Podgy Paws, Keswick

 

 We were recently given the absolutely awesome news that we're the first ever ambassadors for Podgy Paws pet shop in Keswick, Cumbria. This is still such a shock as there were so many amazing entries but we're absolutely over the moon and so excited to share our adventures and favourite products with you.

A lot of our followers have visited Podgy Paws whilst on holiday or we may have referred you on to their online shop but for those who don't know, Podgy Paws was created in 2006 by Peter & Chris and was inspired by their own beloved dogs. They stock all our favourite brands - all the best adventure gear and a whole range of toys, treats and food too. Dogs are very welcome in store and can even take advantage of the free fitting service provided by the friendly, knowledgable staff.

As part of our ambassadorship, we'll be testing various products and providing photos and honest reviews but for now, here are a few bits we already have, use regularly and totally recommend..

 DOG Copenhagen Comfort Walk Pro Harness

Once Noddy was pretty much fully grown, we took him to the store to get his first proper big boy's harness and this is the one we chose. As he's a small dog, the chest plate on some harnesses were a bit too wide for him, this could rub and cause discomfort or cause him to move abnormally. The DOG Copenhagen harness however is such a great shape and really adjustable. They look so stylish, they're durable, quick drying and comfortable. The little handle is also a really handy detail for helping him over large rocks, walls, stiles etc whilst out exploring. There's a great range of colours to choose from and matching leads & collars are also available.

Hurtta Casual Y Harness

So we got our first Hurtta casual Y harness for Tess, in Lingon red, I wanted a well fitting, comfortable harness suitable for Dog Parkour training and this fit the bill perfectly. In fact, I loved it so much that Noddy got one too in River blue. At first Noddy used his for mantrailing but it soon became his regular walking harness too as it's just so well fitting and is the quickest drying harness we've ever used which is very helpful with Noddy being such a water baby. As if 2 wasn't enough, we now also have this harness in the new Cinnamon colour (along with the matching training lead) and wow - I just absolutely love this colour so much! 

                                         

Ruffwear Web Master Harness

The Ruffwear Webmaster is one of my all time favourites. We sadly lost our Mastiff Mia, my heart dog, in March 2021 but this harness was so so helpful with her. Mia had a range of orthopaedic issues, she'd had multiple big operations on both cruciate ligaments, both knees, she had mild elbow dysplasia, severe arthritis and a bulging disc on her spine but this harness was such a great fit and so easy to put on despite her restrictions. Because of the 3rd belly strap, it's so secure (very well known for helping owners of 'houdini dogs'), it also means that when the handle is used the dog's weight is distributed evenly unlike some other handled harnesses where the dog almost tips out. The handle and support provided by this harness was such a huge help for handling Mia when she was recovering from operations and to help lift her in and out of the van etc. It's so strong and durable with 5 points of adjustment - perfect for all kinds of adventures.

Ruffwear Front Range Harness

Our Bull Terrier Maddie wears the Ruffwear Front Range in Campfire Orange, she's had it for at least 6 years and it's still in great condition. It's a sturdy, padded harness with 2 lead attachments, one of which is on the front chest piece. It has 4 points of adjustment, a reflective trim and is foam padded. Maddie is a strong, barrel chested breed but this harness is great on her. She wears this harness on walks, runs and for mantrailing too. 

                                         

Chuckit! Ultra Balls

The Chuckit toy range is one of our favourites, these balls are so strong and long lasting and designed for demanding use. Even with Maddie and Mia being very strong chewers, these balls held up so well and we've had our collection for a good few years now. Note: we don't leave them out all the time, our dogs only have supervised play with balls or use them as training rewards. They may seem a little pricey for balls but honestly, they are totally worth it. The Ultra Tug Toy (ball on a handle) is Maddie's favourite and is her reward for mantrailing as she can't have many treats/food items due to kidney disease. The Ultra Ball and the Ultra Ring are some of Noddy's favourites so far. 

