Ask The GroomerWhat you need to know • • • • • • • • • • • •

Zoopharmacognosy Dogs self-select incredibly accurately

caring about your dog as much as you

Northern Ireland• • • • •

A magazine for dog owners and lovers in Northern Ireland Issue 2 Number 2

Nutrition So what really goes into our dogs’ food • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What a TREAT! The very best from Northern Ireland

Pick up yourCheck out all the fun at the show!

pages 11-16

• • • • •

Kids Zone centre pull out - Packed full of games, training and competitions - Kids ONLY!

Cancer isn’t the end!page 38

NutritionAdvice from David Jackson, one of the UK’s leading independent pet nutritionists. Page 8-9

• • • • • • •

Event Coverage Check out all the happenings from this years show! pages 11-16

• • • • • • •

Pets at the PortThe food’s good, the pampers aplenty and the surf’s up at this Por-trush Pet’s haven.Pages 15 - 16

• • • • • • •

This magazine is copyright © G2-media 2016.No part of it may be reproduced in any form without prior permission from G2-media.

Love Dogs NI Magazine does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers or contributors. Whilst every effort is made to obtain reliable and accurate information, liabilitycannot be accepted for errors. All rights reserved.

Editorial: For all enquiries please call 028 4483 1862 or email darryl@lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

Advertisement Sales: Darryl WhiteEmail: darryl@lovedogsmagazine.co.ukTel: 028 4483 1862

Production & Design: G2-media design

Love Dogs NI Magazine is published by G2-media 10 The Craig Lane Craig Road Downpatrick BT30 9FE

Four-page pull out dedicated to kids and their dogs. With puzzles, games, training tips, competitions and so much more. Check it out!

WelcomeThank you yet again!

We are constantly overwhelmed with your comments and

suggestions, convincing us that there is indeed a place for ‘Love Dogs Magazine’ within Northern Ireland’s dog loving community. Your support feeds the team with the motivation to continue to bring you the very best of all things canine from Northern Ireland and beyond.

What an edition we have in store for you this time! Packed full of nutritional advice, heartwarming stories, interactive kids section, event coverage and of course our veterinary advice, training tips and so much more.

We reveal the winner of our Four Paws Gallery competition and announce our new completion theme for your chance to win a host of prizes.

We have lots of in-depth news and advice including nutritional guidance for your dog, how the PSNI canine unit is winning big-time, our new grooming section, and the professional’s approach on teaching good manners to your dog. We also porting on some wonderful organisations who have shared their stories with us about the sterling work they are doing, such as Heather Hawthorne from Iris Retriever Rescue and the great work from NIAD (Northern Ireland Assistance Dogs).

Enjoy,

Darryl

Zoopharmacognosy Page 5

PSNI - Top Dogs Pages 7

Irish Retriever Rescue Page 30

Guide Dogs - Pete’s Story Page 27

Dog Training with Dogigami Pages 28-31

Looking at Dogs Pages 40-41

Ask the GroomerPages 44-45

inside...

What a Treat Pages 32-33

• • • • • • •

G R O W N - U P S K E E P O U T

kids& dogs

ONLY

What a!TREAT

Northern Ireland Assistance Dogs (NIAD)Page 20

Vets Corner Pages 38-39

ZoopharmacognosyCarly Hillar - IAZDip

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As I sit at my desk, my trusty old greyhound Stanley

is invariably curled up at my feet keeping them warm and toasty. He is old, a bit deaf and a bit smelly, but he keeps my feet warm and he’s always there with a wagging tail looking pleased to see me. In short he is my friend, my confidant, my partner in crime. Dogs, like Stanley, have always

held a special place in the human heart since they were first domesticated 40,000 years ago. Not only have they provided companionship but also security, transport, hunting and herding skills. Many of us have brought dogs into our homes, made them part of our lives, treated them as our own kin.

One could in fact argue that there is very little of the wild wolf that once roamed the Siberian Plains remaining in today’s pooch. The need to hunt is now obsolete with the majority fed from a can and enjoying priority boarding on the sofa. You would be forgiven for thinking that the ancestry and essence of wolf is all but a distant memory. But I for one would beg to differ. Part of my work with animals includes tapping into a powerful innate ability that still remains intact within our furry companions. This is the same ability that the Animal Kingdom (and I include the human species here) have used to survive, thrive and evolve before penicillin and vets and doctors became the norm. The survival trait to which I refer is recognising the medicinal qualities within plants in order to self-medicate to regain and maintain health: a concept known as Zoopharmacognosy. A concept as old as life itself and used daily by animals in the wild to remain well.

So how do they do this? Dogs have a secondary olfactory organ which gives them scenting ability far superior to our own – and in the case of dogs specifically bred for hunting actually 360 times greater. It is located above the roof of the mouth at the back and is called the Vomeronasal Organ (VNO). This organ enables them to identify specific constituents within the plants that they need to restore health – these constituents are produced by the plant as part of their own healthcare and defence system. The VNO plays its part by being connected to the limbic region of the brain which influences physiological, hormonal and behavioural activity. This clever process is mediated by smell and taste – the more the animal needs it the better the smell and taste. When the animal has had enough the smell is unwanted and the taste becomes bitter. In the human world this would be something similar to cravings experienced during pregnancy.

In a zoopharmacognosy session a dog self-selects incredibly accurately. Plant extracts chosen for a bacterial infection, (garlic or thyme for example) differ significantly from those chosen when the dog is suffering from an emotional condition such as depression or anxiety (orange floral water). The choice of plant extract and method of self-administration (inhalation, ingestion, topical) is dependent upon the root cause of the ill health – i.e. hormones, trauma, injury etc. It is up to the skill of the Zoopharmacognosist to observe the animal’s body language as to the sequence of plant extracts to offer in line with the presenting symptoms.

Helping our four-legged friendsA recent case involved a working Collie called Lass who was not averse to taking a sample from the legs of visitors to the farm if she so felt inclined. She was also excessively protective of her owner but interestingly enough not her pups. She selected Vanilla (an extract that balances hormones, often selected by animals that bite) as well as a combination of oils for trauma and for inflammation. After the initial session she inhaled the oils for a further week during which time snapping at visitors ceased and she became more at ease – almost too docile the farmer complained!

Beans, a terrier, had a very different complaint. He had two long bare patches of raw skin either side of his spine down his back. He selected extracts that indicated the presence of stomach toxins and sure enough, before he had left my home, he had deposited a pool of luminous green vomit under the kitchen table. Dogs often purge as a means of keeping their body in balance and at this stage in my career I know that as the contents of the coconut oil jar diminishes, the rubber gloves and kitchen paper are never far behind – the less glamorous side (if there is one!) of self-medication. It was concluded that a change in diet from a cereal based feed (and its artificial colourings) to a raw food diet was the way forward. I saw Beans around six weeks later at my local builders’ merchants – I hardly recognised him. His coat was fully grown and he was shining – a diet of rabbits and tripe obviously agreed with him.

As my feet are starting to feel a little chilly I note that my furry mobile foot-warmer has shifted over to the door - time to get some fresh air and saunter through the fields with my pal Stan. For me to stretch my stiff muscles and for him to get his nose down and get some judicious scenting done before priority boarding comes around. It’s a dog’s life – make no mistake!

Carly Hillier is an IAZ (UK) qualified Zoopharmacognosist travelling throughout Ireland working with Dogs and Horses. You can contact her on 00353 (0)86 8306168/carlyhillier88@gmail.com or check out her canine work through her facebook page – ‘Canine Herbal Health’ and her work with horses on her website - www.whitethornequinehealth.com

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Top marks for Police Service of Northern Ireland dogs at 2016 National Trials. The Police Service of Northern Ireland officially has Top Dogs in its ranks!

Two of its canine officers secured the coveted 1st and 2nd places at the 56th National Police Dog Trials, which took place in Belfast this weekend. PD Mike was declared the overall champion for 2016, while his four-legged colleague PD Finn won 2nd place – staving off stiff competition from the 15 other highly-skilled canine competitors entered from police services across the UK. The prestigious National Trials, which were last won by PSNI 11 years ago, provide a platform to showcase the expertise, skills and abilities of handlers and their canine colleagues as well as provide the public with a glimpse into the significant contribution they make daily in protecting people and communities. During the 3-day public event at the Civil Service Club Pavilion in Stormont, the police dogs demonstrated a variety of skills through practical scenarios, all of which highlighted the valuable roles they play within policing on a daily basis. These included chasing and detaining a criminal, searching for a person or for an item within a property, as well as obedience and agility skills. PD Mike’s handler Constable McCrea said: “I feel very lucky indeed to have won the competition on home soil with the support of colleagues, family and friends – it’s been an amazing experience. “It’s always good to test yourself against dogs from other police services because the standard of all the competitors is so high. The skills the dogs are being tested on are put to use every day in our jobs. It’s a team effort and I am so proud of Mike and the determination he puts in. I trust him implicitly in all that we do together. Tomorrow though it’s back to work as normal.” Constable Bradley, who is PD Finn’s handler, added: “I am really elated at winning 2nd place today and extremely proud of Finn. It’s a unique situation to have 1st and 2nd place won by the

same Police Service. As far as I’m aware this is the first time it has happened in the 56 year history of the Trials. “It’s been fantastic to showcase the skills we use every day and the competition allows us to show the dedication, professionalism and commitment of the entire dog handling family within PSNI. Finn has never let me down once in the 4 years we have been working together. His reward tonight will be a steak – he’s requested it medium rare!” Superintendent Nigel Goddard explained that trained dogs play an important role within policing by supporting officers in a number of ways, including finding missing people, locating illegal drugs, cash and explosives, controlling crowds, searching cordon points and public venues, as well as tracking down criminals who attempt to ‘get-away’ He said: “I am immensely proud of our two handlers and their dogs PD Mike and PD Finn. Their double success at the Trials is testament to the commitment of Constables McCrea and Bradley in ensuring their dogs are continually trained to the highest standard. I congratulate them both on their outstanding success today and know they will continue making a significant contribution to Keeping People Safe in Northern Ireland every day.”

