SPAYING - THE ISSUES AND ETHICS

Neutering and spaying dogs is classed by many owners as an every day procedure and in all honesty is drilled into people as an automatic choice if they do not wish to breed from their pet.
I do feel it is important however to draw attention to the ethical and welfare issues involved as they are so often overlooked.
Animals have absolutely no choice in the matter and rely on us to make good decisions for them so it is only fair to think of things from their perspective too and weigh the pros and cons of the operation.
Please note that this article is written on the assumption that the dog in question is healthy and does not need the surgery for medical or life saving reasons.  This article also primarily focuses on female dogs and its purpose is not to judge or promote either spaying or non-spaying.   It is about looking at things from a different angle.

1.  WHAT IS REALLY INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION:
Spaying a bitch is a procedure known as ovariohysterectomy.
First of all the dog will be given a routine check up to ensure she is fit and well enough for the operation.
After she is anesthetized the skin around her tummy is shaved and disinfected thoroughly to prevent infection and contamination.
An incision of approximately 3-5 inches in length is made near the umbilicus (tummy button).  Once the skin has been cut the surgeon will then cut into the subcutaneous layer (the tissue underneath the skin).  Any bleeds are clamped or cauterized.
Next the linea alba is cut.  This is an area of muscle.
Underneath the abdominal organs and fat is the uterus.  A spay hook may be used to pull one of the uterine horns out of the incision.  This can be used to trace the location of the ovary.  Great care must be taken to avoid injury to the kidneys and other organs.
Clamps are used to prevent bleeding and hemorrhage Then the clamped off ovaries are removed from the cavity.
The cervix is then pulled out of the abdomen and clamped off.  The body of the uterus and ovaries are then cut away.
Sutures are placed and the cervix is put back into the abdomen cavity.
The layers mentioned above are then stitched up or sutured.
A pain injection is administered and usually the dog is able to go home the same day.
The dog will likely be sleepy and groggy until the following morning.

2. REASONS FOR SPAYING:
As mentioned above this article is not referring to animals who are being spayed for medical reasons or where measures are being taken to preserve its life.
Many owners simply do not want to be bothered with the "mess" of bitches in season and so prefer to have the dog spayed.
Others are told by experts and professionals that it is the right thing to do and that they are some how bad or irresponsible if they do not have the procedure carried out.
Another reason is that some owners have both male and female dogs and do not want unplanned litters of pups.
Then there are individuals who believe it is better for their dog's health if they are spayed.

3. THE FACTS AND RISKS:
Many vets and experts encourage early spaying of bitches but reports have shown that this may not be in your dog's best interests.
A veterinary medical database search from 1982-1995 showed that in dogs with heart tumors, the relative risk for spayed females was over four times that of intact females.
For one particular form of heart tumor spayed females had a greater than five times risk compared to non spayed females.
The risk for bone cancer was doubled in large purebred spayed females.
Studies conducted in the 90's found that females who were spayed prior to 1 year of age grew significantly taller then those who were not spayed or who were spayed after their first year.  This is because estrogen promotes skeletal maturation and proper development.
Studies have also shown that spayed females and castrated males (carried out at an early age) have a higher risk of hip dysplasia.
Urinary incontinence is common in spayed bitches. Thyroid problems can also be caused as well as obesity issues.
Behavioural changes are also known due to changes in hormones.
As mentioned above certain types of cancers are also more of a risk for spayed bitches.  Types include bone cancer , spleen cancer , urinary tract cancer and bladder cancer.
On the plus side spaying can also reduce the risk of some types of cancer such as uterine and mammary cancer and can also reduce the risk of infections like pyometra (uterine infection).
Spaying also prevents unwanted pregnancy.
Contrary to what many owners believe spaying does not calm bitches down.  If anything it could make a formerly placid bitch more dominant and aggressive as spaying stops the production of progesterone which is a calming hormone and a serotonin up lifter.
It is important to realize that all surgeries come with risks so there is a possibility that something will go wrong and your dog may not make it through the procedure although this is fairly rare in healthy dogs.

ETHICS:
After reading the facts about spaying its only fair to stop and think about what your reasons really are for spaying.  If it is simply a matter of not wanting pups then although this is a good reason - if you do not have males with females and you are responsible in that you do not let your dog out to roam the streets then other measures can be taken to keep her safe.  If you are seriously in doubt that you can keep males away then certainly spaying is advised.
If health reasons are your main concern then as we have seen above there are many pros and cons to having the procedure.  Would it be better for your dog to remain in a natural state than to unnaturally have her reproductive organs removed?
As for owners who do not like cleaning up mess from seasons every six months it is worth considering if you are really ready for dog ownership as dogs can be messy at all times of the year - in season or not in season.
Muddy paws , dirty coats and shedding are all every day aspects of dog ownership.  Having a bitch in season is not really that big a deal.  Special nappies can be purchased to prevent soiling of carpets etc.
It is fair to say that if your sole reason for spaying is that you do not like mess then the operation could be viewed by many as mutilation and therefore highly unethical.
Is it really the right thing to do?  will it make you a "good" owner?  Maybe, but being a good dog owner also involves being informed and doing what is in the best interests of your pet.  Spaying is not always the right or ethical choice.
Think for a moment: what are the effects of similar operations on human women?  how does it effect their hormones and over all health?  Is it reasonable to think that such a major operation will have no similar effects on your dog?

