Welfare Aware - Consultancy For Animals

01/06/2023

Hugely proud to be involved with this amazing charity and the wider HETI network, championing the voice of the horse in these vital conversations.

16/09/2022

PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU LIKE, COMMENT ON OR SHARE 🙏

The welfare of dogs has, in many ways, taken a huge step backwards.

The past 2 years have seen a surge in e-collar and prong collar use. “Balanced” (punitive) training appears more admired than ever due to the notoriety of some unqualified individuals.

We have seen an increase in dogs with cropped ears being imported (or cropped illegally here in the UK) and shockingly, a continued advance in the selective breeding for extreme physical traits. We now see stunted French bulldogs half their normal size (the stupid designer name they’ve been given escapes me) destined for a life of skeletal issues. Toadline bulldogs, XL bullies… some of these new trendy ‘breeds’ are a physical (and subsequently often behavioural) disaster and it breaks my heart.

TikTok and Reels have caused an increase in downright stupid or reckless behaviour around dogs, putting children at risk or mocking aggressive behaviour- all so the owner’s ego can be stroked with likes.

How is it that with so many platforms and individuals desperately trying to raise awareness through the sharing of information (including up to date research) that things appear to have gone backwards so badly?!

As well as being dumbfounded by the number of likes these videos or posts get from the public, I get really frustrated when I see big brands liking or sharing anything that features the above.

I point blank refuse to like any image of a ‘designer’ dog with extreme/excessively exaggerated features/appearance.
I will not admire the results of a dog trained using aversive methods.
You will not catch me laughing at a dog exhibiting behaviour that shows potential to escalate to biting nor fawning over human-dog interactions that are totally inappropriate.

I urge you all to do the same and uphold a standard in how you participate in other’s content on social media.

Study the dog’s confirmation, consider the fall-out for selecting for that unusual /novel colour or extreme skeletal structure.

Recognise the excruciating and totally unnecessary painful process that goes into cropping ears (and some would also say with tails too!)

Look at the dog’s neck to see if their “perfect” behaviour is infact a result of discomfort and/or fear.

Look at their body language, don’t be fooled by the uneducated waffle that accompanies footage. Does that really look like a happy dog?

Is that dog bearing its teeth having a “silly tantrum” or is it frequently exhibiting signs of stress that one day may escalate to biting? Is this really that cute?

Being actively involved in social media may raise your profile, you may think you’re being nice by not being judgemental nor excluding anyone- but are you really being nice to dogs by reinforcing owners or professionals who make poor choices when it comes to dog welfare?

Too often welfare focused professionals are scared of speaking out due to fear of backlash. But nothing will change if we don’t speak up and do our best to raise awareness.

Here I call out to dog brands and ask them to be mindful of the images they use to advertise and the content they engage in on social media.

A big brand liking an image is a huge reinforcer to those who seek viral success.

I note that some brands already exclusively use healthy breeds/types in their advertising- if that’s you- keep doing your do! ❤️

And not just brands, but you dog lovers can make a difference! Call out aversive training for what it is, or if you’d rather not- simply ‘block’ that user. You can even report content as ‘animal abuse’. I often wonder what would happen if thousands of us did this! 🤔

Yes, commenting raises the post profile- but how else will we help those who don’t know better learn to critique what they see?

Note: I will always engage with customers, clients, supporters or any individual who wishes to sensibly engage in a dialogue with me with respect.

I will never penalise anyone for wishing to learn, for trying to do better or for genuinely not knowing better.

But I will simply not reinforce poor welfare choices with positive public participation or promotion because I do not want to contribute to a perceived message that ‘this is ok’ or ‘this is cute!’

I make exceptions to liking posts on dogs whose owners/cares recognise the health issues or their poor judgement and post to raise awareness.

05/06/2022

Exclusive: Focus on human needs must not result in impact on animals being overlooked, say researchers

02/03/2022

When demand drops, the breeding stops.