TOPDOGSPSNI win UK NATIONAL Trials

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Nutrition So what really goes into our dogs food?

David Jackson is one of the UK’s leading independent pet nutritionists and an avid campaigner for better pet food. After working in the pet food industry for 10 years he decided to go it alone and in 2012 launched his

groundbreaking website AllAboutDogFood.co.uk, a site dedicated to helping dog owners to make the best choices for their best friends.

All of us instinctively know what dogs should be eating - lots of yummy meat and bones. Anyone who has walked their dog in the country will also know that dogs enjoy all sorts of other natural foods like fruits, vegetables, herbs and so on. This is what nutritionists call the dog’s ‘natural diet’.Most of us also now know what foods are not good for our health - salt and sugar, fat and artificial additives, all of which can be equally detrimental to our dogs as they are to us.

Despite all of this, if you take a look at almost any well known brand of dog food, you’ll find an ingredients list chock-a-block with unhealthy ingredients and almost free from anything even resembling the natural diet.

Profit before petsBut why would companies make sub standard products? The answer is, of course, money. The first concern of the companies that make dog food is to turn as much profit as possible from their products. Good ingredients like meat and whole fruit and veg cost a lot so they are substituted with cheaper ingredients and fillers.

But these ingredients are neither useful to the dog nor tasty so manufacturers add vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for the lack of nutrients and sugars, salts and fats to make up for the lack of taste. Artificial colours might also be thrown in to

It’s always surprising how many dog owners believe their sick dogs to be perfectly fine. Ask the question ‘is your dog healthy’ and almost all dog owners will first answer yes but delve even

a little deeper and you quickly find that a very large proportion of our dogs are not doing that well at all.

The problem is that so many of the most common signs of ill health are now so widespread that they are seen by many as just a natural part of being a dog, like wagging the tail or sniffing other dogs bums.

• Large amounts of runny, very smelly poo• Occasional vomiting• Itching• Chewing of the paws• Constant moulting• Greasy, smelly coat• Runny eyes• Recurring ear problems• Anal gland problems• Bad breath• Plaque buildup• Obesity• Hyperactivity

Between them these issues plague a huge proportion of our dogs but most are never given a second thought and, if left unchecked, the problems can get a whole lot worse.

Diet and HealthFood is essential for good health as much in dogs as in humans. Through your dog’s diet, he has to get everything his body needs: from the energy needed to keep chasing those balls to the incredible array of nutrients that make up every tissue and keep every cellular process going. Too much or too little of any one of those nutrients can quickly cause upsets and if something gets into your dog’s diet that shouldn’t be there, you can be sure that problems won’t be far away.

From weaning right through to old age, it is diet more than any other factor that will determine the quality and the length of your dog’s life and, the truth is, that most complete foods are failing our dogs.

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make it appeal to the owner (they certainly aren’t for the dogs as they are largely colour blind) and chemical preservatives are added to give it the incredibly long shelf life that consumers have come to expect.

The end result is a product that is intended first to sell and second to keep the dog alive. The fact that so many of the cheaper ingredients used in these foods have been consistently linked to health problems doesn’t seem to enter the equation. Wheat, for example, is perhaps the most commonly used filler in low grade dog foods but it has long been known that a relatively large proportion of dogs exhibit digestive and skin problems after eating wheat. Manufacturers know that a lot of customers don’t like seeing wheat on the label so they instead call it ‘cereals’, ‘grains’ or even ‘derivatives of vegetable origin’ to throw consumers off the scent.

Dogs need an adequate supply of protein to get by and that protein should come from meat but plant sources like maize protein, pea protein and soya are far cheaper. Unfortunately they are also much harder to digest and therefore often cause dietary intolerance but that’s not enough to stop manufacturers from routinely using plant proteins rather than real meat ingredients.

Worst of all is the widespread use of artificial additives in low grade pet foods. A number of common colourings have now been linked to behavioural problems and other health concerns and several artificial preservatives have been identified as possible causes of cancer.

Essentially, with every mouthful of food, your dog is taking in more and more toxins and the health problems mentioned above are the result. Sadly though, they are not the end of the story. It is believed by many nutritionists that these signs are just the start and as the months and years pass, and as the flow of toxins into the body does not subside, more troubling problems can develop. Chronic health problems like kidney disease, liver failure, heart problems, diabetes and even cancer have all been linked to diet and studies have shown that inappropriate diet can shorten our pets’ lives by several years.

Food – the problem and the solutionBut there is a fairly huge light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, diet is the source of many of these problems but it can also be the cure. By getting your dog’s diet right, often by simply by moving to a better quality food, you can give your dog a new lease of life and often stop all of the problems mentioned above in their tracks. And feeding better dog food doesn’t have to break the bank either. With less fillers and far more nutrients per gram, you actually have to feed much less of a good food than of a low grade food - sometimes as much as half. When you also factor in vet bills, feeding good food can actually work out considerably cheaper in the long run.

The ingredients listFinding a better food is all about the ingredients list. It is your window into the true nature of your dog’s diet. Manufacturers are legally obliged to tell you what is in the food and although there are ways in which the truth can be obscured or embellished, this is usually easy to spot which makes it possible to separate the good foods from the bad or the possibly bad.

The first thing to look for is labeling clarity. Broad, umbrella terms like ‘cereals’ and ‘meat and animal derivatives’ that could refer to anything should be avoided as they make it impossible to know what is really in the food.

Ingredients have to be listed in order of their percentage so the first ingredient is the largest and most important part of the food, the second is the next largest and so on. Look for foods where the first ingredient is meat and named meats like chicken meal (as opposed to just meat meal, for example) are always better.

The chief nasties to avoid are artificial additives (preservatives, antioxidants and colourings), wheat, anything with derivative or by-product in the name, added salt and added sugars.

There are plenty of resources online to help finding a better food easier including my site, AllAboutDogFood.co.uk. Alternatively, local independent pet shops are usually a great source of advice on feeding.

Once you find a food you’re happy with, it’s important to introduce it into the diet slowly, mixing it with the old food for around 5-7 days to give the digestive system plenty of time to adjust. Use the feeding guide on the packaging to get a rough idea of how much to feed and then adjust the amount until your dog is holding a healthy weight.

Improvements can take weeks or even months to come through so don’t expect instant results. Take care not to overfeed and ensure that any treats and tidbits you provide also follow the above rules - your dog will thank you for it in the long run. For decades, big pet food manufacturers have been perfecting the art of cutting the cost of making their products and our pets have been paying the price but with a simple switch to a better food, you can reset the balance and give your dog what he needs to thrive as nature intended.

Please note the label above is fictional and does not represent any food manufacturer.

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The Dog Lovers Show, which is part of the larger Saintfield District Show, is a great attraction as well as being Northern Ireland’s largest K9 doggie day out with fun

pet show classes for family pets to see who will be Crowned K9 Expo Doggie Diva 2016. There were a wide range of trade stands in the Pet village this year for dog lovers, and new for this year was Northern Irelands only K9 Expo International Dog Styling and Grooming Competition. This gave visitors the opportunity to see the top groomers clip snip and creatively style a wide range of dogs to see who be crowned K9 Expo Pet Stylist of The Year 2016! if you missed out this year or even if you managed to attend, here are some photos to highlight the day. The Love Dogs Team had a wonderful time and look forward to attending again next year.

Abigal enjoying the event with her special PDSA balloon

Margaret with the wonderful Giorgio Ste with Schatze

Diane with Freyja

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International Pet Styling Competition 2016

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International Pet Styling Competition 2016

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Jessie aged 3 at the PSDA stand with Valerie Morrison

Ashly Edwards with Lucy

Lois with George the Poodle

Miranda with the larger than life Logan

Debbie with Sal & Roma

Nichola, Rhiannon and Cerys with Buddy and Jessie

Ian and Anna

Follow Millie The UK Super Lab on

- Facebook -

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Jodie’s dog training classes by visiting

dogigami.co.uk - Facebook -- Pinterest -

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The UK Super Laband Jodie

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Michela with Ace & Johnathan with Silver Ticket winners - Rachel and Nathan with Jess and Roxy

Most promising newcomer ‘Mary Toland Award’Christine Higgins

Judges choice - suzanne O’Sullivan

Christina O’Brien

Judges choice - Nichola Moore Virginia Urbanviciene

Best in ShowLeonie Fahey

Reserve Best in ShowOrlaith Kennan

Best Newcomer in ShowChristine Higgins

Reserve Best Newcomer

Lauren Gleeson

Best Newcomer Creative in ShowKaren Lecky

Reserve Creative Newcomer in Show

Shannon Johnston

Best Creative Stylist in ShowHelen Winnington

Best Asian Stylist is Show

Virginia urbanavicinene

Reserve Asian Stylist in ShowAmy darcy

Congratulations to all who entered

Exp Scissor Class1st Sabrina Rice

2nd Orlaith Kennan3rd Joanna O’Neill

Exp Clipped Class1st Una Reddin

Exp Handstrip1st Leony Fahey2nd Jenny Hale

3rd Karina Kerrigan

Open Scissor Class1st Lisa Curran

2nd Christina O’Brien3rd Michael Shiels

4th Ellen Heeps

Open Clipped Class1st Andre Shapley

2nd Ryan Lee3rd Susan Mc garry

Exp Creative Class1st Helen winnigton

Open Handstrip Class1st Aishling Halton

Newcomer Clipped Class1st Christine Higgins2nd Lauren Gleeson3rd Connive Heyburn4th Nicola Boreland

5th Ethel Twomey

Newcomer Handstrip1st Karina Gourley

2nd Michael Gourley

Creative Newcomer1st Karen Lecky

2nd Shannon Johnston

Asian Stylin Open1st Virginia Urbanviciene

2nd Amy Darcy3rd Carol Bellamy4th Kerrpie Leech

International Pet Styling Competition Results

See you all in 2017 for another fantastic event!