CONCLUSION:
The purpose of this article is not to discourage spaying or neutering of dogs nor is it to judge those who have had or are planning to have their pet neutered.  It is to educate owners and encourage them to look at all the facts before trustingly sending their dog to have a major operation that will alter them permanently and irreversibly.
Everyone should be informed thoroughly before making such a big decision.  It is not a minor insignificant procedure as many people and organizations would have you believe.
Educate yourself on the facts first and make sure you thoroughly examine your reasons for putting your dog through any type of medical procedure as they too have to live with the resulting consequences and health problems or benefits and they cannot easily communicate to you how they feel emotionally or mentally.

HOW TO CALM YOUR DOG DOWN BEFORE WALKS (Quick Tips)

First of all let me assure you that no one's dog is perfectly behaved - mine certainly are not!  To be honest I prefer it that way (within reason).  I like my dogs to have some character and over training can break a dog's spirit.  So a happy medium is what I encourage owners to aim for.

One thing many owners despair over is how excitable their dog gets before walks.  This exuberance can reach such a level that yapping , screaming , howling and jumping around can occur making it almost impossible to attach the leash and owners dread "walkies".  Here are some quick tips which are tried, tested and proven to work:

1.  IGNORE excited behaviour.

The urge is to tell your dog off and even raise your voice when your dog's excitability reaches such a point as to border on insanity.  You have probably noticed however that this does not work.  This is because your dog views your raised voice and display of emotions as joining in with the fun.

When you get your dog's leash out and he begins jumping around ignore the behaviour.  Do not speak or raise your voice.  Simply wait until he calms down.  This may take a while but it's worth the wait.

Do this every time your dog gets excited and he will eventually learn what is expected of him and that if he wants to go for a walk he has to keep still and calm whilst you put his leash on.

The same applies to leaving the house - if he is giddy simply close the door and wait.  repeat as often as required until he gets the message.

2.  TEACH YOUR DOG TO SIT.

When calming your dog down its handy for him to be familiar with the "sit!" command.  Teach this command in between walks so that when he has eventually calmed down before you take him for a walk you can tell him to "sit!" whilst you put his leash on.

Ignore excitable behaviour!

TRAINING TIPS: USING REWARDS (QUICK ARTICLE)

Training using treats and food does tend to get your dog responding quickly but the fact is that in the long run it actually teaches him not to respond to your commands,

Why do I say this?  When your dog sees food in your hand he has a reason to obey.  However, when you are not armed with food the chances of him obeying you are slim.

The fact is that you do not want to have to bribe your dog.  Here are a couple of helpful hints to get - and keep - your dog responding to you:

1. PRAISE!

Dogs thrive on praise and you can use this instead of food.  If you get excited and tell him (in a happy tone) how amazingly well he has done to the extend he too gets excited then this is a reward in itself for him.

Swap food for praise and you will not only cut down on your dog's calorie intake but will get great results during training.  It may take slightly longer to get an initial response but it's worth it.

2. MIX UP THE REWARDS

If you really do feel like you have to use food to train your dog then make sure you vary the frequency and type of "prize" he gets.  Here is an example:

First time he obeys: praise only.

Second time he obeys: Food treat.

Third time he obeys: throw his toy for him.

Dont be predictable with his rewards.  Keep him guessing and you will keep him responding!

Remember: you want your dog to respond to you because he wants to please you - not because he wants food!

