tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444044309834436012024-03-14T04:36:54.188+00:00The Well Connected Canine BlogMorag Heirshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496569621515338512noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-89279499602632272552023-07-11T14:10:00.000+01:002023-07-11T14:10:20.465+01:00Dog Walking Considerations I’ve been taking my youngest three girls on
different types of walks lately, we’ve been going places which are more heavily
populated by people and other dogs and it’s made me think about the skills my girls
and I need to have to have to be able to navigate these environments without
any issues.
Beach walks, great fun apart from the balls!!!
Summer the Flatcoat loves chasing balls,
notAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-48917129205659143922020-04-10T14:23:00.002+01:002020-04-10T14:23:51.503+01:00What does WCC have in common with Arnie and Dr Who?
This is the update I hoped never to send.
The fast-changing situation with Covid-19, and patchy support for micro-businesses, has left Well Connected Canine in an unbearably difficult position.
As it stands, our only choices were to work for free, or furlough everyone.
Today, myself and Clare (the directors) made the difficult decision to furlough everyone involved with WCC as of 6pm, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-67661722358264376672020-03-23T13:57:00.000+00:002020-03-23T13:57:03.051+00:00Training and Behaviour in the time of Covid-19 - see you online!<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-62503525157276975162020-03-16T10:52:00.001+00:002020-03-16T10:52:47.655+00:00Muzzles, handwashing and coronavirus
The large off lead dog rushes over to you through the woods, approaching your small on-lead dog.
So far, so normal (potentially frustrating but pretty normal), right?
Then you realise that the big black dog is in fact also wearing a close fitting black Baskerville muzzle. And you’re not sure where the owner is.
Okay…….
Then the owner appeared and shouted “It’s okay, they’re friendly reallyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-35691862845207878772020-03-04T11:33:00.000+00:002020-03-04T11:33:44.052+00:00Today is a good day, and a slightly sad day
Happy News
Gina has been one of our dedicated dogs bodies and helpers, but you might not realise she is also in the third year of a BSc in Canine Behaviour & Training. Since beginning to help out in classes, and getting involved through her work experience placement, we've seen Gina blossom into a great trainer.
I'm delighted to announce that Gina has now officially joined our team Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-89826137005796299962020-02-25T20:07:00.000+00:002020-02-25T20:07:19.253+00:00If you go down in the woods today.....
If you go down in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise!
Teddy Bear's Picnic, lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy / John W. Bratton
*and yes, that is Laird temporarily back on a long line in very exciting places. All part of my plan to give him more freedom later in the year*
In case you need to drive out the earworm, listen to the whole song here!
I hope you've beenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-18612857637187381062020-02-11T09:19:00.000+00:002020-02-11T09:19:40.870+00:00Warning - unexpected visitor!
I always take a quick look out into my garden before releasing the hounds - usually to check for unsuspecting squirrels or excessively brave cats.
On Sunday however I was puzzled by the long tail I could see waving through my neighbour's veg garden.
Definitely too big and chunky to be a cat....
It was the lovely wee terrier cross from two doors down exploring the "extension" to his Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-56383309444138535912020-02-03T15:51:00.000+00:002020-02-03T16:00:27.274+00:00How to impress your (canine) physiotherapist
Summer (Flat Coat Retriever) and Clare recently inspired their fab physiotherapist to dig out her own clicker...
Summer has recently had to start doing some physio exercises
(nothing serious to worry about!), so we’ve been working with an amazing new
physiotherapist Frankie from Yorkshire
Animal clinic, while our usual physiotherapist Hannah (Theakston Physiotherapy Services)
is on Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-50769971685350172222020-01-20T16:58:00.000+00:002020-01-20T16:58:40.539+00:00Parkour Variety Pack ChallengeJust for a wee bit of fun, this week I’m inviting you to post your pictures of multi-dog Parkour poses.
You can see Laird demonstrating a 2-up, Freya sitting on the same object, and Bronte sitting on a different manhole cover to the side.
I was trying to get Freya to stand rather than sit for a real variety pic, but it took all my time to keep Bronte from wimbling off!
While Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-70779865431805951922020-01-05T15:43:00.000+00:002020-01-05T15:43:14.004+00:00New Year: New Actions?
Yep, it's that time of year again when the world seems full of good ideas and shiny resolutions. Not to mention the fields are full of dogs suddenly being walked more than usual.
I'm (Morag) a big fan of setting goals, tracking actions and reviewing progress.
But I'm NOT a big fan of the whole new year/new you shenanigans.
The trick is to figure out your goal, and then break that down intoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-12959933349385785152019-12-10T11:42:00.000+00:002019-12-10T11:43:02.390+00:00I’ll do it, but I’m not happy about it…How does your dog respond when you ask them to do something?
Are they enthusiastic and quick to react?
Or will they grudgingly obey?
What if you ask them to sit? move out of your way? come back?
Your dog could sit quickly, with enthusiasm and commitment.
Or they could sit slowly, reluctantly, avoiding your gaze and sigh while they do it!
I’m not just talking about whether or Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-17233462443768802952019-12-06T21:59:00.000+00:002019-12-06T21:59:17.398+00:00Christmas Canine Crafting event for the WCC FamilyIf you have trained with us, attended any of our events, workshops or online webinars, you are most cordially invited to the 2019 Xmas Event.
Christmas Canine Crafting
Sunday 15th December
13:30 - 16:30
Sand Hutton & Claxton Village Hall, near York
£5
suggested donation to cover costs and contribute to charity fundraising (RSPCA York and Jerry Green N Yorks)
We're going to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-60977755018188865852019-11-14T11:48:00.000+00:002019-11-14T11:48:05.336+00:00"He bought it on himself..." (or, why Brian is the worst puppy teacher, ever!)
