Pooch Scoop January - March 2020

POOCH SCOOP January –March 2020

Hi I’m Munro a Golden Retriever & my dad’s name is Pat. We attended the Beginners’ Obedience class during 2019.

My dad & I came along to the Dogs Christmas Party & we won the “best dressed category”

News, views and opinions in this newsletter are those of the correspondents, and not necessarily those of the club, editor and committee. The Springwood District Dog Training Club Inc. reserves the right of rejection of material.

COMMITTEE o o o o o o o o o o o

President Lynn Olson Vice President Maryjka Kelly Secretary Moina Wye Treasurer Julie Annetts Chief Instructor Obedience Leanne Brown Newsletter Noeleen Horswell Website Lynn Olson Table Manager Obedience Vicki Cooper Shop Manager Francoise Matter Sporting Representative Paul Kelly General Committee: Ron Amann, Chris Lambert, Trevor Mawer, & Cath Moran.

Life Members: Dot Luker,Ann Moy,Sue Fell,Ron Amann, Wally Campbell, Pam Waters, Lesley Piggott, Lynn Olson, Leanne Brown.

As a member of the club you are always welcome to attend our Club’s General Meetings at the Red Cross Hall in Macquarie Road Springwood. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.30 p.m. Meetings resume each January.

NB There is no meeting in December.

Web Site: www.sddtc.org Email: info@sddtc.org FACEBOOK: Springwood District Dog Training Club

Training Sessions Agility Beginners  Monday evening 7.00 – 8.00 p.m.

Obedience -Intermediate & Advanced  Tuesday l0.00 – 11am (9.30-10.30am if temp above 30) & Thursday evening 7.30 – 8.45 p.m.  New Beginners 8 week Course-commences first Thursday evening of each month @ 7.30pm.(Dogs not needed that night) February to October Wet Weather: If it has been raining for a few days check the Blue Mountains Oval Closure Hotline 47805617 after 3.00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, or check the BM City Council Website.

Also check our SDDTC Facebook Page for any training & weather updates.

IS YOUR OLDER DOG IN PAIN ?

As humans we don’t always understand or easily recognise how our dogs may be displaying signs of being in pain.

According to Dr Edward Bassingthwaite who holds a qualification in Veternary Science (BVSC -Hons11) -The Healing Vet (2019) there are distinct signs that dogs may be in pain.

Generally an older dog is defined as a dog over the age of seven years.

Your dogs ageing is a natural process where a dog goes through physiological and other body & mind changes.

These changes usually present in their behaviour.

We as dog owners can help our dog live a pain free life by watching for any changs in our dogs posture,their gait & general activity level.

Often a condition of pain has been present in the dog for months or even years.( International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management 2020. Denise Flaim (2019)Whole Dog Journal.)

Some of these signs of pain may be:  A dog may be slow to get up from lying- your dog presents as stiff & awkward. The dog may look worried with their eyes wide open.  Your dog may be stiff & slow after playing & or exercising  Your dog may have “accidents” & become incontinent

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Their skin may flicker when patting or touching their skin You may feel warm or hot areas along their skin when patting or stroking your dog Your dog may react in an uncomfortable way when being touched in certain areas around its body Your dog stops wanting to play as mush as usual or not wanting to play at all Some dogs will have trouble going to the toilet- for some dogs this may lead to constipation & or urinary tract infections Becoming reluctant or unable to jump up on the lounge, their bed or into the car Your dog develops any abnormal wear on their nails, or walks with a foot turned under or dragging Exepriences sleep distrubances Your dog develops a decreased appetite

And if your dog exhibits any of these signs you are adviced to see a vet ASAP      

Lameness that lasts longer than a week Your dog can’t get up at all Your dog becoming aggressive when you try & touch them or try and move them Becoming wobbly, weak, or unable to walk properly & falling over when trying to walk Any paralysis of their limbs, or their back end Collapse, being unable to rise from the floor.

IS YOUR DOG DEHYDRATED? The last few months of 2019 and into early 2020 Australia has experienced extremely high temperatures which not only potentially causes dehydration in humans of all ages but also with our dogs. It is normal for a dogs body to gain & lose water throughout the day.

During all four seasons of the year our dogs need access to clean refreshing water to remain hydrated.

In a healthy dog who has access to clean cool water, “ad libitum” the effects of dehydration is rare.

Did you know your dog doesn’t sweat ?

Your dog rely’s solely on their ability to pant to cool off from the heat. When a dog is panting heavily, moisture is lost through their tongue and mouth. A healthy dog also loses water through passing urine and their bowel motions.

A dog who is excercising will loose large amounts of water from their bodies through the process of panting, so dogs who are excercising in heat must be offered water frequently. If your dog is panting heavily it is recommended that you stop the activity, find some shade & both of you rehydrate.

A hot dehydrated dog will suffer from heat exhaustion or even a life-threatening heatstroke.

Do you know the signs of dehydration in your dog?  A healthy dog should have moist gums. If you press briefly on the dogs gums colour should return within less than two seconds.  The longer it takes for the healthy colour in your dogs gums to return the more dehydrated your dog is becoming.  A normal healthy dog from young to middle age should have an elastic skin & subcutaneous space. Skin turger can be checked by gently pinching a large fingerful of skin at the back of your dogs neck or back, once you release it, the skin should snap back to its normal place. If the dogs skin is staying up “tented in shape” this could indicate that your dog may be dehydrate.  Older dogs loose some of their skin turger & elasticity, so this check may not always indicate dehydration.  A dog who is well hydrated will pass urine that is light to medium & clear in colour. When a dog is dehydrated they will pass urine that is extremely dark, or even brown in colour, indicating that your dog hasn’t drunk enough water. ( Reference: Ash C. WholeDog Journal.

May 2019) As responsible dog owners we can prevent dehydration occuring in our dogs .. its easy as just providing the dog with clean water and ensuring if we are out with our dogs that we carry a water bottle with plenty of water both for ourselves and our dogs.

Francoise & Molly Francoise stocks a number of items for sale at wholesale prices.

Black Dog is one of our suppliers. Francoise can order an item from Black Dog www.blackdog.net.au we don’t usually stock in the shop.

E.g. Black Dog leads-various lengths, plain or smart leads & Martingale collars-various sizes. The shop is usually set up most Thursday evenings. On most Tuesday mornings the shop is open but not on display. Please see Francoise for special orders, & further information. 

Black Dog Halties-all sizes $22.00 & Haltie extensions $8.00. Black Dog 1 metre lead $14.00

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Black Dog treat Tote-various colours NEW $20.00,

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Pigs ears-dog treat-$1.50, Liver treats 150gm bag-$2.50.

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Moina’s liver or heart treats 100gm bag Aust. made $2.00.

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Club shirts, vests and jackets are available for purchase from the club.