Feelwells Healthy Natural Training Treats

We use a LOT of training treats but these are some of our favourites. They're specifically designed as high value training treats and come in cheese, liver or grain free chicken flavour which are both a big hit with our dogs. They're semi-moist so easy to break up if needed but are already a handy small size for reward treats. They contain no wheat or gluten and are free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

A few more of our favourites include

• Kong Wubba dog toy
• Carnilove dog treats
• The Innocent Hound treats
• Anco natural treats and fusions
• Kong Tugger Knots toy
• Ezydog Snakpak treat bag

If you'd like to learn more or browse some of the selection head to podgypaws.co.uk or find them on Facebook or Instagram. Tel: 017687 73737 open 7 days a week.

We really are so chuffed to be on the team for the rest of 2021 and can't wait to share even more exciting items with you. Feel free to drop us a message any time if you have any questions about any of the products we have, local beauty spots or if you'd like more info about reaching the shop. 

All about Mantrailing UK

What is Mantrailing UK?

Mantrailing UK is the first and only accredited Mantrailing International Training Centre in the UK, teaching dogs and owners an action packed dog sport and search & rescue skill - to hunt down a missing person.

Just a few of the many positives:

Build the relationship and bond with your dog

Increase dog's confidence

Spend time together in the great outdoors

Fun, social aspect with fellow dog enthusiasts

Gives an excellent outlet for high drive, working breeds 

Can be easily adapted to suit all dogs including reactive dogs and those with physical limitations

Regardless of the breed/type, age, behaviour, physical ability, Mantrailing UK strives to be accessible to everybody.

Maddie's mantrailing experience, as an old reactive rescue dog

This is the first activity/dog sport that our rescue Bull Terrier Maddie has been able to join in with. Maddie didn't have the best start to life and came to us with severe fear reactivity towards other dogs, she could be nervous in some settings and noise sensitive too. She was over 10 years old when she started mantrailing, not so much dog reactive by then, but still nervous of unknown dogs and a dog who needs reasonable space from others. Because dogs are worked one at a time, reactivity/nerves are not an issue at training. Initially we chose only private training venues where we definitely wouldn't encounter random dogs but we have recently trailed at a public venue too. It's often found that reactive dogs are actually so focused on their job once they've 'got the game' that they can, with time, trail past other dogs and even on normal walks their reactivity can be reduced. Maddie is now over 11 years old, she has recently been diagnosed with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) which is a bit like doggy dementia, she also has a little bit of arthritis setting in and can't do anywhere near as much physical activity as she used to. Mantrailing however is a low impact sport which means there isn't too much pressure/stress on joints and bones. The length of each trail is decided upon the individual dog's needs and capabilities and it provides so much mental stimulation, using their amazing olfactory senses, that even with shorter trails they get a great mental workout. Another flexible factor is the reward - whatever works best for your individual dog. You may have seen our food pots but due to kidney issues, Maddie has always been on a strict renal diet and can't have many treats. She's not very food motivated so she works for her ball. Some dogs work simply for the fun of the game or for a free run at the end. It makes me so happy to see Maddie joining in with something, having fun and being absolutely awesome. It's the best feeling.

Tess' mantrailing experience, as an anxious rescue dog

Tess is our 8 year old Terrier (working lakeland mix). She came to us at around a year old with little to no training, no recall, not house trained, nothing. She had never really been given any mental stimulation and was left alone for long periods, as a high drive working type dog this wasn't great for her and she was very anxious when she came to us. Like Maddie, Tess was also an older dog when we discovered mantrailing and although she's the same breed type as Noddy, they're very very different. Tess isn't massively food or toy motivated and due to her more shy/nervous personality she had absolutely no incentive to approach the 'misper' (missing person). She trailed beautifully from the start but would find her misper and then not go near them. This is another time where the fabulous instructors will step in to make sure the dog's are happy and tailored to. We started with the misper just throwing the food out to Tess (after some trial and error to see what she really loved), it only took a couple of runs for her to 'get the game', gain confidence and approach her missing person for a clearer indication. Scent work in general has boosted Tess' confidence so so much and again, it's so rewarding to see her enjoying herself, loving having a job to do and growing in confidence. All dogs have so much potential, you've just got the help them shine.

