Lincoln recently turned 12 months and is now fully grown.  So it was time to consider desexing.

Linc is a nervous and suspicious boy, so I wanted to make sure I set him up for success.

In the month prior to his desexing date, I really increased our focus on his husbandry training.  This included things such as preparing him for restraint - for both IV placement (cephalic vein), and blood draw (jugular vein), and exposing to various equipment.

I ensured to always expose him in a fun way, and ensured he had a choice to engage or not engage with the equipment that he was likely to see.  This included clippers, syringes, needles (I used a paperclip), Muzzle (he has his own), Elizabethan collar, Thundershirt, smell of alcohol swabs, crates and tables (most restraint and procedures in small dogs will be carried out on a table).

He loved learning and practicing his sustained chin target, rolling on to side (in preparation to check wound post op), wearing his muzzle and especially his Elizabethan collar.  

You can check out our video below.

​On the day of surgery he wore his Thundershirt sprayed with Adaptil pheromones and another canine calming spray.  These were sprayed on the Thundershirt 15 minutes prior to putting in on him.

We timed his admission for minimal cage time, so basically he went in, had blood taken and tested almost immediately, and within 1/2 an hour we had our results and he had his premedication injection preparing him for his anaesthetic.

He handled every bit of this like a little pro, and made we one very proud puppy mum.

While he would asleep his also had his tear ducts investigated and I chose for him to have a special implant - not usually used in desexed dogs, however it appears it may help keep luteinizing hormone more stable (it can increase up to 30x higher in some desexed dogs).  Changes in lutenizing hormone have been linked to increased risk of joint changes (more in large breed dogs and this should be minimised if allowed to complete their growth), and behavioural changes such as fear aggression in some dogs.    The implant will last for 12 months and at this point I will decide if I continue its use.

Once he had recovered post op and was able to swallow, stand and walk, I packed him up and took him home to spend the afternoon sleeping in his crate.....however he had plans of playing fetch within just a few hours.   So he was redirected to a sniffy toilet walk and visit with the neighbours.

I also ensured that I set him up post op to have minimal surgical complications by keeping him calm and quiet. He wore his cone anytime he wasn't under 100% direct supervision.  We removed the water sources that he usually sits/swims in.

We used enrichment items including snuffle balls, snuffle mats (check out Snuffle 'ems), LickiMats, long lasting chews including dried pieces and fresh raw bones.  We did start walking day 3 post op, and ensured he had plenty of time to sniff his world.

For more information on preparing your dog for Vet Visits check out this page, and if you would like to enrol your dog in the online version of Ready Vet Go!, check out the Cooperative Care Online course - currently only $75 for 12 months access (1/2 price due to Covid - I appreciate that many do not have job stability at the moment).

​

Meet Eddy. 

You may have seen him previously on Instagram or you can follow him and his adventures here https://www.instagram.com/eddythedashy/

I've met Eddy a few times - initially for reactive behaviours and some separation distress, and also for cooperative care/husbandry behaviours.  He is a lucky pup, as his mum is proactive and recognises when he is not comfortable with something and wants to improve his emotional state for the better.

You may have met his mum at some stage when you drop in to Chew Chomp and Chill.  Her name is Alica.  Say hi.

Our most recent session with Eddy was to help him with his confidence on walks.  When he became overwhelmed or went to a new location, he would often shutdown, and stop walking and engaging.

So we incorporated something that Eddy has had some experience with before, and something that he enjoys.  Sniffing.

Simply by using his nose, and encouraging him to sniff to find hidden rewards, he was much brighter and engaged with his environment.  An advantage for this was a previous course with Bec at Hide n Seek where the basis for searching had been taught.

However this is easy enough to start at home, and once your dog has an understanding of what is expected, you can take it on the road.  Sniffing and hunting out the small food rewards, toys or a novel odour, helps the dog become more confident and independent.  When playing scent games, the dog will engage their seeking system (kind of like kids and an Easter egg hunt).  Activation of the seeking system, will result in the release of dopamine (a neurotransmitter).  Dopamine is considered a feel good chemical, and pushes the animal to continue to engage and focus on tasks.

We started with Eddy close to the entrance to the park. This allowed him to retreat back to the car should he have needed to.

With him mum holding his leash, I showed him what he was "hunting for" and went and hid the small rewards at an appropriate height (he is a dachshund so we don't want him jumping up or reaching too high) within a reasonable distance from him, gradually moving further away from the base point.  Once hidden, he was given his search cue, and we followed at his pace while he found the rewards.  Rewarding at the hide location will also really make it more exciting and worthwhile for the dog.

This link discussed one of the many ways you can teach your dog scent work.  http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/scent-work-at-home.html

I am also currently enrolled in and completing an online scent course through The School of Canine Science.  Throughout this course we will be teaching the dog scent work through 3 different methods, and I look forward to sharing them with you in future.

