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!

Tempratures are rising. We know how we feel when we get hot and sticky, we try to make ourselves more comfortable by wearing summer clothes, drinking more fluids, changing our eating habits and hiding in the shade (or is it just me?) but how can we help our dogs in when it gets so hot? Having to go into town just after lunch in this heat I witnessed my pet hate, seeing dogs being walked on hot pavements, panting. Those poor dogs, something you would not see free-ranging dogs do, for they would be resting in the shade, sleeping or watching the world go by. Please rethink when taking them out, can you change your habits of not taking them everywhere with you? Can you make a vet appointment for first thing in the morning? or would they prefer being left at home resting?

Here are a few tips to make our canine friends feel more comfortable.

1. Stop the walk. We have conditioned ourselves that we must walk our dogs twice a day, no one really knows where this evolved from but we can break the cycle especially when it gets too hot. Dogs do not have to be walked all the time, especially in high temperatures that heighten the risk of heat stroke. Rather than walking give them some mental stimulation? (see below) Using their cognitive brain can tire them out as much as a walk. If you do need to take them out consider going early or late evening once the sun has gone down, perhaps there is a cooler place such as woods or a river to paddle in and take a slow short sniffy walk instead of a long hike. Don’t forget how hot surfaces get – we have soles on our shoes, dogs’ paws can get burnt.

Some dogs can suffer more in the heat than others; including puppies who can’t regulate their temperature, older dogs, breeds with thick fur and brachycephalic breeds (dogs that have shortened snouts eg pugs, bulldogs, boxers…)

2. Give your dog some mental enrichment. Using their cognitive brain can be as tiring as going for a walk. Rather than giving kibble in their bowl where it is gone in seconds sniffing out food is rewarding and can be built up in difficulty. Three ways to get you started without paying out for toys or equipment are:

Towel Lay a towel on the floor, place a few pieces of kibble or treats on one corner and cover with the towel for your dog to sniff out. Once they get the idea you can make it harder by laying the pieces on the mat and folding it in a variety of ways or sprinkle the kibble over the towel, with your hand twist the towel up so the kibble is hidden for your dog to hunt out.

Toilet rolls Close one end by overlapping one side over the other, place a few pieces of kibble or a treat in the roll closing the other end. Repeat filling up a small cardboard box for your dog to hunt out the kibble. Supervise your dog if they have a tendency to chew cardboard as this is not the intention of the activity. Try hiding them around the home for your dog to find. You may need to encourage them and build up the difficulty.

Recycling material Before recycling collect clean plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, paper, toilet roll inners, and pieces of material and place them in a large box with kibble sprinkled in (can add kibble to the scrunched up paper bag/roll inners and material) for your dog to snuffle out the food. You may need to start with a couple of items and build it up if your dog is worried about noise or putting their head in a box. You will soon get creative finding items to add. Remember no sharp items that they could hurt themselves on and items like polystyrene.

3. Provide a cool space for them to lie in. Most of us are lucky in our French homes have tiled floors and shutters to shut out the heat. A cooling mat/cooling bandana or vest come in a variety of styles, sizes and prices offering may be appreciated or a cheaper version that can be just as effective as a wet towel for your dog to lie on. Cool mats do need to be removed for a period of time to re-set themselves into the cooling gel form.

Introduce a fan this may be unnerving for some dogs so gradual exposure on a low setting out of direct exposure to start with and ensure they have access to fresh water at all times.

4. Give a cold treat Freeze treats in homemade stock (no salt) for an ice pop treat either in a container, Kong-type food dispenser or licki mat. Frozen treats could include pieces of ham, chicken, wet dog food, yoghurt, cream cheese, dog-friendly peanut butter, banana and vegetables……..

5. Think about whether your dog would be cooler with less fur? This can be controversial there is evidence to say that depending on the dog’s coat they may be better left uncut. Some dogs have two coats, a longer top coat and a short coat, the thinking is they act as cooling (and warming in winter) protection. you can read a comprehensive post (it is a long post).https://theeducatedgroomer.com/shaving-double-coated-breeds/

For many dogs, a short clip is welcomed. However, it may be your dog needs gentle desensitisation to clippers, standing on a table and often being restrained. Many groomers are beginning to understand the negative impact of forcing a dog to comply. Ask your groomer before taking your dog how they work with dogs that may be sensitive to being touched and groomed. Don’t forget regular brushing will help reduce the build-up of hair.

