Latest news with #Labradoodle
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Woman didn't walk her dog for 9 months - but an expert says it was the best decision
Woman didn't walk her dog for 9 months - but an expert says it was the best decision Gabby Lawrence, from Bedfordshire, kept her dog indoors for nearly a year after experiencing several difficult incidents Gaby first rehomed Rogue (left) so that her Labradoodle, Jasper (right), could have a friend (Image: Gabby Lawrence ) Many dog owners walk their dogs every day, often without thinking twice. Whether they go to the local park or just walk around the block, it's generally understood that regular exercise is important for a dog's health. However, Gabby Lawrence from Bedfordshire shared her unusual experience of keeping her five-year-old Labrador-Border Collie cross indoors for nine months. This happened after a series of misfortunes beginning in 2020, when she adopted the rescue dog to keep her Labradoodle, Jasper, company. Talking to the Mirror last year, she said: "When lockdown happened, we decided we wanted to try and get another dog for Jasper to play with. We wanted to make sure that he maybe had another dog around because we noticed how much he was enjoying playing with dogs. But puppies became so expensive. "I happened to see a picture of Rogue pop up on the website [of a Romanian dog charity] and she was beautiful - beyond beautiful. I said to my husband, 'I think this is the one we're going to get'. She popped up and everything was absolutely lovely and amazing and she settled in really well. But then we had the second lockdown in December, which dragged on to be like six months." Gabby brought Rogue home when she was under a year old. Initially, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but during the Covid-19 restrictions, Rogue went through her first heat cycle and a second fear stage. Gabby Lawrence kept her four-year-old Labrador Border Collie cross, Rogue inside for nine months (Image: Gabby Lawrence ) Article continues below A heat cycle indicates when a dog can become pregnant and may lead to increased anxiety and irritability. Conversely, fear stages are caused by major cognitive changes in a dog's brain, making them more sensitive to their surroundings. Gabby went on: "The dog that had been slightly barky but coping with the outside world came out of lockdown in June 2021 unable to cope with the changes. When people were out, dogs were out, cars were around, we could very quickly see that she just couldn't handle the changes. "She developed a deep-seated fear of anything that moved. And on one day in 2022, we were walking in a really quiet area that people rarely went to and I was with my mum... and I said, 'Mum I can hear a dog, let's just keep the dogs really close to us,' they were both on leads. "And at that point, a dog flew around the corner off-lead, took one look at Rogue and launched itself at her. All I could think was, 'I've got to protect my dog'. I did manage to get this dog physically off my dog, and then I was basically holding two 30kg dogs at arms' length apart, screaming, 'Someone help me please!'" Gabby initially thought Rogue escaped uninjured, but her husband later noticed a puncture wound on the dog's rib, which became infected in the following days. The vet treated Rogue and advised keeping her indoors to recover, yet another incident still occurred. "We took her out for a quick toilet trip because she struggles to go at home and another off-lead dog ran up to her the next day," she said. "I was with my husband that day and he screamed, 'Get your dog away'. The dog owner was going like, 'She's fine, she's just friendly', but we said, 'Our dog got attacked yesterday by one that looks like yours - you need to rein your dog back.'" Gabby Lawrence kept her four-year-old Labrador Border Collie cross, Rogue (pictured), inside for nine months (Image: Gabby Lawrence ) After this, Gabby chose to stop taking walks entirely. She continued: "We had them running round doing bits and pieces in the garden, I did an awful lot of 'puppy aerobics', playing games to keep their minds active. They had snuffle mats, lick mats, I'd hide bits of food, teach them tricks." Gabby also mentioned that she often rented sports fields privately for Rogue and Jasper to enjoy some freedom. But, essentially, they took a 'complete nine-month break from the outside world.' Summer 2023 saw Jasper and Rogue return to walking after Gabby noticed them eagerly waiting by the front door, eager to explore again. While Rogue is now calmer, barking and lunging less, she still isn't taken for walks every day. Gabby said: "I was really scared to be completely honest, but they were ready to go out and I needed to make sure it was as calm as possible. And it's been fine. "When we had just Jasper, we went out for a walk every single day without fail - no matter what - that's what you do. I think because I saw how much Rogue was struggling, I was working on the grounds that I'd try anything to see if I could help her. "The way I look at it is, if you went out personally