1 Nov
The KONG Flyer is a light-weight, durable rubber “frisbee” - and one of the best dog toys around! Available in a classic rubber in red or now in the tougher, ‘extreme’ black rubber, for dogs who like to tug or chew, it’s one of my dogs favourite toys so I thought I’d write a quick guide on how to get the most out of it!
Before you head out with your new KONG Flyer, be pro-active in ensuring the health and well-being of your dog. There are some simple rules you should follow in order to protect you and your dog, ensuring a safe and enjoyable play session.
Always play on a flat, grass field free of holes, rocks or other potentially dangerous obstacles. Do not throw near trees, where it may go over fences, posts, pylons or other obstructions. Only play during the day or in brightly lit areas just so you can keep an eye on where you’re throwing: remember, your dog can see in the dark and will run after it. Always have water available for your dog to prevent overheating during practice and finally - keep play sessions short, allowing your dog time to relax.
The KONG Flyer should be used as a retrieval toy not a tug toy or a chew toy – besides, tugging can be counterproductive to the retrieval game. Also, do not allow your dog to become too possessive of the KONG Flyer: stop the game every 20 seconds or so, having the dog “drop” the Flyer, “sit” and then continue playing.
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Posted in Jez's top training tips, Recommended Products by admin
31 Oct
Although the Air Dog “Squeak Air” range from KONG has been around a couple of years now, I still meet plenty of people who aren’t aware of this brilliant range of products.
Squeak Air are a range of toys that combine two of a dogs most favourite things: a tennis ball and a squeaky toy. KONG have ingeniously combined the two but, typically, added a few neat touches, too.
My favourite of the range are the tennis balls: small enough to keep in your pocket and bring out for play, to teach retrieve or even to help with recall or simply as a distraction tool! They are made from a durable, high-quality ball which contains a squeaker and a specially formulated tennis ball covering which will not wear down your dog’s teeth. Best of all, KONG have produced them in a range of sizes so every dog can enjoy them; from small for puppies, Jack Russells and Chihuahuas to extra large especially for those Great Danes and St. Bernards!
The Squeak Air range isn’t a chew toy (if you have a particularly chewy dog, it’s best to play with the Squeak Air range under supervision) but the perfect companion for interactive play. Hide it in a box stuffed with newspaper, or even under a blanket and encourage them to find it. Watching dogs contently squeak when they’re carrying it is a clear indication of the reward for finding and playing with it! Why not buy one but keep it as a surprise for your dog? Take it with you in your pocket when you walk and when your dog performs well (perhaps a good recall training session or for leaving that dreaded fox poo), squeak the Air Dog ball and throw it for your dog to play with. I’ve always got one in my pocket in case I need to distract or reward my dogs.
Highly recommended and available here.
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Posted in Recommended Products by admin
24 Oct
Jez Rose will be at the Discover Dogs show in Earls Court on 12th and 13th November 2011 offering free behaviour, temperament and training advice.
Jez will be joining media vet Joe Inglis on the Vet’s Kitchen stand to offer dog owners free advice. While Joe will be on hand to answer questions relating to health, diet and fitness, Jez will be advising on how to prevent and correct common behaviour and temperament problems and how to use Vet’s Kitchen to train your dog! The free information clinics will take place at the Vet’s Kitchen stand, stand 75, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Jez and Joe are looking forward to meeting many dog owners over the two days
Book your Discover Dogs tickets here.
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Posted in Jez in the media, Latest news from the dog world by admin
16 Oct
Jez Supports Sense About Science Campaign for scientifically checked dog training advice
Sense About Science works with scientists and members of the public to change public debates and to equip people to make sense of science and evidence. It’s all about rational thinking backed up by evidence, not supposition.
There’s a lot of dodgy advice out there, much of which can have serious implications if acted upon and unfortunately the dog training community is not immune to that, either. Much of the advice available on the internet about dog training and behaviour is not scientifically checked, nor is it particularly humane. Growling at your dog is dangerous and shows a distinct lack of understanding of canine communication and behaviour; throwing things at the dog, spraying it with air or otherwise punishing it when it growls is inhumane and exacerbates the fear-based reaction and smacking your dog for a lack of compliance will severely retard not only your journey to your training goal but your relationship with the animal, too. It’s outdated advice that continues to be offered despite scientific evidence which tells us there are more efficacious and humane ways to understand, communicate with and train dogs.
Sense About Science encourages asking questions. If you are concerned about the risks or benefits that are being claimed on a website, product, advert, advice, publication or policy announcement, ask the people responsible to show you their evidence. If there’s no evidence, it’s effectively just a guess…
Click here to learn more about Sense About Science, show your support and start a positive movement towards helping dogs and owners live in harmony: easier and all-round more enjoyable lives together.
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Posted in Latest news from the dog world, Research & Studies, Resources for Veterinary Professionals, The National Responsible Dog Owners Campaign by admin
16 Oct
Jez was on hand at the British Veterinary Nursing Association Congress 2011 to answer questions about Thundershirt and advise on how to use it most effectively in practice.
Petlife, the UK distributors of Thundershirt, were kept busy on all three days of Congress, with a high level of interest in Thundershirt and how to use it to help calm canine clients. Jez spoke to over 200 nurses over the two days he was there and said: “It was a great opportunity to meet so many nurses with a genuine interest in animal behaviour and helping to reduce anxiety in their canine clients”.
