K9 Scent Scramble Open Day - September 11

K9 Scent Scramble™ is an amazing new activity and competition sport for dogs that is designed to be fun and beneficial for dogs in a number of ways.

K9 Scent Scramble™ was inspired by K9 Nose Work® and the benefits seen when dogs are given the opportunity – free of human interference – to use their main sensory system to hunt out odour sources that have value to them. 

If you are interested in the value simple sniff time can bring to your dog, then don’t miss this FREE Open “Sniffer” Day presented by Scents Ability to find out more! 

You can Excite, Enrich, Enable & Elate your dog with a go on the K9 Scent Scrambler and the Sensational Scent Wall plus other scent activities!


When: Sunday 11th September 2016, from 9am to 1pm

Where: Pet Resorts Australia, 425 Galston Road, Dural, NSW, 2158

Cost: Free (If you wish to participate, please bring a copy of your dog’s vaccination certificate or titre test).

Registration is required at k9nosetime.com/upcoming-events

Debunking the Dominance Myth in Dogs

Everyone has probably heard of a dog being described as dominant; the pushy dog who tries to run the household. 

But what exactly is dominance and can there be a truly dominant dog? It's time to catch up with the latest research and learn that using the D word can be Drastically Detrimental!

WHAT IS DOMINANCE?

It is not accurate to describe a dog as having a dominant personality. The word should only ever be used to describe a single interaction between two individuals competing for a resource such as a piece of food or a toy. One dog will usually give up the contest and leave the resource for the other. In that situation, the individual who wins is dominant.

Different resources motivate different dogs at different times. This means the relationship can change – just like you might argue with your partner occasionally about what channel on TV to watch, but at other times be quite happy to let them watch their choice.

HOW DID WE GET SO MIXED UP?

From the 1940s to the 1980s, studies of captive wolf packs suggested they used aggression to establish a pecking order, a rank, with the dominant wolf called the Alpha Dog or top dog. As dogs descended from wolves it was assumed that the social behaviour of dogs followed these rules. However, these studies were flawed. We now know that wolves in the wild rarely show aggression within their family pack.

Your dog is not a wolf, nor is he/she a human ...

Our domestic dogs and wolves evolved from a common ancestor more than 15,000 years ago and do retain some similarities. However, dogs have also developed some major behavioural and physical differences to become the valued friends they are today.

They play throughout their lives, they are usually friendly to unfamiliar dogs and other species and they can also read human body language. They even look to us to solve their problems! 

Through sharing our homes and lives, we have learnt to communicate remarkably well considering we speak different languages and have a completely different sensory perception of the world. It is in their interest that we communicate with dogs in a way that gives them the best possible chance of understanding us.

SO, WHY IS MY DOG BEHAVING THIS WAY?

If your dog is growling, baring their teeth or snapping at you or others, it is not because they’re trying to dominate you. 

Often anxiety and insecurity are the primary contributors to aggressive behaviour. Dogs with medical conditions or those in pain are also more likely to be irritable or react defensively. A lot of unwanted behaviour is actually normal behaviour for dogs, they may just not have been taught what we expect from them or want them to do.

In certain situations involving conflict, a dog may display a controlling behaviour. 

For example, your dog may growl if another animal approaches their food bowl or a toy, or it could happen when multiple dogs are trying to squeeze through a doorway together.

If your dog growls at you whilst on the couch and has you all tip-toeing around, it may be that they are feeling anxious that you’re going to force them off or punish them for being there.

DO I NEED TO SHOW THEM "WHO’S THE BOSS"?

Anyone with a ‘pushy’, ‘rude’ or ‘demanding’ dog has probably been told at some stage to ‘show them who’s boss’ or to ‘make them submit’. The advice usually involves physically punishing the dog by forcing it onto its side (the ‘alpha roll’), or to hold eye contact whilst growling at the dog. 

These confrontational techniques are a bad idea. They are very risky and may result in escalation of aggression. Punishment will not calm an agitated dog. 

