Entries by Bronwyn Hayes

Redirected Aggression

March 17, 2025 in , , , , , , /by

Redirected Aggression Aggression, no matter what type, should always involve the owner calling in the services of a canine behaiourist. Please ensure that the behaviourist is fully qualified and has had extensive experience – ask to see their qualificiations and ask what methods they use to change behaviour. The reply to this should be Positive Reinforcement – if they mention anything along the lines of prong or shock collars, stopping the dominance, or alpha rolling or jabbing your dog – run a mile – unfortunately there are still people using methods such as this, and these should not be contemplated.  […]

Beware, Corporate Body Bullies!

March 16, 2025 in , , , , , , , , , , /by

Beware, Corporate Body Bullies! In recent times, there has been a development in policies of residential complexes and retirement homes that has had a significant effect on many people’s relationships with their companion animals. In many cases the tactics employed by Corporate Body Bullies are underhanded, illogical and prejudicial. This document will give people a cleat understanding of the variables involved and some strategies for dealing with these dubious tactics. The Law. Firstly one needs to establish whether the scheme within which one resides is a sectional title scheme, a homeowners association or possibly even, the now outdated, shareblock scheme, as […]

Paw Licking – May be more than just grooming!

March 15, 2025 in , , , , , , , , , /by

Paw Licking – May be more than just grooming! As with other dog behaviors, there can be several reasons that lead dogs to lick or chew their paws. These include injuries; skin problems; environmental, parasite, or food allergies; and boredom or anxiety. Occasional paw licking is normal for dogs as a part of their self-grooming process, especially when they come inside after walking on dirty or sandy ground. But if your dog frequently and intensely licks his paws, you can assume that something is wrong. Injuries The first step to take, especially if the licking begins very suddenly and is […]

A Good Winter’s Rest: Hibernation of Brown Bears as a Sign of Their Well-Being

March 14, 2025 in , , , /by

A Good Winter’s Rest: Hibernation of Brown Bears as a Sign of Their Well-Being How former dancing bear Dana and other bears prepared for the cold winter months at the FOUR PAWS sanctuaries Unbothered by the cold temperatures, former dancing bear Dana and other brown bears at the sanctuaries and cooperation projects of global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, are still enjoying a good winter’s rest. After being busy preparing their winter dens and building up a thick layer of fat at the end of last year, many bears have been hibernating since and only occasionally wake up to enjoy […]

Laying Hens

March 13, 2025 in , , , , , , , /by

Laying Hens With over 300 eggs per year: the high-performance chickens in the egg industry Female chickens with a particularly high laying performance are called laying hens and are used in the egg industry. The laying performance of these animals has increased over the years through intensive breeding and highly concentrated feed. With around 300 eggs per year, a hen lays about 120 eggs more than than it would have 50 years ago. Unwanted side effects in overbred laying hens are the tendency for feather pecking and cannibalism, reinforced by the extreme tightness of cages, that they’re forced to live […]

Many owners underestimate their dogs fearfulness to noise

March 12, 2025 in , , , , , , /by

Many owners underestimate their dogs fearfulness to noise Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found that people may not recognize that their dog is stressed when exposed to common household noises. While it’s well established that sudden loud noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, commonly trigger a dog’s anxiety, a new study finds even common noises, such as a vacuum or microwave, can be a trigger. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The research found that high-frequency, intermittent noises such as the battery warning of a smoke detector are more likely to cause a dog anxiety, rather […]

Tips for Giving Your Cat Pills & Medications

March 11, 2025 in , , , , , , /by

Tips for Giving Your Cat Pills & Medications Being sick is no fun, especially when you have to take medicine in order to feel better. It’s no different for your furry friends. Whether for an illness or allergies, medicine for cats is sometimes required to improve their health. Use these helpful tips on how to give your cat a pill to make the process less stressful for both of you, and help get her on her way back to feeling better. Holding Your Cat For some cats, simply being held can create stress. Approach your cat carefully, speaking to her […]

Hot Spots – How to Care for Your Dog’s Painful Inflamed Skin Sores…

March 10, 2025 in , , , , , , /by

Hot Spots – How to Care for Your Dog’s Painful Inflamed Skin Sores… What are Hot Spots? Canine acute moist dermatitis is a form of canine pyoderma also known as “hot spots.” Hot spots are red, moist, irritated patches of skin often caused by an initial irritation and then exacerbated by bacterial infection. The irritated patch can double in size within hours and can become very painful. Common sites of lesions are the head, neck, hips and limbs. Matting of fur, hair loss, scabbing and oozing are often seen. Hot spots seem to be common in long-haired dog breeds and […]

Want to Foster Cats? Here’s What You Should Know

March 9, 2025 in , , , , , /by

Want to Foster Cats? Here’s What You Should Know Interested in learning how to foster cats or kittens in your home? Fiona Branton, a longtime foster “parent” to cats, says go for it. Her first volunteer placement was for a pregnant cat she fostered in 2006. When the kittens were born, she was hooked. “They had six kittens and were all just adorable,” she says. “It was so much fun.” Read on to learn if volunteering to foster kittens or cats would be right for you. Why Do Shelters Foster Cats? In the years since her first mama kitty, Branton […]

Blind Dogs

March 8, 2025 in , , , , , /by

Blind Dogs Try not to move furniture around or leave obstacles on the floor Remember we take things so much harder than they do and they also pick up on our emotions. So try to express “happy” emotions around your blind baby Emphasize the senses they still have: A blind dog/pup-their sense of smell, hearing, taste and touch A blind/deaf dog-their sense of smell, taste and touch (they can feel  vibrations-especially when you walk).  Ask people to let your dog “smell” their hand before touching them. Most blind dogs personalities don’t change. Some dogs however can easily become “startled” and […]