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486208662329212016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-5119883876730680272019-10-19T16:45:00.000+01:002019-10-19T16:45:48.137+01:00Bang! Yes, it's fireworks season yet again...
What does your dog do when they hear fireworks?
Sleep through them soundly?
Quiver, shake, drool and try to hide away from the dreaded fireworks?
Or take dreadful offence at the invading noises, and bark to scare them off?
Unless you answered with option 1, you're going to need a survival strategy to put in place fast.
And if your young puppy hasn't experienced fireworks yet - you Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-43719583558838770322019-10-14T11:31:00.000+01:002019-10-14T11:41:35.033+01:00What blind men and an elephant can tell us about living with LairdIn the last blog, I told you about Laird accidentally grabbing my hand
(thinking it was part of a food wrapper) and struggling to let go. My
hand was sore and a little swollen afterwards, but nothing more.
Our brains love to jump to conclusions, it's so much more comforting (and often efficient) to make an assumption rather than collecting yet more information.
Yet as the parable of the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-22383693623592788622019-09-30T11:22:00.001+01:002019-09-30T11:23:05.392+01:00New Puppy Adventures with Quest
Quest
Adventure Ross has been here for three weeks now….and we've most definitely been having an adventure
Each puppy I get teaches me something new, and Quest is no exception,
this time I’ve learnt just how much of an impact the breeder can have on your
puppy!
Quest’s breeder followed the Puppy Plan and
I can really see how much of a positive impact this has had on Quest’s
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-60353482880196320642019-09-27T17:53:00.000+01:002019-09-27T17:53:14.090+01:00How many pounds per square inch can GWP jaws exert? Part two of the progress reports
This is a blog about progress updates, but I figure it's important to be honest about the ups as well as the downs.
Update for Laird
The much loved giant GWP and his ongoing struggles with giving stuff up and love of eating plastic (and anything else that fits in his mouth) have often featured in my writing.
Last week I discovered first hand just how powerful his jaws are.
I have toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-90994943677505341662019-09-20T17:07:00.000+01:002019-09-20T17:08:36.605+01:00How Max and Gina survived the school holidays - part one of the progress reports
An update from Gina with Max, one of our amazing dogsbodies as well as being a dedicated client!
Laura’s recent blog about how Parkour had made their holiday more enjoyable got me thinking about the last few weeks while the children have been off school. (missed the blog? catch up here)
I guess most people who have a dog, but no children don’t give much thought to school holidays.
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-69950717647846565852019-09-13T14:37:00.000+01:002019-09-13T14:37:01.126+01:00Why labels matter – is your dog “reactive”?Human language is full of labels. It’s a verbal shorthand, one or two words to use instead of a long sentence of explanation.
But sometimes we might have different understandings of the same word or label.
And then that convenient shorthand gets in the way of developing our understanding.
In the dog world, there’s been a noticeable shift away from describing dogs as aggressive or dominant Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-77219219612066325932019-09-10T15:42:00.001+01:002019-09-10T15:42:30.857+01:00New member of the team
The well connected canine team has a new member, meet Quest
Quest Adventure Ross
She’s an 8 week old working cocker spaniel and a new
addition to our family. We are absolutely in love with her. My dogs on the
other hand, not as much!
Poppy, Spencer, Summer and Scout are not really sure
about the new addition yet!
Scout (Border Collie) just wants to herd her, so follows her
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-60700699074751245562019-09-04T11:46:00.002+01:002019-09-04T11:46:54.332+01:00What have you learned from your dog? And what are you going to learn next!(Blog written by Morag)
The only time you’re not learning is when you’re dead (probably).
At least, that’s certainly what it feels like. Clare has just spent a whole week at a gun dog training camp with Summer, her flat coated retriever. I took the brave step of attending a competition obedience workshop with Laird (yes, the Big Yin) on Sunday with Jo Hill.
Not that either of us are Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486208662329212016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-41877227181654896912019-08-26T19:27:00.000+01:002019-08-26T19:27:35.390+01:00Parkour is amazing (or how going to class made our holidays better)(Blog written by Laura and the Daring Duo)
As anyone who has attended one of our Parkour workshops or classes will already know, I agree with that statement on principle, but given that we were halfway along a footpath deep in the Welsh countryside and, not two minutes earlier, had been talking about what we were planning to have for lunch, it wasn’t really what I’d been expecting to hear.
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-70220098183572303632019-08-26T19:10:00.000+01:002019-08-26T19:10:12.781+01:00Help My dog is too fast for me!
I mean, look at the joyful expression on Laird's face as we hurtled towards the brave photographer, and my sheer determination to not fall over!
Actually this blog is in answer to a question on the Canicross Yorkshire page.
Canicross for dummies question!
I've been running for a very first time. Strong n fast dog. She wanted go so I did let her, it was an uphill.
Things were Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-62745002440447895782019-08-17T09:46:00.003+01:002019-08-17T09:46:57.212+01:00Celebrating Well Connected Canine's 10 Year Anniversary
Amazingly, it’s now 10 years since Well Connected Canine came into being as a business focused on making the relationships between us and our dogs that wee bit better.
Here are just a few of the things that you (our amazing clients) have said that living with your dogs has helped you to learn
Monkia and Bear - Bear
has taught me how important is to be consistent , to believe in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144404430983443601.post-29123390454381121842019-07-29T15:15:00.000+01:002019-07-29T15:20:20.856+01:00Deer proofing your recall + loose lead walking skills!Laird is recovering well from his “jousting “ injury - the only reasonable explanation for the huge hole in his shoulder!
But while we can do a bit more exercise, it all needs to be calm and controlled.
Calm is not a word often used for 2yr old German Wire Haired Pointers . . . . .
So walking nicely even around distractions has shot up the priority list – being dragged by your dog is never funAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0