For some dogs the next couple of months can be a bit unsettling or absolutely terrifying.  At the end of October we have Halloween with children coming to the door wearing scary masks and 5 November, bonfire night with bangs and scary noises.  Please take care and think about your dog’s wellbeing.

For Halloween, make your dog comfortable in separate room with a chew or behaviour toy to keep him occupied while children come to the door.

For Bonfire Night, here are some useful tips

•    Take your dog out late afternoon while it is still light but before the fireworks start
•    Make sure your dog is wearing an id tag in case he bolts and runs away
•    Move your dog’s bed or crate into a room in the middle of the house
•    Close all doors and curtains and turn the radio or television up
•    Do not comfort your dog if he shows signs of fear.  This will only encourage the behaviour and make it worse.
•    Distract your dog by playing with him
•    If you know of a firework display being held near your home, you could perhaps take your dog to visit a friend’s house for the evening.
•    Do not allow your dog out, even in your garden, on firework night
•    Leave fresh water in a bowl near your dog.

Please remember your dog’s hearing is much more sensitive than ours.

Signs of stress

•    Restlessness        Loss of appetite
•    Panting            Yawning
•    Sweating            Cowering
•    Salivating        Drooling
•    Moulting            urination
•    Lip licking        Sweaty paws
•    Shaking            Dilated pupils

Natural Products for calming

Zylkene – This is a food supplement made from the protein in milk, the active ingredient is peptide which has a calming effect.  Available from Vets or animal health websites.

D.A.P. Diffuser – Available in plug-in diffuser, spray or collar.  The Dog Appeasing Pheromone is a synthetic copy of the natural appeasing pheromone of a nursing bitch and helps to calm both puppies and dogs.  Available from vets or websites.

Scullcap & Valerian – Available in tablets and organic compound.  This product is a licensed medicine for the symptomatic relief of anxiety, nervousness, excitability and travel sickness and noise phobias.   Does not cause drowsiness or impair normal behaviour.  Available from Dorwest Herbs.

Bach Original Flower Remedies – Rescue remedy is a combination of five Bach Flower essences to relieve stress.  Available in dropper bottle or spray from chemists and internet.

Tellington Touch – Teaches techniques that uses specific movements to increase awareness and reduce tension through the body.    See www.sarafisher.co.uk

If your dog shows signs of fear this year it may be worth considering a Scary Sounds and Noises CD.  Available from Clix or Sounds Scary.  The information must be read through first and the instructions followed exactly.  You should start to work on this about six months before an event.

Please note that classes are cancelled on 5th November.

Pisces, one of our Beginners is going to be starring in a new series of the hit BBC comedy The Limmy Show!  The show will be airing sometime towards the end of the year or possibly early next year.

Well done to Pisces and Emma, all the hard work has paid off!  

Can’t wait to see it!

Well Done Emma, Stuart & Pisces!!

Emma was awarded handler of the month for the excellent progress she has shown with both Stuart & Pisces.

Congratulations!!

Committee member, Trish’s dog Holly is going to be appearing in a Theatre Royal production of Anything Goes at the end of November.  Click here for tickets and information

Holly is a little star and always showing off so im sure she’ll do fine…

Break a leg!

The official opening of the New Small Animal Clinic at Glasgow University was celebrated last weekend.  Glasgow Dog Training Club donated money to the Small Animal Fund and were invited along for a tour of the new state of the art building and to see the Club’s name engraved in the wall within the main reception area.

The new building is architecturally stunning and appears to be set into a hill, having a grass roof.  The building has a glass frontage and is extremely bright inside with windows and cupolas giving natural light. The waiting area is thoughtfully done with wooden cubicles for patients to sit with their owners separate from the other animals. The operating theatres have windows, floor to ceiling, overlooking the trees and grass outside which is very relaxing for working staff.  The ceilings in the building are very high and the whole atmosphere was airy and light.  The equipment is at the forefront of medical science.  In the near future a linear accelerator is to be purchased which will enable the most up to date treatment for cancer to be administered..  Digital scanning machines will enable pictures to be sent worldwide.  There are designated wet and dry physiotherapy areas with equipment used for the treatment and rehabilitation of spinal injuries. The new kennel block has runs outside for those longer stay patients and there is staff on duty 24 hours a day

The services now offered by the Vet School, are Anaesthesia, Cardio-pulmonary medicine, Diagnostic imaging, Hearing clinic, Internal medicine, Neurology, Oncology and Haematology, Opthalmology, Orthopaedics, Pain Management, Acupuncture, and Soft tissue surgery

The vet school operate on a referral basis from vets and it is comforting to know that such a facility exists within the Glasgow area and gratifying for our Club Members to know that we have contributed to this establishment of international excellence.

Val