Punishment will increase both fear and excitability, and a growl may then escalate into a bite. Punishing your dog for growling may also inadvertently teach him to suppress the warning growl and he may later bite with no warning.

If your dog is anxious, punishment will make the anxiety worse. Punishment also fails to teach your dog how you want him to behave, and can ruin your dog’s trust in you and other people.

WHAT TO DO

1. Keep safe. 
If your dog is showing aggression to you by growling, showing their teeth or snapping, do not confront him. 

Avoid or prevent the situation until you have consulted with someone qualified to advise you on safe strategies to help you and your dog.

2. Be proactive, not reactive. 
All dogs need predictability in their life and need to be taught how you want them to behave. 

You need to establish clear rules and be consistent in rewarding desirable behaviour. 
The golden rule is to reward the behaviour you do want and ignore or redirect the behaviour you don’t want. Remember, the only way to do this is to find the right way to communicate with your dog so he is happy to listen to you!

3. Get the right help. 
The best place to start is to ask for advice from your veterinarian. Your vet can check for any contributing medical problems and if necessary will refer you to a veterinary behaviour specialist, qualified veterinary behaviourist or a qualified dog trainer. 

You can also contact the Australian Veterinary Behaviour Interest Group (AVBIG) at avbigsecretary@gmail.com for advice. They will recommend seeking expert help to ensure you  get the best advice for the happiest possible outcome for both you and your pet.

HandsOn Grooming Gloves for Dogs

HandsOn Equine - a Texas-based company - recently launched the HandsOn® Gloves in Australia. This unique bathing and grooming tool will appeal to both professional dog groomers and owners. 

Top trainers, groomers and retail consultants thoroughly tested and rejected dozens of different materials during the four-year product development cycle. This extensive testing resulted in a subtle blend of hypoallergenic components properly combined to protect both the animals and humans using these gloves. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

These specially designed gloves are made for the canine and equine industries. 

The enhanced palm pad nodule design allows groomers and dog owners alike to overcome the poor performance and slippage generally experienced with mitts and other outdated animal grooming devices. Wet or dry, they won't slip or fall off. 

These gloves are great for deshedding as the scrubbing nodules on fingers and palms allow you to easily release accumulated hair and undercoat. The versatile flexible grip means that you can also easily handle water hoses, shampoo bottles, lead ropes, leashes, or anything else you may need with your gloves on. 

If you have been bathing your dog with bare hands previously another plus is that your hands and fingernails will now stay clean!

This breakthrough design simplifies but also personalises the grooming process, which is often quite stressful for your pet. The textured surface allows you to better massage and stimulate circulation while distributing natural oils, promoting a healthy skin and coat. 

Dogs and horses are increasingly being employed as therapy animals for those affected with personal challenges, developmental issues and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). 
Research suggests the HandsOn® Gloves experience may help to ensure animals are not only clean, but also may remain calmer while experiencing direct grooming contact.



HandsOn® Gloves are currently available in Medium & Large sizes, with Small sizes arriving in September 2016.

PRICE AND WHERE TO BUY

RRP: $39.95 from selected stockists or at www.handsongloves.com.au

Wholesale enquiries are welcome at sales@brandcave.com.au

10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Dog Owners

Spring is our favourite time of the year when we can finally throw doors and windows open to let the doggie smells out and the fresh air in!

If your dogs have been spending most of the winter season indoors, then it’s definitely time to roll up those sleeves for a thorough spring clean: both you and your pooch will be healthier and happier for it!

If you follow some of these quick and easy tips and equip yourself with the right tools and products, spring cleaning does not have to be a massive chore…

Maintaining your garden can help cut down on messes inside the home.  If your yard is mostly dirt, consider providing a grassy area for your dogs to play. This also minimises the amount of dust and mud they bring indoors. 

Keeping your lawns trimmed reduces the chances of ticks and other nasties. Also make sure you clear debris and piles of wood carefully as snakes start waking up at this time of year. 

