Meet Hooch.

 

Hooch

My name is Hooch and I am 4 years old I have been with my mum and dad since a puppy but unfortunately
 their circumstances have changed dramatically. They love me so much but want what will be best for me it is breaking all of our hearts. I am a shy boy and often things scare me but when I get to know you I am a loving boy. I have never shown any aggression to anyone or anybody I am good with children and other dogs but can bounce about like Tigger when I see a dog outside as I want to play but mums tells me to behave so I walk on as I am so good on the lead and do not pull. I also like to have a run around off lead but do not go far from my mum and dad and return as soon as I am called but I usually am only about 50 yards from them as I like to be close.


I like to have my toast in the morning and will follow into the kitchen to receive my toast I like to have butter on my toast not so keen on margarine. I also like pigs ears but when I was first given one I was a little scared of it but soon realised it was something yummy to eat. I am very shy when someone come into my home I will bark but I will run away mum always asks people to sit down and let me come to them I will let them pet me but in my own time once I let people pet me I really enjoy it. I do not do well in kennels and I am really scared so mum and dad find someone to look after me in my own home.


In the summer time I get really hot and cannot go for a walk during the day I do not like the hose so cooling me down is pretty hard saying that if I was held on lead and hosed down I would not show aggression would try to get away then afterwards will show my I am not amused face. I need a home where I can get out and be loved I do like travelling in the car I really am a good boy I am wary of cuddles until I get to know you and sometimes I will give a yelp if I get a fright even although nobody has been near me. There is a lot more about me but if you need anymore info my mum and dad will be on hand even after I go to my new loving forever home.

For more information contact.

 Scottish Dogue de Bordeaux Support. Facebook page.

Scottish Dogue de Bordeaux Support Website.

#Woof Support (Dog Back Packs)

WOOF (Working Out OurFears) Support is where reactive dogs and their owners can come together to share similar experiences.  Are you a reactive and/or fearful dog or its owner?  Then please join us and share your story.  The Blog Hop is open through Sunday.

Thank you to Oz the Terrier, Roxy the Travelling Dog and Wag n Woof Pets For hosting this Blog Hop. This months theme is Success, Frustration and Everything in between or in our case Frustration, Frustration and more Frustration.

We've tried all the usual methods of walking away and getting her to focus on me etc none of them work when Sheba sees another dog she just goes wild it's like a red rag to a bull it's the same in the car if she sees a dog she barks and tries to get out I'm concerned for her own safety. We've had it confirmed by her trainer that she's not aggressive because at training she loves it and wants to play with the other dogs that she knows and trusts but will create a fuss at any strange dogs, everyone loves her because of her friendly, playful nature. I feel as though I'm letting her down because were we live there's a lot of dogs around so exercise is confined to early Mornings and late Evenings when there's less chance of meeting any dogs or driving to the park, Normal things like walking to the shops which people take for granted is a challenge for us I'm convinced someone will report us one day roll on the holidays when we're in the country and most of her walks are off lead.

I came across this article by Cesar Millan of using a dog back pack and am thinking of trying it out I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain, you never know I might just hit on the one thing that works for us.

 By Juliana Weiss-Roessler

The walk is the foundation of a good relationship with your dog, so when humans struggle with it, those problems aren’t just confined to time on the leash, but also carry over into all aspect of their dog’s behaviour.

So what’s a dog lover to do? For many, the solution is a backpack. It’s one of the simplest and most powerful tools that an owner can put into practise. Here are a few of the benefits of adding it to your dog’s walk.

It Gives Your Dog a Job

Your dog wants to contribute to the pack, but most companion dogs don’t have a way to do so. Instead, they often direct that energy into problem behaviours, like barking, hyperactivity, and anxiety.

So let your dog feel useful. Allow him to carry a bottle of water, a ball, or even the spare poop bags on his back. It’s a task that he has to focus on as he walks alongside you. If your dog isn’t big enough for that, don’t worry. Even an empty backpack can give him or her a sense of purpose.

It Presents a Greater Physical Challenge in Less Time

Most dog owners have busy lives balancing the demands of their work and home life. Even if you’re committed to providing a long, regular walk, sometimes life just gets in the way, and you may have less time to dedicate to it than you intended.

The backpack can help maximize the time you do have with your dog. In most cases, a 15-minute walk using a weighted backpack provides the same physical challenge as a 30-minute walk without one.

It Re-focuses Your Dog’s Attention

Is your dog ready to chase after every squirrel or bicyclist that crosses your path? A backpack can help redirect that focus. After all, they’ve got a job to do. They don’t have time to bother with those pesky passersby. They have to get this backpack where it needs to go, even if that’s back to the house.