16

Pets at the PortYour first port of call on the Causeway Coast

Nestled on Portrush’s Causeway Street near the surfers’ paradise that is the East Strand, dog loving residents of the bustling towns along the north coast of Northern Ireland

are very familiar with Pets at the Port. Much more than just a pet food shop, however, this really ought to be on the must-visit list for anyone coming to or travelling through the seaside town.

You could say that’s because it is Portrush’s only pet supply shop and, indeed, it is. However, the real reason Pets at the Port is an essential stop-off comes down to its owners, whose absolute passion for dogs permeates every aspect of the business. Rodney Gingles and his wife Joan opened Pets at the Port back in 2012 and their enthusiasm for what they were doing attracted pet lovers from near and far.

Rodney explained: “We’ve both had a lifelong passion for our own pets and that’s what inspired us to open up our own shop. Between us, with have a fairly extensive knowledge of pet welfare and management and right from inception, our priority was to put animal welfare first by stocking only the best products. Rodney and Joan were also very happy to share their knowledge and expertise with customers and the business grew fast as a result of word of mouth endorsements. Indeed, just two years after opening, the couple had to extend their shop to keep up with the demand for premium foods and distinctive, unique high quality accessories and gifts.

The right choice for your dogRodney Gingles and his wife Joan don’t just pay lip service to putting pets first, it is at the heart of what they do and dog owners using the store can be guaranteed of the best advice and service and that they will leave with the right products for their dog. Pets are very welcome, even encouraged, and the shop is equipped with dog weighing scales and, as well as using this to help owners choose the most appropriate food, the couple offer an ongoing weight and lifestyle monitoring service so that regular customers can ensure their dog’s feeding regime is ideally geared towards a long, healthy and happy life.This same attention to detail even applies to doggie treats, with a range of options for healthy teeth, weight control, joint condition and so on with, of course, great flavour that dogs love. With such an emphasis on finding the right feeding and treating products for individual dogs, it is no surprise to learn that Pets at the Port carries some unique lines not to be found elsewhere.

Looking goodOf course, every good dog owner knows there’s much more to a happy healthy life than the right feeding and, once again, Pets at the Port is there with the very best in dog collars, leads, harnesses, toys, beds and other accessories. Lead collar and harness ranges cover the Hem and Boo, Ancol, Mikkii and Puppia brands and offer options suitable for dogs of all sizes with high fashion looks to boot!

Then, of course, there’s grooming to consider and, in this department Pets at the Port really excels, with its own professional standard dog bath installed for use in store and an exceptional range of shampoos and doggy spa products on the shelves. Joan commented: “We’re right beside the East Strand and some

fabulous walking areas, so our customers are delighted that they can come in and have their dog washed, dried and pampered after an exciting time on the beach.”

Surf’s upTalking of the beach, Pets at the Port’s location so close to what is said to be the best surfing beach in Ireland has inspired Rodney and Joan to become the Ireland’s only stockist of SurfDog collars and leads for dogs to like a little surf alongside their owner. Set up in Australia in 2011 by ex-pat Sara Holton, SurfDog offers a range of products for, yes, dog surfers. Rodney said, “Sara started off by home-making products for her own three dogs but soon discovered there was a demand and so went into business creating the ultimate dog products for a beach lifestyle. We’re delighted to be the only stockist in Ireland and, of course, we’ll welcome all dog surfers in store for a nice warm bath afterwards!”

Picture thisThe sad truth is that our pets are with us for only part of our lifespans so it’s important for most of us to capture as many beautiful memories on camera as possible. Mind you, taking pictures of your dog is not as easy as it sounds, so Pets at the Port has teamed up with local, professional pet photographer Howard Brown to offer a pet photography service. Howard is booked for specific days to photograph in-store with a dedicated studio set-up. You will be delighted with the results but be warned, pre-booking is essential, so contact Rodney or Joan to find out more.

Coming soonThe next phase of development for Pets at the Port is its own online store. Already up and running with a selection of the products available in the shop, Rodney and Joan Gingles will be building the online range over the next six months, so don’t forget to check it out.

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Northern Ireland Assistance Dogs (NIAD) is a NI based charity, manned by a small team of volunteers, which provides Medical Alert Dogs to adults and young persons

from the age of 14 (under 18 must have parental consent) with unpredictable / unstable diabetes. They are celebrating their 5th Anniversary in 2016.

People with diabetes can experience hyper and hypo (high and low blood sugars) episodes, sometimes several times a day. A hypoglycaemic episode may cause the person to stagger, collapse or even to lapse into a coma…..diabetes can be life threatening!

For some diabetics the body’s natural warning system does not work. This is where NIAD dogs come into their own. NIAD Medical Alert Dogs are trained to an exceptionally high standard and are trained in tasks that are tailored to his/her owner’s needs, enabling the person to lead a more independent life. They also can give families of the person with diabetes more confidence and reassurance that their family member is being looked after. They are another tool in the management of their diabetes and work alongside glucose metres but give also great

companionship to their owners. We work with, in the main, Golden Retrievers and these dogs are trained to alert their partner that a medical crisis is coming (low or high blood sugars). This advance warning allows the person to get to a safe place and take any appropriate action or medication.

NIAD is now doing o w n e r - t r a i n e d Diabetes Alert Dogs this requires a big commitment from the owners of the dog, which must be under 3 years old. The dogs must meet the same standards as NIAD trained dogs but the charity will work with people to reach that standard so that they are happy, confident

and safe in all situations they will encounter during their working life. Not all dogs are suitable and each one is assessed by the NIAD Team before starting their training.

Dogs are known to have a very keen sense of smell and the dogs are able to pick up on subtle changes of odour to detect low or high blood glucose levels. The dogs are trained to recognise different odours and alert their owner by nudging them with their muzzle. They will nudge high on the person to indicate high blood sugars and low on the body to indicate low blood sugars. If no response is received the dog will become more persistent and will paw their owner. If there is still no response ultimately the dog will fetch someone to aid their owner – the dogs will not stop alerting until the person with diabetes (or someone with them) has tested their blood sugars.

Would you like information about our Diabetes Alert Dogs? Please contact us by email on: niassistancedogs@hotmail.co.uk or you can also find us on Facebook

Donate to NIAD by text! Text: NIAD14 £amount to 70070 (complete Gift Aid & add 25% at no cost to you, if eligible)We are a registered company and charity (NI Charity Commission number NIC 100290)

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kids& dogs ON

LY

Kids

pul

l out

sec

tion

Welcome to the KIDS ZONE!

These are ‘Kids ONLY’ pages, so if you

are a grown-up turn away NOW!

Have a go at making a

Dog Puppet

We have puzzles, competitions, training

advice and much more in this and

coming issues, so be sure to keep an

eye out for Love Dogs NI Magazine.

Remember to enter the competition to

wins some great prizes!

Catch me if you can!How many times does Fido appear in this issue of Love Dogs Magazine? Be sure to look closely, he could be anywhere. Here’s a ClueFido loves his dogs biscuits sowhever you find biscuits, Fido will be close by.

This Easy Water Bottle Sock Dog is an easy beginning sewing project for any kid that can handle a needle and thread. The craft then becomes a useful project that helps you hold your water bottle and is fun too.Supplies needed:• Socks• Stuffing or Cotton Balls• Embroidery Floss• Sewing Needle• Buttons• Felt• Ribbon• Scissors• Instructions

Select your socks, floss and buttons. You can use a lonely leftover sock.

To create the muzzle area, turn the sock inside out and place stuffing in the heel of the sock.

If you want the nose area to be round cut a circle of felt and sew it over the heel full of stuffing.

After the nose area is complete, slide the sock onto your water bottle. Use embroidery floss to sew on the nose and eyes and other details you want on the face.

To create the ears, cut a slit in the top of the sock. Ears can then flop down or you can tie a piece of embroidery floss around them to make them stand up as we did with blue dog.

Finish up your animal sock cozy by adding any extra details. Then slide it over your favorite water bottle and fill with an icy cold drink!

Be sure to send us in your photos of your puppet when finished. contact@lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

Answer: six times

Alfie’s Training TipsLearning to understand you dog can help you to communicate better. However it can be difficult when your dog doesn’t know how to talk and you don’t know to bark. There are a number of ways which can help you understand how or what your dog is feeling. With help from Diamond from the Dog Decoder app, I wonder how many you can get right?