If you're busy planting new garden beds, make sure you select plants not toxic to dogs and keep poisonous garden items out of reach from your pets such as: bait traps for rodents, snails and slugs, insecticides, fertilisers such as blood meal.

To keep your lawn green(er) this summer, you could try Dog Rocks, a natural product which stops urine burns on grass caused by dogs and has been sold worldwide for over 13 years.

By placing these 100% natural rocks into your dog’s water bowl you are giving your pet a cleaner source of water. 

This will ensure there are no more nasty burn patches on the grass caused by dog urine.

RRP: from $12.50 (200g) at Bunnings, pet retailers and vets.

For details, visit www.dogrocks.com.au

Would you leave your rubbish on someone's nature strip or on the ground in the park? 
Then don't leave your dog poos behind as this gives all dog owners a bad name....

If you are too busy or dislike picking up pet waste, then a proper pooper scooper will help out with the icky job of pet waste removal, especially if you have multiple dogs!

The Spotty Spring Action Scooper is the newest product in easy pet waste clean-up! 

The one handed design allows you to pick up your dog's waste without even bending over. 

When snapped together, this Scooper stands over 60cm tall and the easy squeeze handle makes it easy to open to pick up and throw away the poo so you won't have to go anywhere near it!

Available in Hot Pink (featured), Navy Blue, Purple and Lime Green. 

RRP: $15.99 from www.luckypet.com.au

Don’t get caught out on your walks, thanks to this cute Earth Rated Poop Bag dispenser. This durable convenient holder will hold up to 15 lavender or unscented dog waste bags.

The waste bags are bio-degradable, thick and tough as well as leak proof!

The dispenser has an adjustable strap you can easily attach to any size leash. The screw-on top keeps bags secure and the unique hook on the back holds your used bag for hands-free transport until it can be properly disposed of.

RRP: $7.95 (Leash Dispenser); $14.95 (120 Scented Bags)

Available from pet retailers or online at woofnwag.com.au

If your dogs are frequent passengers in the car with trips to and from the dog park, beach etc., you probably need to vacuum regularly as dog hair tends to magically weave itself into all the nooks and crannies...

You can save yourself a lot of time by investing into a quality cargo boot liner or protection mat (a bumper flap will avoid scratches on the way in and out) or a back seat / hammock cover if your dogs travel at the back.

The rain in spring means muddy paws, but a little prevention can keep your dog from tracking dirt inside the house. First, trim the hair around your dog's paws regularly — mud won’t clump to his feet when the hair is kept short. 

When you can’t avoid a little mud, keep a bucket of warm water and a towel near the door. Before you come inside, remove dirt by dipping each paw in the water and gently wiping it with the towel. However if you're time poor, here is another option...

The Dirty Dog Door Mat magically soaks up water, mud and dirt! This plush velvety mat uses Advanced Microfibre Technology to absorb up to seven times its weight in water and mud. 

It will come in handy to protect your floors (you can place it under food and water bowls or at the front/back door) or your car seats from unwanted pet hair, dirt and slobber!

Available in red (featured), grey and brown. 

It comes in Small, Medium, Large & Runner size.

RRP: from $32.95 at www.bowhouse.com.au

Many owners complain of their dogs suffering from skin allergies but do you know that bathing your dog too often or with the wrong shampoo will cause dry skin, which results in itching and flaking?

You can avoid these issues and still keep your pooch smelling fresh by giving him a quick dry bath. First brush out his fur to loosen dead hair, dirt and debris. Then wipe him off with a towel sprayed with a solution of half apple cider vinegar and half water. You could follow up by sprinkling baking soda on your dog and rubbing it in - this neutralises the smell of the vinegar. Let it sit for a minute or two, then brush it off. 

Tip: Try to give your dog his dry bath outdoors or another place where a little mess won’t matter! If the weather outside is cold and wet, you could use one of the many brands of dog spritzers for a quick refresh!