Noddy's mantrailing experience, as a high drive, excitable working breed

As Noddy's the first dog we've had as a puppy and being the newest family member, he got in to mantrailing at a much younger age and he also had the foundations of general puppy training, confidence building etc on his side. As with everything, Noddy through himself in to his mantrailing introduction workshop and did absolutely amazing. He was interesting to train with as a working Terrier he worked very much with his eyes and would watch the misper disappear, charge after them and then quickly get lost as he wasn't using his nose, just trying to remember where he saw them go. Because of this, we progressed very quickly to scent article starts where he doesn't see the person leave at all, he has to pick up their scent from a dropped article and then use his nose to follow that scent to the final destination. He very quickly started to use his nose more in all situations, whether we're mantrailing or not he always uses his nose more now  - not always helpful when you're trying to genuinely hide a toy out of reach for example as he'll always know where things are hidden - but overall it's a great skill to have and he really enjoys his scent work. Again, as a working bred dog he loves having a job to do and mantrailing is such a good outlet for his natural drive. Since starting, Noddy has filled his first booklet and is now working through his new progression booklet (this is totally optional). He was booked in to do his Level 1 assessment in November 2020 but this was cancelled due to lockdown, we hope to achieve this at some point this year. He has absolutely blown me away with the progress he's made and the challenging trails he's done. A whole range of scent articles, long distance trails, working in difficult conditions, high finds, walking finds, split trails, decoys to this week trailing in to and through water it's just incredible what dog's are capable of when given the opportunity. 

Want to learn more or find an instructor near you?

Head over to mantrailinguk.com or there is also a facebook and instagram page. From the website though, you can select the 'find an instructor' tab which will show you a map with all qualified instructors plus their contact details. 

If there isn't anyone near you at the moment, don't panic. When we started out we had to drive at least an hour each way to a session, now however we have at least 6 instructors within that travel time, if not more, and even one in our little village. There are new instructors qualifying all the time, the mantrailing obsession is growing rapidly so keep checking the page for people near you. Some instructors will travel further afield if you have a group of people interested in your area so that's another option to look in to and

also, once you've done an introduction workshop, you can trail with ANY instructor so if you can plan some short breaks away, mantrailing holidays are a great option too!

Our DM's are always open if you have any questions or need a hand with anything. I'm more than happy to share honest opinions and experiences and want to help as many people discover this amazing sport as possible because it really has been amazing for our dogs.

No walks this week!?

Enrichment deck by Calm Dog Games

Enrichment toys from Calm Dog Games

That's right, no walkies!

Why? - It's too damn hot.

Wednesday night we did go for a swim at around 9pm but otherwise the dog's haven't been out. Some struggle more than others and although Noddy is a small breed and currently hand stripped/short coated, he really struggles in the heat. I'll share some Summer specific enrichment activities shortly but if I'm honest we've not even done an awful lot of that. The dogs are like restless zombies, not themselves, sleeping lots and don't have the same energy levels as normal. They're more than happy resting and they've chosen to do so even though various toys and other options are available.

A dog's normal body temperature is 38.5 degrees celsius, it only takes a tiny 2 degree increase for heat stroke to kick in. At 43 degrees, a dog's organs can begin to fail, it only takes 15 minutes for a dog to die of heat stroke. They DO NOT die from not being walked. There's also the risk of burnt paws too, if you can't stand bare foot on the ground, don't make your dog do the same. Don't take the risk, it's not worth it.

Serious stuff out of the way, here are some of our favourite enrichment/mental stimulation activities that are great for hot days as they don't take much physical exertion..

1. Treat bobbing

Whether you have a paddling pool, a normal sized water bowl, a bucket or washing up bowl - sprinkle some treats (whatever your dog likes) in to some shallow water and let your dog go treat bobbing. This must always be a supervised activity!

2. Frozen lick mats

Fill a lick mat with your dog's fave snack and pop in the freezer for a cool, lasting treat. If you don't have a licki mat then Kongs, Zogoflex toys etc can also be used and if you have no toys at all you could always fill an ice cube tray or similar. For a fully edible version you can even de-core an apple or carrot and then stuff the inside with something tasty - cool, long lasting, tasty AND healthy!