I first met Bruno in July 2018.  We have been working together since then relatively regularly (monthly for a few sessions and then every few months).

Bruno's mum approached me regarding his fear in veterinary clinic situations.  He is often suspicious and was even with his own family.  He was relaxed for scratches and continuous pats, however, a pause in movement and he would immediately react with what would easily be perceived as aggressive behaviour.

We spent time learning his small signals that indicate he is not comfortable - his ears are a great judge.  We also taught him a start and stop cue, so that he could control a procedure or situation.  And taught him to settle on a his mat.  Calm behaviour is rewarding.

Late last year, Bruno participated in my Ready Vet Go! course.  During this course we focused on having fun in the veterinary clinic as well as introducing him to commonly used veterinary equipment and situations.

Bruno is now comfortable in his basket muzzle - through which he can take yummy cheese or chicken chunks, as well as frozen ice blocks etc.    Next we taught Bruno a sustained target - using a chair and towel to allow him to stand or sit with his head at a comfortable height.  And then we paired the sustained target with the muzzled.

Something else that really helped Bruno, is ensuring he knows what is going to happen.  So named his body parts and say the name prior to touching them.  This includes Scruff, Tail, Paw, and Ear.  

I can't say how proud I am of Bruno and his mum.

Over the past 12 months Sara has put so much work in to Bruno and the trust and bond that has blossomed between them is truly beautiful.  I also feel the love when Bruno happily sits in my lap with his back toward me - not able to see what I am doing, whilst being comfortable with my touching - this is something that certainly wasn't possible to begin with.

During the past few months we upped the training again in preparation for his annual vet check and vaccination.
He also had several happy visits at the clinic with his Veterinarian Dr Jacqui.  

I am happy to say his check up and vaccination went without a hitch.

Congratulations team Bruno.

Before we knew it he was comfortable with hands on manipulations.  We also began some balance work and the micro but many step plan to introduce him to the underwater treadmill.  We aren't in the treadmill yet (well not with it moving and water all together), I plan on not rushing the process.  My aim is for 12 months.  

We are working toward this by getting him walking on a normal treadmill, as well as standing in increasingly deep water.  Now we are in the treadmill at VSS pairing it with his favorite foods.

A key to his comfort and many visits to VSS - taking a dog with us.  He very much loves his pups, so having a dog with him really does increase his confidence.
​   

,
I first met Gronk in mid 2017 when he enrolled in the Ready Vet Go! course for husbandry skills and good experiences in the vet clinic. 

Gronk previously has been nervous at vet clinics. This has been especially exacerbated by examination and restraint.  As  a result it was very stressful for all involved to examine him and draw blood etc.

What I have to say, first and foremost, I love his parents.  They have stuck by his side and have worked with him at his pace to achieve the wins we have.  Gronk also has Separation Anxiety (diagnosed by veterinary behaviourist).  He is on medication which helps him learn and feel less stress.  However even with the meds on board, he is not one for vet visits.  Who can blame him - he hasn't had great experiences, and it really only takes one bad experience.  Do you love your dentist?  No offence to my dentist, I like him, however I would much rather run into him outside of the dental office - and I haven't had a traumatic experience.

So what did we do?  Over the course of 4 weeks - he came to the Veterinary Clinic - we let him sniff, investigate and have good things happen.  

We also taught him a couple of fun games - and these games in the end allow him choice.  The biggest one is the sustained target - in this situation, whilst he is engaged with his target, he is giving a go ahead signal.  If he disengages, whatever we are doing stops.  It is so powerful, once an animal knows they have choice they will allow that little bit more.

The use of the "sticky bone" can also be paired with handling, brushing, washing etc.  When they engage and lick, start with gradual touches etc, if they stop licking, you stop.  Again that power of choice over what is happening is very very empowering to the learner.

We also muzzle trained him using the Baskerville ultra muzzles. These are basket muzzles - they allow a dog to be able to pant (very important if they are stressed), eat (take rewards) and drink.  The added advantage is he is used to it, the muzzle is not the predictor of scary things, and in future if he needs it, it will make all around him more comfortable. Once vet staff feel comfortable, the dogs feed off of the energy and they feel more comfortable.

The next thing to get him used to was handling from a stranger.  This included general body touches, feeling for lumps and bumps,  listening to his chest with a stethoscope and most importantly being able to hold up a vein and poke it with a fake (though pointy) needle.  We also paired the sound and feel of clippers with good things, as well as the feel of the cold and smelly alcohol swab.  In my past experience - its that alcohol swab which is often hardest. 

All of these things were done gradually, and at his pace.  He could choose to stop, and choose to keep going.

​