Finally Fred and I have finalised our plans for the All About Dogs show next month! Fred will be demonstrating how handy it is to have a dog who can find your lost items – keys, wallet, purse,  mobile phone, any of those slippery little things that seem to run off as soon as you turn your back.

We will also be demonstrating the kind of games and activities you can play with your dog to keep them busy and active without spending a fortune, and show you what kind of games your dog will like to play – based on their breed and interests! A tired dog is a happy dog, and we can show you how you can tire your dog out – easily!

Our final demonstrations will be all the useful things your dog can do around the house if you can teach him a simple ‘Fetch’ trick. Once your dog will happily share things with you, you need never get up to fetch your own slippers again!

Have a Go Hunt the Item

Something for the dogs who don’t need training to do! We’ll hide an item of yours (or we can give you something to put your scent onto) in our ball pool, and see if your dog can find it for you in under 2 minutes. Certificates available (via email) for all the winners! Cocktail sausages available for any dog that needs extra help!

We will also be offering 15/20 minute training sessions for you and your dog. You can request anything your dog needs to learn, and if it’s possible to get you started in the time, we will show you how to teach it to your dog. You will be amazed how much your dog will learn in the session!

If you’re not sure what you’d like to teach your dog, here are our suggestions:

Never Lose Your Keys or Wallet Again!

Why waste time searching for your missing items, when with some short set up training, then 5 minutes of practise every day, your dog can find them for you?

 Fetch My Slippers

If your dog has a job to do, he will be happier and will get up to less mischief. Why not give him a job that benefits you too? Fetch your slippers at the end of a long day, or get the post or newspaper when it comes through the letterbox.

 Find my Mobile Phone

If you can ring it, your dog can hear it, and will lead you straight to it. Short session to set our dog up, and 5 minutes of practise a day, your dog will love this job!

Put That Down!

If your dog picks up things he shouldn’t have, here’s how to get them back without conflict, or chasing him round the house.

 Tidy Up Your Toys

Lots of dog toys left all over the floor? Let us teach your dog to tidy up after herself – put her toys back in her toybox.

Training sessions are £3 for around 15/20 minutes. Bookings for the first two training sessions of each day (9.30am and 10am) will be available at a 50% discount!

If you enjoy your session, you are welcome to book an individual follow up session, either meeting in one of Brentwood’s beautiful country parks, or I can come to your home. If you book and pay for an individual training session while the show you not only get a 20% discount on the price of the training (10% off if outside Brentwood CM13, CM14, or CM15), you get your £3 back too.

There will also be a prize draw! Details to follow.

Please let me know if you would like to book a training session, either in the comments below, via Twitter @BoredomBusters, Boredom Busters on Facebook, email Linda@brentwooddogtrainer.co.uk or by phone 07726 265848.

Training sessions are at 9.30am, 10.00, 11.30, 12.00pm, 2.00, 2.30, 4.00, 4.30

Demonstrations at  10.30am, 12.30pm, 3.00pm

If you’re on Twitter, please join us for a ‘micro tweet up’ between 1.00pm & 2.00pm

April’s Guest Post comes from Helen, from the RSPCA and is about the new ‘Puppy Information Pack’ which is hoped will take some of the misery (mostly for the dogs, but also for the new owners) out of the huge trade in puppies that has sprung up.

Protect yourself and your puppy with a PIP!

We and the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation are today launching a new Puppy Information Pack (PIP) and contract to help educate and protect puppy buyers.

Endorsed by other respected animal welfare and veterinary organisations*, the PIP and contract will help anyone buying a dog make an informed choice and help ensure the dog is happy, healthy and suitable for their lifestyle.

The PIP and contract can be used by anybody thinking about buying any puppy, and by any breeder wanting to demonstrate the care and attention they have devoted to their puppies’ breeding and upbringing. The contract can be used for all puppies, whether they’re pedigree or not, and by any seller – including rescue centres.

How it works

The breeder or seller of the dog fills in the PIP with information about the puppy and the puppy’s parents before he or she is sold. This includes information about the health of the puppy and its parents and the experiences the puppy has had to prepare it for life in its new home.

The contract is then signed by the breeder to say that all of the information they have given in the PIP is true. The buyer signs to say they understand the information they’ve received and that they intend to meet the puppy’s future health and welfare needs.

Know your rights

Under the law in both England and Wales, every puppy is already sold under contract, whether or not a written document recording the terms of the contract exists. In fact, numerous contracts of sellers and specialist breed groups are currently available over the internet.

However, these are of variable quality and are often misleading. They often seek to minimise the liability of the seller for problems with the puppy that are not apparent at the time of sale. In some cases, this misleads consumers about their rights.

Other contracts also tend only to provide generic or vague information about dogs of the type being sold, rather than meaningful information about the individual puppy for sale.

As a result, the buyer is often not aware of the information they need to check that the puppy has the best possible chance of being both happy and healthy, and that it is well suited to its intended lifestyle. Without this information, puppy buyers risk choosing puppies that are more likely to have future health and welfare problems.

Improving dog welfare

Three major reports on dog breeding published in the last few years all agreed with the RSPCA’s view that there are very serious welfare issues associated with dog breeding, and that urgent action is needed.

The concept of a standard puppy sales contract was identified in all three reports as a key tool to improve dog welfare as it would allow the public to make properly informed decisions when buying a puppy.

Make an informed choice

To combat these problems, we’ve created an industry standard puppy contract and information pack that empowers the ordinary puppy buyer to make an informed choice about the individual puppy they are considering buying.

This will allow them to demand from sellers puppies that are happy and healthy and suitable for their intended lifestyle.

So, if you’re thinking of buying a dog, know someone who is, or if you’re a breeder wanting to demonstrate the hard work you have put into producing your puppies, please download the PIP and contract at: www.puppycontract.org.uk.

Helen Coen

Online community manager

RSPCA

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*Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding, British Veterinary Association (BVA), Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC), Dogs Trust, PDSA, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).

This position has now been filled, however we are always looking for ‘cover’ for annual leave, and busy times. So please still get in touch.

Dog walker/driver required for a small, family run busy dog walking company. Work is available mainly at breakfast and lunchtimes on weekdays, so is part time – hours between 10 & 20 a week to start, but for the right person this could be increased to full time.

‘Casual’ drivers also required to cover annual leave – for the right person  hours could be increased as we are a growing company.

Clean driving licence required, must be over 25 and ideally a Brentwood resident.

Successful applicant must be available Monday – Friday for around two – three hours between 11 & 3, and/or 7.30 & 10, exact working hours to be arranged. Must have lived with a dog for at least a year within the last 3 years, genuine dog lovers only.

Also needed extra help in school summer holidays, particularly July & August, and also December,  would need to be flexible and able to work occasional short shifts at weekends if required.

Training will be given.  There is no upper age limit as long as physically able to handle small groups of well-behaved dogs – some may be large breeds but mostly we walk medium dogs. There may be work for over 18s with own transport.  References and a police check will be required. The job can be hard work, but is very rewarding – no other job can give you the welcome a dog wanting a walk can give you! We are a small, friendly team and our walkers work closely together so you will need to be able to get on with people as well as with dogs. May be suitable for someone wanting school hours only, as there is some flexibility in the ‘breakfast’ walk times.

Please email Linda@brentwooddogwalker.co.uk with your CV, relevant experience, why you want this job and a contact phone number and email address.