We clean our house regularly only to see new tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling across the floor, courtesy of our three hounds! Save yourself some work inside by brushing your dog regularly outside: try to stick to a daily or a weekly routine to remove all these loose/flyaway hair.

The FURminator deShedding Waterless Spray can help reduce excess shedding without bathing.

It contains no parabens, artificial colours or chemical dyes.
It is enriched with Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids and Safflower Seed Oil. 

This blend of natural ingredients moisturises the coat and strengthens the hair shaft to help reduce shedding. Most regular users also report a shinier dog coat. 

It is best used in conjunction with the FURminator deShedding Tool as it also helps reduce the static.

RRP: $12.50 from vetnpetdirect.com.au

Coming back from the beach or the dog park with a wet or sandy dog? 

The Dirty Dog Shammy by Dog Gone Smart is a super-absorbent microfibre towel for your dog. 

It will absorb 20 times more water and mud than other shammy towels and dry your dog much quicker. 

It features dual hand pockets so you basically wear it like a glove and it also massages your dog in the process.

Available in Grey (featured) or Brown.

RRP: $34.95 from bowhouse.com.au

To remove pet hair from furniture, curtains or other fabric-covered items like couches, use rubber gloves or a damp cloth. Slightly dampen the glove on your hand and sweep the fabric with it. The hair balls up and is much easier to pick up. Wash and dry gloves between uses.

These are extremely popular around the world but seem to have only recently made it to our shores! Unless you love vacuuming, the COLOCOLO® Colorfull Lint Roller saves time around the house as it will pick up debris, hair and anything missed by floor mops.
 

The adhesive tape is multi-purpose and works just as well on wooden, vinyl floors and tiles as it does on rugs, beds and couches. 

The tape uses unique technology to deliver two stickiness levels: a strong adhesive which picks up dust and dirt deep inside carpets and a weak adhesive so it won't stick to surfaces.

The adjustable handle saves you bending over to pick up dog hair.

It comes in a cute house-shaped case in white or red. Matching colourful refills are also available separately.

RRP: $59.99 from clawsnpaws.com.au

Your dog’s bedding tends to attract a build-up of dust and allergens. 

Follow these tips to ensure a clean, comfortable and healthy sleep for your pooch, all the more important if they share your bedroom:

• Choose a bed with a removable fabric cover and wash both the cover and the bed base (if machine washable) in cold water. You can use a mild laundry detergent (without fragrances to avoid possible allergies) and a cup of baking soda will help neutralise any leftover doggie odours!
• Air dry flat outside to avoid shrinkage.
• Shake your dog bed outside or vacuum regularly to remove hair, dirt, and other debris. Follow up with a lint roller to pull away any hair the vacuum may have left behind. 

Washing your dog toys keeps them germ-free and in good shape for more years of enjoyment. 

For soft toys, pop them in the washing machine (using a dog-safe detergent), ideally in a garment bag. Line dry or put them in the dryer inside a pillowcase. 

Hard toys can be cleaned in the sink with a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar and a brush or sponge. Check the label first but some can be safely placed in the dishwasher along with the dog bowls.

If any dog toy is damaged and pieces start breaking off, immediately discard and replace with a new one. You don't want an emergency trip to the vet caused by an intestinal obstruction!

A stinky collar can ruin the pleasures of a freshly groomed dog and a dirty leash is just plain embarrassing… Consider investing in a fresh new set of accessories for those long spring walks or at least give them all a thorough clean..

But how do you clean a dog collar without damaging the webbing material or hardware? 

Put a couple of squirts of dog shampoo (this will help prevent skin irritation) in a bowl and fill it with warm water. Let your dog’s collar soak for about 15 minutes. Rub the collar against itself to extract any ground-in dirt. If necessary, apply extra shampoo directly to the collar. Avoid using a brush, which could damage the material. Rinse the collar under running water and hang to dry. If you need to speed up the drying, use a towel to remove excess water before hanging.