for a walk for a mile on the same route every single day, you'd get pretty bored with it, you wouldn't stick with it and actually it wouldn't have many benefits to you... Whereas, if you did pilates one day, swam one day, went for a run one day, lifted some weights, it has more benefits physically and mentally. "Whilst I recognise a lot of people may be sceptical, I genuinely think it's because you don't experience the stress and the worries that we did... It's really important to listen to what your dog needs, there's no 'one size fits all' and there's no suggesting that walking your dog is terrible... it's down to their individual needs." Although it might appear unconventional, this approach is supported by Niki French, a dog trainer and owner of PupTalk, who assisted Gabby and has authored a book on the topic. She told the Mirror: "A walk is a human invention. The typical walk might be around the block or on the school run, being rushed along without time for sniffing and exploring. "Dogs off lead - or in the wild - don't walk in straight lines, at the same pace. They mooch, trot, walk, run, stop abruptly and circle back to sniff something amazing. I often hear that what some people describe as 'difficult dogs' - these are not my words - just need more exercise, that they need tiring out. Mostly the opposite is true." Niki stressed that if you stop regular walks, it's important to meet a dog's needs in other ways. This could involve consulting a professional behaviourist or taking them to a friend's garden for activities like stimulating 'scent work' to keep them engaged. She added: "Some dogs just don't have the skills to enjoy going for relaxing walks. And constantly exposing them to whatever it is that they struggle with, normally doesn't get them used to it. It just reinforces their reactions as they form habits of reacting. Article continues below "I've worked with working lines of Labradors and Collies, as well as overseas rescue dogs, who stopped walks altogether for several months. With the right help, they can really grow in confidence, as well as being able to relax more easily at home."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I avoided walking my dog for 9 months - and it changed my life'
Pet owner Gabby Lawrence kept her dog inside for almost a year following several unfortunate events Many dog owners walk their dogs daily, often without much thought. Whether heading to the local park or strolling around the neighbourhood, it's widely accepted that regular walks are essential for helping dogs burn off excess energy. Yet, Gabby Lawrence, from Bedfordshire, has shared her unusual story of confining her five-year-old Labrador Border Collie cross to the house for nine months, amidst several unfortunate events. This saga first started in 2020 when Gabby adopted the rescue dog to provide companionship for her Labradoodle, Jasper. Speaking to the Mirror last year, she explained: "When lockdown happened, we decided we wanted to try and get another dog for Jasper to play with. We wanted to make sure that he maybe had another dog around because we noticed how much he was enjoying playing with dogs. But puppies became so expensive. "I happened to see a picture of Rogue pop up on the website [of a Romanian dog charity] and she was beautiful - beyond beautiful. I said to my husband, 'I think this is the one we're going to get'. She popped up and everything was absolutely lovely and amazing and she settled in really well. But then we had the second lockdown in December, which dragged on to be like six months." When Gabby brought Rogue home, she was less than a year old. Although nothing seemed unusual at first, Rogue experienced her first heat cycle and her second fear stage during the Covid-19 restrictions. A heat cycle describes the point at which a dog can become pregnant and is more prone to anxiety and grumpiness. Fear stages, on the other hand, are triggered by significant cognitive changes in a dog's brain, causing them to become hypersensitive to their environment. Gabby continued: "The dog that had been slightly barky but coping with the outside world came out of lockdown in June 2021, unable to cope with the changes. When people were out, dogs were out, cars were around, we could very quickly see that she just couldn't handle the changes. "She developed a deep-seated fear of anything that moved. And on one day in 2022, we were walking in a really quiet area that people rarely went to and I was with my mum... and I said, 'Mum I can hear a dog, let's just keep the dogs really close to us,' they were both on leads. "And at that point, a dog flew around the corner off-lead, took one look at Rogue and launched itself at her. All I could think was, 'I've got to protect my dog'. I did manage to get this dog physically off my dog, and then I was basically holding two 30kg dogs at arms' length apart, screaming, 'Someone help me please!'" Gabby initially believed Rogue had escaped a scrape without injury, but her husband later spotted a puncture wound on the dog's rib, which became infected over the following days. A vet