Meet DIAMOND, your friendly host and trainer! He’s a star dog-actor, and he’s here to show you everything you need to know about canine body language. Diamond has given you a number dog “postures” and “situations” above which express his many emotions. You’ll see all the different ways Diamond knows how to tell his owner how he’s feeling. The answers to each posture or situation can be found upside down under each image.

I am feeling I am feeling

I am feeling I am feeling Confident Frightened

Playful

Happy

Well Done!Hopefully this will help you understand your furry pal and also when you meet another dog

you might beable to guess how it is feeling.

There are about SIXTY different poses on display in Dog Decoder. Each pose is beautifully and expressively illustrated by one of the world’s top dog artists Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings .

Each pose comes with a diagram, pointing out where on your dog’s body he’s indicating how he’s feeling. For example, in the poses for “fear,” the diagram will point out the tucked tail, ears pulled back, etc. We won’t just show you a picture of a scared dog — we’ll teach you what to look for, the specific signs of fear.

Each pose also comes with a helpful description of the context. This is where you will learn about some common misconceptions, or what kinds of situations will cause your dog to assume each posture.

I am feeling I am feeling Nervous Unhappy

Draw your dog - WINNERCongratulations to

Conor McKee aged 10

THE WINNERWe will be sending you your prize,so keep an eye out in the post!

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In the last edition we welcomed one of Guide Dogs NI’s newest recruits – Puppy Pete!

Puppy Pete is a pure Golden Retriever who was named by the Guide Dogs NI team in honour of their colleague Pete Swan, who recently retired after nearly three decades of helping to change lives in Northern Ireland.

Training Pete will take around 20 months of specialised training to transform him from a cute little fluff ball into a confident guide dog and at Love Dogs NI we’re following his journey every step of the way.

When we last met Pete he was settling into his new home

with volunteer puppy walker Lesley and starting to learn good manners and all the basic commands, such as “sit”, “down”, “stay”, and “stand” with the addition of some which are special to Guide Dogs. For instance, the puppy has to learn to relieve itself on command in a hard-surfaced area of the garden before setting off on a walk.

Lesley told us “This might sound strange but it’s so that Pete develops clean habits from an early age, so as to avoid the difficulty and subsequent embarrassment of clearing up for a future blind owner. It’s surprisingly easy to achieve and not that much different from potty training a toddler!”

“Another thing we do is to make the dog sit and wait for its food until the whistle is blown. Good manners here mean the owner won’t get trampled in the rush and the dog learns to associate the whistle with food.

This is very useful when it comes to teaching recall! In the early stages of his training, I use hand signals to reinforce the command words, but eye-contact shouldn’t be relied on.”

Puppy Pete is also learning to walk on the lead without pulling and to walk slightly ahead and on the left of the handler down the centre of the pavement.

“This makes sure that Pete is the perfect ambassador for Guide Dogs when we’re out and about” Says Lesley. “People are always interested in finding out more when they see Pete in his Guide

Dogs puppy coat. At first alll they want to do is cuddle him but it gives me the opportunity to chat to them about how hard a guide dog works and that they should never distract a guide dog when it’s working. Their job of keeping a person with sight loss safe takes a lot of concentration. But when they aren’t working they love cuddles as much as the next pup!”

“Pete is starting to get used to the area we live in and we’ve been getting him as used to as many different environments as possible, you never know what his working life will throw at him. He comes everywhere with me and I tend to plan my day around what the best opportunities for teaching him something new will be. Nothing seems to faze him; he’s even taken the menagerie that we have at home in his stride”

Puppy Walking takes time, energy, patience and an awareness of the job that your puppy will be doing when he is mature. You have to be always aware that any bad habits allowed to develop may stop your puppy from qualifying, so extra time and effort has to be made in the training.

Lesley says though that she loves being a puppy walker. “It keeps me occupied and fit and when I don’t have a puppy we miss them. It’s like an addiction. When one goes you feel sad, but when the next one comes in they bring all their love with them.

We’re so excited to be following Pete’s progress at Love Dogs NI and we’ll be bringing you regular updates throughout his training.

Guide Dog PeteThe story continued . . .

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering for Guide Dogs NI, or even how you could name a

puppy like Pete, visit the Guide Dogs website www.guidedogs.org.uk

or call the Guide Dogs NI Team on 0845 37 27 402.

www.dogigami.co.uk

Jodie White IMDTThe Modern Dog TrainerHead trainer and behavioural advisor for the Dogigami Training Centre, Ballyward, Co Down. Jodie is highly respected by all she meets in her dog training path as she is passionate and committed to providing current, scientific, usable positive reinforcement based training methods presented in such a way it helps you ‘see the wood through the trees with lots of giggles along the way’ as her learners put it!!

She is a full member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and has many other qualifications under her ‘training belt’. Jodie is currently working though the TTouch Practitioner programme as well as various other qualifications. “Being highly knowledgable and committed to life long learning is the key to a sucessful dog trainer” says Jodie.

Her particular areas of interest are working with children, to promote safe and fun relationships around dogs, tricks and doggy dancing (which she does with her Labrador Millie) and promoting calm, kind and affective relationships for a harmonious home.

Do you have a question for Jodie or an article topic you would like to see covered. Then please contact us at contact@lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

Mindful MannersIn today’s fast paced, quick fix world we all too easily overlook

one very basic area where we can impart so many simple

manners to our dogs.

Using tools, gadgets, treats and equipment is encouraged

and essential in some areas. However how much more

impact could we have on a daily basis if we simply became

more mindful with our interactions?

Actually, we can have a huge impact! If we slow down,

are less hands on and observe more, we can find out some

key information from our dogs which will really help our

communication and relationships.

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What motivates my dog? One area to focus our observations would be:

- What motivates my dog? - What do they love, like, tolerate and dislike?

So over the next week start observing them more, watching how they react to different situations, how much interest they show in the different foods you offer, if they snuggle in or turn away from your physical interactions and how they respond to your requests.

This is an invaluable task as it provides so much information about your dog which can be an essential training tool and support, helping you with some of the more challenging areas and daily interactions.

Create a list of around 20 things that motivate your dog in order of their preference, for example your list could be something like this:

Example: - Holding a toy in mouth - Fish sticks - Water (hose play or swimming) - Running after a toy - Tuggy- Jumping - Through gate to off lead fun - KONG slow dinner feeder - Getting into the car - Cheese

Once you have created your dogs list, you have the secret to changing both your worlds by applying the ‘Premack principle’. This allows you to find a reinforcer that really works with your dog.

As a rule, preferred behaviours can be used to reinforce un-preferred behaviours. This is called the Premack principle after psychologist David Premack who proposed the rule. A formal statement of the Premack principle is as follows: high-probability behaviours (those performed frequently under conditions of free choice) can be used to reinforce low-probability behaviours.

Also known as ‘mothers-law’ because mums will often use a similar variation by saying: “you can only have icecream (preferred behaviour) if you eat your vegetables (un-preferred behaviour)

So putting this into context for our dogs it is about looking at what interactions you do on a daily basis where you can apply this principle, here are a few examples.

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Going through gate/doorIt’s all so exciting going to the park or field for some play and enrichment games but opening the gate/door itself can be Premack’d.

So you change the behaviour by using the access to the garden/field as the reinforcer and the sit is their non- preferred behaviour but it is offered to gain their preferred behaviour of going for fun in the garden/field.

This principle can be applied to so many areas where you are not only increasing manners, calmness, and ‘sit to say please’ but also ‘impulse control’ - because your dog has to learn to wait patiently for the things he or she desires.

By slowing down and observing more you will be able to have a more mindful interaction and promote good manners offered from your dog with them choosing to offer them in return. You will not have to have a pocket full of *treats all of the time as you will be using real life reinforcers infused into your everyday life

*I am a strong advocate of rewarding the behaviour you like and treats play a huge part in this. Just as we get paid a salary in our daily jobs, your dog is also working when doing a task and therefore earning its salary ‘treat’. So please do not stop using them, just ask yourself if they are needed as a reward or is the given situation a daily life reinforce. This will help to create a healthy balance.

So go enjoy you time together, observe and find out your dogs true likes and dislikes (just like us they have their own list) and see where you can integrate life reinforcers into your everyday family life.

1. Hold the bowl up and wait (do not speak), when the dog calms

and offers (their choice) a sit or down.

2. Lower the bowl to the floor. If they go to

get up, simply raise the bowl back up. Do not

talk during this process.

3. Keep repeating until you can put the bowl on the floor and they

remain in a sit or down and look at you!

4. At that point you can say ‘yes/ok’ (to

mark the behaviour you are looking for) and invite

them to eat.

Meal times: Rather than your dog jumping about to get the KONG or even a bowl (your dogs feeding method) simply:

5. Leave them be to eat in peace.

1. You wait at the gate until your dog offers a sit and

then go to open the gate/door.

2. If they get up, you simply shut the gate/door again.

3. Continue repeating until you can open the gate/door fully and your dog is

sitting looking at you.

4. At that point you can say ‘OK’ and proceed calmly

through the gate/door!

