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!

Not Everyone Loves Dogs

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.

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!

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

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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

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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

Cynophobia is the crippling fear of dogs. Cynophobia is the Greek word cyno meaning dog & phobia meaning fear.

It can be debilitating, you can lose your mind, have heart-pounding, sweaty palms, feel sick, dizzy, unsafe, and out of control and you simply cannot rationalise it. I have the same feeling with flying completely irrational as I know it is one of the safest ways to travel but at the same time, I cannot shift the fear. Some people will admit to this fear, and some will be too embarrassed and bury it so it doesn’t show externally but internally they are feeling all of the above.

Cynophobia affects 1 in 20 people and is rarely talked about. It is more obviously prevalent in children as they haven’t yet learned the ability to mask their fear. How often do you see kids hanging onto their mums or dads when out walking, and the parent saying it’s ok he won’t hurt you, look she’s so friendly, it can get very frustrating for any parent! But in adults a lot of the time you wouldn’t know that they are suffering, however for them meeting a dog still has a silent debilitating effect. People who do not let on that they are scared often make excuses as to why they can’t go somewhere that a dog could potentially be for example a walk, having a picnic, or going around to a friend’s house who has a dog. There will be signs!

Many Adults will not verbalise that they are scared of dogs in case of ridicule or mocking. But it is a valid fear for all who suffer and should not be marginalised.

This is a rarely talked about condition. Some people are scared of all dogs but some people are scared of specific breeds or a type of dogs. For example, bully breeds have got a name for themselves over the years for being aggressive, Alsatians, large dogs, and Dogs with strong facial features! My child had a fear of dogs such as Boxers, French bulldogs, Pugs etc.. any dog with a flattened face, regardless of their size.

Cynophobia can be explained and sometimes it can’t! For example, A person who has had a traumatic experience in the past that has been confronted by an aggressive dog, an over playful one or even bitten may develop the fear. Some people develop cynophobia from a young age from inheriting it from a family member or friend, and some may have seen movies or heard stories that have caused this issue and some have no explanation at all they are just plain scared!

What Can You Do?

So next time you are with someone who is afraid of a dog tell them is OK and if you are someone who is scared of dogs speak freely about this fear and then you are less likely to be put in a situation that you do not want to be in! It is ok for people to say they are scared of spiders, snakes, sharks, flying, heights etc… so why not dogs!

Let us all gain a better understanding and be more empathetic to those that do suffer to be able to create a more harmonised living between person and pooch!

(If you enjoyed his article and would like to provide feedback, add a comment or require additional information, please fill out the form on the contact page).

Dogs and Fireworks

10 Tips on How to help your dog through Firework Season

Dogs and Fireworks!! It’s that latter time of year again in this crazy world where we like to celebrate with Fireworks.

Thanksgiving, Diwali, Guy Fawks Night, Christmas, New Year, and more!

Such a wonderful festive time of the year…

But….. It can be a nightmare for a lot of dogs and their owners!

Many dogs have an ingrained fear of unpredictable, erratic flashing lights, intense screeching, and loud bangs, which for most dog owners is hard to prepare for. Reports of dogs running away, hiding, cowering, barking, whimpering, shaking etc…

Quite often as owners, we go into survival mode rather than recovery mode. This means we try anything to lessen their stress during this time.

Thunder jackets are used, head scarves, cotton wool placed into our dog’s ears, moving to a place where there are no fireworks, playing loud or soothing music so it drowns out the sound of the fireworks etc…

There is nothing wrong with these methods as making our dogs as comfortable as possible without channeling our emotional energy is all great practice, but some are more effective than others!

In an ideal world what we should be doing is desensitising our dogs from an early age, incorporating noise reactions into their early year’s training.

Retraining our already stressed-out dogs to reduce their reactivity to these loud bangs and other noise-sensitive issues can be hard and not always effective.

Noise sensitivity is a stressful thing but can be overcome with careful, consistent, focused training. As always WolfeEdu encourages getting in front of a problem before it ever arises!

10 Do’s and Don’ts to help your dog through Firework Season

No one wants their dog to be fearful or anxious so following these dos and don’ts will only help your dog to be more comfortable, and less reactive and reduce their heightened levels of Anxiety during this banging time.

As an owner, we must understand that our dog doesn’t comprehend what fireworks are. Many dogs have never been introduced/desensitised to these loud bangs and unfamiliar stimulants, therefore it is quite likely that their natural instincts will kick in which can be flight, fight, or avoid!

So what to DO………

Stop telling your dog it’s OK, nothing to worry about, awwwww poor poochy you only heighten their anxiety. Ensure your dog is comfortable but keep everything as normal as possible. We can’t just tell them it is ok they simply don’t get it and feed off your emotional energy and convert it into worry! Do not react do not empathise verbally or physically. If you stroke them compassionately and emotionally, use verbal reassurance this will only heighten your dog’s anxiety or stress as he will feel the energy you are omitting. No reaction is the best reaction, positive reinforcement, keep your dog close but do not comfort them cuddle them etc… Dogs do not rationalise like a child. Your dog is not a child your dog is not human no matter how much you think they are!
Redirect Exercise – Use this time to do a little bit of basic training to reward good behavior by distraction / redirecting exercises. You can withhold their daily meal and use their dinner allocation as a reward instead of treats. Your dog will be more focused on the food and your commands rather than the noises outside.
As an owner, it is up to you whether you let your dog go to their safe space and ride out the noises or you can keep them with you on a relaxed lead. Incorporate all the other tips to reassure them that there is nothing to worry about, be neutral!
Increase exercise a tired dog is likely to be less reactive
Desensitising sounds – Firework sounds are played (can download, stream, or buy CDs) start at a lower quieter intensity, and build up the volume. Sound desensitising needs to be practiced before the fireworks start exploding in your neighborhood when your dog is in a calm state! Sound desensitising is good practice but has a minimal effect on a lot of dogs. Digital firework sounds cannot replicate the sounds, the vibration the lights of the real thing. By all means, try it but do it in conjunction with crate training, increase exercise, do not react, and all of the other do’s and don’ts!
Hemp Oil, Calming diffusers, collars, and medication can help to reduce the level of stress and anxiety this does not cure their anxiety but may help over this time. If you should choose this route it is highly advisable to speak to your veterinarian about options.
Use a Kong– fill a Kong or likes of with something very tasty like dog peanut butter, doggy ice cream, or wet food and freeze it. Give this to your dog when fireworks are happening this Provides mental stimulation, and distraction and will tire them out
Crate training if taught properly pop them into a crate or bed where they are relaxed. Do not stick them in the crate and shut the door if your dog has never been trained to relax in a crate.
Do Not Tie your Dog up Outside or leave it in a garden unattended. Yes believe it or not this does happen for many reasons, some people believe saturation will help the dog to become comfortable with the bangs and flashes, and others just do not want them in the house as a quivering, barking, whining, mess making wreck. This is just cruel and reflects on these people as dog owners!
Other – Calming compression vests, Turning the tv up to drown out the sounds, closing the curtains, Lick Matts, Stimulation toys, and soothing music.

Measure the level of stress that your dog exhibits during the fireworks season. If they take themselves off to a safe space, hide etc.. do not take drastic action as this is how they manage themselves.

If your dog is noticeably anxious is causing themselves, you and your family stress then address the issue. Gauge the level of your dog’s anxiety around this time in relation to what you need to and can do for your dog. Or start trainign today for these annual events so your dog is preparared!

Be a good leader to your dog and get in front of the problem before it even arises!

Fireworks season is fairly short in alot of cases the fear is inground and can be hard to overcome, making the dog as comfortable as possible is OK during this time.

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