November 2005
Edited by Judy Wright
THE
MONTH OF THE MUD.
I always think of November as the 'muddy month'. It is a bit bleak, a bit wet, a bit cold and often more than a bit muddy!
This calls for action if you want to preserve the best Wilton and the lovely chair covers!
I know some of you worry about bathing the dog too often, particularly if the weather is cold, but there is no need to bath the whole dog as a general rule.
I find 'legs and tums' are the bits that get very messy, so it's relatively easy to deal with these.
If
you have a shower hose, then life is easy, simply swill all the mud off,
apply some shampoo to cleanse the coat, and rinse off well. If you only
have a bath or an old tin tub, then get a jug, partly fill the bath with
warm water and use the jug to swill the dog down, pull out the plug, and
shampoo the dog well; simply rinse off the residue with warm water and
the job is done.
The secret is to then rub the excess water from the coat and dry really thoroughly…if you don't, the dog may well become very chilled. Dog hair isn't like human hair, it feels dry, then a few moments later, it is all very damp again, so really make sure the job is properly done.
I always think of November as the 'muddy month'. It is a bit bleak, a bit wet, a bit cold and often more than a bit muddy!
This calls for action if you want to preserve the best Wilton and the lovely chair covers!
I know some of you worry about bathing the dog too often, particularly if the weather is cold, but there is no need to bath the whole dog as a general rule.
I find 'legs and tums' are the bits that get very messy, so it's relatively easy to deal with these.
If
you have a shower hose, then life is easy, simply swill all the mud off,
apply some shampoo to cleanse the coat, and rinse off well. If you only
have a bath or an old tin tub, then get a jug, partly fill the bath with
warm water and use the jug to swill the dog down, pull out the plug, and
shampoo the dog well; simply rinse off the residue with warm water and
the job is done.The secret is to then rub the excess water from the coat and dry really thoroughly…if you don't, the dog may well become very chilled. Dog hair isn't like human hair, it feels dry, then a few moments later, it is all very damp again, so really make sure the job is properly done.
LEADS V HARNESSES.
I have had several queries about dogs pulling when on the lead; the questions have all asked if a harness is preferable to a collar.
The answer is a big emphatic, "NO"!
Some breeds can wear a harness and it is fine; breeds such as Bulldogs as they have no 'neck' on which to put a collar. But Cavaliers have a neck and this is for a collar.
If a dog pulls on the lead, get to some training classes and learn how to cure the problem, it can be done in every case. If your dog pulls in a harness, he stands a very good chance of ruining his movement as all his weight will be on his shoulders and this is bad.
Training classes are all over the place and can be found by asking at your local veterinary surgery…very often you will find that one of the nurses is a dog trainer and will be able to offer advice. Pet shops and local libraries also have details of classes. Many dog owners will also know of them, so ask around.
Walking your dog should be a pleasure!
I have had several queries about dogs pulling when on the lead; the questions have all asked if a harness is preferable to a collar.
The answer is a big emphatic, "NO"!
Some breeds can wear a harness and it is fine; breeds such as Bulldogs as they have no 'neck' on which to put a collar. But Cavaliers have a neck and this is for a collar.
If a dog pulls on the lead, get to some training classes and learn how to cure the problem, it can be done in every case. If your dog pulls in a harness, he stands a very good chance of ruining his movement as all his weight will be on his shoulders and this is bad.
Training classes are all over the place and can be found by asking at your local veterinary surgery…very often you will find that one of the nurses is a dog trainer and will be able to offer advice. Pet shops and local libraries also have details of classes. Many dog owners will also know of them, so ask around.
Walking your dog should be a pleasure!
DOGS DO THE STRANGEST THINGS!
Anyone who owns a dog is in for all sorts of surprises! Dogs seem to get involved in all sorts of situations, and very often, it's down to the owner to sort them out! These things always seem to happen when you are far away from home and where there is no one to give you a helping hand!
Several of the instances spring to mind, and I'm sure you will all be able to think of things that have 'coloured your day'!