Want more training tips & advice? Why not subscribe to Jodie’s YouTube Channel

YouTube - Dogigami Dog Training

Or connect with her on: Facebook/dogigamiPinterest/dogigami

Instagram/dogigami

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Irish Retriever Rescue Giving every dog a second chanceUp until 2004, Sandie Bissett, one of our founding members had been rescuing Golden Retrievers in Ireland and bringing them to the UK. But as the volume grew it became obvious that more help was needed. Having spoken with a group of like-minded Goldie lovers in the UK, it was decided to set up a UK based not-for-profit organisation called Irish Retriever Rescue UK and adopt as their mission statement “a commitment to safeguarding the future of abused, abandoned, neglected or simply unwanted Golden Retrievers”. In January 2013 this same organisation became a fully recognised UK registered charity. Now the charity re-homes over 100 unwanted Golden Retrievers each year. The goals of the charity• To assess, rehabilitate and rehome all the dogs in our care to forever loving homes.• To raise funds to allow us to continue rescuing these dogs and transporting them to the UK.• To fully home check any potential forever home.• To match each individual dog to a prospective adopter.

Giving every dog a second chanceDogs come into our Rescue for a variety of reasons. Quite often dogs are surrendered by their owners because of changes in family circumstances. Others are abandoned and collected by Dog Wardens to be taken to the Pounds. All dogs that comeinto our care are examined, spayed or neutered and microchipped. Those dogs arriving from Eire or other parts of Europe are also given mandatory vaccinations and necessary legal documentation before travelling with registered dog transporters to the UK.

On arrival they are placed in foster care for a short period. This allows the fosterer to assess the dog who may need time to settle into their new environment before their true personality fully emerges. Where possible, it is important that their interaction with children and other animals, especially cats, is fully evaluated. This helps to ensure they are placed in the most appropriate forever home. While our primary mission is to rescue dogs from Eire, which we actively seek through our full time Ireland Coordinator and her team, when asked to assist in rehoming dogs from other countries in Europe, including the UK, if we have sufficient funds and foster homes available we are always willing to help a dog in need. “Sadly I lost my beloved 15 year old Golden Retriever at the end of February. He was my second retriever and I had fallen in love with the gentle charm and fun-loving character of this beautiful breed. I lasted about a week in a retriever-less house! We have an Irish Water Spaniel who had gone into quiet mourning and, whilst I had every intention of not getting another dog, I realised that my home was missing the calming influence of a retriever and that could only come from a more mature dog.

I had heard of Irish Retriever Rescue some years earlier and the best decision I’ve made in a long time was to give them a call. I had no idea what the process would be but, I spoke to a friendly knowledgeable lady who, with the support of her lovely family, provides love, respect, and respite for retrievers and other breeds, who have suffered abandonment, neglect and abuse. Heather Hawthorne is as

knowledgeable about the humans she comes into contact with as she is about the dogs she aims to rehome. She quickly identifies the

needs of both and will either introduce you to your new friend if he/she is currently in her care, or arrange to contact you when a suitable dog becomes available.

We were very lucky. Heather had 3 retrievers in her home when we contacted her. She listened very keenly to our assessment of our needs and situation and the kind of home and exercise routine we felt we could provide and we listened to her wise and experienced counsel. We quickly came to trust her judgement and, when she suggested that we come to her home to meet an 8 year old retriever, we just could not wait.

We fell in love with Otis as soon as we saw him. Heather told us what she knew about his past and how she, and her capable young son, had cared for him since his arrival. She assessed his nature - we now know - very accurately.

Heather helped us choose a dog who is the perfect ‘fit’ for my family, my home and the way we live. In fact the fit was so good that my husband commented that he didn’t know what we’d done without Otis when he’d only been with us for 2 days!

Heather recommended that we return a few days later and ‘foster’ Otis initially. She said that, should we feel, for any reason, Otis was not the right dog for us she would collect him immediately. In this way both dog and prospective owner are protected. Of course, she’d made her initial assessment so accurately that we adopted Otis after the foster period and find it hard to believe that he hasn’t always been part of our family.Otis is very handsome, extremely loving, intelligent and loves to please. He is the peaceful, calming and fun presence in our home and has already given us far more than we can ever give him.

We are very grateful for the existence of Irish Retriever Rescue and, particularly, for the expertise and ongoing support of Heather Hawthorne.” - Donna

If you would like to get involved there are a number of ways to do so. We need people to transport dogs, foster

homes are needed to help integrate dogs into their home on a short term basis (anyone can foster, we simply need

to conduct a home check first), we also need home checkers around Northern Ireland (training and

shadowing provided), as with all our roles you will never be left unsupported.

Equally as important are donations and fund raising events, without these our work would be almost impossible to do

and so many dogs would be without a home. So please get in touch, your support no matter

how small will make a big difference.

Contact Heather on: 0786 717 151or email her at: Ladytriple@gmail.com

Do you know the dangers of dog poop in your garden? Do you lift it as often as you should?Dog waste is more than just and unfortunate misstep awaiting to happen, it’s hazardous to the health of both humans and pets.

The purpose of this article is to outline the importance of keeping pet waste out of your garden. Not only is accumulated dog waste unsightly and smelly, but it also poses serious health and environmental concerns.

Did you know, 44% of Northern Irelands households have at least one dog. That’s around half of our population which equates to approximately 430,000 dogs. That’s not taking into account; extra dogs at households, strays, boarding kennels, gun dogs and working dogs. When you consider that number is equivalent to about a fifth of the country’s human population, you realise just how prevalent man’s four legged friend really is in this country. This means, a lot of dogs produce a lot of poop. In fact, 80 tonnes everyday. As a result of this it presents huge

risk, a risk which you can help prevent.

Dog poop can make you and your dog sick as it carries a variety of harmful bacteria. It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coli form bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness and serious kidney disorders in humans and sometimes death in the vulnerable or young. Dog waste can also carry worms such as whipworm and hookworm. Puppies can be especially vulnerable to dog waste left on the ground because of the potentially deadly Parvo Virus. This virus is highly contagious and can be easily passed

to other dogs through infected dog waste. Dog poop also attracts rats!! Put plainly, rats and other rodents are attracted to dog poop because they like to eat it. In fact, dog poop is said to be the number one food source for rats in developed areas. If you have a rat or mouse issue you may want to investigate whether it is being fuelled by a pet waste problem.

Love, food and shelter were all things you actively agreed to providing for your new pet when you purchased or adopted them. Sanitation and cleanup are also important factors of pet ownership that are critical to the health and well-being of your entire family. Cleaning up after your dog is one guarantee in the life of every pet owner. Left un-checked, your yard can quickly turn into a mine field of faeces in a week or less. On average, dogs do a poo twice per day which adds up to about 14 piles in just one week, per dog. Contrary to popular belief, dog faeces is not fertilizer and does not provide any benefit to the soil. In other words your garden is a petri dish of communicable disease. I’m not here to judge, when my son was a toddler I remember vividly the day he came wobbling across the garden to me with a dried out dog turd in his hands. Clearly, I was not on top of the garden cleaning routine, and really, who is?

We would recommend lifting the dog waste as often as possible though everyone knows that this chore can be overlooked if you’re; busy, too tired, sick, on holidays or you have a long term illness which prevents you doing so. That’s where we come in. Here at Scooped we can visit regularly to lift poop, disinfect & deodorise affected areas and dispose of waste away from your home. We can make your garden safe, clean and green from here on in.

Our rates start at only £7 per visit. Call us now to arrange your first visit and find out.

Call us today:

0800 612 9192www.scoopedni.com SCOOPED

www.scoopedni.com

Sick of cleaning up after your beloved pup?

Let us deal with it! Various options available to dispose of your

dog waste.

DOG WASTE REMOVAL

Cat litter clean up can be a hassle.

Let us remove the nuisance of this chore and you will never have to buy

cat litter again.

CAT WASTE REMOVAL

Does your business include cleaning up after animals and disposing

of their waste?

Do you have an open area which you would like to keep clean? Let us partner with you to provide a solution.

COMMERICAL SERVICES

Pet Waste Removal Service

Established family business passionate about changing what we feed our dogs, using nutritional and natural quality ingredients. All goodies are developed and

baked by an award winning chef.

2014 saw the launch of their popular holistic range targeting common canine ailments.

Pawfect Doggie Treats are also proud sponsors of many major NI dog events.

De-lick-ious homemade pet treats and cakes.

At Penny’s Pet Bakery we provide all pet owners with a healthier alternative for their beloved furry family

member.

There are no artificial additives or preservatives in our treats. Treats and cakes are freshly baked to order using

human grade ingredients.

Come and have a look!

www.pennyspetbakery.co.uk www.pawfectdoggietreats.co.uk

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What a!TREAT

Every dog deserves a treat and so we have searched throughout Northern Ireland to bring you some of the best dog treats Northern Ireland

has to offer.

Why? - Simply because your dog is one in a million and that is a good enough reason for us.

2016 is the Year of Food and Drink, celebrating everything that makes the produce from our wee country so good. As a skilled nation we breed, grow, catch, cook and enjoy some of the finest, freshest foods thanks to our rich lands, resulting in a food experience like no other. This is the tastiest time to live and visit

Northern Ireland, not just for us humans but now for our furry pals as well!

So not only do we have some of the finest foods and restaurants in the world, we can now add to that list some of the yummiest Dog Treats as well! Applying the same methods our featured home grown companies have a lip smacking menu for any breed of dog.

So what makes the perfect dog treat company? We reckon they need to add the right amount of love, a dash of compassion, a tablespoon of dedication. But most of all as already mentioned the finest home grown ingredients with no nasty surprises!

Have a look at what these great companies have to offer, check them out online and connect within via social media. But most of all be sure to pick up some of these tasty treats for your furry pal, after all the proof is in the eating!

Our story began by making Liver Cake for our beloved Irish Terrier ‘Sparky.’