3. Calm/Settle and boundary games

'Settle' is such an important and handy behaviour to have in the bag, the hot weather is a great time to help your dog's switch off. If your dog isn't yet at the stage of mentally switching off for a period of time, basic boundary games are also great. Pop a treat on your dog's bed, blanket, mat etc every time they interact with it, even if it's just one paw initially. They'll soon learn that it's a place of value and it's good to chill out and stay in place. Noddy will now automatically lie down on his 'boundary' and wait there until released. Not only is it helpful for keeping still and cool, it's great for a whole range of situations such as having guests over, taking your dog to a cafe or training class, not dashing out of the door etc.

4. Snuffle mat/towel/puzzle toy

Scent games are a firm fave in our house, with all the dogs. Snuffle mats are fantastic but if you don't have one you can use a rolled up towel (this can be a damp towel in hot weather) and hide treats inside it so the dog has to snuffle around and unravel the roll. Interactive puzzle toys are also great - Nina Ottoson and Outward Hound are some of our favourites but there are lots out there. Again, if you don't have any of these toys just get creative - you can use old toilet roll tubes, cardboard boxes, empty bottles etc as treat dispensers to provide a fairly low level exercise that your dog will love.

For a great range of puzzles, training games and enrichment ideas we cannot recommend Calm Dog Games enough. This is an amazing small business now based in the Lake District and the card decks are a must-have in my opinion, you'll never be stuck for something to do again and a lot of the games will also aid various aspects of training whether you're wanting to work on calmness, bond, focus, owner value, recall, there is something for everyone. 

You can save some pennies storewide at Calm Dog Games by using code 'NODDY' at checkout, there is a link to their website on our Instagram and Linktree page. https://www.calmdoggames.com

Why a Terrier?

So those who know me (Amy) will know that I love my big dogs. Danes, Bullmastiffs and Bull Terriers are some of my favourites. I love Dobermans, Rottweilers, Staffies too. So you many be thinking, why did you get Noddy who is such a small dog!?

Well...

Our girls all came out of rescue, I absolutely love having a 'project dog' NOT that all rescue dogs need work but I enjoy the ones that do need that extra helping hand, it's so rewarding and I just love that bond which is like no other. For a change though, just once, out of interest from a trainer point of view more than anything, I wanted a blank canvas, a clean slate to start from scratch with. I was looking for something very specific, a dog who would be able to go everywhere with me, a dog with fairly high energy levels who loves being active and likes having a job to do. I also wanted a dog who'd be a great lapdog for those days at home, who was up for anything but also likes a cuddle. I wanted a high drive dog as I knew I wanted to progress in various dog sports, agility especially. I wanted something small and easily portable but hardy and confident. We'd had Terrier family pets my whole life, Jack Russels and JRT mixes and I just love their quirky personality and how feisty they can be despite their small size and cute faces. I say they're like big dogs in little bodies as they're just bursting with character and cheekiness. 

Of all the working Terriers the Patterdale/Lakeland/Fell type just fit the bill perfectly and so the search began. I had in mind a chocolate smooth coat Patterdale but I believe everything happens for a reason and we were meant to have Noddy - a fuzzy ginger. 

I saw the litter advertised by a local breeder, I showed the photo to Andy and asked which pup he'd choose - he picked Noddy (who's litter name was Crag), after enquiring it turned out that he was the only pup left not reserved. We went to see him the next day and fell in love, we met his parents who were both perfect looks and temperament wise and although we spent a lonnnng time talking and thinking it over, being sensible, there was no way we could turn him down. I actually went prepared with the deposit payment in my bag! 🙊

Terriers aren't everyone's cup of tea and I can totally see why. They're not easy, they're not for the faint hearted, they're bred to chase and kill and they need an outlet for that natural drive. BUT in the right hands, given the opportunity to shine they are the best little all rounders. They'll rise to anything, give everything their best effort, they'll make you laugh (and cry, and pull your hair out) but they're SO much fun.