“Bless you for greeting me as if I’ve been gone for a year every time I come in the door.”
– A blessing for your dog (author unknown)
Since I’m on line just hours before the big Royal Wedding, I’ve decided to write about the Corgi, a breed of dog that is often associated with Queen Elizabeth II (and the now deceased Queen Mother as well). Queen Elizabeth has 16 corgis!
The Corgi goes by other names: Pembroke Welsh Corgi or Welsh Corgi for short (however a Cardigan Welsh Corgi can also be called a Welsh Corgi). It is a naturally active little dog who has short legs and a long back (often having a back that is twice as long as its legs). Being a massage therapist, I see corgis that are prone to back problems because of this anatomical structure which can be exacerbated by weight gain (something they do easily).
The dogs are known for their intelligence, devotion and eagerness to please. The Corgi was bred to herd cattle and is the oldest breed of herding dog. As a herding breed, however, they can develop problems such as nipping at people’s heels and so they do need training. The nipping tendency means that they may not be as suitable for homes with smaller children.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
D.A.P.™ (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is a great product for dogs who are having problems managing stress.
A pheromone is a natural chemical that animals, especially mammals, secrete which can have an effect on behaviour or development of animals of their species. D.A.P. is the pheromone that bitches secrete when they have puppies and are lactating. Within 3-5 days of giving birth, the bitch secretes this pheromone and it has a calming effect on her puppies.
Scientists have isolated this chemical compound and re-created it in the lab, creating the D.A.P. product. I can speak from experience that this product helps to manage temporary behavioural and anxiety problems. Things like separation anxiety, the anxiety brought on by a change of home, having to go to a boarding kennel, or fear of thunderstorms are all situations where D.A.P. can be used.
8-10 sprays of the product (pictured) are recommended, to be sprayed in the dog’s environment 15 minutes before they are introduced to it. D.A.P. is also available in a plug-in diffuser that consistently delivers it to the environment. There is a slight alcohol smell when you first spray the product, this quickly disappears.
You can buy D.A.P. from veterinarians; shop around for the best price!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog care, products for dogs
Tagged D.A.P., DAP, dog appeasing pheramone, stress in dogs
In today’s world, literacy is an essential life skill. Did you know that dogs are being specially trained to help children learn how to read?
A Canadian R.E.A.D. dog in action (photo courtesy of TherapyAnimals.org)
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) programme operates in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada and aims to improve reading and communication skills by allowing children to read to a dog. Dogs are non judgmental companions who allow the children to read aloud and gain self esteem, while practising their reading skills.
R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers and they visit schools and libraries and other venues. In tracking the effectiveness of the programme, schools are asked to report back on reading test scores of the children involved. Libraries schedule the R.E.A.D. visits as special events, and watch the children flock in to participate. Attendance numbers are also tracked.
Patrick Barkham of The Guardian Weekly recently published an article about Danny, a greyhound R.E.A.D. dog in the UK. Read The dogs who listen to children reading.
R.E.A.D. chapters have various requirements for dogs and their handlers. All dogs must achieve therapy dog qualifications which test their obedience, temperament, and sociability. Most dog handlers are required to attend training courses and this is augmented by on-the-job mentoring and coaching.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
It is less than a week to go before Kate Middleton marries Prince William. There is lots of merchandise out there to buy to commemorate the Royal Wedding. Now your dog can get in on the action too, since dogs can’t go to the Royal Wedding but the Royal Wedding can go to the dogs!
How about the Royal Wedding t-shirt for dogs? A ribbed cotton t-shirt for dogs of all sizes which proclaims “Official Royal Wedding Corgi” Price = $35.30 This shirt is available in traditional white as well as mint, lilac, pink, heather and light blue.
The Urban Pup is offering a range of 100% cotton t-shirts for dogs for NZ$34.29 each. Their designs include a shirt to let your dog proclaim its love for Prince William!
Bonnie Dogs offers a bride and groom dog t-shirt for £18.99.
And not to be outdone, French Horse and Country offer a Crown Jewels collar for £36.20 – £46.00
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in products for dogs
Tagged Bonnie Dogs, bride, corgi, dog products, dog shirt, French Horse and Country, groom, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Royal Wedding, Urban Pup
We all know that the Royal Wedding is coming up next week. However, London dogs got a chance to celebrate a week early with their very own Easter party.
8,000 plastic eggs were hidden for dogs to find; each contained a dog treat and a prize ticket.
This event was organised as a fundraiser for National Service Dogs, where there is a two-year waiting list for dogs that help autistic children.
Scroll through the day’s photos here.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Quite some time ago, Daisy’s breeder mentioned that she fed her older dogs “on the step” – meaning that she placed the dog’s feeding bowl on the step leading into the kennels so they could eat from an elevated surface.
Eating from a raised feeder relieves strain on an aging dog’s neck and back. A dog also tends to raise its head after taking food or water into its mouth to help with swallowing. This is the time when spills commonly occur. Consequently, a raised feeder helps to keep the feeding area cleaner.
The pet market is full of elevated or raised dog feeders and some seem highly impractical. (Yes – that bowl may look like a Tuscan pillar but it will also be top heavy – so unlikely to help you keep your dog’s feeding area clean) .
I think the Neater Feeder wins hands down and Daisy agrees.
Daisy enjoys eating from her Neater Feeder
The Neater Feeder comes with removable stainless steel bowls that can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning and sterilising. It has optional legs to add height to the feeder (we use these on Daisy’s bowl). Best of all, the feeder comes with a drip tray. Simply remove the top layer of the feeder and you reveal a tray which catches all the spilled water in it. This saves time on cleaning but also saves you from messes on the floor.
The Neater Feeder is made in the USA and is available through a wide range of stockists and directly through the company’s website. The company offers a 30 day money back guarantee on its product.
***I purchased my Neater Feeder; this is not a paid product endorsement***
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Well done to Southern Cross Healthcare, New Zealand’s leading private healthcare insurance company.
The company is celebrating its 50th year in business and as part of the celebrations they’ve published their 50 tips for living life well (Alive magazine, Issue 7). As part of these tips, the firm recognises the health value of dog ownership.
Tip #13 Dog owners lead a healthier lifestyle. Dogs help buffer stress and also assist in facilitating more physical activity
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog ownership, Dogs
Tagged dog ownership, healthy living, Southern Cross Healthcare, tips
In today’s news, comes a story of Angela Burgess and her dog Blaze.
Blaze became ill after February’s earthquake in Christchurch, showing elevated liver enzymes. Her vet has advised that dogs can be impacted by liquefaction, which has often come into contact with raw sewage. Dogs should be kept clear of it – something that can be hard to do in parts of Christchurch.
To help pay the vet bills, Ms Burgess is auctioning Blaze’s favourite toy on Trade Me.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
The Urban Hound, a daycare and dog hotel facility in the South End of Boston, sets a high standard for care and attention. It bills itself as “the best thing to happen to your dog since coming to live with you”
Reception at The Urban Hound
Hotel rates start at $65 per night, with $90 per night for luxury rooms. A daycare stay is $35 per day.
This facility was founded six years ago by Rebecca Willson, who is a certified pet trainer. Rebecca started as a dog walker and then expanded the business so it now offers not only dog walking, but training, daycare and luxury boarding.
The upgrades on offer at the Urban Hound were what really caught my attention:
This facility offers 24-hour supervised care – so no more worrying when you have to leave your dog for work or vacation.
It is great to see facilities like The Urban Hound raising the standard of dog boarding and care. The rooms look cleaner than some people hotels I’ve seen!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in boarding facilities, dog care
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