Each bag is made at home by hand and contains only the finest ingredients, sourced from our local butcher. There are NO ADDITIVES OR PRESERVATIVES added at any stage and everything is slow baked to produce a treat with a unique and delicious flavour. We believe

our passion can be tasted in our treats and are sure you dog will agree.

“Our famous Liver Cake is a nutritious and highly

rewarding treat that All dogs will enjoy” Iain Taggart

At Armstrong’s Twisted Fish we make the healthiest and tastiest treats known to canines.

Hand made with natural ingredients our treats are

hypoallergenic, grain free, low in fat, have a wide range of health benefits, and dogs give them the paws up!

Facebook/armstrongstwistedfish

Twitter@ArmstrongsFishInstagram/armstrongs_twisted_fish

To view our range visit:

www.taggartsdogtreats.com

www.armstrongstwistedfish.com

Murphy’s Barkery Ltd established itself as Northern Irelands first bakery for dogs following trial premises in

the mid east Antrim area.

Specialising in handcrafted healthy celebration cakes and treats with personalised options for pampered

pooches the business continues to grow from strength to strength supplying to vetinary surgeries and pet shops

throughout N.Ireland.

www.murphysbarkery.com

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Be sure to check out the Love Dogs Online Directory to find a host of companies (based in Northern Ireland) who can provide all the services and products you need. If you are a business owner and can’t find your business listed, then contact us and we will get you listed!

Love Dogs Online Directory

Visit our online directory at:www.lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

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Northern Ireland

Waggy Races - Larchfield Estate 5K

You love dogs, love the great outdoors and can’t get enough of NI’s beautiful countryside. However, whilst you like the idea of it, you see Waggy Races as more of a

spectator sport as you haven’t actually run since you came 8th in the egg and spoon race in P7. In fact, the idea of actually taking your place on the start line fills you with fear, and it’s not the 160 snarling hounds. Well, fear not – a Waggy Races course is actually a very achievable distance for almost anyone! Couple this with the fact that your 4-legged team mate and best friend will be with you for every step of the way, the old adage of ‘I won’t know anyone’ just doesn’t hold true at a Waggy Races 5k. With a little work, you have absolutely no reason not to enter.

Training to run 5kThe key for a beginner building up to the 5k distance is to follow a training plan that progresses slowly and is sustainable for you. If you have never run before and suddenly pledge to start running every single day, it just won’t work. With the best will in the world, you will likely lose motivation and are inviting injury - your body won’t have the conditioning for a sudden drastic increase in training volume.

The advent of the highly popular and widespread ‘Couch to 5k’ programme is aimed at just this. The schemes provide a progressive 9 week training plan for beginners to gradually build up their running ability to be able to run 5K without stopping. The sessions are free and are led by trained volunteer coaches who will give you all the advice and encouragement you will need. You train with a group of people of similar ability, progressing at the same rate, and once you complete the programme, your graduation ceremony is a Saturday morning Parkrun, of which there are now 23 at venues all over all over NI. You can enter Waggy races as a Pro runner, Casual runner or as a walker – this

enables teams to start the race in a group of similar ability, so you will never be out of your depth...and if you are? Blame the dog.

Training for Waggy RacesOf course there is no point in turning yourself into a finely tuned athlete if your pup is having a lazy evening snoring on the settee and eating ice cream – take your dog with you! Dogs are welcome at both Couch to 5k and Parkruns and provide great company when you are out training, plus they love it too! They are however like furry, 4-legged humans when it comes to running - they

too also need to build up gradually, so don’t expect your dog to suddenly start running 10 miles if they have never got much further than a walk round the block.

Some tips for taking your team mate with you

• The most important thing to remember is that your dog can’t tell you when they are too warm, unwell or need to stop. Some dogs will literally run themselves in to the ground. Look for signs in your dog that they may need a break, are over heating or are stressed.

• All the literature says not to run with a dog that is less than one year old. This is a very rough rule of thumb and depends totally on the breed. Try telling an 11 month old collie he can’t go for a 3 mile jog. You should always check with your vet if you are unsure as to your dog’s capabilities. Small dogs reach physical maturity a lot earlier than their larger counterparts.

• Always take water for your dog or better still, plan a route that has access to water along the way. One of our favourite runs with Zola is in the Mournes, starting at Carrick Little car park up to the Blue Lough. It is reasonably flat, well formed trails and numerous streams for her to cool off in on the way.

• Avoid running in warm temperatures. Zola is a Samoyed with a double coat, so we are very careful about this.

• Remember that all dogs are different and some are better adapted runners than others – short muzzled (Brachycephalic) dogs such as Pugs and French Bulldogs can struggle to cool down if they overheat.

• Check your dogs paws for thorns, stones etc afterwards. Soft terrain (beaches, grass, trails) have less impact than running on roads for both you and your dog.

• For the competitive types - it helps if your dog runs in front and pulls – stride length increases and you feel like you are flying! A waist belt and harness will enable you to runs hands free and let your dog pull you to a faster time!

Running Waggy RacesGetting ready for 5k

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Check out our example training programme to help get race ready!Week oneBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking, for a total of 20 minutes.

Week twoBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then alternate 90 seconds of running with 2 minutes of walking, for a total of 20 minutes.

Week threeBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then two repetitions of 90 seconds of running, 90 seconds of walking, 3 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking.

Week fourBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then 3 minutes of running, 90 seconds of walking, 5 minutes of running, 2½ minutes of walking, 3 minutes of running, 90 seconds of walking, 5 minutes of running.

Week fiveThere are three different workouts for this week. They are as follows:Workout 1: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 5 minutes of running.Workout 2: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 8 minutes of running, 5 minutes of walking, 8 minutes of running.Workout 3: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 20 minutes of running, with no walking.

Week sixThere are three different workouts for this week. They are as follows:Workout 1: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 8 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 5 minutes of running.Workout 2: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 10 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 10 minutes of running.Workout 3: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 25 minutes of running with no walking.

Week sevenBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then 25 minutes running.

Week eightBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then 28 minutes of running.

Week nineBegin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then 30 minutes of running.

Good luck and maybe we will see you at the next Waggy Races!

Check out www.waggy-races.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter of Instagram to get details of upcoming races. To find out more and get involved with your local Parkrun, go to www.parkrun.org.uk

The Mount Stewart 5kWe are excited to announce that the 8th Waggy Races will take place at Mount Stewart, a magnificent House and gardens owned by the National Trust, on Sun 2nd October.

‘Tails on new trails’This will be the first ever event on Mount Stewart’s newly opened trail network. The course will also take in the house and gardens, the lake, the Temple of the Winds and has glorious views across Strangford Lough - an outstanding venue for Waggy Races VIII!

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Photo Credit - Special thanks to Mark Winterfrom Frontline Freelance Media To view more photos from Larchfield Estate 5k and previous Waggy Races visit Facebook.com/frontlinefreelancemedia Images are available to purchase as digital downloads

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Each issue we ask local veterinarians to offer some of their top tips and advice on various issues relating to your dog health and wellbeing.

Remember to seek advice from your own veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet, medication or pre-set exercise plan.

If you are a veterinarian and would like to contribute please get in touch with us. contact@lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

Cancer isn’t the end!We all fear it, in ourselves perhaps and of course in our loved pets too. Early diagnosis and targeted intervention really does save lives, and improves that most important of things, Quality of Life, for many.

In my career, I have seen dramatic improvements in the treatment of many cancers in dogs. Nowadays in the cases I see, whether from my own practice, or those referred to me from all around the province, I expect to be able to help most, even if a complete cure is not attainable.

Cancer is a disease which manifests in many, many ways. Any change in your pet, or any lump which appears, should be reported promptly to your vet. He/she is best placed to assess its significance: long gone are the days when we assess masses purely by look and feel. Detailed in-clinic or laboratory tests

can differentiate between benign and malignant with a high degree of confidence. I always will place a needle in a mass for cytological diagnosis – I remember vividly an older retriever with thirteen masses – twelve benign lipomata (fatty lumps) which needed no action, and one aggressive cancer – they all felt similar, but were most definitely different underneath!

Prevention is of course better than cure – hence the reason most vets advocate spaying bitches as early as possible – there is a 700% reduction in risk of

breast cancer if the bitch spayed before first season – a fabulous health benefit of a routine procedure. Neutering male dogs of course prevents testicular cancer too, and is another obvious health benefit. There were some alarming press reports about certain cancers being more common in spayed animals, but at the biggest vet conference in the world in Florida this January past, scientists were able to show that those reports were not applicable outside a small genetic subsample of retrievers in one geographical area: another example of mis-reporting of scientific results, something we have got used to for ourselves in the popular press.

Modern chemotherapy regimes are designed to achieve remission without making the dog unwell – we don’t expect tummy upsets or hair loss during treatment – please, please don’t rule out treatment for fear of adverse side effects. If administered thoughtfully, and under guidance of an experienced vet there is no reason that the chemotherapy should make your dog at all unwell. If your own vet isn’t set up for chemo cases please consider asking for a referral to a clinic which is.

At Cedarmount we offer pets a large variety of chemo protocols all designed individually for each dog. We are currently the only clinic in Ireland able to offer the vaccine for Canine Malignant Melanoma.

Cost of chemotherapy is also of course a concern to many owners, and while insurance is ideal, the cost of many regimes is not that dreadfully high. Radiotherapy however remains exceedingly expensive, and not yet available in Ireland, North or South, but can be arranged across the water for those who wish it.