‘Brachycephalic’ is the term used for a number of breeds who are bred to have shorter skulls than is usually typical of the species, commonly resulting in a large-eyed appearance and a flat, short muzzle.

Brachycephalic dogs have an array of health concerns intrinsically linked to their conformation, ranging from eye disease, respiratory disease, dystocia (difficulty giving birth), spinal disease, heat stroke and pneumonia to name but a few.

Despite their exaggerated morphology, the demand for brachycephalic breeds has only grown. We are breeding a culture of normalisation and acceptance of poor health.

Veterinary professionals and animal welfare advocates continue to attempt education, but if the public value appearance and character over longevity and health, where do we stand in education attempts?

Read more at The Skeptic :

https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2022/03/norway-banned-the-breeding-of-brachycephalic-dogs-is-it-time-for-other-countries-to-follow-suit/
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21/02/2022

Dog owners around the world, please complete this survey for one of my colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College and share with any dog owning humans you might know! Many thanks!

We are interested in exploring how a dog’s genetics, current lifestyle, and previous background and lifestyle (e.g., where they were bred or where they previously lived) influences their behaviour.

16/02/2022

You know you are a clicker trainer when...

You always have treats. All pockets. All spaces. Literally everywhere.

You have considered stealing construction cones off the side of the road.

You LOVE the household items section because of all the items you can convert to a target stick.

You have repeated “it’s not bribery” more times than you can count.

You have way too many enrichment items and still want to buy more.

You have considered clicking and treating a human for good behaviour.

You have a large collection of treat pouches and training tools in MULTIPLE colours.

I actually really enjoyed doing this post and am planning to make it a series so please feel free to add to the list and I will include them in the series!

28/01/2022

“Empathetic pawrenting is not permissive pawrenting”.

When we invite a dog into our lives, we become responsible for another sentient being.

Most commonly, we have chosen that dog, but the dog did not necessarily choose us.
Domestic dogs as a species, whilst often well adapted to living alongside humans, are just that, a different species.

They have their own physical and emotional needs that in parts can be quite different to those of us humans. Not meeting those needs can be a significant factor in the animal struggling to cope and developing perceived behaviour issues.

Raising a pup, being guardian to a rehomed dog, living alongside the adolescent, the adult, the aging dog, is a privilege (even when it feels like a challenge!).

Empathic pawrenting is a phrase I use to encompass how meeting physical and emotional needs, being compassionately responsive to those needs and the actions of the dog, observing them and allowing them to develop and become themselves, is an essential part of providing a safe, positive life for that individual.

This does not mean the dog can just do what they want all the time or that the dog shouldn’t have education to help them blend into the human dominated world they find themselves in. It is not a permissive strategy.

Empathic pawrenting will use established learning techniques such as habituation, predominantly positive reinforcement (reward based training) and the use of social modelling (observational learning, encouraging the dog to learn by watching the way we behave and the way certain other dogs behave) .

We do need to provide learning opportunities for our pups, “adoglescents”, adult and older dogs. We can teach and guide with respect.

Just because something has always been done in a certain way, doesn’t mean that it is the only way or the most effective way. Sometimes, taking responsibility for the development and total care of another, requires reconsideration of old habits, old strategies and reflection on even how we ourselves were provided for and taught.

I believe it is an honour that certain animals allow us to participate in their lives as wholly as we do. It should be a two way relationship; choice and opportunity matter.

I am so grateful for the animals who have guided me in my learnings to become the person I am today. I have made mistakes and I hope I have learnt from them. I am also extremely grateful and honoured to provide education for people to improve their lives alongside their pets, and to help facilitate the best lives we can for those pets.

If this approach to living with animals resonates with you, watch this space as I announce more educations, more resources, more hints and tips throughout 2022.

“Empathy is choosing to see ourselves in another despite our differences. It's recognizing that the same desire for meaning, fulfillment and security - exists in each of us, even if it's expressed uniquely.”

Vivek Murthy

19/01/2022

https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/why-is-the-recognition-of-animal-sentience-in-law-important/

In this blog, Madeleine considers the role of sentience in animal ethics and why its recognition in law is important.

