K999, for last chance dogs!

Our new NCAR adopted dog Coco gets a welcome to the family by our other NCAR adopted dog Mizzie. Coco hasn't seen much of life and was very unhealthy when we brought her home. Mizzie recognised Coco needed help and set about trying to get Coco to play and start to enjoy being a dog! Her efforts are a testament to the breed!

The walk is a very important part of your relationship with your dog. A nice relaxed walk with loose lead is the best way to create a strong bond and trust between you both. Here is how I like a walk to start, no excitement, no fear, no noise, just a calm relaxed dog waiting with manners for it's walk. It's much easier to keep a calm dog relaxed, than trying to calm an excited/panicky dog down whilst out in the big, bad and exciting, outside world. So a nice calm start to the walk is the best way to ensure the walk remains relaxed and enjoyable for both owner and pooch!

I took my pawtrekker dog scooter up to North Clwyd Animal Rescue to give some of the more stressed dog a good run out. Most of them took to it really well and loved the chance to run through the lanes and tracks around the nearby country side. Hopefully I'll be able to build up to 2 or 3 dogs running together. www.NCAR.org.uk

As requested (by many), here is a slowed down version of my body language video. Now the gestures can be seen as they are explained. But also, now the clip has been slowed other gestures not highlighted can also be seen!

A little video I use to explain the body language dogs use to communicate. Here, during play, many signals and gestures are given in rapid succession to communicate, "lets play", "I'm no threat", "I trust you", "you can trust me", "lets keep this fun" etc etc. The signals I highlighted are just the main ones, there is literally no time when some body language isn't being offered! Both these dogs, a Staffie and a Staffie cross were from North Clwyd Animal Rescue Centre.

What breeders have 'achieved' with the English Bull terriers head within 100 years.

Selective breeding taking evolution way beyond the necessary, to the point of natural extinction.

More socialising the Staffies up at the rescue centre.

socialising some of the rescue's Staffordshire Bull Terriers offlead in the paddock.

Alphie and Mizzie play fighting. Play fighting looks and sounds very much like the real thing, there are subtle differences though. These play fight pauses demonstrated by Alphie and Mizzie keep the intensity of the play down to a level both dogs are comfortable with.