Jez produced a free A4 behaviour advice sheet especially for the Congress to help veterinary professionals use Thundershirt to maximum effect. It is available to download free here.
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Posted in Jez in the media, Latest news from the dog world by admin
15 Oct
Safestix have been causing a bit of a storm since they were launched last year as the safe alternative to throwing sticks for your dogs. As a measure of their popularity, they ran out at Crufts last year!
Veterinarians have for years been warning against throwing sticks for your dogs: as much as they love chasing and chewing a stick, the results can be traumatic, dangerous - and expensive. Stand in any dog park and you’ll hear
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Posted in Recommended Products by admin
15 Oct
Waddesdon’s first ever fun dog show was a fantastic success with over 500 dogs and their owners attending throughout the day.
Over 30 doggy stands, stalls and displays kept everyone entertained and with plenty to spoil their dogs with! Media vet Joe Inglis was on hand throughout the day offering free health checks, Jez Rose ran several behaviour clinics, fun agility and a fun scurry also kept dogs entertained. Tesco Aylesbury provided a doggy chill out area, while the competitions were extremely popular - the Great KONG Challenge seeing many late entries when the fun was revealed! The event raised £300 for local dog charities with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (who also fascinated us all with two live demonstrations) and Medical Detection Dogs benefited as well as the National Responsible Dog Owners Campaign.
We were delighted to be inundated with requests to run the event again. For details of The Waddesdon Woof 2012, keep an eye on the website and join us over on Facebook to share photos and keep up to date with how the 2012 event is shaping up.
Huge thanks to our sponsors, W Humphries, The Long Dog, dog & bone, Hart Veterinary Centre and Stagbar.
Here are a few photos from The Waddesdon Woof 2011:
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Posted in Latest news from the dog world, The National Responsible Dog Owners Campaign by admin
6 Oct
Puppy Stars is the premier puppy training academy of canine behaviour specialist Jez Rose.
With classes already established in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, Jez has now launched puppy training in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Featuring positive training for puppies and adolescent dogs, Puppy Stars are one of a select group worldwide teaching puppy training off-leash, which has remarkable results, as endorsed by the creator of puppy training, Dr. Ian Dunbar. Positive, humane, science-based training for puppies!
We create friendly, safe and well-mannered members of the family in the knowledge that trained dogs are a joy to own, staying in their homes and out of rescue centres.
Hart Vets in Bicester will be running a Puppy Stars basic puppy training class starting on 17th October 2011 at 7.45pm. For more information or to book your place today, contact Hart Vets in Bicester or click here.
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Posted in Latest news from the dog world, Puppy Stars by admin
6 Oct
The latest in a series of free resources on managing and preventing canine behaviour problems from canine behaviour specialist Dr. Jez Rose was released on Tuesday, timed to coincide with the fireworks season.
‘Help! My dog is scared of fireworks!’ is an A4 poster with full colour illustrations detailing a step by step plan on how to effectively reduce a dog’s fear of fireworks and loud noises. Dr. Rose releases this poster in response to results of the PDSA Animal Well-being Report 2011 which revealed that 46% of dogs are afraid of fireworks. Each of the free posters in the series has space to allow personalisation with a practice logo or stamp. The series features posters aimed at both end clients and veterinary professionals to assist with behaviour and temperament problems.
The latest poster is part of a series of 12, one of which is being released each month. Other illustrated posters in the series, all designed by Dr. Rose, include: ‘The Children’s Guide to Woofs and Growls’; an illustrated guide for children showing how to behave safely around dogs; ‘Calming Canine Clients’ and ‘6 Top Tips for Desensitisation’ which details how to effectively introduce a muzzle or claw clipping to a dog so that the dog enjoys it, in just six simple steps.
‘Doggy Dos and Don’ts’ is designed for veterinary professionals, detailing safe and effective behaviour around canine clients for the best compliance and stress-free experience, based on the non-verbal language of dogs. Dr. Rose said: “It is my aim that these free resources will assist both veterinary professionals and dog owners in more fully understanding canine behaviour, preventing stress and reactivity. Not only does this improve the experience for canine clients, owners and the examining vet or vet nurse but a dog that is clearly less fearful of the vet has commercial benefits, too.”
Veterinary surgeon Wendy Stickells says: “We have been using Dr. Rose’s advice to help desensitise our canine clients and have seen a definite improvement in even those who were quite fearful previously. Many owners have commented on how much more relaxed their dogs seem to be in the practice.”
Each of the posters will be made available in A6 postcard format later in the year, available free of charge for distribution to practice clients, ideal for display in the waiting room.
For free training and behaviour resources and to download the posters for your practice in PDF format, click here.
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Posted in Jez in the media, Resources for Veterinary Professionals by admin
2 Oct
Jez’s regular monthly guest appearance on the Pets, Vets and Guests show on Talk Radio Europe (Spain’s leading English-speaking radio station) with presenter David the Dogman was this month all about puppy problems.
Jez, David and the show’s resident veterinarian Nazli offered advice on problem behaviours that start in puppyhood and can lead to serious behaviour problems if left unchecked. One of the common problems facing new puppy owners is house training the puppy so that it doesn’t soil the house. Nazli asked about compulsive behaviours like car chasing and whether these were easier to correct is stopped early on. The answer, simply, is yes but listen to the show for the full conversation and plenty of real-world advice.
Listen to the whole show here soon.
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Posted in Jez in the media by admin
