about their training offer and expansion plans Grooming with pain and how to manage it

It’s a Pain!

Groomer, Jenny Farrell looks at how to cope when you are grooming in pain:

Many groomers and nongroomers suffer from pain whether it is due to repetitive strain or a health

condition.

As a pet stylist for over 12 years working in salons, vans and having my own salon, I suffered with a painful condition called CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) and autonomic dysfunction, which are both neurological nerve disorders.

It is basically like having your hands crushed and twisted and then set on fire all at once constantly so, as you can imagine, grooming is a challenge! I want to share with my fellow groomers how to cope with a painful condition and still stay grooming! Although my condition is rare, I see many stylists in pain, and unable to alleviate the situation themselves.

Firstly, pace yourself! You really need to pace your grooming life from day one and if you’re not, then start now! I am a workaholic, I go to work early and work all the way through – with no breaks and then leave late. However, this has done me no favours. If there’s one thing to take away from the article it is to pace your grooms - slow down and don’t do big dogs that you cannot physically do or know will cause your body pain and discomfort. I now only do small breeds and work part-time but remain in business. In fact, I earn almost the same amount!

Do not be scared of turning away difficult dogs.

Drink lots of clear fluid, eat healthy meals and keep active outside of grooming. Your body needs water and dehydrated bodies are sluggish. If you suffer from inflammation you should look into a diet which reduces joint inflammation. I have always been active outside of grooming but even if

Jenny Farrell manages her schedule with care to minimise pain and anxiety

Tom Claes on Unsplash

you feel lazy you should always try to exercise daily - walk and do some stretch exercises to help loosen your ligaments before starting your day. There are videos online of scissoring exercises which reduce the amount or repetitive strain injuries in a hair stylist.

If you know you have an issue such as carpel tunnel, wear a support or splint but make sure you wear the right size, in the right area and wear it for the right amount of time. Over splinting can cause weakening of the joints and wearing a splint in the wrong area can cause more damage than good. For my condition splinting is a big no as it causes pressure on the nerves but for carpel tunnel it’s excellent, so make sure you know why you are in pain!

Hot and cold compresses may help depending on the type of condition, injury or aches you have. You can use a hot and or cold compress for many. For my condition you never use anything cold, always heat even if it’s 90 degrees outside always heat, but for over used wrist or sprained finger for example, ice is really soothing and can reduce swelling surprisingly fast.

Make sure your salon is warm in winter which is really important to maintain your health in general and a lot of UK salons are cold and damp in the winter. Make sure your salon is mould free. I have visited many salons with black mould. Black mould is a huge health hazard so make sure your salon is damp proof and mould free. Do not work in a salon with black mould.

Try to stand when grooming, sitting down prevents your blood circulating properly so if you do sit down to groom try to get up and walk around between grooms to maintain blood circulation.

Mental health is a factor, remain calm, collective and stress free as stress is a huge contribution to physical health and grooming is a very stressful environment at times.

Remember, no health no groomer, so love yourself and enjoy your grooming career!

WWW.AEOLUSPETUK.CO.UK

TD-901GT

Helping Dogs to Adjust to a more ‘Home Alone’ Lifestyle

With an end to lockdown measures in the UK in sight, and restrictions on our day-to-day lives gently easing, we’ll soon find ourselves spending less time at home.

Remember to give your dog quality time when you are with him without constant phone distractions

So how will your dog cope with this change? Greta Inglis, dog behaviour consultant for Wamiz, the online pet care experts, explains how to ease the transition for your dog as restrictions gradually ease, and the best ways to help your dog integrate into your updated lifestyle without having to resort to rehoming.

How can you prepare your dog for a busier lifestyle?

Preparing your dog for a busier lifestyle is important, particularly if they have become used to spending the majority of their time in your company. Teaching your dog to settle calmly on their bed can help prepare them for time home alone.

Reinforce time spent on their bed or in their den area, rewarding relaxation regularly – and combine this with physical and mental stimulation for a well-balanced and happy dog.

Helping your dog feel safe on their own takes time and practice. Puzzle feeders, snuffle mats and search games can help keep your dog feeling mentally stimulated in your absence.

Physical stimulation is equally as important if they are going to spend more time alone. This will vary depending on your dog’s breed – if your dog loves other dogs, make sure they get out meeting dogs on walks; if they love to explore, let them sniff. This will go a long way in helping them relax in your absence.

Which breeds of dog are more suited to time alone?

Some dog breeds need more social interaction than others. These dogs breeds are known for being more independent and low-maintenance in terms of their need for company: • Akita

• Chow Chow • Afghan Hound • Shar Pei • Greyhound • Basset Hound

Although these breeds are known for their independence, this doesn’t necessarily mean they will be happy being left alone a great deal. All dogs need company, interaction and activities.

Which breeds require more attention?

Some dog breeds are notoriously human-oriented, thriving on constant company and attention from their people, such as: • French Bulldog • Border Collie • Golden Retriever • German Shepherd • Italian Greyhound • Hungarian Vizsla

What are the less obvious signs of separation anxiety to look out for?

Dogs are very perceptive and sensitive to changes in their environment, and there may be triggers that signal your departure you’re not even aware of.

