Last October, we held a ‘How dogs work’ workshop, during which I recommended a great book by Kim Brophey. With her LEGS system, she has revolutionized dog training and behaviour.
Both team member Sarah Shephard and I have completed her course to become a family dog mediator. Thank you to Sarah, who reviewed Kim’s book for us.
click on the links to find out more about Kim https://www.dogdoorcanineservices.com/
her book is https://www.amazon.fr/Meet-Your-Dog-Game-Changing-Understanding/dp/1452148996

If you have had dogs all your life, if you are preparing for the arrival of your very first dog or if you are chewing the cud about inviting a dog into your family, Kim Brophey’s Meet Your Dog is for you. It’s a revelation, an inspiration and essential reading for anyone who is committed to making their world a better place for dogs.

The author, who is an Applied Ethologist and a practising dog behaviour consultant in the US, explains L.E.G.S – a new, scientifically underpinned system she has masterminded, to help us understand what motivates and affects dogs to behave as they do.

The acronym L.E.G.S stands for Learning, Environment, Genetics and Self. Kim describes it as a ‘simple framework for understanding the great range of factors that affect our dogs’ behavior’.

In Meet Your Dog each one of the L.E.G.S pillars is covered in a separate chapter. It brings the reader the latest relevant science in a fun, relatable and easy-to-digest format.

LEARNING covers your dog’s experiences and education.

ENVIRONMENT explores your dog’s external world.

GENETICS unravels the role of DNA in giving your dog its specific characteristics.

SELF looks at how individual factors such as health status, age and sex play a role in behaviour.

The section on genetics is especially brilliant as it clarifies what your dog was originally bred to do. Kim explains the ten primary genetic breed groups and the reader can then identify which group their dog belongs to and gain a real insight into why their four-legged family member likes to do what he or she does! At the beginning and end of each chapter Kim highlights why you may fall in love with each breed group and what you may find hard to live with. She provides home life, public life, and personal life scores as well as a relationship survival key and practical tips.

Whether you have or are thinking of taking on a guardian breed, a terrier, a toy dog, a herding dog or any one of the other breeds that humankind has ‘designed’ this book will help you to understand each dog’s behaviour much more clearly, enabling you and your family to build a positive and harmonious human-canine relationship.

I can’t recommend this book enough: It’s fun, educational and oh so informative. When you finish it, you simply want to turn back to the first page and devour every word again. I read it from cover to cover twice and became so hooked on Kim’s substantial knowledge, expertise, philosophy, and capacity to explain how to navigate common sense, that I went on to take the superb L.E.G.S Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course.

In fact, this is why I have lapsed with my book reviews – I have been so distracted with my online learning!

Hello, my name is Belle.

I’m not a Dawn and Dusk dog but I’m living with one of the team, as a lifetime foster. I’m a 13 year-old puppy who likes to play with a ball and sleep a lot. I’m not really sure what my mum does for the dogs, but it seems to involve making a lot of cakes. Usually I’m not allowed to go to Dawn and Dusk because the dogs all say hello very loudly, and it gets very noisy. But recently I was allowed to go too. I thought I was going to meet Pompom and the others, but they weren’t there because we went to the new place.

I liked it a lot. There are lots of big fields for the dogs to explore, grass to roll on and lots of good sniffs, and big barns for them to live in. There’s lots of work to do; the barns have got to be made comfortable, with a clean floor and tiled walls, electric thingies for heating and lighting, and fences so nobody gets lost…we all know what Colin the Collie is like. Work has started which is just as well because the gang are moving at the end of March. Yesterday there was a man putting in fence posts which are very expensive or so I overheard. I listened to the ladies working out who will sleep where and which fields they will have.

They are thinking about how to raise extra money, and find people who might help, so expect to hear about some extra events and competitions, and even the opportunity to sponsor a length of fencing. When things are a bit more organised, there’s going to be a party so everyone can see where the dogs will be living, so make sure you come and see for yourself. I expect there will be cake.

Love from Belle.

(Thanks to Belle’s translator Caroline Mills)

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

Yippee Yayy!! It’s cold and frosty and dry outside!! It makes me want to run around and bounce up and down!! And bark at all the other dogs!!

I don’t like rain and mud, but this is so cool!! The lady who brought me here once, a long time ago, visited me and she was surprised to see me running around like that, at my age,.?! What age, what does she mean? I am a big strong dog, of course I can run around barking! It was nice having a cuddle with her though.

There was another lady too, Chief said she was there to take pictures of us*, to make us famous! I’m already famous, though, aren’t I? Many people know about me, Chief says! I’m really glad some people come to see me and walk me and cuddle me; they’re my favourite people really. But it’s nice that others know me too, I guess that’s why I tell you about my life, so you know I exist!

Meanwhile, all the others here are enjoying the cold weather too. We all get lots of extra food that smells fishy** and we’re nice and chubby, so we’re not cold! We all have our dens and our warm red lights and some of us get an extra coat. Not me, I don’t need one; I have my own lovely scruffy coat! Though not too long ago, I saw Chief looking at me with that look in her eyes, that look that says “Hmmm, you could do with a brush,..” I might just let her this time, I don’t mind so much anymore, as long as there’s someone that holds me. The attention is actually kind of nice. Don’t tell anybody I said that though; they might think they can all touch me with that horrible thing. Chief may do it, not because she’s the boss ( I am my own boss!!) but because I’m used to it now and I know it won’t hurt.