If hand washing is not your "bag", you could put your dog's items (fabric leashes, coats, harnesses, soft toys etc.) in a Woofy Wash Bag and place it in the washing machine on a delicate cycle. 

It will act as a barrier, trapping the pet hair and also keeping your washing machine clean.

Available in Small, Medium and Large.

RRP: $4-$12 from pawempire.com.au

Replacing the filters in your air conditioning system and also your vacuum cleaner helps tackle the spring allergy season. Not only do they trap airborne dust and dander but a filter can reduce lingering pet odours in your home. 

Look for filters made especially for pet owners: they come with built-in ionizers that minimise allergens and help deliver a boost of air freshening.

Even if you can’t smell traces of past urine accidents, your dog can. It’s essential to clean and neutralise these odours, because as long as he can smell them, he’ll continue to use that area as his personal potty. 

For new stains, soak up as much as you can by layering newspaper on top of paper towels. Repeat this step until the area is no longer damp and then follow rinsing the soiled area with clear water. There are also many pet stain and odour removers on the market.

Our favourite cleaning product is the X-OUT Pet Stain Eliminator as we found this spray will work where other detergent-based cleaning products did not previously.

100% environmentally safe, it removes both old/new urine or bile stains and odours effectively. This product works by loosening and lifting the soil from the stained area, and it will not change the colour fastness (but always test first).

RRP: $26.50 (500ml spray) from cleanergreener.com.au


However, if you have not caught the stains quickly enough, you may have to work a little harder to remove them and simply vacuuming won't do the trick...

The BISSELL SpotClean is a portable carpet shampooer that quickly removes most spills and stains from carpets, rugs and upholstery.

Light and easy to use, it comes with two stain tool heads for those difficult to access areas. It operates on mains power using a mix of warm water with the Bissell formulas. 

A Pet & Stain Odour formula - which specifically breaks down organic material in pet accidents - can be purchased separately.

RRP: $229 from major electrical retailers. For details, visit www.bissell.com.au

It may take a whole week-end to tick off your spring cleaning to-do list despite tackling several of these tasks several times a year. 

Make the most of spring before summer heatwaves limit your time outdoors. I know our dogs will prefer the air conditioning to the heat outside for most of the summer!

Disclaimer: Australian Dog Lover does not endorse any the products mentioned and did not receive any compensation for featuring them in this story. 

Tick & Flea Prevention for Australian Dogs

Spring is finally here and this means more outdoor activities for you and the fur kids: more visits to the local dog park, the beach, bushwalks, maybe even a week-end away in the country?

So what are the facts about Tick Prevention?

There are three types of ticks in Australia: Bush, Brown and Paralysis ticks and without doubt the single most dangerous parasite for dogs is the Paralysis Tick, which can affect both dogs and cats. The peak season for the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes Holocyclus) runs from August to March on the eastern seaboard of Australia. 

62% of owners treat their dogs for ticks every 3 months or less frequently and 57% of dog owners treat for fleas every 3 months or less.

Dr. Katrina Warren and Riley

Media veterinarian Dr. Katrina Warren issued a strong warning to Aussie dog owners saying "protect your dog against paralysis ticks or be prepared for the consequences, including death."  

She added that "over the past twenty years I have seen heart-breaking situations where people have lost their beloved dogs to tick paralysis or spent thousands of dollars in vet bills. Preventative treatment coupled with daily searching for ticks on your dog(s) is absolutely essential."

RSPCA NSW’s Senior Veterinarian Dr Christina Zhu is warning all pet owners to check their pets thoroughly for any signs of ticks. 

"Native animals are a host for ticks,” said Dr Zhu. “So if you have blue tongues, birds or possums living nearby, you probably also have ticks about."

Don’t think it can’t happen to your dog because you live in a flat in the city or suburbs: a simple walk in long grasses is sufficient and just one tick is capable of causing paralysis or even death. 