PRODUCT REVIEW: DOUBLE K EMERALD BLACK DOG SHAMPOO

As a person who buys a lot of pet products I do find reviews helpful but so far have found none on this shampoo.
I originally purchased a 250ml bottle of this from a seller on Ebay.  I paid approximately £7.98 for it.  I am not tight when it comes to paying out for my dogs but I must admit that I was skeptical when I clicked the "buy it now" button as I have tried so called "professional" grooming products before and have been less than impressed.  9/10 times they left my pooches coats dull and scurfy so I was not expecting miracles from this one.
The shampoo is specifically for black coats and can also be used for horses and cows!  I had only one black and Tan dachshund at the time (I now have two) so it did seem a lot to pay out when only one of my trio of sausage dogs could actually use it.
When the product arrived I was immediately impressed by the smell.  It was fresh and clean without being over powering or too flowery.  I like my dogs to smell clean but often the fragrances added to the products are overwhelming not only for me but for their noses too.
I was also impressed at how economical it was to use as it dilutes 32:1 which is great as a little goes a very long way.  I must admit that sometimes I am lazy and have just poured a bit out and applied it straight to her coat but it has caused no problems at all.
It lathers up well so does obviously contain some detergent but is not harsh on the skin.
As the name "emerald black" suggests the shampoo is a black/green shade - not very pretty to look at but boy does it do what it promises!
When my dog was dry her coat was absolutely gleaming.  She smelled fresh and clean and was so shiny she honestly looked as though she had been polished and glossed.  No scurf or dry skin either!
As far as I am aware this product does all this without adding any dye to the coat which is great as I do not like any kind of harsh chemicals anywhere near my dogs.
An added bonus is that my dog stayed smelling clean for a good few days after her bath too which is unusual for my girls.
I would rate this product 10/10 which is very high praise.
If you are interested in trying it for yourself I have attached a link for you below:

Double K Emerald Black Dog Shampoo

Great Dog Friendly Local Walks Within Doncaster

As a dog walker I try to take my canine clients to a variety of places for exercise.  Here are a few suggestions for other pet owners.  Some are well known and others a bit more of a local secret:

EDLINGTON WOOD:

This is a lovely area to walk your dog.  Its privately owned but open to the public.  You can walk for miles and take a variety of different directions.  Its beautiful at any time of year.
At one stage it developed a bad reputation as sadly car thieves would drive stolen vehicles into the wood and set them on fire meaning that a pleasant walk would be interrupted by char-grilled cars.  Measures have now been taken to prevent this and thankfully it is now once again an enjoyable place to walk.

The South Yorkshire Archaelogical survey (yes, apparently it does exist!) even discovered Roman settlements in the woods.  Findings included a 2nd century bronze brooch and some pottery.

I'm not saying this is the place to go for a thrilling historical experience but it is pretty and worth a visit.  Your dog will thank you for it.

You may even occasionally see deer in the woods.  Although it is usually safe to let your dog off leash I do recommend that if your pooch is prone to running off and chasing things that you keep him or her on a flexi lead to prevent potential close up encounters with deer as a kick from one of these creatures could result in fatal injury.

EDLINGTON PIT WALK

In all honesty it sounds perfectly dull and dreadful but when you get there you will be pleasantly surprised as this really is an enjoyable place to go with your dog.

It is adjacent to Edlington woods and so you can park here and climb over the stile if you fancy a woodland adventure.

There are several miles to walk and there is also a nature pond which attracts birds and other wildlife.

Please do clean up after your dog when you visit as so many owners do not and it spoils it for others.

Here are a few shots of Edlington pit walk:

The down side of this walk is that some areas do get muddy.  So if you prefer your dog to stay clean then it could be best to stick to walking him around the block :)

THE PARK (off Doncaster Lane, Woodlands)

This park is one of my regular haunts and to say my canine client loves it here would be an understatement.

Many people like to socialize whilst being out with their dog and if that's what you are looking for then this is the place to go!

I can honestly say that this park gets almost as busy as Crufts....well may be I am exaggerating a tad but you get the point!

Everyone in the park is friendly including the dogs who love to play together and have fun whilst their owners have a good chat.

The playing field is huge meaning that there's lots of room for you to get away from others if you choose to.

If you have children there is a play area as well as a basket ball court so they can have fun too.

TICKHILL

This place seemed obvious to me but recently I was stunned to learn that a friend of mine who has lived in Doncaster for over 20 years had never been to Tickhill before.  So I thought it worthy of a mention.

There are some beautiful walks here and what's even better is that when it comes to Tickhill - there is something to suit all energy levels.  So if your dog is not up to walking too far you can have a stroll around the duck pond and rest in between on one of the benches.

OLD EDLINGTON

This is quite possibly one of the prettiest places in the area in my opinion.  Granted, its not that big but after you have walked up the hill you will have had enough anyway lol.

It is probably best to keep your dog on a leash here because of the traffic.

more coming soon!

Adult Dog House Training Issues

Don't you just hate it when your very adult dog decides to relieve himself in the house?!  Thankfully this is a problem which, with a good plan of action and some patience, can be modified. 

This article will determine:

. Reasons For Lapses In Toilet Training Habits

. Possible Health Issues Affecting The Bowel &     

  Bladder

. Gender Related Factors

. Effective Dog Toilet Training Solutions & 

  Techniques

Reasons For Lapses In Toilet Training Habits

Dogs are largely governed by instinct.  Although you may think that your pooch is old enough to know better or that he is just being plain awkward the chances are that there is a logical explanation for his unwanted behaviour.