10/11/2021

Just putting together a piece on abnormal calcium and phosphorus readings in dogs (dry v raw fed). There is a link to thyroid issues, specifically parathyroid issues, that needs to be considered.

Your dogs' thyroid gland sits in the neck. It produces the hormone thyroxine (T4), along with several other important hormones which all play a colossal role in your dog's metabolism. Trouble in this gland can result in all sorts in your dog, from lethargy to weight gain to cold intolerance, from sudden decrease in coat condition to a thickening of the skin.

Around your dogs' thyroid sits the four parathyroid glands that sit in the neck. These regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. Too much parathyroid hormone will result in very high blood calcium levels. Too little, the opposite.

As I was teasing apart all this in my head, I was struck by the attached image. Look at the position of that gland. Right where the collar would be.

What is the effect of a strong puller here?

I had a look around. Peter Dobias hypothesised that the strongest pullers (labs, retrievers, shepherds etc) have the most HYPOthroid (hypo means low, as the saying goes). He thinks that when dogs pull, the thyroid gland becomes inflamed and is attacked and destroyed by the dog’s own immune system. This in turn results in a decrease of thyroid hormones.

I can find little more on this but for now, guys, if you have a puller, get him into a suitable harness.

And no chokers.

31/10/2021

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A ROUTINE FAECAL SCREEN FOR YOUR DOG

We are seeing an ever increasing number of puppies and behaviour cases testing positive for a gut parasite called Giardia.

Signs a dog may have Giardia:

1. They struggle to put weight on.
2. They have consistent or repeated loose stools.
3. They are over enthusiastic, borderline frantic and desperate, around food.
4. They are 'fussy' and demonstrate an inconsistent attitude towards food.
5. They may show resource guarding behaviours, likely linked to number 3, but not always.
6. They may excessively and at times obsessively seek out things to eat, organic matter (grass, mud, leaves, sticks) or inorganic (man made items).

Often dogs who don’t show any of these signs still test positive. Sometimes they may seem sensitive to handling or generally ‘scatty’, ‘frantic’ or anxious.

Giardia can lead to IBS. It can be tricky to shift, often requiring multiple treatments and re-testing of stools.

The vast majority of our behaviour cases have a history of gastro-intestinal upset. Whether this is simply because gastro-intestinal issues are rife in dogs is tricky to establish. However, we have now an abundance of research showing gut health is crucial to behavioural health, as the gut plays a crucial role in the production and activity of neurotransmittors, many of which are associated with positive wellbeing (such as serotonin and GABA).
Disruption of neurotransmitters may lead to increased anxiety, decreased self control, over arousal and even aggression. Many people are unaware how crucial a healthy gut is in promoting and maintaining behavioural health.

Whilst some dogs cannot tolerate meat, there are multiple papers that show dogs select a diet higher in meat content when given the choice and that a higher protein and fat (lower in carbohydrate) is their preference. Perhaps we should consider their species specific needs and whether an absence of these being fullfilled through the diets we choose for them affects their microbiome?

My personal bias is to feed as much fresh food as possible and to provide variation of foods, including in texture. But also to promote chewing frequently.

More research is being done on how different diets affect the dog's gut microbiome and I for one am looking forward to knowing more!

POO TALK

- Healthy stools should leave little trace when picked up off the ground. That said, as arousal increases across a walk, poos often become less firm.

- Too frequent poos are often a sign of a diet not suiting a dog.
Generally between 1-3 is the normal range, however, more active dogs may do a few across a walk.

Too often, soft poos are considered normal in dogs and as a result, this may mean dogs are being fed a diet that does not suit them or are potentially suffering from something that can be treated (such as Giardia or Campylobacter).

Following an episode of gastro intestinal upset, give your dog a pro-biotic to help their gut flora rebalance. If your dog experiences frequent gasto intestinal upset, take them to your vet for a check up and submit their stools for screening. It's an inexpensive test and well worth doing.