the sound of the clicker with a positive outcome. Find out more by clicking here
Increase the distance slowly between you and your dog and always release! When your dog returns to you after being called via name, whistle, or any other command that they prick their ears up to, ensure that after they are praised you release your dog and allow them to go back to what they were doing.
Ball throwing and retrieving is always a good exercise but not all dogs are the retrieving type! If they are an avid fetcher when they do retrieve the object always praise and reward them and release! Do not continually throw the ball when working on the recall but use the ball as a tool for your dog to return to you on command.
When a dog comes to you even if it takes half an hour do not chastise them. Reward them so they learn being with you is far better than being away, you are their happy place. You are rewarding the current behavior, the now behavior not the what was behavior!
Using clear commands, “come”, “heel”, and “here” being clear & concise is key, using a whistle can be beneficial as it is a sound that is only used for recall and the sound waves can travel further distances!
Once mastered at home go to a quiet external location and keep your dog on the training line or lead, extending the distance as their recall improves. Always release and do not overuse the commands, whistle or your dog’s name, your dog will simply switch off if you use their name without an outcome!
Try off the lead when and where there are no distractions. Only venture to this step once you are comfortable and know that they will return to you when called.
Go to a place where there are distractions go back to the lead and training line, and start the process all over again!
Once you know your dog has all eyes on you and that you are sexier than the poodle on the other side of the park, or the squirrel up the tree, or the ducks in the pond it’s time to let them off and practice the recall! You & your dog may not get it right every time but when your dog does praise him, positive reinforcement is the most powerful tool you have! Ignore the bad behavior praise the good!

Always ensure that your dog and others around you are safe at all times, do not put your dog in a place of danger where he can harm others or itself! Please note that the steps above should be carried out consistently over months of training it is not a quick fix, for optimum results start with your dog when he/she is a puppy if you have an adolescent dog or an adult dog start now! Should you be having ongoing issues contact a local qualified dog trainer or drop a comment in the box below!

Should I Castrate My Dog Pros and Cons!

Should I Castrate My Dog Pros and Cons?

So you are stuck in a conundrum not knowing whether you should castrate your dog or not or you have 2 conflicting opinions in your household?

This article is focusing on the boys, the dogs, and their testiculars! Opinions around castration usually fall into 1 of 2 camps the Absolutely Nots and the OMG why wouldn’t you! This article is going to try and be as unbias as possible to give you the opportunity to make up your own mind about whether removing your Mutts Nutts is appropriate or not for your dog, your beliefs, and highlighting what you should consider.

I personally hate the word fixing, as this gives the false illusion that neutering your dog will fix any negative unwanted behavior, that they might exhibit, for example, roaming, mounting & humping, ejaculating, marking, aggression, strong-headedness, and hyperactivity. However, although neutering can have some effect on their behavior it is not a guarantee. There are many guidelines out there but it is important to be aware that these guidelines for or against are not necessarily suitable for all dogs. Neutering is certainly not a one size fits all scenario.

Every dog is different, it is important to remember this. I have worked with entire dogs who have been absolute gentlemen and others who are fixated on one thing and one thing only bitches! A dog can smell a bitch on heat up to 3 miles away! Think about where you live that’s a lot of distracting smells around!

Dogs reach their sexual maturity between 5 months and 1 year which is a prime time for training your pup. Training can get very difficult when your dog is distracted and more focused on the sweet smell of a bitch on heat than you repeating his name requesting him to sit, lie down and wait for the millionth time, the pup that use to walk so nicely on the lead is now yanking your arm off every time he wants to pee up a wall or get to another dog! The focus and the willingness to please have frustratingly dissolved and you are left with a delinquent pooch!

However, as frustrating as this can be getting a dog neutered under 1 year is not recommended by the veterinary profession due to the direct effect it can have on your dog’s growth and the chance that neutering your dog too early can cause such things as joint disease and neoplasia (abnormal growths) !

So here are a few things to consider……

Age – Veterinarians do not recommend getting your dog castrated under 12 months of age however they may consider it should you have a dog who has behavioral issues or health implications. Always consult with your vet.

Type – Some owners want to keep their dogs testicles as a status symbol, not something I would recommend at all! The welfare of your dog is of utmost importance not how they look or how it makes you feel!

Breeding – If you are going to use your dog as a stud dog then probably not advisable to go down the surgical route, however, you could consider the chemical option as this is a temporary measure should you have concerns regarding their behavior or the chance of unwanted accidental impregnation. Consult your veterinarian to find out if this is an option for your dog.

Is Your dog an In-Work Working dog– Many working dogs require a higher level of testosterone as they are highly active!

Puberty an early bloomer – Some young dogs exhibit their sexual urges from a young age

Medical Reasons – Prostate issues, testicular cancers,

Pros for Neutering

Life expectancy increases by approximately 14%
Reduces and eliminates certain diseases like testicular and prostatic disease
Refocus your dog’s attention
Decreases testosterone-fuelled aggression
Less likely to roam
Less likely to be targeted aggressively by other dogs
Marking reduced
No puppies

Cons for Neutering

Weight Gain (can be managed by diet)
Links to Joint disease and neoplasia
Surgical procedure (low risk)
No guarantee it will change your dog’s unwanted behavior
No puppies

There is so so much information out there, so so many people telling you what to do! Make an educated decision weigh up the pros and cons for your dog and talk to a veterinarian or a canine expert who can give you both sides to this coin.