treated Rogue and recommended she stay indoors to heal for a while, but this didn't stop another incident from taking place. READ MORE: 'I visited the Maldives on a budget - I spent under £50 on my first day' "We took her out for a quick toilet trip because she struggles to go at home and another off-lead dog ran up to her the next day," she said. "I was with my husband that day and he screamed, 'Get your dog away'. The dog owner was going like, 'She's fine, she's just friendly', but we said, 'Our dog got attacked yesterday by one that looks like yours - you need to rein your dog back.'" Following this, Gabby decided to stop taking walks entirely. She continued: "We had them running round doing bits and pieces in the garden, I did an awful lot of 'puppy aerobics', playing games to keep their minds active. They had snuffle mats, lick mats, I'd hide bits of food, teach them tricks." Gabby also mentioned that she would often rent sports fields privately for Rogue and Jasper to have some freedom, but essentially, they took a 'complete nine-month break from the outside world'. Summer 2023 marked the return of Jasper and Rogue to walking after Gabby noticed them eagerly waiting by the front door, keen to explore once more. Even though Rogue is much calmer now, barking and lunging less, she still isn't walked every day. Gabby said: "I was really scared to be completely honest, but they were ready to go out and I needed to make sure it was as calm as possible. And it's been fine. "When we had just Jasper, we went out for a walk every single day without fail - no matter what - that's what you do. I think because I saw how much Rogue was struggling, I was working on the grounds that I'd try anything to see if I could help her. "The way I look at it is, if you went out personally for a walk for a mile on the same route every single day, you'd get pretty bored with it, you wouldn't stick with it and actually it wouldn't have many benefits to you... Whereas, if you did pilates one day, swam one day, went for a run one day, lifted some weights, it has more benefits physically and mentally. "Whilst I recognise a lot of people may be sceptical, I genuinely think it's because you don't experience the stress and the worries that we did... It's really important to listen to what your dog needs, there's no 'one size fits all' and there's no suggesting that walking your dog is terrible... it's down to their individual needs." Albeit unconventional, this ethos is also backed by Niki French, dog trainer and owner of PupTalk, who helped Gabby on her journey and has even written a book on the topic. She previously told the Mirror: "A walk is a human invention. The typical walk might be around the block or on the school run, being rushed along without time for sniffing and exploring. "Dogs off lead - or in the wild - don't walk in straight lines, at the same pace. They mooch, trot, walk, run, stop abruptly and circle back to sniff something amazing. I often hear that what some people describe as 'difficult dogs' - these are not my words - just need more exercise, that they need tiring out. Mostly the opposite is true." Niki emphasised the importance of catering to a dog's needs through other means if you stop regular walks. This might mean consulting a professional behaviourist or taking them to a pal's garden for stimulating 'scent work'. She added: "Some dogs just don't have the skills to enjoy going for relaxing walks. And constantly exposing them to whatever it is that they struggle with, normally doesn't get them used to it. It just reinforces their reactions as they form habits of reacting. "I've worked with working lines of Labradors and Collies, as well as overseas rescue dogs, who stopped walks altogether for several months. With the right help, they can really grow in confidence, as well as being able to relax more easily at home."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Feisty Labradoodle Chases Off Massive Black Bear Like the Most Fearless Little Protector
Feisty Labradoodle Chases Off Massive Black Bear Like the Most Fearless Little Protector originally appeared on PetHelpful. For better and for worse, our canine companions can be absolutely fearless. Perhaps that, combined with the seemingly unwavering loyalty, is why we have given them the nickname man's best friend. But sometimes our beloved fur babies are just as capable of the same follies as we humans. Sometimes, they can get a little too caught up in the moment and exhibit serious overconfidence. Take the very feisty Labradoodle, Zelda, in this video, for instance. When a massive black bear came into her yard, she had absolutely no qualms about barking her little head off like a maniac and charging right at this mighty apex predator to give them a piece of her mind. That was pretty intense, to say the least! Zelda's human mama can be heard saying, 'Oh my gosh, she's going to die!' towards the climax of this wild encounter. Thankfully, both Zelda and this massive black bear were able to walk away from this skirmish unscathed. Although truth be told, we don't know that there was