It’s Easy

Learning to rollerblade or bicycle with your dog alongside you are both great ways to increase the exercisethey receive, but those activities typically involve a learning curve for both of you. But the backpack is simple. Once you’ve learned how to strap it on, you’re halfway there. The only question you have from there  is how much weight to include.

For most dogs, a good rule of thumb is 10 to 20% of their body weight, but you need to take into account your particular pup’s health and energy level. If your dog suffers from any health issue, or you’re uncertain about their ability to carry the weight for any reason, contact your veterinarian for guidance. Many owners also find it beneficial to start out small and increase the challenge as your dog gets more fit.

Bloat in dogs (GDV)

I'm no medical expert and all information has either been gathered from the Internet, talking to friends or vets.

Bloat aka Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Gastric Torsion is the second biggest killer after Cancer and has been known as the silent killer. Though a lot of people aren't even aware of it.

Bloat is a life threatening condition which requires urgent medical attention. It's a good idea to have the contact details of your vet and emergency vet readily to hand so you can get treatment as soon as possible.

Bloat can occur in any dog at any age, but typically occurs in middle-aged to older dogs. Male dogs also seem to be more prone to bloat probably because because they can be of stockier build.

Bloat mostly affects large deep chested breeds but can also affect small to medium sized deep chested dogs ie Dachshund and Standard Poodle.  Breeds commonly affected include the Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, Saint Bernard, German Shepherd, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Doberman Pinscher, Old English Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Great Pyrenees, Boxer, Collie, Bloodhound, Standard Poodle, Chinese Shar-Pei, Bassett Hound, Dachshund and Pekingese.

Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a serious, deadly medical condition that occurs for a number of reasons that aren't fully understood. Bloat happens when the stomach fills with air, putting dangerous pressure on the lungs and other organs. Pressure on the lungs makes it hard for the dog to breathe. The stomach, once filled with air, then folds over or rotates around itself, cutting off the supply of blood to the internal organs, and putting the dog's health in serious danger.

Causes of Bloat.

I don't think anyone knows for sure what causes Bloat but there are certain risk factors that can contribute to it ie Over eating, Drinking to much water, Stress and exercising to close to meal times.

Symptoms of Bloat.

It is very important to be aware of the signs of Bloat because if your dog shows any signs immediate medical attention is required bearing in mind dogs are very good at hiding signs of pain until it's to late.

    Distended abdomen
    Unsuccessful attempts to belch or vomit
    Retching without producing anything
    Weakness
    Excessive salivation
    Shortness of breath
    Cold body temperature
    Pale gums
    Rapid heartbeat
    Collapse
 

Recognizing Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs -- powered by ehow

What can be done to reduce the chances of Bloat.

1.   Rigorous exercise done either right before a meal or right after one. You should wait one hour before  feeding and one hour after eating or preferably two hours to be on the safe side before you let your dog run around.                     

2.  Excessive drinking should also be avoided, especially right before and straight after feeding time.                         

3. Dogs that are under stress may develop a predisposition to ingest air and be prone to bloat. The same applies to dog that are particularly anxious and fearful. Allowing the dog to lead a stress free and happy life, therefore, lowers the incidence of bloat. Stress can be brought on by visits to the vets, Dog shows, A new addition to the family, Boarding Kennels, Change of routine etc.

4. Avoid raised feeders. The issue of raised feeding bowls is still one of contention. Research and theories are ongoing regarding whether raised dog bowls and feeders really help bloat or may actually aggravate the condition. Via Dogs Today magazine's Think Tank we asked vet Alison Logan what her view is on the issue of dog bloat and raised feeders:

"Bloat is one of many conditions where advice varies with time, reflecting the results of ongoing research. Yes, raising the feeding bowl was advised at one time and current thinking is that it is best to feed from the ground once more. That advice may well change in the future, if it has not already. It may be a matter of by how much the feeding bowl is raised, so perhaps feeding off the lowest back-door step rather than raising it by twelve inches, for example? There are so many factors potentially at play in the development of bloat that the height of the feeding bowl may be insignificant or a relatively minor feature in comparison with another factor, which may not have even been identified yet."

5. Avoid over feeding instead of feeding one big meal split it up into two or three smaller meals, in multi dog households try and avoid feeding the dogs together split them up to avoid competition for food. In greedy dogs buy a slow feeder to avoid dogs gulping down food.

 

Eat better slow feeding dog bowl.

Drink better anti gulping dog water bowl.

Green dog slow feeder.

Please feel free to print off this infographic and keep it safe for reference, also keep the phone number of your local Taxi firm after making sure they accept dogs just in case your car's off the road for servicing, MOT etc or you don't drive.

There is now a preventive treatment for Bloat called Gastropexy how successful it is though I don't know.