You might wonder why I call her Chief then, if she’s not the boss? Don’t know really, it seems right, as she brings me my food twice a day, she’s always around and keeps us all safe. She never tells us what to do, just looks after us, and that makes me want to call her that. 

* Pom means Lynn Emery, a brilliant photographer who was kind enough to take pictures of all the D&D dogs! Soon, we will have a calendar available with all these amazing photos!! 

** What Pom is smelling is the salmon oil we add to the dogs’ food for extra fat and taste

Our first online dog photo competition was a big success with 117 entries in 8 classes it raised 527€ for our oldies.

Judging was between our vet Oona Van De Gucht (Mas de Cazes, Parisot), Award-winning local photographer Lynn Emery and our web designer/ illustrator Freya Stickler. And boy, did we get some great photos, making judging hard.

First prize was donated by Dutch artist Suzan Visser, an illustration of the winners dog and her book filled with her artwork. Mutley, dog in motion won, his guardian kindly donated his prize to be auctioned raising another 175€ the highest bidder. Second prize was donated by photographer Lynn Emery a photo shoot of the winners dog or if not local a basket of dog goodies. It just so happened we had joint seconds so Susan Bedford won the photo shoot of Toby the goofball while Senior winner Buddy’s guardian, Rachael Finch kindly donated his prize to our oldies. Third prize went to scruffiest dog James, who hopefully is sharing his box of natural dried animal parts with his two housemates. (if guardian Tanya Cullinane can face opening the box).

Congratulations to everyone who entered here are the great photos of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places. If you did not enter this year why not start flicking through your phone and save those best shots ready for next year.

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

And he has some exciting news!

Ohhh, really?? Can I tell, can I tell??

“Yes, Pom, you can tell the whole world now, buddy! You are our first D&D dog, you should be the one to do it!”

Ok, no idea what the world is, but I don’t care, I will just say it,..

We are moving to a new place!!

Actually, I have no idea what that means either, but you seem very excited about it, Chief?!

“I’m over the moon, Pommie, as it means we will be able to give you all an even better life!”

Better than this? How is that possible? We have all we need; walks, warm beds, company, good food, chews, cuddles,.

“Yes, dear Pom, my little friend, you and Titi have a whole barn to live in, but since the two of you are not exactly the ‘sharing type’, the big dogs live on the other side and have a lot less indoor space! I think they would also like to have their own big space and an even bigger field to play in!”

Hmm, not sure why that is important Chief, but if you say so,..

Will I still be the most important dog and get more cuddles than everybody else?

“Of course!!! We will create a special place for you and Titi, so you will be close to me and all your cuddlers and you will have lots of fun in all the new fields to explore!”

Ok, that sounds nice,.

I guess as long as everybody comes with us, and I have Tiny and my own bed, it could be a really nice adventure!

Speaking of beds, I’ll think I’ll go and have a nap now. All this excitement is a bit tiring at my age.

“That’s ok Pom, and don’t worry, we’ll take our time and make sure you all get used to your new home gradually!”

Love you, Chief!

“Love you too little buddy, glad you’re here with us!!”

More details on our impending move will be posted in our facebook group in a few days time!

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

The indignity…how dare they!!

It’s bad enough when the Chief puts me on a table and comes at me with the horror thing, that brush,.and whatever else she does to take away my scruffy-ness, but to let a total stranger touch me, look in my ears and stick me with a needle, honestly,.. I have no words for it,.

But, I endured this treatment like the big strong man I am and didn’t even flinch! I just pretended I didn’t care and ignored it all. How cool am I?!

I did get loads of treats and cuddles afterwards, so I guess it wasn’t that bad after all.

I saw them do the same thing to Tiny and the boys from the other side; that was actually kinda fun to watch!

Oh, and we have a new family member!! So exciting!! It’s a girl, or at least I think it is,. She big and bossy and so tough!!!

She’s living on the other side, but I wish she lived with me, I would make her fall in looooove with me,.. What do those boys on the other side know about girls, not nearly as much as me. I could teach them a thing or two about charming girls.

On the other hand, it would be a bit tiring too; might not have time for my naps if I had to impress a girl. Oh well, I get to sniff her across the fence, that’s nice too.

The wobbly babies are still here too, I can see them run and play in White Fluffy’s garden. Getting a bit full here! But I guess as long I have the whole barn to myself, with Tiny Babe, of course, I don’t mind.

There’s still the Big Change coming, but Chief says I can’t tell yet. Maybe next time?

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

Noooo, the heat is back!! When will it end? It was so nice when it was a bit cooler,.

Chief says it will change soon, but what is soon? What does that mean? I only know now, and it’s too hot for me now!

Oh well.

Fortunately, there is some distraction. I have seen two very strange newbies in the big field. I think they’re babies, though not tiny ones. But they move funny! What’s that about?? Isn’t anybody normal here? 