ever any real danger of Zelda hurting this black bear. And apparently, that was not a memo that Zelda received. She was only concerned about being a good little guard dog, no matter the intruder. And she really did help that black bear off, chasing them all the way out into the middle of the street until the hulking creature was fully in retreat. Thankfully, this black bear never really put up a soon as Zelda was running around and frantically barking at them, they began to walk away, regarding her with disinterest. Of course, Zelda was very proud of herself for defending her yard. You can see her tail wagging furiously as she trots back to her human mama with plenty of pep in her step. Even though bear attacks are incredibly rare in North America, of the ones that happened, many involved a dog that was not on a leash. While our canine companions can smell bears and alert their humans about potential danger, a dog chasing after these creatures is asking for trouble. If you do see a bear outside, do not approach the creature. You want to make sure that your dog remains calm and that you respect the bear's space. You do not want to try running away or making any sudden movements, because bears can run faster than 30 mph, meaning they can easily chase you and your dog down. It's a good idea to make sure that the bear has a way to leave and does not feel trapped where they are. And remember, the best encounter between a bear and a dog is the one that doesn't happen at all. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Feisty Labradoodle Chases Off Massive Black Bear Like the Most Fearless Little Protector first appeared on PetHelpful on Jun 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Labradoodle Mom Teaching Her Pup How To Swim Is the Ultimate Summer Cuteness
Labradoodle Mom Teaching Her Pup How To Swim Is the Ultimate Summer Cuteness originally appeared on PetHelpful. There is nothing cuter than watching a parent teach their child an essential skill, especially when that parent is a proud dog mama and that child is her adorable pup. Just take the beautiful Golden Labradoodle in this video, for instance. She is teaching her beloved pup how to swim in the pool, and it is total cuteness overload. There is just something so moving about witnessing top-notch canine parenting like this. At first, this adorable Golden Labradoodle puppy seems a little hesitant. She sits on the top step at the pool entrance, looking at the water like she is pretty unsure. But her canine mama is there for her. She is right by her side to get into the water with her. And once they are in the water, things are actually going pretty well!This pup is quite a natural when it comes to doing the doggy paddle. But her mama, ever the vigilance parent, looks back over her shoulder at her young offspring to make sure that she is doing okay. After swimming out into the pool a little bit, the mom has them turn around to go back to the steps. It's as if she is telling her canine daughter that she has done well, but that's enough for right now. They will resume the doggy paddle lessons later. As this other video shows, this Golden Labradoodle is a very impressive swimmer. And make no mistake, she has the utmost confidence in her swimming abilities. However, he can also be overconfident. In this video, she believes that she can actually outswim a duck. At a certain point, she realizes that she has overestimated herself and decides to head back to shore. This just goes to show that there is never a dull moment when you have a beloved canine around. As the caption in this video notes, this dog attempts to do this every single time she goes to this park and sees a duck in the water. Hopefully, she will be able to teach her pup how to swim this well. Although maybe her canine daughter should not try to outswim the ducks, LOL. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Labradoodle Mom Teaching Her Pup How To Swim Is the Ultimate Summer Cuteness first appeared on PetHelpful on Jul 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Scottish Sun
07-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
From a ‘bored' cat to a dog dealing with the heat – your pet queries answered
Scroll down to find out how to win tickets to the London Pet Show PAWS AND CLAWS From a 'bored' cat to a dog dealing with the heat – your pet queries answered Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Sean McCormack, head vet at promises he can 'help keep pets happy and healthy' 4 Sean helps a reader whose cat grooms herself constantly Credit: Getty Q) MY cat, Chairman Meow, seems to groom herself constantly. Is this a sign of boredom? She has plenty of toys, scratch posts and beds. She's five. I live near a busy road so she's a house cat. Should I give her outside access? JUDE BROWN, Birmingham Sean says: Firstly, I love this name for a cat. I had a patient that was named the same years ago, and it always made me chuckle. Over-grooming can be a sign of stress, boredom or an appeasement behaviour that is self-soothing as it releases happy hormones. She's got plenty of enrichment