Be vigilant. Neuter early. Keep an eye out for lumps/bumps developing, and be aware of any changes in activity or

Craig ReillyBVM&S CertSAM MRCVS

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The Itchy Dog Itchiness or pruritis in dogs is very common. It affects dogs of all ages and all breeds, although some breeds show a higher predisposition than others.

The reasons why dogs develop itchy skin are multiple. The area affected on the dog’s body can vary hugely from small hotspots to generalised pruritis and accompanying skin infection over almost the entire body.

When we discuss pruritis and skin infection it is wise to include the ears. Indeed the ears and ear canals are an extension of the skin. Ear infection is known as Otitis. It is common for dogs with skin irritation also to have involvement of the ears. On the other hand, not all dogs with ear infections have skin involvement.

The hair and skin form a protective layer around the body, and on occasions this layer can become compromised. This may be due to a metabolic problem that disrupts the skin environment, for example hypothyroidism and allows an area of infection to develop. It may be due to a parasitic infestation and resulting direct trauma to the skin that causes the dog to feel itchy, or a hypersensitive reaction to the presence of that parasite that drives the urge to itch. The primary parasites in question are fleas, mites and to a certain degree ticks.

Once a dog is driven to scratch, this self induced trauma is enough to cause areas of hair to fall out and infection to develop. This may be a bacterial or yeast –type infection, or in many cases both.

Pruritis may also be caused by the presence of an allergic agent in the dog’s environment or in its food. Environment allergens are most common. The only way to tell if a food allergen is present is to feed a food source the dog has never been exposed to before; the easiest way to do this is using commercial dog foods designed for this purpose. It can take 8 weeks on this diet to see a response. Fortunately, many dogs improve on such diets anyway, because it is rich in factors that promote skin health.

Dogs that suffer from environmental allergic disease, also formed atopy, can be difficult to manage

on occasion. These dogs tend also to be highly sensitive

Aidan O’HareMVB MRCVS GPCert SAM

to flea saliva, so constant control of fleas, both on the dog, and in its environment are essential. West Highland Terriers are at an increased risk of developing atopy.

Recurrent skin disease usually manifests itself at a young age, and when this pattern becomes apparent your vet will generally rule out other causes before deciding on a diagnosis of atopy.

Management consists of controlling infection using antibiotics, antifungal and shampoos. Medications which suppress the urge to itch can be used. Blood testing can be carried out to help identify allergens and create a vaccine that can be used to hyposensitise the dog against the offensive allergens. The vast majority of cases can be controlled well using a combination of those methods. Sometimes medication is lifelong and on other occasions it is only seasonal, when certain allergens appear.

Fortunately a lot of itchy skin is easily remedied using anti-parasitic and antibiotics, shampoos and ear drops for cases of ear involvement. Regular cleaning of the ear canals at your vets can help control infections.

Regular use of flea, mite and tick products can aid prevention. Worming is also effective as tapeworms and fleas have an inter linked life cycle.

Aidan O’Hare MVB MRCVS GPCert SAM

Castle VetCastlewellan8 Dublin Road, CastlewellanBT31 9AQ Tel: 028 43778302

Downpatrick50 Church Street, DownpatrickBT30 6EJTel: 028 44617077

Have something to share?If you are a veterinarian and would like to

contribute please get in touch with us. contact@lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

behaviour, most especially weight loss or lethargy. Report any concerns promptly to your vet. If the worst is detected, don’t despair – seek your vet’s advice and discuss all options with him/her including the option of referral if necessary.

Craig Reilly BVM&S CertSAM MRCVS Cedarmount Veterinary Clinic 67 Bryansburn Road Bangor County Down BT20 3SD

What are Tension PatternsTension Patterns are areas of tightness that exist in an animal’s body. They may be obvious and inhibit the natural movement of an animal to a greater or lesser degree or may be subtle and less easily detected. Either way they will have an effect on the way the animal functions on an emotional, mental and physical level. They can influence not only how the dog thinks, feels and learns but can hamper a dogs ability to be trained and adapt to new situations.

Why do Tension Patterns Occur?There are a number of reasons why tension patterns occur. Whilst breed type and genetic makeup obviously influence posture other factors can also come into play.

InjuryAs well as greatly reducing tolerance levels, pain can alter a dog’s normal posture and movement. Even after the injury has healed the dog may still move in the posture it adopted to compensate for the original problem. He may have to learn how to move in a more effective manner once more since the muscles may have developed unevenly thus maintaining the posture the dog adopted to protect the injured area.

Medical ProblemsChanges in hormones, thyroid imbalances, arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other medical problems give rise to many issues. Whilst veterinary care is paramount, awareness of how the underlying problem is affecting your dog gives you the opportunity to reduce stress and minimise the knock on effect the issue may have on your dog’s posture and behaviour.

TraumaShock as a result of an accident or an emotional upheaval such as being in kennels, bereavement, or change of circumstance can cause tension throughout the body. Just as with humans, even low levels of stress can cause physiological changes and influence the dog in his day to day existence. Management/Training Lack of exercise, inappropriate environment, or unsuitable training methods can all cause stress in a dog and exacerbate

Looking at Dogsin the Present TenseSarah Fisher

habitual and instinctive behaviour. Poor nutrition and food allergies can also cause tension through the body.

Born that way Some dogs present tension patterns right from birth. Puppies with higher levels of tension in their skin or in specific parts of their body will generally be more vocal and more demanding from even a few days old. Unless these tension patterns are reduced it is likely that the problems will grow as the puppy matures.

Identifying Tension PatternsBefore you can set about doing anything to relieve areas of tension you have to identify them. Spend some time watching the way your dog moves both on and off the lead. Note how he sits and how he lies down. Observe closely the way in which he holds himself and organises his limbs when walking. Watch how he stops – does he always stand square or does he stand in an uneven frame? Does he stand base narrow or base wide (with his feet closely together or wide apart). Look at his tail; does it hang down, is it high or tucked firmly between his hind legs? Does he wag it more to one side than the other? Can he walk in a straight line or does he cower and ‘hug’ the ground. Is he stiff? Is there a curve through his body or does the foot fall of his hind limbs follow the pattern of his front paws? Does one ear look as though it is higher or set further back than the other?

All of these postural patterns will link to a dog’s behaviour and with experience it is actually possible to gather enough information from the way a dog moves, stands, sits and lies down to form a picture of his likely responses in a variety of situations.

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Understanding how posture relates to and directly influences behaviour in animals can give you valuable information about how and why your dog reacts the

way he does in certain situations. This can be a helpful tool when selecting a dog from the shelter when details about the dog’s background may be sketchy or completely unknown.

You can also use these observations to learn more about the dog already in your care or to assess a dogs’ suitability for the life style that you lead. Even if you are choosing a puppy, understanding the correlation between posture and behaviour can give you some indication as to how he will mature as many traits and behavioural characteristics are in place at a very early age. By understanding how tension patterns influence the dogs mind you can prevent or overcome many common behavioural problems and tailor your management of the dog to suit his individual needs.

All photography is credited to - Bob Atkins and David and Charles Publishing Ltd

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If you know the dog or if the dog is happy to be handled by unfamiliar people you can then use your hands to confirm or give you a more specific feel as to where the tension lies. Starting at the head run, the flat of your hand smoothly along the dog’s neck and back and continue towards the hindquarters and tail. Progress to running your hand along the shoulder and side, and down the front and hind limbs. Once you have finished one side, check the other and note if your findings are the same on both sides of the body. If the dog is unsure at any point stop immediately. If the dog is shy or nervous, try using the back of your hand instead.

Note any peculiarities which indicate tension. These may include the following:

Changes in temperature - hot or cold patches Differences in appearance of the coat such as scurf or raised or rough areas of hair or excessive swirls and curls.

Lumps and bumps - The skin or underlying muscles twitching when certain places are touched.

A feeling of tightness in the skin or underlying muscle tissue.

The dog expressing his concern in any way including moving away, panting, increase or decrease in blinking, freezing, turning the head, or growling.

What to doIf you find tension patterns in your dog there is plenty that you can do to alleviate the problem. It is possible to produce a very rapid difference in a dog’s behaviour and attitude to life. It is important, however, to be realistic and bear in mind that some tension patterns may take time and patience to address. This may depend on the longevity of the problem or the underlying cause.

Consulting a veterinary surgeon is vital if you suspect an underlying physical problem. Making suitable adjustments to the environment and management including the games you play with your dog may be necessary.

Attending a Tellington TTouch workshop or working with a qualified Tellington TTouch Practitioner will give you valuable tools to address tension patterns and their associated behaviours.

The Tellington TTouch involves a variety of ground exercises and special body TTouches which promote body awareness, use and posture. This in turn can be instrumental in developing a more balanced personality and can help eliminate many undesirable behaviour patterns. Simply punishing a dog for unwanted behaviour will only make existing tension patterns worse and lead to the creation of others.

The MuzzleThe mouth is closely associated with learning and emotions. It is one of the most important parts of the dog’s body as dogs use their mouths to communicate with a variety of signals including licking their lips, barking, yawning, panting, ‘huffing’ growling and mouthing.

As with people, dogs can carry a lot of tension around the muzzle and jaw. If a dog carries tension in the mouth area his ability to communicate may be limited.

He may be slow to mature and difficult to train since the mouth is linked to the ability to process thoughts and actions.