I swear, this place is becoming a nut-house! There’s the scaredy cat with his green eye, the food obsessed black barky one, the silly collie that tries to herd puppies, the bitchy one with her weirdo kids that turn in circles and now this! Good thing I’m completely normal and sane,..and Tiny is ok too, though she’s feisty.

Chief says we shouldn’t mind; everybody is welcome here, and the humans love us all!

That’s good to know.

There’s also talk about a Big Change coming.

Hmmm, wonder what that is? I don’t care for change; I like things the way they are.

I guess it will be ok, whatever it is, as long as the cuddlers and the Chief are there and we all stay together.

I’ll keep you posted and let you know more about it as soon as I find out!

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

Yayyyyy!! It’s nice and chilly and wet outside!! 

We can go outside and have a stroll and sniff and it won’t be hot and horrible! 

For weeks, we have been hanging out in our barn, Tiny and me, with the big blowy thing to keep us cool. We’ve even had to wear those wet and cold things that are not very nice to put on, but wonderfully cool once you get used to it..

Still, we had lots of cuddlers around and we did go on short walks in the morning.  The rest of the day we spent napping or chewing or looking for treats in bags filled with all kinds of stuff. The heat made us tired, we’re no spring chickens after all.

But today is a great day! I don’t mind the rain, I’m just glad to be outside again!

This is me with one of my best friends, who comes often to walk us and she also does lots of other things for us; like making us beds to sleep on.

Chief says she also makes sure we always have plenty of really yummie food, by getting people together to do fun things? Not sure how that works, but I think it was like when Chief and I went to the place with all the people.*  How that gets me chews and bones and food, I have no idea, isn’t it always just there? In the large bin on the table, I think. Hmmm, don’t really get it.

Anyway, all good here, everybody survived the heat and we’re all very happy with the nice cool weather!

* Pom means our Quiz night, one of the amazing events that Gillian and the rest of our team organise as fundraisers.

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

Hello my friends and cuddlers!

Not sure how many of you there are, actually. I know there are several cuddlers and walkers; I go for a walk nearly every day! All the others too, I can see them pass through my field, but they put me behind a gate when that happens,.. such a shame, I would looooove to show those big boys from the other side how I feel about them being in my territory! Maybe someday I’ll get the chance, maybe someone will forget to close the gate?

Our outside has changed a lot by the way,. it was a bit of a jungle, which was nice because there was a lot of shade and fun paths to follow, and many different smells. But now it’s all open and there’s so much space again! Bit warmer, but we’re so lucky, it hasn’t been super-hot! We can have a stroll outside, Tiny and me, sniff everywhere, go to the outside doghouse or walk in the shade of the trees. Treats always seem to pop up in new spots, so worth doing some exploring.

Apart from that, life has been pretty quiet. Our barn is very comfy, not too warm and not too cold. I spend most of the time on my own sofa, snoozing.

Maybe I’ll have more to tell next time, though I’m happy life is simple, and good,…

Translated for Pom by Anke Terbruggen

I’ve been told off,.. it’s been months they say, months, since I last let you all know how I’m doing!

Months. What does that mean? We don’t really understand time, us dogs,. but it must be long if people started worrying about me (sorry about that!)

I guess I’ve been a bit lazy, hanging out on the terrace and enjoying the coolness of our barn.

Let’s see, what’s new,..

Oh yes! I almost forgot, because it was ages ago; I went on a huge adventure,.

Chief took me with her in the car and we went to a place, so big, never seen anything so big! And people, people everywhere! Didn’t know so many people exist,.

It was a bit overwhelming, but then I recognised some of them, they were my cuddlers! That made me feel lots better, because cuddlers mean good things. 

Chief was there all the time too, so I decided to just chill and trust that all was well. 

Secretly, I was glad when we went back home though; I like to be in a familiar place, where I know all the smells and sounds and where my bed is and when the food comes and all of that. I was tired for about two days after that trip. 

Back home, everything is the way it should be, nice and comfortable and safe. I get my food on time (when I’m hungry), I get walked and cuddled and have lots of nice places to have a nap. Oh, and the chews and bones, I love those! And all the games, looking for treats in bags and in the basket full of balls, after every meal! I eat in my crate and then when I’m let out, I run to the basket, find the treats, then move on to the others; in the corners of the sofa and on all the beds! So much fun! And always the same, so I know what’s coming,. When I was younger, it was ok if things changed a bit every now and then, but I don’t like that anymore now.

All the others seem to be well also; the boys next door are chilled, the bitchy one I can’t see, with the mongrels, she sounds ok. Big white Fluffy seems to have a new member in his pack. She was a bit noisy at first, but getting better.

My cuddlers have been great, coming almost every day and taking me for walks. We don’t walk far, but I get to sniff everywhere and decide where I want to go.

Oh, and Chief did it again,. with her noisy machine and scissors and nail clippers. I can’t even be bothered to protest anymore. Might as well let her, no use fighting. I do seem to feel a bit lighter afterwards, and I can see a bit better without the hair in front of my eyes.

All in all, can’t complain, things are good! I’ll try to be better, let you know how I am, but can’t make any promises, as it’s getting hotter again,.