Here are some common scenarios:

1.  "He won't go out when its wet or cold!"

The simple explanation is that your dog knows from experience that going outside in the rain will not end in a positive experience.  He does not want to get saturated or cold - who does?!

Solution:  As simple and obvious as it sounds an umbrella can be all it takes to solve the issue.  

Failing that make a small section of your yard or garden under cover (you could use gazebo fabric or even a bit of tarp.  Depending on the size of your dog it will only need to be 2-4 feet in diameter)so that he is sheltered from the elements.  An added bonus is that because you will be taking him to the same spot in the yard all the time he will learn why he is there and begin to "go" more quickly.

A rain coat is another option.

Another helpful hint is to stay with your dog as he may find the weather frightening.  Your presence may make him feel safe enough to do what he needs to do.

2. "He does not just wee and poo in one place - he does it all over!"

Both male and female dogs engage in what is known as territorial marking.  Male dogs tend to be more prone to marking in the home especially if there is a new member of the family or a guest staying.  Males which have not been neutered are also more likely to mark.

Females may be more prone to this behaviour before or during a season.  This could also be due to the fact that females in season need to urinate more often and if they do not have access to outside they may be forced to relieve themselves indoors.

When dealing with urination always wipe it up using a proper cleaning solution.  Soap and water is not effective as the enzymes present in urine will remain unless they are neutralized with special products such as "wee away".  These products are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased from most pet stores or even online.

Castration is an option but if you dont wish to go down this route then make sure that your dog is confined when you are not there to watch him.

If you are going to be out of the house for long periods then it is advisable to either put him into day care or make him wear a belly band or nappy.

3. "My dog knows she is doing wrong when she 'goes' in the house but still refuses to go outside when I take her!"

Although dogs are smart they can sometimes get "the wrong end of the stick" so-to-speak.

If you see your dog soiling in the house or come downstairs to find a parcel - your instinct is to reprimand him.  The problem here is that your dog can learn to associate relieving himself with getting told off by you meaning that he may refuse to go to the toilet in front of you - even when he is outside.  

He has to go somewhere so there is a high chance that you will come downstairs in the morning to find he has soiled in the house.  He has decided to go to the toilet when you are not looking so he wont get told off.

If you see your dog begin to soil in the house do not raise your voice or tell him off.  Simply lift him and take him outside.  The when he goes - praise him.

If you come downstairs in the morning and find that he has pooped in the house do not tell him off.  Try taking the excrement outside and then also taking your dog outside to the area you have placed the poop.  When he notices it  - praise and reward him.  You are trying to teach him that this is where you want to find it!

Possible Health Issues Affecting A Dog's Bladder & Bowel

Urinary Tract Infections:

Sometimes house training problems can be due to a medical condition which is why its good to have your dog checked by a vet to rule this out before you begin additional training.

Both male and female dogs can suffer with Cystitis and some dogs are more prone to the condition due to factors such as advancing age, diabetes or long term use of certain medications such a corticosteriods .

Some symptoms of cystitus in dogs are as follows:

Cloudy urine.

An unusually strong odor to the urine.

Painful urination (your dog may spend several minutes straining or squatting but only produce a very small amount of wee-wee).

Female dogs may lick their private parts more often and have a discharge.

Urinating more frequently.

Blood in the urine.

If you are concerned about any of these symptoms in your dog please visit your vet.

Orthopedic problems:

Dogs with joint complaints such as arthritis may find squatting or holding their leg up for urination painful which may cause him to "hold it" as long as possible.  Eventually he will not be able to wait any longer which results in him losing control in the house.

Dogs with such problems may also be reluctant to go to the toilet if it is cold outside as the weather may make his joints more painful.

It may be that your dog needs medication to control his pain or that the medication he is presently on is not effective enough.

Remember: Just because your dog does not complain does not mean he is not in discomfort.

Worms and other parasites:

Its important to worm your dog with a quality product as an infestation of worms can cause house training problems.  Runny stools can make it difficult for your dog to control when he needs to "go".

If you are worried about a possible parasite infestation you should see your vet as soon as possible.

Changes In Diet:

If you have recently changed your dogs diet or if your dog is known for necrophagy or scavenging this could easily result in an upset stomach leading to house training problems.

Try and keep garbage out of reach and stop feeding your dog scraps.  Keeping his meal times regular at set times is also helpful.

Changes in diet should be introduced gradually so as not to shock your dog's system.

If after a few days your dog's tummy has not settled down you should contact your vet.

Raw food diets can lead  to a major difference in bowel habits.  Again it is wise to consult your vet.

More suggestions will be published in upcoming articles.