From my own personal experience having been an observer in several operating theatres watching this quick and easy procedure! I can say if the reason why you are not getting your dog castrated is because of an emotional attachment you have to your own bollocks then you need to stop putting yourself, your partner or any other male counterpart into the equation. The procedure is simple and quick and recovery time is fast. I can promise you your dog has no attachment to his crown jewels!

Please note that this article is written from my point of view, my research, and my experience. For any medical advice please seek a trained Veterinarian.

Ticks might be tiny, but they can pose a significant threat to your Dog

April 28, 2024 No Comments

Ticks might be tiny, but they can pose a significant threat to your dog, especially in the UK where they are prevalent, particularly in wooded

Education is Key to Preventing a Dog Attack

April 16, 2023 1 Comment

A sad story with impact and hopefully with lessons for all of us. In November 2021 a boy aged 10 was savagely mauled to death

Not Everyone Loves Dogs

April 2, 2023 No Comments

Not everyone loves dogs! I know, I know, hard to believe but not everyone loves dogs, and even harder to believe that not everyone loves

Bulgarian Mountain Dogs

March 19, 2023 No Comments

I have been so very fortunate to go on a fabulous trip to Bulgaria last month and I will be completely honest I wasn’t disappointed.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

March 5, 2023 No Comments

Howling dog

Children and Dogs

February 19, 2023 No Comments

Simple steps on how Kids should act and interact with dogs Many children do not know how to interact with dogs some are overzealous, and

We all know that getting a dog for Christmas is not a good idea but still soooo many people cannot help themselves!

Their child, their partner, their mother, or their father has been wanting a dog for so very long! So you have decided that Christmas would be the perfect time to surprise your loved one with a little bundle of joy and have the best Christmas EVER and give you mega brownie points right??

WRONG!!

Although getting a pup for Christmas has such a huge emotional shortlived benefit, the reality is that owning a dog is a huge tie, it’s not easy and a lot of time and effort should be invested into your dog to have a happy well rounded canine bestie!

If you want to get a puppy for someone special in your life the best thing you can do is look together, do your research understand how a dog will impact your life and whether you are prepared to give up the freedom that you know now!

Last year alone abandoned Christmas dogs went up by 54% compared to previous years!

Approximately 47,500 dogs end up in a shelter every year in the UK. statistics say that there is approximately a 27% increase rise of abandoned dogs 2 weeks post Christmas Give a voucher at Christmas, not a puppy!

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Simple steps on how Kids should act and interact with dogs Many children do not know how to interact with dogs some are overzealous, and

Retractable dog leads and why they are BAD for most dogs!

Retractable leads have a place, for just a handful of dogs and owners. For most dogs retractable leads are not their friend or yours!

Put yourself in your dog shoes (or paws) out for a nice walk you sniff that delicious pungent smell of another dog’s scent and you simply must go and smell it. You zoom forward, you are freeeee with that sweet-sounding zip line sound zzzwwhmming through your ears, cock the leg then off to the next glorious odour! You go from side to side doing your thing, life is good!

Next minute you are walking down a street and you smell those same smells that you so desperately want to sniff, you see your mate across the road so you want to go and see them this time you hear a click and that same zipping sound, with no warning you are sharply zapped back half strangled pulled back into place next to those size nines!! It’s all very confusing!

Do not get me wrong, Retractable leads have a time and a place. The time you should never use a retractable lead is if you have a dog in training (which is pretty much all the time), never use one on a puppy, a dog that pulls, a dog with behavioural issues and last but not least a dog you do not let off lead.

Yes yes yes, I can hear you now saying but I need to give my dog exercise and I can’t let him/her off the lead!

Look to the route cause. Why can’t you let your dog off the lead? Go back to basics and get the information you need to rectify this!

WolfeEdu firmly believes in training the human first, if we humans understand basic animal behaviour and have the key training foundations then 90% of behavioural issues will be irradicated before they have even manifested themselves!

The only time you should use it is for a mature well-trained dog who is no bigger than a Westie and even then I’m reluctant to say use one!

Dogs require clear and concise training! A retractable dog lead is not clear and concise, it’s erratic, messy, and inconsistent, and there is no security in one.

Needless to say, you and your dog can get terrible rope burn, they are cumbersome, the mechanism can fail, tangalation (not sure if that is even a word), and lack of control, therefore, putting both yourself and your dog in danger and the dog does not understand its boundaries.

It’s all very nice letting your untrained pooch shoot from one bush to another like they are on some gladiator Bungy getting hoicked back when they reach the end of the line! But please put yourself in your dog’s shoes your free you running oh no you’re not.. HOICK… Not Fair, not to mention the damage that can be done to their throat!

What to do!

Place your retractable dog lead to one side or in a box never to be opened again!!!

Cement the recall!
Purchase a classic lead, a training lead, not too long not too short and relax.
Understanding how the type of lead you have chosen will help when leading your dog.
And get his or her recall down.

Please note some but not all links are affiliate links should you choose to purchase a recommended product via the link, WolfeEdu will receive a small commission to say thank you for pointing you in the right direction to great products.

Clicker Training is an effective way of training with positive reinforcement. Do not use the clicker training method unless you understand how to carry out the process effectively. A dog can easily become desensitized/unresponsive to the clicker if training is not carried out appropriately.

The Dog "B"

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Retractable dog leads and why they are BAD for most dogs!

Retractable leads have a place, for just a handful of dogs and owners. For most dogs retractable leads are not their friend or yours!

What to do!

Place your retractable dog lead to one side or in a box never to be opened again!!!

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