Once, when out walking across the heath land when we lived down in Surrey, I had let the dogs off their leads. They were all yipping about in the heather, playing lovely games. Suddenly there was a piercing scream from 'Sam'. When I got to him, he was sitting with one foot in the air, and his foot was stuck in a tin…the tin still had the lid attached and the lid had trapped his foot. Luckily, for once he sat still whilst I managed to remove the foot without it becoming hooked up on the lid. Panic over for that day.
Another time, 'Fred' jumped over a low strand of barbed wire and tore his tummy open…I had to carry him at some speed back home; he needed stitches, but was fine!
Only this year, my husband had the dogs out for a long walk and they disturbed a wasps' nest in a bank! They were all chased away by the wasps, one of the dogs was stung on the nose and my husband was stung three times on his arm. The wasps gave chase for a considerable distance across the field.
It's always a good idea to have a second lead and collar, or a simple 'slip lead', in your pocket, you never know when the fastenings on your dog's collar might break, they often do and with no prior warning.
Who says that life is ever dull?
Anyone who owns a dog is in for all sorts of surprises! Dogs seem to get involved in all sorts of situations, and very often, it's down to the owner to sort them out! These things always seem to happen when you are far away from home and where there is no one to give you a helping hand!
Several of the instances spring to mind, and I'm sure you will all be able to think of things that have 'coloured your day'!
Once, when out walking across the heath land when we lived down in Surrey, I had let the dogs off their leads. They were all yipping about in the heather, playing lovely games. Suddenly there was a piercing scream from 'Sam'. When I got to him, he was sitting with one foot in the air, and his foot was stuck in a tin…the tin still had the lid attached and the lid had trapped his foot. Luckily, for once he sat still whilst I managed to remove the foot without it becoming hooked up on the lid. Panic over for that day.
Another time, 'Fred' jumped over a low strand of barbed wire and tore his tummy open…I had to carry him at some speed back home; he needed stitches, but was fine!
Only this year, my husband had the dogs out for a long walk and they disturbed a wasps' nest in a bank! They were all chased away by the wasps, one of the dogs was stung on the nose and my husband was stung three times on his arm. The wasps gave chase for a considerable distance across the field.
It's always a good idea to have a second lead and collar, or a simple 'slip lead', in your pocket, you never know when the fastenings on your dog's collar might break, they often do and with no prior warning.
Who says that life is ever dull?
TAILPIECE.
Many people who go to shows with their Cavaliers will be able to identify with this!
Dog shows are held all over the country, almost every day of the year.
The smaller, 'Companion' shows, where you can take your pets and just have a great time are generally at weekends and bank holidays. The same applies to most 'Open' shows; these are for the more ambitious. Then there are the big 'Championship' shows; these are often held over three or four days, and tend to be in the same place every year.
Some shows are held in well-known venues, but others are much more obscure, such as little playing fields or halls, tucked away in the 'middle of nowhere'.
I
wonder how many of us have set off to such a show, armed with the directions
and a map, and come totally unstuck? Finally stopping to ask the way,
and receiving the blank look, and the, "Sorry, I have no idea where it
is", reply! That's when desperate measures are called for! It's then that
you realise you might be late and miss the first class. You see a car
with two people and a Cavalier in a cage in the back…. they must know
where they are going…and you set off behind them to lead you to the show.It is usually some time later that you realise you are going further and further away from the area where the show is, that the people in the car in front are probably going shopping and have nothing to do with a dog show!
I even know of several people who have attended shows for years; the shows are generally on the same weekend each year, but for some reason or another, have to change the day; these unfortunate exhibitors set off to the show on the 'wrong' day!
I know too of one exhibitor who went to the 'old' venue of one of the Cavalier Club shows, knowing full well it had moved to another venue, quite a long way away, and that move had been three years ago and she had been to the three previous shows! Lapse of memory?
If you have any questions about owning a Cavalier
then click on the envelope to email Judy who will only be too pleased
to try and help you.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
This document maintained by the webmaster@thecavalierclub.co.uk.
Material Copyright © 2005 The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club