Pacing and panting can both be signs of stress, in addition to lip licking and yawning. The most common signs are barking, whining and, in some cases, urination or defecation. Looking out for these more subtle signals could help you support your dog during the adjustment period, before these more noticeable behaviours manifest and the problem is harder to address.

How can separation anxiety be avoided?

Positive reinforcement training is the best way to avoid separation anxiety. Starting as soon as your dog joins your household can help to set them up for success.

It can be really useful to video your dog and check how they respond – if your dog reacts when you leave, either through stress signals such as pacing, panting, or more intensely through vocalisation, this means you have moved too quickly. Go back a step to a point your dog was comfortable and then slowly increase the time you leave them alone.

How to help train your dog to re-adapt to your busier lifestyle

Behaviour modification programmes which look at building up the amount of time your dog is left alone, can really help your dog settle into a busier lifestyle. Following the steps below can help to address any triggers that signal your departure and cause stress: • Start with absences of only a couple of seconds, if your dog is very anxious, it may only involve steps towards the door so be sure to return and comfort them. • Increase the distance between you and your dog, and the timeframe they are alone, taking a step back if they show signs of stress. Tip - You can help your dog get used to the feeling of being alone by leaving the TV or radio on or by using food puzzles and enrichment. • Try to change your dog’s reaction to actions that signal you are leaving.

An example of this is picking up your keys. Sit calmly with your dog and touch your keys. As soon as they make a low-level noise, treat your dog with something tasty and go about your business. • Gradually build on the noise and interaction with the item, building positive associations through food rewards and then carrying on as usual. This helps show your dog nothing bad comes of the trigger and will help when you do need to leave them alone.

If you have home cameras with a microphone, should you avoid reassuring your dog?

If you have a home camera with a microphone, it may be tempting to speak to your dog. Whilst this in itself isn’t bad, and depending on the dog, could go some way in alleviating their stress, it is worth bearing in mind that the sound from an unidentifiable source could cause confusion to your dog.

Additionally, if your dog becomes too used to this, and you won’t be able to consistently offer reassurance, this could cause further anxiety in the long run. Where possible work on training your dog to feel comfortable home alone by themselves.

Jessica Rodriguez Jimenez, Founder at Rescue Centre TeluMa’s Dream, shares her comments and expertise for anyone who is considering rehoming their dog:

“90% of issues can be sorted out if there is the will to do it. Of course if someone can’t take care of their dog, then rehoming a dog is probably the best solution. If the decision is taken to rehome the dog, the current owner should make the effort and allow the dog to stay with them at least until a new home is found and avoid the dog being put into a kennel and experiencing this dramatic change of environment.

“Dogs do have to get used to being left alone. Start with establishing that they aren’t allowed to follow you everywhere in the house (close the door and open it after 2 to 5 minutes). Go out and leave your dog alone at home, repeating this at different times during the day and for different time spans. Starting with little steps allows you to build up this understanding.

Owners will need to assess if the busier lifestyle means they can’t give their dog the proper care and stimulation they need, even with the help of a dog walker, then it’s unfair on the dog. If the dog ends up spending more time with someone else than with its owner then that’s unfair too.”

Remember to put your dog’s needs first.

Forthglade’s Big 50!

Forthglade, the Devon based makers of natural pet food has reached a landmark birthday and celebrates 50 years of making delicious dinners for dogs. Since 1971 the focus has remained on high quality ingredients and gentle cooking methods, and over the last five decades the Devonian dog lovers have expanded their range to include wet food, dry cold pressed recipes and tasty treats. Forthglade is celebrating its big birthday in a range of ways, including unveiling a limited edition birthday meal and launching a new charity initiative ‘50 for 50’.

Limited edition birthday recipe

Forthglade’s special Sardines & Haddock birthday meal, with potato & broccoli is packed with 75% fish. It is packed with vitamins, minerals and botanicals such as camomile, parsley, rosemary, and nettle. The new recipe offers a great source of protein, nutrients, and natural oils and is free from junk or fillers - it contains all the goodness a dog needs to stay happy and healthy. The complete meals are free from junk or fillers and contain all the goodness a dog needs to stay happy and healthy. It’s also grain free, making it ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies. As with all Forthglade wet meals, this variety is made at Forthglade’s Devon factory using a gentle steaming process; combining its quality ingredients and fish landed in Devon. This method makes sure that all the goodness and flavour from each ingredient is retained for a healthy balanced diet. The Sardines & Haddock meal is suitable for dogs aged over a year old and is available in convenient 395g trays (RRP £1.45) or as a case of 7 trays (RRP £10.15). It is available in all leading supermarkets, good pet shops, online retailers and at forthglade.com.

Forthglade’s 50 for 50’

As part of Forthglade’s 50th birthday celebrations, a new campaign 50 for 50 has been launched, a charity initiative to donate a total of 50, 000 trays of wet food to 50 UK charities that support four-legged friends in need. “What better way to celebrate our birthday than recognising all the great work achieved by the dedicated charities across the UK offering care to dogs in need, particularly following such an exceptionally tough year for charities” said Gerard Lovell, Joint MD, Forthglade. Ten charities will be selected each month for five months to receive donations. Visit Forthglade. com/50for50 to cast your vote each month, for the charities that you would like to see gain extra support this summer with a Forthglade’s food donation.

To find out more about Forthglade’s natural meals and treats visit forthglade. com