Ticks are dangerous parasites that attach to the dog to suck blood from them. The paralysis tick produces a toxin in its saliva which is passed on to the host animal when the tick feeds.

This toxin affects the dog’s nervous system, leading very quickly to severe impairment or death.”

Sadly without treatment, almost 100% of affected dogs will die.

The sooner your pet is treated, the better chance of survival they have. If you notice ANY of the following symptoms, then you MUST take your pet to the vet immediately.

• Change of bark 
• Lethargy, depression, decreased ability to exercise
• Loss of coordination in the hind legs (wobbly or not being able to get up)
• Loss of appetite, retching, coughing or vomiting
• Heavy, laboured or rapid breathing

One common sense tip is to completely avoid the tick habitat. So during the tick season, don’t take your dog walking in bush areas or scrub areas known to harbour ticks. Keep your lawns and shrubs short and remove compost material from backyards.

Your dog’s fur should be inspected daily for ticks, especially for the long-haired breeds. A thorough tick search involves working your fingers deep into your dog’s coat to check all parts of their skin. Around 70% of ticks are found attached on the front half of the pet and could be hidden in areas like skin folds or even their ears.

The paralysis tick will look different depending on whether they are engorged with blood or not. 

When engorged with blood, they will have a blueish to light-grey/grey colour.

When removing a tick, avoid disturbing the body of the tick (don’t squeeze the body) instead aim to remove the tick by its head at the point of insertion into your dog’s skin. 

A useful aid is a tick remover - a fork-like device that will slide either side of the tick without touching the body of the tick and helps remove the tick easily (ticktwister.com)

If you find a tick, remove it immediately and take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Remember to also continue to search for more ticks. Some dogs can be infested with many ticks at one time.

Until recently protection from ticks was commonly gained from products requiring either a fortnightly or monthly topical (spot-ons) application, collars, tablets, washes and sprays. 
A new innovative class of parasiticides was launched in the Australian market in 2015, delivering up to 3 months protection against fleas and 4 months against the paralysis tick.

Dr. Zhu adds "You should seek advice from your veterinarian on the best form of tick prevention for your dog."
You also need to choose the dosage appropriate to your dog’s weight, treat as frequently as required and educate yourself on how the product actually works. 

Prevention is better than potentially losing your pet (or at least a very hefty vet bill) and we encourage you to seek advice from your local vet about the best prevention products against ticks and fleas based on your dog’s medical history.

Note: Never use any dog tick control products on your cats as some dog products are highly toxic to cats and can kill them.

It is important to note however, that no tick preventative products are 100% effective in preventing ticks from attaching or feeding, therefore it is still extremely important that you continue to search your pet daily and immediately remove any ticks that are found.

All you ever wanted to know about fleas... but were too afraid to ask!

Few dog owners are fortunate enough to avoid an eventual run-in with fleas! 

Even with regular bathing and grooming, they are a common and most unpleasant experience for dogs (and their owners!). 

Not only do they cause itching and discomfort but they can lead to allergies, severe dermatitis, transmission of other parasites and infestations can cause more serious problems like anaemia.

Fleas thrive in moist, humid environments which is why they're a much bigger problem in the summer months.

A flea starts feeding on your dog’s blood within five minutes and may suck blood for up to 2 ½ hours! A female flea lays 40-50 eggs each day (as many as 2,000 eggs during her short lifespan) and it could take up to 8 weeks to remove an infestation once it is established in a home. 

You will need to use a product that actually breaks the flea life cycle (eggs, larvae, pupae) as well as regular vacuuming, washing and drying bedding in sunlight and using products like flea bombs.

New products on the market these days make it easier to protect your dog from fleas and claim to be less toxic. It is generally accepted that products using only permethrin as their active ingredient usually don't work well because fleas have now built an immunity to this insecticide.

Related Stories:

August is National Tick Awareness Month for Pets in Australia