indoors, but I wonder if you could play more interactive games with her, such as scattering feeding treats, using fishing rod toys and the like. If she's not losing hair, it may just be that Chairman Meow is a fastidiously clean and well-presented cat. Q) BORIS, my Labradoodle, was running on the beach when he just collapsed. He lay down for several minutes then got up again and has been fine since. He's nine and is a big dog. How concerned should I be? GILLIAN MANN, Edinburgh F1 stars' pets including driver with thirteen cats, Leclerc's yacht-loving pooch and Hamilton's dog Roscoe with own car Sean says: That is worrying. And it raises more questions than answers. Is it the first time this has happened? Was he seemingly conscious or absent while laying down, did he yelp or whine? What were his limbs doing? Was he limping or seem pained after? Was he salivating? If it was hot out, how was his breathing? All these factors would lead vets to rule in or rule out certain conditions. If it happens again, try to video it on your phone and get him checked by your vet as soon as possible. Hopefully it's a one-off but it could be an early sign of something else worth investigating. Q) WHAT precautions should I take with my dog Ted now that it's getting hotter? He's a Labrador cross who is eight. I always make sure he has shade, but should I consider a fan after the recent hot summers? What about cooling vests on walks? SIMON EVANS, Barnstaple, Devon Sean says: First thing with Labs, in particular, is a weight-loss programme and diet if he is overweight. Obesity can really make things tough on our pets in hot weather. Your vet practice can help assess, or you can look on our YouTube channel for videos on 'body condition scoring'. I'm not a fan of putting more layers on a dog for exercise. I prefer to recommend walking them in the cooler periods of the day. Cool water and shade should be available always, and a cooling mat for Ted to lie on if he so wishes. Q) TWO dogs and two cats have moved in next door, and Bella, our 12-year-old West Highland terrier, is now weeing a lot. She even wakes me in the middle of the night to go into the garden. Could the new cats and dogs be affecting her? She's had a blood test, and there's no diabetes, but there is a lot of protein, which affects kidneys. VIRGINIA SPRING, Southend-on-Sea, Essex Sean says: Certainly a switch in circumstances in the home, or next door's garden, can lead to changes in toileting behaviour. But I would associate that more with male dogs marking their territory. The flag here is excessive protein in her blood. Has Bella had a urine test too? If not, pop a tray under her when she squats and decant the urine into a sterile jar from your vet. This warrants further investigation. Star of the week 4 Ralph and Walker the Newfoundlands are hero dogs known for their ability in the water Credit: Supplied TWO Newfoundlands, Ralph and Walker, took to the water with a group of injured veterans as part of a wellbeing event to boost mental health. The dogs jumped into a lake and gently pulled the ex-servicemen back to dry land – leaving smiles all round. Their owner, paramedic Pete Lewin, of Leicester, said: 'Newfies are known for their abilities in the water. "But they also have incredible personalities and being with them has amazing restorative impacts.' Many of the veterans who attended the event last month are members of military charity Blesma – the UK's limbless veterans association – and spokeswoman Sarah Criddle told Paws and Claws: 'The wellbeing factor was so powerful.' See WIN: London Pet Show LONDON Pet Show Live offers a fun-packed family experience that's both educational and entertaining. For a chance to win one of five family tickets for two adults and two children under 16, worth £50, send an email headed PET SHOW LIVE to sundaypets@ The event runs on September 20 and 21 at Olympia. See for more details. T&Cs apply. Howl to communicate with your dogs 4 A pet expert has explained the wide range of emotions dogs experience Credit: Supplied A LEADING pet expert has revealed the secrets to communicating with your dog. Jo Middleton, owner of learning platform Canine Principles, believes pups are often misunderstood. The co-presenter of The Dog Expert Podcast said: 'What if your dog's 'bad behaviour' isn't disobedience, but a communication issue? If a dog feels safe, it is so much more capable of learning and adapting.' Dogs experience a broad spectrum of emotions. Jo said joy is often shown through tail wagging and excitement. Fear is indicated by cowering, shaking or avoiding eye contact. Frustration can cause barking, chewing or pacing. Grief can lead to withdrawal. But there could be subtle differences that owners also need to be aware of. Jo added: 'A wagging tail doesn't always mean happiness – the position and speed tell you more. 'Whining and barking convey different things depending on context. Sudden shifts in behaviour may be your dog's way of signalling distress.' She urged owners to use positive reinforcement, such as verbal cues like 'good boy' or treats when communicating.