Tension around the muzzle area will generally present in two different ways. In the fine nosed dogs such as Sight Hounds, the muzzle will be narrow and may appear pinched. This pattern can be linked to sensitivity and shyness. These types of dogs may have a tendency to go off their food when upset and will often be reluctant to take food from people if unsure of the situation. They may lick their lips rapidly to express their concern and their eyes may be glassy with a vacant appearance. If cornered of pushed too far they may have a tendency to nip out of nervousness without a warning growl although there will probably have been many nervous system responses exhibited that express concern prior to the actual nip.

Over-exaggerated mouth movements are more typical in the broader muzzled breeds such as the Retrievers or Bull breeds. They may be inclined to excessive barking, drinking, panting and mouthiness and may show a particular interest or obsession with food, toys and other articles. Quick to arouse and hyperactive behaviour these dogs are often slow to mature mentally and emotionally. They may bite under pressure with a hard or multiple bite and may appear overly ‘dominant’ and pushy in their behaviour. When offered treats this type of dog may snatch it from the hand as tension through the jaw limits their ability to be subtle in their movement. Tension in the muzzle area will often show around the nose and lines across the top of the upper jaw. Hormonal imbalance can result in tension around the mouth.

Observing the way the dog holds his muzzle and jaw can give you vital information as to how the dog is coping with a situation. A still, tense mouth and jaw can be a signal that the dog has ‘shut down’ and gone into freeze.

The Eyes and Face The eyes are the window to the soul and this is true of dogs. Dogs that are easy to handle and stress free generally have eyes that are soft and appealing with a richness and depth to the colour. Tension and stress will result in a hard, glassy eye that appears bulging, glazed or unblinking. Rolling an eye or showing any white can be a sign of concern. The area around the eye will be tight in dogs that are stressed giving the appearance of a small pinched eye in certain breeds. The skin around the eye may be tight and wrinkled with stress lines under the eye.

Dogs use their eyes to communicate. Looking at any dog directly in the eye can be unsettling for the dog and can trigger unwanted responses. If nervous and more prone to Flight, the dog will look away and will avoid direct eye contact. If the dog is unable to remove itself from the situation he may nip out of fear or start shaking. In dogs that will hold your stare, direct eye contact can trigger them to jump up or lunge forward. Breaking eye contact by looking away and keeping your eyes soft when observing or interacting with dogs will reduce their stress levels and allow them to process what you are teaching them.

Hard eyes are often linked to tension across the forehead. Dogs that are anxious and nervous are often tight across the brow which can give the appearance of raised eyebrows and a furrowed brow. This can be linked to anxiety and a dislike and genuine fear of being left alone. There is a correlation between the forehead and stomach and dogs that are tight across the brow can suffer digestive disturbances or go off their food when unsettled. Likewise, food intolerances or poor gut function can give rise to anxious behaviour and dogs with tension across the forehead will often be whiney and clingy.

If you recognise some of these tension patterns, there are positive steps you can take to improve matters using the TTouch technique. TTouch has helped thousands of dogs overcome health and behavioural issues using body work and ground exercises to change existing habitual patterns. The dogs learn to learn. They become calmer, more focused, easier to train and more adaptive to both new and every day situations. To be continued in the next issue of Love Dogs Magazine . . . .

Find out more by visiting www.ttouchtteam.co.uk

How photogenic is your dog?Why not get snapping and send us your best photos of your pal. Not only could they appear here in our gallery, they

could be our lucky winner!

Check out this issue’s top dogs . . .

Charlie - Ballymoney Rocky - Culcavy

Rocky - Banbridge

Smoky - Ballyward

Ruby - Newcastle

Bonnie - Carrickfergus

Fudge - Dromore

and the WINNER is...

with owner Natasha

Charlie you have won some wonderful prizes which you can see listed below.

We would like to thank each of the companies

who have provided these amazing prizes. Be sure to visit them online and join their social networks to

find out more.

How to EnterRemember all you have to do is: ● Email us one hi-res photo of your dog (2mb+)● Include your Dog’s name Your name Address Contact number

A full list of competition rules and deadline can be found on our website

www.lovedogsmagazine.co.uk

‘Charlie’

The next 4 Paws Gallery Competition is now open, and the theme is . . . ‘Summer’

£50 voucherTreat Hamper

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Shed Bursting Tips For A Cleaner HomeIn this edition a reader has been asking about how to reduce shedding in their Akita.

Shedding is a big problem in all double coated breeds espically the heavy coated akita and husky breeds and the combination double coats eg border collies/golden retrievers as well as smooth/short coated breeds are all amongst the worse shedders espically when they have the seasonal coat blow.

Unfortunately now with many dogs being kept in centrally heated homes shedding is constant instead of seasonal. The process takes place for another reason It keeps the hair healthy. Without a shedding cycle of renewal, growing new and replacing old, the coat would be terrible dry and

unhealthy. Problems can arise if the hair is not allowed to fall out. It is vital to brush your dog properly this will also reduce the amount of shedding hair around the home if done on a regular basis. If part of the shed is allowed to remain trapped near the skin, it will block air flow to the skin’s surface. This can cause issues with dryness and itchiness and skin problems.

In today’s busy lifestyle many people don’t have time to brush and constantly maintain their dogs’ coats. While taking them to the groomer is not just for poodles and terriers, double coats like akitas and short haired breeds will benefit from a bath/brush and deshedding and this will make their coats easier to maintain and reduce shedding at home. Groomers have specialist high velocity dryers which remove most of the undercoat on double coated breeds. It is nearly impossible for owners to get all that hair out at home.

For maintaince and to reduce shedding owners can try the following tips for shedding doubled coated and short haired breeds inbetween their visits to the groomers. Ideally you need to comb and brush your dog twice a week.

Grooming routine for double coated breeds With no furnishings: eg akitas/huskysFirstly use a slicker brush to break open the coat, care must be taken as it may scrape the skin use a pat and pull motion to prevent this. Part the hair and start from the bottom of the leg and work upwards brushing from the skin outwards over the whole body. Following brushing use an undercoat rake to remove excess coat by combing it through the coat. After this is once all the thick compacted undercoat is removed a furminator can be used to brush out all the top shedding excess fine hairs.

Grooming routine for double coated coats With furnishings: eg Golden Retrievers/Border CollieUse the same routine as above except do not use the furminator as this would break the coat. Use a fine tooth comb and comb through all the furnishings paying particular attention to the trousers area, legs, armpits, undercarriage and behind the ears were matting can occur.

Grooming routine for short haired breeds eg Labradors/pugs etcUse a soft slicker on a thicker short coated breed eg Labrador on very short breeds care needs to be taken not to scrape the skin so a hound glove can be used the brush the dog and then gently brush over the coat with the furminator being carefull not to scrape the skin to remove excess hair. Other Tips to help reduce shedding:

• Regular professional grooming every 3 months will also reduce shedding and make home grooming easier.

• Excess shedding can sometimes be caused by poor diet it may be an idea to consult you vet or pet nutritionist at a pet shop.

• Adding oils, for example omega 3 fatty acids, can help decrease dandruff dry skin and excess shedding. Feeding foods like salmon, tuna or fish rich in these fatty acids can help. Always check with your vet first.

Giving you dog an occasional small snack of sliced apple without the seeds, banana or cumcumber as well as cooked lean meats are all moisture rich foods that help your dog stay hydrated and contain health nutrients to keep their coat and skin healthly and reduce excess shedding. Reccommended products:• Slicker brush• Comb• Furminator• Hound glove

Ask the

Nichola Moore L.c.g.i is the owner of Smartpets Grooming salon and Grooming School. She has a life time’s experience in the industry initially training as a veterinary nurse and then moving on to to work for many show kennels/groomers gaining a vast amount of experience.

Nichola was the first groomer in Northern Ireland and one of a handful in the UK to be awarded the Lcgi and European master craftsman status, the highest dog grooming accolade.

Nichola has over 25 years experience grooming and now is an industry consultant helping develop and deliver qualifications for several awarding bodies as well as being an award winning groomer and city and guilds and OCN examiner.

Nichola now spends most of her time training and examining groomers as well as organising workshops and the only international dog grooming competitions at the K9 Expo in Northern Ireland. As well as grooming Nichola has a vast range of qualifications and experience including Qualifications in Canine Veterinary science, nutrition and behaviour and training and also lectures canine studies at Queens University Belfast.

In her spare time Nichola used to breed and show miniature Schnauzers under the Larelkie pre-fix making up several champions but now they are used as models for student grooming and pet first aid classes along with the latest edition Miss Chanelle no 5 a little poochon.

In each issue we will try to help our readers with their pets grooming problems and questions giving some useful advice and tips.

www.smartpetsgroomingschool.co.uk

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Recent student graduates from Smartpets grooming school and international animal care college

City&Guilds Dog Grooming Level 3 CertificateLisa KellyTracy ReidJennifer Mc DowellAishling CallaghanSarah WelhamJoy Patterson Ocn Level 3 Grooming CertificateKaruna Gourley Ocn level 3 Advanced pet cpcr and first aid for Pet Care ProfessionalsKerry ChadwickKaren MorrellCourtney WhiteheadEllen MacdonaldJoanne TohillJodie WhiteLaois LoganLisa KellyLisa YatesJoy PattersonClaire Sharkey

Karen MurphySharon BowsNicola BorlandMichael ShielsTracy ShielsBernadette Mc CaughanBernadette Mc DermottMeriel DowneyLaura ThompsonBetty ThompsonShaunagh Griffen

www.smartpetsgroomingschool.co.uk

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