Colleen, with her expressive wording, has written her account of her time spent with Anke, Elsa and me on Thursday morning and on meeting our canine residents. Colleen is also a natural Reiki energy healer. I am going to leave her to explain in a later post what Reiki is and how she can help animals (and humans) restore their physical and emotional well-being. We are excited to hear she has volunteered to help Titi, Pompom, Kim and hopefully Dolly when the time is fitting to settle at Dawn & Dusk.

Please do fill in the volunteers form or contact us if you wish to come and be involved with the meeting and sitting (with a bit of stroking and attention-giving) dog team.

I walked up the slope through the shady woodland, my tummy full of excitement. It’s dog-cuddling day.

All of a sudden I stop, in the field on my left, is a goat staring at me.

“Who are you and what do you want?

“Uhm…” I hesitate, hoping I’m in the right place, “I’m here to cuddle dogs.”

“Oh, okay. Keep walking.”

I know better than to argue with a goat, so I keep walking. I smile as I see there are two others watching me curiously.

“I’m here to cuddle dogs.” I say to them, smiling.

A bit further on, and a group of sheep approach the fence. I try not to think about cuddling sheep as one curiously asks, “Who are you, and what do you want?”

“I’m here to cuddle dogs.” I answer.

“Oh, okay. Keep walking.” Was there a hint of sadness I spotted there? Can one cuddle sheep, I ask myself? Focus Colleen, focus…

I glance up and on my right, I recognise the wooden summer house that I’ve seen on the website that provided shelter for some sweet black pups, and now for a dog called Kim. I AM in the right place, whew!

I see buildings, my excitement grows. Just when I think it can’t get any better, I spot a few donkeys, eight in total I’m later told. My word, how on earth am I going to drag myself away from this animal heaven, there’s cuddling opportunities everywhere (well, in my head anyway…)

“Up here, Colleen!” I hear, as Elsa beckons me up through a barn door and upstairs to the cuddle room. I’m introduced to Titi, a white Jack Russel with typical terrier energy and character; and Pompom, a longer-haired terrier who was subdued today getting over having his, ahem, bits adjusted. Needs must, boy…

I notice the two comfy sofas, the dog beds everywhere, and the gorgeous gentle breeze blowing through. I’m already thinking I could sit here for a day – I wonder if I could hide in one of those dog crates. I spot one in the corner which I might try later…

I meet Anke and Ali and then listen to the three ladies talking about nutrition, dog behaviour, the residents and more. I’m struck by the determination to provide the right individual care for each dog. These canine souls are in good hands, but I think they know that, animals have that ‘sense’, don’t they?

We head outside to meet ‘the pups’, Nel and Timmy. I fall in love with their ears immediately and comment that they look like dingos, hoping it doesn’t offend them. Friendly, playful, and gentle, these dogs seem to draw out affection, and I find myself down on my knees stroking their soft bodies and making cooing noises.

We then head over to the enclosure where Kim is. She’s making excellent progress having given everyone a fright with her deteriorating condition, soon after her arrival. But let me tell you, despite her age and seemingly tough background, there’s a sparkle in those eyes (well, one eye, but age is a thing, right?) and every now and again, she does this puppy-like thing with her legs, like she wants to play. Watching this would surely melt the iciest of hearts. I’m so pleased to ‘meet’ her, even if only from the other side of the fence.

I catch a glimpse of other dogs in another field, Anke’s own dogs apparently. If one thinks that Anke’s heart has a limit, you’d be mistaken. Let’s just say it’s just as well there a lot of land around here.

I spend a few hours, which fly by FAR too quickly, chatting and stroking dogs. My heart is so full, and I continue working on my plan to hide in the dog crate so that I can stay longer, hoping Elsa doesn’t notice.

As I leave, we catch a glimpse of Dolly, the only dog to be kept apart from the others due to her current insecurities. I say hello, because that’s only polite, right?

I want so badly to stay. I want to curl up near the fence and read a book to Kim, I want to run around and play with the pups, I want to tell Pompom that size isn’t everything and cuddle him until he knows that we all love him no matter what; I want to love Titi and tell her that she’s got nothing to prove here, everyone is loved equally.

And I want so desperately to convince Dolly that she’s safe.

But today was my first day, and all this will happen in its own time with incredible, experienced people working their magic. Today was just a ‘allow yourself to be sniffed’ day because that’s important to dogs, and it was important to me.

See you all very soon,

Colleen

Colleen